EpaperLHR_21-02-24

Wednesday, 24 February, 2021 I 11 Rajab, 1442 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XI No 237 I 12 Pages I Lahore Edition

Pakistan offers connectivity with cPec to sri Lanka

COLOMBO staff report

P

RIMe Minister Imran Khan has emphasised finding ways and means to enhance trade and connectivity through the ChinaPakistan economic Corridor right up to Central Asia for Sri Lanka.

Addressing the joint presser along with his Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa in Colombo on Tuesday, the Prime Minister said that Pakistan is part of the Belt and Road Initiative of China and CPeC is the flagship project of this programme, which offers great opportunities of connectivity and trade.

Imran Khan said, “We discussed areas, where we can enhance trading ties between Pakistan and Sri Lanka and the latter, can get the maximum benefit from the connectivity being offered by the former.”

Prime Minister Imran stressed that his country and Sri Lanka share the common problem of terrorism as both countries have suffered a lot due to this menace.

He said that Pakistan faced the worst kind

of terrorism for ten years and lost around 70,000 people.

Imran Khan maintained that Pakistan played its part in helping Sri Lanka curb terrorism from its soil, which was impeding development, growth and tourism. He said that no country can progress if there is terrorism.

He said now the two countries, along with other nations of the world, are facing another problem of the coronavirus. He added that the Covid-19 pandemic hit the poor countries the most and they should be entitled to get debt relief from the richer nations.

Inviting the prime minister of Sri Lanka to visit Pakistan, Imran Khan said, “My country has the greatest Buddhist heritage sites and we recently discovered a 40-feet long sleeping Buddha.”

He stated the northern areas of Pakistan are the centre of ancient Gandhara Civilisation in the region. He also invited people from Sri Lanka to visit Pakistan as it is planning for a Buddhist trail to attract the Buddhist community from all over the world.

Imran Khan also thanked his Sri Lankan counterpart for a warm welcome to him

coronavirus in

Pakistan

CONFIRMED CASES:

573,384

LAST UPDATED AT 7:27 AM ON FEBRUARY 23, 2021

DAY'S DEATH TOLL:

41

RECOVERED:

NEW CASES:

1,050 DEATHS:

536,243 12,658 SINDH:

PUNJAB:

256,445 168,348 KP:

71,146 AJK/GB:

BALOCHISTAN:

18,993

ISLAMABAD:

9,878/4,951 43,623

and his delegation.

Speaking on the occasion, Mahinda Rajapaksa said: “We have agreed to enhance bilateral ties in the fields of economy, trade, investment, education, defence, tourism, aviation and other sectors.” He informed that a framework for Pakistan-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and enhancing parliamentary interactions between the two countries were also discussed.

Mahinda Rajapaksa added: “We have agreed to work together to fight terrorism and armed struggle through sharing of information.” He said that political stability and regional peace will be key to achieving sustainable development, economic growth and prosperity in South Asia.

He also acknowledged Pakistan’s support to curb terrorism from Sri Lankan soil and thanked Islamabad for its cooperation in the realm of sports.

Mahinda Rajapaksa thanked Prime Minister Imran Khan for visiting Sri Lanka on his invitation. earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan held a one-on-one meeting with his Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees in Colombo. The two leaders affirmed resolve to strengthen relations in diverse areas in a meeting held at Temple Trees – the office of the Sri Lankan prime minister.

The two sides focused on strengthening ties in areas of trade and investment, health, education, agriculture and science & technology, security, culture and tourism.

Prime Minister Imran Khan arrived here in Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo on a twoday official visit this afternoon.earlier, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa received Prime Minister Imran at the Bandaranaike International Airport.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

Sri Lanka Muslims protest Covid cremations as PM Imran visits STORY ON PAGE 05

Broadsheet pays Rs4.5m to Sharif family LOnDOn staff report

The latest development in the Broadsheet LLC scandal sees the UK based law firm making a payment of £20,000 (Rs4.5 million) to the Sharif family in the settlement payout of the case after withdrawing the Avenfeild reference before the London High Court.

As per the legal evidence, the amount was delivered to cover the Sharif family’s legal fees after the attachment application for the seizure and sale of four Avenfield Apartments in the Broadsheet vs Pakistan/National Accountability Bureau (NAB) case was withdrawn.

The counsels for both the Sharif family and the law firm itself have confirmed that the payment of £20,000 has been made.

After the payout was made, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice-President Maryam Nawaz and Advisor to Prime Minister on Accountability and Interior Shahzad Akbar took to Twitter to throw shots at one another.

Maryam said this is “another tight slap on the faces of all the accusers and liars as Broadsheet’s lawyers had to pay [Rs4.5 million] to Nawaz Sharif’s lawyers after raising questions about the London flats and then running away from court.”

National Assembly passes bill against punishment of children ISLAMABAD staff report

The National Assembly (NA) on Tuesday passed three private members’ bills, including the bill against the corporal punishment of children, and referred eight other bills to the relevant committees for further consideration.

At the start of the proceedings, the treasury and opposition lawmakers, carrying placards in their hands, stood in front of each other following which NA Speaker Asad Qaisar suspended the proceedings at 16:56 pm.

The sitting resumed at 17:14 pm and took up the agenda appearing on orders of the day.

The house passed three private members’ bills, which included the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Prohibition of Corporal Punishment Bill, 2020; the ICT Prohibition of Interest on Private loans, 2020 and the Al-Karam International Institute Bill, 2020.

On behalf of the chairman of the Standing Committee on Law and Justice, a member of the Committee presented the report of the Committee on the ICT Prohibition of Corporal Punishment Bill, 2020.

The bill was presented by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-

To this, thee advisor replied: “Lawyers had to pay according to the law, which does not wash away your sins and crimes. By the way, you have not been able to give the money trail of these flats till today!”

Last week, Sarina Isa, wife of the sitting judge of the Supreme Court (SC), Justice Qazi Faez Isa, had filed an application to the top anti-graft body raising as many as 17 questions for response.

In her application to NAB, Sarina Isa had claimed that shocking things are being reported about the Bureau and an assets recovery company ‘Broadsheet’.

She had said: “Huge amounts have been recovered by Broadsheet and a large amount, embezzled of taxpayers money, including mine.”

She had alleged that NAB has not disclosed any of the facts but a worker of a political party, Mirza Shahzad Akbar who she said has made statements on the media and appears to be involved in a cover-up.

Urging the bureau to provide the information she asked through the application, which read: “Is Mirza Shahzad Akbar NAB’s spokesman, if so, please provide a copy appointing him, what if any is the relationship between NAB and Mirza Shahzad Akbar.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

more inside

France summons Pakistan envoy after Alvi condemns ‘Islamist separatism’ bill STORY ON PAGE 03

N) MPA Mehnaz Akbar Aziz. According to Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari, the amendment will make it possible for complainants to be filed in court.

The working children’s NGO, Zindagi Trust foundation Founder Shehzad Roy shared his joy over the development with a local news channel after the passing of the bill, considering the move a major victory for children’s rights.

He was grateful to Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah for suspending Section 89 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) in 2019, which had allowed for the use of corporal punishment by parents, guardians and teachers “in good faith for the benefit”.

“Children grow up with the

idea that violence is necessary for discipline […] that’s where the violence that we see in society comes from,” Roy lamented.

Teachers will have to be taught how to manage children without the use of violence, he said, adding that it is natural for teachers to feel frustrated when there are about 100 children in one class. He opined that there should not be more than 30 children in a class.

With the law having been passed against corporal punishments, Roy said now mass awareness campaigns need to be run, to communicate how children can be managed without resorting to physical violence.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

eCP directs PTI to submit response in Daska by-election vote fraud case STORY ON PAGE 03

Justice Isa case: SC reviews guidelines for dissenting judges STORY ON PAGE 02

PDM to name long march as inflation march STORY ON BACK PAGE

02

Wednesday, 24 February, 2021

LAHORE

NEWS

JuStICe ISA CASe: SC revIewS guIdelINeS fOr dISSeNtINg JudgeS

t

News DesK

HE Supreme Court (SC) has issued guidelines on how dissenting judges should act if they are called to sit in a review of a majority judgment, and these guidelines could have significant bearings on the case of Justice Qazi Faez Isa. The guidelines are part of a 28-page order issued by a six-judge bench seized with the pleas to form an appropriate bench to hear review petitions against the Supreme Court’s June 19, 2020 judgment in the Justice Isa case.

It is pertinent here to mention that, a day earlier, the SC had announced its verdict on petitions seeking a larger bench to review a majority judgement in Justice Isa case and had decided to send the matter to Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed.

In its order released on Monday, the court held that for the purpose of Order 26, Rule 8 of the Supreme Court Rules (SCR) 1980, the minimum numerical strength of the bench that delivered the judgement or order under review was the numerical strength of the bench, which heard and decided the original matter regardless of whether the judgement under

THE WORDS AND WISDOM OF JUSTICE DORAB PATEL ARE EVERGREEN, SAYS THE BENCH review was passed unanimously or by the majority.

Today, while keeping in view the matter of Justice Dorab Patel’s judgment in Zulfikar Ali Bhutto review case and Panamagate review case, the bench issued a 28-page order, wherein it was stated that Justice Patel believed that the question of whether a case had been made out for the review of a judgment was essentially something for the judges who actually delivered the judgment under review to decide. “The words and wisdom of Justice Dorab Patel are evergreen and, in our respectful view, merit reflection by all judges in every generation,” it read, referring to the segments of the order which observed Justice Patel was aware of and sensitive to the possibility of judges slipping from the exercise of review jurisdiction into regarding the review petition as but the “second round” in ongoing litigations.

With regard to former chief justice Asif Saeed Khosa’s observation in the

Panamagate case, it was noted that the former CJP did not deem it appropriate to comment on the judgment passed by the majority and “dismissed the review petitions simply”.

The court also reiterated that the power of review is limited in scope. Consequently, it must be exercised by all the judges in the review bench in such a manner that it does not overstep into the realm of revisiting or re-hearing the original judgment. Justice Shah had declared that a judge, who dissents from a majority judgment, must be part of the bench constituted to hear review petition if he is available.

“There are many other cases of our jurisdiction as well as the Indian jurisdiction wherein dissenting judges were part of the benches that heard the review petitions against the judgments of the court pronounced in terms of the majority opinion,” said the 28-page dissenting note.

CJP Justice Gulzar Ahmed constituted a 10-member, larger bench to hear

the review petition filed by Justice Qazi Faie Isa in the presidential reference filed against him over which Justice Umar Ata Bandial is set to preside.

Reportedly, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Yahya Afridi, and Justice Maqbool Baqir are part of the bench while Justice Aminuddin Khan has been included in the bench due to Justice Faisal Arab’s retirement. The case will be heard on March 1.

Earlier this month, CJP Gulzar, in a move purportedly to uphold the impartiality of the apex court, had said in an official order that Justice Isa “should not hear matters involving the prime minister”.

This move comes shortly after Justice Isa had submitted a written petition filed, in a personal capacity, against Prime Minister Imran Khan, wherein the CJP said that Justice Isa must not be involved in cases concerning the premier “to uphold the principle of un-biasness and impartiality”.

The petition regarding the aforementioned case had been heard by a fivejudge larger bench headed by CJP Gulzar.

The decision came as the Ministry of Finance submitted a signed undertaking of the premier, denying such an action being taken by him.

Rashid loses appeal against ECP rejection of Senate nomination ECP HAD ON THURSDAY REJECTED RASHID'S NOMINATION FOR THE HOUSE FOR BEING A DEFAULTER OF THE PUNJAB GOVERNMENT LAHORe Staff RePoRt

An election tribunal of Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday dismissed an appeal of Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) leader and Senate hopeful Pervaiz Rashid against the rejection of his papers by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

The ECP had on Thursday rejected Rashid’s nomination for the Upper House for being a defaulter of the Punjab government.

In December 2018, the Punjab government had released a list of 76 politicians, bureaucrats and others for defaulting on the payment for their stay and meals at Punjab House during the tenure of the PML-N government.

The list had revealed that the former minister owes Rs7.05 million in dues to Punjab House in Islamabad for his stay between January and August 2011 and Rs6.4 million from June

2013 to May 2018.

His daughter, Poonam Rashid, also owed Rs2.7 million.

On Monday, he moved the tribunal against the ECP decision. Admitting his petition for hearing, the tribunal served a notice on the commission and directed the Punjab House management to attend today’s hearing and bring along the relevant record.

During the proceedings on Tuesday, the counsel for Rashid, Azam Nazir Tarar, informed Justice Shahid Waheed that the returning officer (RO) had rejected his client’s papers for Senate elections.

The ECP had told Rashid that he was a defaulter of the Punjab House and his nomination would be accepted only after he cleared the dues.

Tarar said Rashid was issued a notice from Punjab House to clear the amount.

However, when he tried to pay the money, the authorities refused to take it.

The judge asked the government’s legal representative if the record of the

SHC summons IO in NAB case against Shah KARACHI INP

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Tuesday extended the pre-arrest bail of former provincial chief minister Qaim Ali Shah in a land allotment case. A two-judge bench of the court extended the period until April 6 and directed the investigation officer (IO) to appear in a personal capacity at the next hearing to apprise the court of progress thus far made in the case. During the hearing, a National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutor informed the court that the investigation is underway. Shah has not been nominated in the initial reference filed in the case, he said, and added when the investigation is finished, a supplementary reference will be filed. The PPP leader is facing a number of NAB inquiries pertaining to claimed corruption in the Roshan Sindh initiative and illegal allotment of state-owned land.

Punjab House and ECP had been released to which the latter responded in the affirmative.

Rashid’s lawyer added that the former lawmaker had “collected Rs9.5 million after borrowing money” but the amount was not received by the government.

He said that the PML-N leader was ready to pay off all his dues and a request in this regard was submitted to the RO twice but there was no response from the government.

Tarar urged the court to check the Punjab House’s record to see that Rashid had not stayed in the government building and termed his rejection as “political revenge”.

The judge, however, noted that Rashid had not mentioned this in his appeal.

The defendant, in his arguments, said that Rashid knew that he had to pay outstanding dues but did not submit any payment. He also raised questions over the argument by Rashid’s lawyer, in which

the latter had denied that the PML-N leader stayed at Punjab House.

“If Pervez Rashid did not stay at the Punjab House, why is he ready to pay off the dues?” asked the defendant. He added that the RO had given Rashid 48 hours to clear his dues but the former minister failed to do so.

“Where did Pervez Rashid have to submit the dues?” asked the judge.

“The money was supposed to be paid to the controller but it was not submitted,” the defendant responded. When the court asked Punjab House’s controller, who was also present in court, about the matter he said: “I was in the hospital that day. No one contacted me or my staff.”

The controller presented the record of the Punjab House as well as the audit report in court. He said that a notice regarding pending dues was sent at Rashid’s DHA residence.

Punjab Advocate General, who was also a respondent in the case, said that Rashid in his appeal had not said that he did not book a room in Punjab House.

“Pervez Rashid was not given a room on a charity basis, there are charges for a room,” the AG said.

After hearing both sides’ arguments, the tribunal turned down Rashid’s appeal.

‘Balochistan is being unjustly treated when it comes to the Senate elections’, says SAPM News DesK Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) Sardar Yar Mohammad Rind spoke out against the tactics of the ruling party, lamenting that he was never involved in important meetings of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The SAPM, who also serves as the special assistant to the Balochistan education minister, said that the incumbent government was treating the province “unjustly” in regard to the upcoming Senate elections. He also stated that in Balochistan, the Senate chairman’s “character is regarded with extreme dislike”. He complained that Senate Chairperson Sadiq Sanjrani did not have a relationship with the PTI, yet was more involved in matters than he himself was. “I am the parliamentary leader of the PTI but am never consulted on any important matter,” said Rind. He added, “We are worthless when compared to Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan”. The SAPM maintained that the Senate elections would have repercussions for the entire country and he could not predict what might come to pass. Dissent amid the ranks of the PTI has become more common since the announcement of the ticket holders for the Senate elections. The PTI Balochistan chapter became upset after the party decided to reverse its decision of awarding the Senate ticket to Abdul Qadir. However, Qadir himself seemed to have no issue with the decision. He had said that he “wholeheartedly accepts” the decision, adding that he would even “sacrifice his life” for Prime Minister Imran Khan. “I have always been and will remain a supporter of Imran Khan,” he said said. Qadir said he was born and brought up in Quetta, and he had his business in Balochistan’s capital as well. The MPA revealed that he participated in PTI’s 2012 and 2013 rallies, where he also provided logistic support to the party. PTI took back the Senate ticket from Qadir following mounting pressure from within the party. A day earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan had travelled to Peshawar and met with the party’s lawmakers to hash out a strategy to deal with the challenge coming from the PDM. Soon after arrival, the PM had met with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Governor Shah Farman and KP Chief Minister Mahmood Khan.

Hearing in NAB case against Iqbal adjourned IsLAMABAD INP

Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader Ahsan Iqbal appeared before an accountability court here on Tuesday in connection with the Narowal sports complex case.

Iqbal on February 10 had moved an application seeking acquittal in the case. The hearing was however adjourned after the defense counsel did not appear due to a lawyers’ strike in Islamabad. The hearing was subsequently adjourned till March 10. Iqbal was arrested by NAB in December 2019. He remained in custody for over two months before securing bail from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in February 2020. According to the NAB reference, Iqbal and others misused their authority, “illegally enhancing the scope of the project from Rs34.75 million to Rs3 billion”. The project was conceived in 1999 on Iqbal’s directives “without any feasibility study,” it says.

ECP cannot hold elections if ordinance case is not wrapped up, SC told 'IF BRIBES ARE ATTACHED WITH THE VOTES, HOW CAN WE NOT REVIEW THE PROCESS?' CJP ASKS News DesK Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Khalid Jawed Khan on Tuesday told a five-member larger bench of the Supreme Court bench that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will not be able to hold the elections in time if the case on the open ballot presidential ordinance is not wrapped up by Wednesday.

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Senator Raza Rabbani, who has been counsel for the opposition during the proceedings, maintained that the Constitution does require a voter to identify his vote. “The law will make its own way where votes are bought and sold,” said Rabbani. “If corrupt practices take place before voting, then there is no logic in looking at the votes.” To this, Justice Ijazul Ahsan asked if there was any way to both check the vote cast

and to maintain the secrecy of the vote. “The law is completely innocent and blind,” remarked Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed.

“If bribes are attached with the votes, how can we not review [the process]?” he added.

The CJP stressed the need to weed out these corrupt practices so the Senate election does not go to “waste”.

Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed observed that enforcement of the law with good intention is necessary as the law is totally blind, stating that implementation of the law with malicious intention causes problems.

Justice Ijazul Ahsan remarked the rules made under the election law have no constitutional status, to which Rabbani submitted that the Election Act also made under the command of the Constitution.

However, Justice Ijazul Ahsan said all laws

are deduced from the Constitution, adding it is a fact that no law has been made for the presidential election.

Rabbani argued that Article 59 has not mentioned that the Senate election will be held under the law, saying the rules authorize the commissioner to issue instructions for the presidential election. He contended that despite Schedule 2 rules made for the presidential election, the Senate elections also held under the Constitution. However, Justice Ijazul Ahsan observed that rules made under the Constitution and the rules authorize the presidential election but the rules for the Election Act have no Constitutional status.

During the hearing, the attorney-general said that when it comes to presidential ordinances, no one has the right to present their arguments except for political parties.

Wednesday, 24 February, 2021

LAHORE

NEWS

03

frANCe SuMMONS PAKIStAN eNvOy After AlvI CONdeMNS ‘ISlAMISt SePArAtISM’ BIll PARIs/IsLAMABAD

M

aGeNCIeS

INISTRY of Europe and Foreign Affairs has summoned Pakistan’s envoy to protest remarks by President Arif Alvi that a French bill cracking down on ‘radical Islam’ stigmatises Muslims. Addressing a conference on religion on Saturday, Alvi said: “When you see that laws are being changed in favour of a majority to isolate a minority, that is a dangerous precedent.”

Specifically referring to the legislation drafted after the beheading of a French teacher by a young man over blasphemous caricatures of Holy Prophet Muhammad

(Peace Be Upon Him), Alvi said: “When you insult the Holy Prophet (PBUH), you insult all Muslims.”

“I urge the political leadership of France not to entrench these attitudes into laws […] You have to bring people together — not to stamp a religion in a certain manner and create disharmony among the people or create bias.” Pakistan was one of several Muslim countries that saw angry anti-French protests in October over President Emmanuel Macron’s defence of the right to show blasphemous caricatures of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Islamabad does not have an ambassador in France after its last ambassador Moinul Haque was transferred to China in July.

The French foreign ministry said late Monday it had

called in Pakistan’s charge d’affaires to mark “our surprise and our disapproval [over Alvi’s remarks], given that the bill contains no discriminatory element.”

‘CONSTRUCTIVE ATTITUDE’: “It is guided by the basic principles of freedom of religion and conscience, makes no distinction between the different religions and applies therefore equally to all faiths,” the ministry said.

“Pakistan must understand this and adopt a constructive attitude for our bilateral relations,” it added.

The bill adopted by the lower house of the French parliament last week is dubbed the “anti-separatism” bill in reference to Macron’s claim that the so-called Islamists are closing themselves off from French society

ECP directs PTI to submit response in Daska by-election vote fraud case IsLAMABAD Staff RePoRt

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday directed the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to submit its response in a case pertaining to claimed vote fraud during a by-election for a National Assembly (NA) seat in a Sialkot constituency last week.

The commission had on Saturday stopped the results of the NA-75 (Sialkot-IV) by-election — a seat in Daska Tehsil of the city which fell vacant after the demise of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MP Sahibazada Syed Iftikharul Hassan Shah in August. In an unprecedented move, the election commission in a press statement said it suspected that the results of 20 polling stations in the constituency had been falsified because it received the results of the constituency with “unnecessary delay”.

During the hearing on Tuesday, presided over by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan

Raja, counsel for PTI had sought a week to submit the record and “verified results and proof”. However, Raja turned down the request.

He also remarked that the ECP will reach a conclusion regarding the NA-75 by-poll. “If the election was [fair], the results will be released. If it is not, then re-polling can be done,” he said.

But Salman Akram Raja, who was representing the PML-N candidate, said: “Re-polling should not only be done at those particular polling stations. We need to cast an eye on the election in the whole constituency.”

Taking a cue from PML-N’s position on the matter, he claimed the fiasco was a pre-planned “operation”.

A video of the shots fired outside a polling station in Daska was also presented to the ECP. “PTI workers can be seen firing shots in the presence of the party’s candidate, Ali Asjad Malhi,” Barrister Raja said.

The returning officer (RO) also submitted his report to the ECP. He said that the results from 337 polling stations

were added to the RMS by 3:30 am.

“There was a delay [in the results] for 20 polling stations,” he said, adding that 19 presiding officers could not be contacted.

“The presiding officers were accompanied by police officials. Did you try contacting them through the wireless?” asked CEC Raja. At this, the RO replied that he had instructed the Daska Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) to do so but they were still unable to contact the presiding officers (POs).

He added that out of the 20 polling stations, the results of ten [stations] were received between 4:30 am and 6:30 am.

“There is no difference in the results of the four of these polling stations; the results of the presiding officer and the polling agents are the same,” he said.

He added that some of the presiding officers said that they were unreachable due to car troubles or fog.

The CEC noted that the RO seemed “distressed” when he contacted the ECP headquarters on the night of the by-poll.

“You had said that the police and the

administration were not cooperating,” he said. The RO replied that the administration did cooperate but a large crowd of people, comprising PML-N and PTI supporters, had gathered outside the office. Subsequently, the hearing was adjourned till Thursday.

ECP FINAL AUTHORITY ON MATTER: GOVT: Meanwhile, Minister for Information Shibli Faraz said that the ECP will take the final decision regarding the by-poll, Radio Pakistan reported.

Speaking to the media in Islamabad, he said that the PML-N disturbed law and order situation in the recent byelections.

Prime Minister Imran, he said, has made an important announcement regarding the PML-N’s application for re-polling in 23 polling stations.

The minister said that the government wanted to introduce electronic voting in the next general elections, adding the politics of the PMLN and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) is based on deceit.

by refusing to embrace secularism, gender equality and other French values.

The legislation significantly expands the state’s powers to close religious organisations and places of worship if they are found to air “theories or ideas” that “provoke hate or violence towards a person or people”.

It also creates a new crime of “separatism” — described as threatening a public servant in order to gain “a total or partial exemption or a different application of the rules” — that is punishable by up to five years in prison.

Prime Minister Imran Khan in October accused Macron of “attacking Islam” and choosing to “encourage Islamophobia” for defending the right to publish blasphemous cartoons.

ttP militant allegedly involved in killing of four women gunned down: ISPr News DesK Pakistan Security Forces on Tuesday gunned down a Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militant allegedly involved in the killing of four women social workers, a statement released by the InterServices Public Relations (ISPR) said. Per the military’s media wing, security forces carried out an intelligence-based operation (IBO) on Tuesday during which a commander of the TTP’s Hafiz Gul Bahadur group, identified as Hassan alias Sajna, was gunned down. Sajna, according to the ISPR, was allegedly involved in the murder of four women social workers on Saturday. It should be recalled that the women were killed when assailants opened fire on their NGO’s car near the Ippi village of North Waziristan. The police said the injured driver and the deceased women were moved to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital.

Karachi AtC acquits two in 2016 majlis attack case KARACHI INP

Buzdar, government treading on the path of public facilitation JAveD YOuNIs The year 2020 can be rightly termed as the most challenging cycle of this century. The impacts of events that happened will be felt in the coming decades as well. The year 2020 was challenging in administrative, social and cultural aspects. In these testing times, only the timely and correct decisions by efficient and clear-headed leadership could steer the country out of the quagmire. MEASURES UNDER COVID: Under the leadership of Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Ahmed Khan, the Punjab government has taken such timely and positive decisions during the pandemic, which have started to yield desired results.

The economy of the world is witnessing a nose-dive and even the most developed countries like the US and the UK could not sustain the negative economic aftermaths of Covid-19.

Self-proclaimed “shining” India also gone down where the prevalence and mortality rate of Covid is highest among South Asia. Indian economy has collapsed and the Hindu supremacist Modi regime is in the doldrums but by the grace of Allah, Pakistan, especially Punjab, has successfully managed to curtail the damage in time.

Preventive measures taken to counter the second spell of Covid-19 are keeping the situation under control and the policy of avoiding non-friendly and anti-public decisions is proving to be positive.

The provincial government remained committed and strived for the facilitation of the masses. In the first wave, Punjab took the lead and emerged as a guide for

A CHALLENGING YEAR; EQUALLY CHALLENGING TASKS other provinces. During the same period, under CM Insaf Imdad Program, 1.7 million families were given financial aid worth Rs1.25 billion. The establishment of corona wards in hospitals, provision of medical equipment, quarantine centres, and more was only possible due to the continuous monitoring and clear directions of the chief minister.

Despite serious threats, CM Buzdar visited different cities to examine the arrangements being made for the protection of the general public and the cure of patients. During the pandemic, Buzdar proved himself to be worthy of the office of the chief minister.

Usman Buzdar set unprecedented traditions in the year 2020. Contrary to the past, the incumbent government did not stop funding the unfinished development projects. Rs1300 billion were required to complete the unattended projects of the previous government.

Orange-Line Metro Train Project was one of those incomplete projects of the past which have been completed for the facilitation of the masses.

CM Buzdar set a new precedent by incorporating the suggestions of all the MPAs of Punjab in the formulation of annual development schemes. Besides, all the MNAs and MPAs of every division were invited for exclusive meetings to seek their suggestions.

Meetings with lawmakers of Faisalabad, Sargodha and Multan Division were held on February 03, February 04 and February 11, respectively, wherein immediate orders were issued in the light

of their recommendations.

On February 19, 2020, lawmakers and officers of administration called on the Punjab CM. Projects including Model Police Stations, cleanliness drive and construction/renovation of roads were approved. A day later, parliamentarians of the Bahawalpur division presented their suggestions and highlighted issues of their areas.

Various development projects were approved including the construction of the overhead bridge, underpass, bridge, and connecting roads. MNAs/MPAs of Lahore and Sahiwal divisions met the CM Punjab on February 26, wherein they presented their suggestions.

Projects like Chichawatni Special Zone, Lahore Ring Road, and Southern LoopIII were approved. DG Khan Division lawmakers held a marathon meeting in March, wherein flood protection embankment, construction/rehabilitation of Muzaffargarh-Alipur Road, Layyah University, Rojhan Girls College, QanoongoiArazi Center, new parks and schemes like water filtration plant were approved.

Buzdar made more than 54 visits to the big and small cities of Punjab. On January 4, the CM visited Mianwali, WaanChachran and Sargodha, besides visiting the police station and BHU in WaanChuchran. He also visited Tehsil Headquarter Hospital and a police station in Jaranwala, Thalassemia and Bone Marrow Transplant Center in Bahawalpur and paid a surprise visit to Koh-e-Suleman followed by addressing

Ehsaas Kafalat ceremony in Layyah.

HEALTH: Under the stewardship of CM, the provincial government has increased the budget of the health sector by 15 per cent. Five Mother & Child Hospitals are being established in Punjab, including a 600-bedded hospital at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Lahore. A universal healthcare program is being introduced, wherein 7 million families would be given Sehat Insaf Cards.

Construction of an institute of cardiology is underway in Dera Ghazi Khan. A 1000-bedded general hospital is also being built on Ferozpur road Lahore in which 600 beds will be allocated for general patients, 200 for cardiac patients while 200 beds would be allocated to blood-related diseases. This hospital would be built on LDA’s 124 Kanal land, near Arfa Karim Tower. This project would cost Rs9 billion.

Work on the mother and child care block in Sir Ganga Ram hospital is in progress which will be completed at the cost of Rs4 billion. Children Hospital has been declared University of Child Health Sciences and would be completed at the cost of Rs4 billion. The Department of Radiology has been established in Services hospital Lahore of which 95 per cent of the work has been completed at the cost of Rs232 billion.

Punjab Institute of Neuro Sciences phase-II would be completed at the cost of Rs2.35 billion. Nishtar-II projects are near completion in Multan. The district headquarters hospitals including Jhang and Toba Tek Singh are being upgraded.

Similarly, tehsil headquarters hospitals including Samundri, Malakwal are also being upgraded.

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) here on Tuesday acquitted two accused in connection with a 2016 attack on a religious gathering in the Nazimabad neighbourhood of Karachi. Four people were killed and many others injured when unidentified assailants entered a camp set up for majlis outside the residence of a police official and opened fire on the participants.

The court acquitted two accused — Ishaq alias Bobby and Asim alias Capri — for want of evidence. The court also ordered the police to release the other suspects if they were not wanted in any other case.

The court further said the complainant in the case could file an appeal against the verdict in Sindh High Court (SHC) within three days.

vawda gets tribunal’s nod to contest Senate elections KARACHI: An appellate bench of the Sindh High Court (SHC) on Tuesday rejected an appeal against the nomination of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Minister for Water Resources Faisal Vawda for the March 3 Senate election. The decision was announced on the appeal of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) candidate Qadir Khan Mandokhail against the approval of Vawda’s papers. In the petition, Mandokhail had maintained that Vawda was still a sitting MP and a federal minister while an earlier complaint against him was still pending before the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) — and a petition before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) — for not disclosing his US nationality in the nomination papers filed during the general elections in 2018. Staff RePoRt

Wednesday, 24 February, 2021

04 NEWS

LAHORE

GB caBinet nominates ali sadpara for civil award ISLAMABAD

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GhuLaM abbaS

He Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) cabinet on Tuesday nominated renowned mountaineer Mohammad Ali Sadpara, who along with two other climbers had lost his life in an attempt to summit K2, for a civil award.

The members of the cabinet paid rich tributes to Sadpara and prayed for him.

According to details, the GB cabinet also approved the establishment of “Mohammad Ali Sadpara Institute for Adventure Sports, Mountaineering and Rock Climbing” to honour his achievement, besides announcing to give a suitable job to his son Sajid Ali Sadpara.

On February 18, GB Tourism Minister Raja Nasir Ali Khan had declared missing mountaineers, Ali Sadpara and his companions, John Snorri from Iceland and Juan

Pablo Mohr from Chile, as dead.

“Keeping in mind the weather conditions at K2, the Pakistan army, government and family of the mountaineers have reached to the conclusion that Ali Sadpara and his comrades have expired,” he had said while addressing a press conference.

On February 5, the three mountaineers went missing while attempting to summit K2. Soon after, the land and

aerial search to find them was kicked off by the Pakistan army’s rescue teams but no clue was found despite efforts of several days.

On February 22, the locals lit up the streets of Skardu with candles as a tribute to new national hero, Ali Sadpara, as well as Snorri and Mohr.

The GB authorities promised that Ali Sadpara’s legacy will never be forgotten.

The authorities are planning to name Skardu

Buzdar hopes for victory of PTI, PML-Q candidates in Senate polls LAHORE STaff rePorT

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has expressed hope that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) candidates will secure victory in the upcoming Senate elections.

The chief minister said this while talking to the candidates on Tuesday.

Senior Minister Abdul Aleem Khan, Law Minister Raja Basharat, Special Assistant to Punjab Chief Minister Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, Special Coordinator to Chief Minister Aun Chaudhry and

PML-Q’s Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry, Barrister Ali Zafar, Dr Zarqa Taimoor, Aon Abbas Pabbi and Kamil Ali Agha attended the meeting while Saif Ullah Khan Niazi of PML-Q participated through video link.

The meeting held a detailed deliberation about the strategy for the success of candidates and various proposals came under discussion during the gathering.

Buzdar said a parliamentary party meeting will soon be convened regarding the Senate elections and the assembly members will be briefed about the procedure of the elections. He stated that a strategy has been devised in this regard.

He informed that some groups of assembly members will be constituted and the best coordination between the candidates and concerned groups will be ensured.

“A parliamentary party meeting will be convened soon to brief the parliamentarians about the voting procedures,” he said and added that the government alliance will achieve success as the Opposition is unconcerned about the public and it is only interested in making hue and cry.

Separately, the chief minister chaired an important meeting with ministers, advisors and special assistants to discuss the

Senate election. During the meeting, the participants presented different proposals and a strategy was reviewed for the success of PTI and PML-Q candidates.

“I will also remain in contact with all the groups and candidates. The coordination will yield the best results and a parliamentary party meeting will also be convened soon.

The PTI will emerge as a majority party in the Senate election and the Opposition will face defeat at every front.

The Opposition's narrative has been exposed as negative politics has no worth before the politics of public service,” the CM said.

Airport and the city’s military school after him, besides announcing support for his family and home village.

The minister said, “The courage shown by this gentleman [Ali Sadpara] by waiting alone at high altitude for long hours in bone-freezing cold before descending all alone with sad feelings is unprecedented.

He is a hero.”

Mohr’s relatives also came all the way from Chile to hold a tribute ceremony.

two more killed as tribal groups continue clashes in s waziristan WANA iNP

Two more tribesmen were killed and four others injured as tribal groups continued clashes in South Waziristan on Tuesday after failure of talks at a Jirga, constituted by the local administration to resolve the issue. The clashes started between Zalikhel and Dotani tribes over a piece of land in Karkanra areat from Saturday. A Jirga was constituted by the district administration to get the issue resolved but it failed to convince the clashing tribes for peaceful resolution of their dispute.

Both the sides used heavy automated weapons against each other, taking the death toll to nine.

The people of Wana have appealed the administration to announce emergency in hospitals as heavy life losses are feared in clashes between the two tribes.

man kills wife among two for ‘honour’ in swat SWAT TLTP

In yet another case of honour killing, a man killed two people, including his wife, in Swat on Tuesday. According to local police, the incident of twin murder took place in Madeen area, where a man killed his wife and a man for ‘honour’. The police arrested the accused, while the bodies were moved to a nearby hospital for legal formalities. On February 6, a man had allegedly opened fire at his niece and another man in Jacobabad district of Sindh, killing them on the spot. According to the police, the incident had occurred within the limits of Miranpur police station. earlier on January 21, a man had killed his wife and four children in Gujranwala. The police had said the murders were committed by the woman's husband Imran.

LAHORE: Rescue officials in action after a car caught fire near Jain Mandir in the provincial capital. Zubair MehfooZ

CPEC: Pace and direction

ABID KHAN To substantiate the argument, statistics are often used that are based on hearsay and have nothing to do with ground realities. Therefore, those, who are in a position where other people hear, read and follow them, should exercise caution and do regular research before speaking or writing.

When something good, big or unique is going to happen, the opposing forces are mobilized to thwart it with the same force. The China-Pakistan economic Corridor (CPeC) project is playing a significant role in shaping Pakistan's modern economic future with its massive volume. It is a journey towards economic regionalization in the globalized world.

Those, who want to thwart the CPeC, are constantly spreading negative news and misinformation through their networks according to their plan as they are worried that if the CPeC continues, then their goal to sabotage the project will not be met.

They carry out their negative propaganda against the project and this fact has also been exposed by the eU DisinfoLab. CPeC, which is the Belt and Road Initiative's (BRI) flagship programme, is a major game changer for Pakistan and the entire region. This project will make Pakistan stand in a queue of the world’s most developed nations. The core areas that the project covers are Gwadar Port, connectivity, energy, industries and industrial park, financial cooperation, agricultural development, science and technology, tourism, poverty alleviation, and cooperation in other areas concerning peoples’ livelihood.

Many of the CPeC projects are already completed while some are under construction, planning and implementation phases. 20 projects worth $14.2 billion, including nine energy projects, five projects of transport and infrastructure, two projects of Gwadar Port and Free Zone, and four projects of socio-economic development, have been completed.

33 projects worth $12 billion, including eight energy projects, five projects of transport and infrastructure, three projects of Gwadar Port and Free Zone, 13 projects of socio-economic development and four projects of special economic zone development, are under construction.

40 projects worth $28 billion, including five energy projects, 17 projects of transport and infrastructure, 13 projects of socio-economic development and five projects of special economic zone development, are in the pipeline.

After the completion of all the CPeC-related projects, the country will move into the era of economic stability, regional harmony, and international recognition.

While making a lot of baseless talk about the CPeC, the rivals also raise a point that the corridor’s work is going slow. However, the reality is quite different because the CPeC made extraordinary progress last year as most of the infrastructure projects, including Orange Line Metro Train, Multan-Sukkur Motorway Phase-II, Karakoram Highway and east Bay expressway, were successfully completed despite Covid-19. Several new projects were launched during the last year, including Hoshab Awaran Section, PakChina Friendship Hospital and Technical Vocational Institute Gwadar.

Afghan transit trade was started at full capacity from Gwadar Port in April last year and the Gwadar Free Zone was given a long term tax exemption.

Forty two companies were licensed to invest in the Gwadar Free Zone and PC-1 for the strategic project of Main Line One (ML-1) and Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway (M6) was also approved.

Significant progress was also made in the energy sector last year as three major agreements were signed for the Kohala Hydel, Azad Patan Hydel and Gwadar Power Plant projects.

In addition to the agreed projects between the two countries, cooperation was also extended to other avenues, such as agriculture, science and technology, and tourism. Joint working groups (JWG) on agriculture were established and the first meeting was held last year.

A National Action Plan for agricultural mechanization was prepared and the government formed the National Locust Control Centre (NLCC) to control locust. 32 proposals for science and technology sectors are in various

stages of consultation with China. Special economic zones are on the priority list and Rashakai zone’s development agreement was signed with Chinese developers last year. It is clear that all the CPeC-related projects are being carried out as per the agreed plans and despite various challenges and negative propaganda, the corridor is not only moving forward at a good pace but also maintaining its right direction, which is a good thing for both the countries.

Wednesday, 24 February, 2021

lahore

neWS

CirCular dEbT To rEaCh rS2.8Tr in nExT four monThS, na PanEl Told ISLAMABAD

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sHaHZaD PaRacHa

HE National Assembly's Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue was informed on Tuesday that the country's circular debt would surge to Rs2,805 billion in the next four months of the current fiscal year. The additional secretary of the Power Division, while briefing the meeting about the sector-wise circular debt, stated that the debt was recorded at Rs2,303 billion till December 2020, as compared to Rs1,126 billion in June 2018.

"We are expecting Rs117 billion line losses due to the bad performance of DISCOs, while the

national assembly passes bill against punishment of children contInueD froM pAge 01 Eight private members’ bills were referred to the relevant committees, including the Safe Milk and Dairy Bill, 2021; the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2021]. (Articles- 51 and 59); the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Section 277 and Schedule-II); the Islamabad Poultry Production Regulation Bill, 2021; the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Insertion of Article11A); the Islamabad Bee-Keeping and Honey board Bill, 2021; the Compulsory Teaching of Arabic Language Bill, 2021 and the Unani, Ayurvedic and Homoeopathic Practitioners (Amendment) Bill, 2020. Ten private members’ bills were deferred, including the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Amendment in Articles- 1, 51 and106); the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Amendment in Article-84); the Trade Organizations (Amendment) Bill, 2021; the Children (Pledging of Labour) (Amendment) Bill, 2021; the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2021; the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2021; the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Section- 489F and Schedule- II); the Recusant Witnesses (Repeal) Bill, 2021; the West Pakistan Pure food (Amendment) Bill, 2021 and the Regulation of Generation, Transmission and Distribution of Electric Power (Amendment) Bill, 2020. The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Insertion of Article-35A) was withdrawn by its mover. The committee chairman presented the report of the Standing Committee on the Ibadat International University, Islamabad Bill, 2021. The house did not consider 41 reports of the Standing Committees, six resolutions, five motions under rule 259, three amendments in the rules of procedures and conduct of business in National Assembly 2007, two calling attention notices, one private member’s bill and a motion under Rule 259. The house was adjourned to meet again on February 26, 2021, at 11 am.

government will also have to give another Rs190 billion subsidy to electricity consumers," the additional secretary said. "Line losses were recorded at 18.3pc in June 2018 as compared to 17.8pc in December 2020."

He said that NEPRA had recently approved a Rs3.34 increase in electricity price, but the price of electricity was only increased by Rs1.95. Tariff for consumers of up to 300 units was Rs10.20, whereas the same for commercial consumers was Rs20.70 per unit, he added.

He further informed the committee that a circular debt management plan would soon be submitted to the cabinet, adding that strategies were being devised to reduce technical losses and im-

prove recovery.

The additional secretary stated that electricity tariff for lifeline consumers has also been enhanced to 100pc, and that the government would determine the electricity tariff on the basis of production cost. The committee expressed grave concerns with regard to increasing circular debt and directed the Power Division to present a comprehensive draft in this regard before the NA panel.

The committee members were of the view that an increase in circular debt would create huge problems for the economy, especially industries.

The committee lamented Rs55 billion monthly increase in circular debt, declaring it an alarming situation for the country.

Broadsheet pays Rs4.5m to Sharif family contInueD froM pAge 01 She had asked the watchdog to respond whether Akbar had met with the representative/owner of Broadsheet on behalf of the NAB, and if he did, what transpired in such a meeting or meetings.

“Was the appointment of assets recovery company advertised? If so please provide a copy,” she had demanded.

She had also sought a copy of a decision from the NAB under which a selection committee has chosen Broadsheet as well as if the appointment of the assets recovery company was advertised.

Raising another question, she had said, “Broadsheet was introduced to NAB/Government of Pakistan by whom and when Broadsheet was selected and appointed by whom, who drafted the agreement to be entered into with Broadsheet?”

She had also sought a copy of the agreement with Broadsheet, names and nationalities of the owners of Broadsheet and their respective expertise.

In her probe, she had sought the particulars of the amount paid to and recovered by Broadsheet.

“Has NAB checked if a bribe was paid to anyone in NAB/Government of Pakistan? Did NAB conduct an inquiry to determine who was responsible for making the payment?” she had stated.

NAB had come under fire after its non-payment to Broadsheet LLC led a UK high court to order that an amount of Rs4.5 billion be debited to the account of the Pakistan High Commission.

According to the order of the court, millions of dollars must be debited to the accounts of the high commission by December 30, sources in the Foreign Office had said.

United Bank Limited (UBL) had written a letter to the Pakistan High Commission, dated December 29, and had requested the provision of written debit account details for the payment of $28,706,533.35 in line with the Final Third Party Order issued by the high court.

The letter had warned that the bank would unilaterally debit the accounts if no written details are provided.

The high commission had replied, in a letter addressed to UBL Chief Executive Officer Brain Firth, that if any attempt to unilaterally debit the account would be a violation of international law and a breach of trust. The high commission had also warned that such actions would affect their relationship with the bank.

In November 2018, the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) awarded a penalty of $17 million to the anti-corruption watchdog. Later $3 million case cost was added to the award. In March 2019, the LCIA given a $20 million final award.

As NAB did not pay that amount, the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) penalised them for $17 million as well as a further $3 million case cost; due to interest rates, the award amount reached $28.7 million by December 2020.

NAB officials had previously made a mistaken payment of $5 million and caused a loss of $14 million to Pakistan.

Senior lawyers have already demanded stern action against the NAB officials, responsible for this loss. Until now, more than Rs2 billion have been spent on litigation.

Earlier today, the UK High Court of Justice issued an order against the attachment of four Avenfield Apartments owned by the Sharif family in relation to the case Broadsheet vs Islamic Republic of Pakistan and NAB. Broadsheet LLC had argued that the government of Pakistan had vested interest in the properties as the confiscation of the Avenfield Apartments was ordered by Judge Muhammad Bashir of an accountability court. The LLC had requested that the properties be handed over to them if Pakistan cannot make its penalty payments. However, the UK High Court had earlier ordered against this attachment of the Avenfield properties.

05

LAHORE: Allied Bank Ltd (ABL) has announced the signing of an agreement with Oracle Corporation and Speridian Technologies, a Dubai based implementation partner, to implement Customer Relationship Management (CRM) application to help support customer engagement capabilities across all service channels of the bank. The occasion was attended by senior management of ABL, Oracle Pakistan and Speridian. onLine

SECP proposes reduction in turnaround time for payment of cash dividends ISLAMABAD: Taking another step towards facilitating minority shareholders, the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has proposed reducing turnaround time for payment of cash dividend to shareholders of listed companies from the existing 15 days to 3 working days only. The SECP has issued draft amendments to Companies (Distribution of Dividends) Regulations, 2017 to solicit public comments. “The SECP believes that the proposed time period of three working days is sufficient for transfer of cash dividend from a company’s bank account to the bank accounts of their respective shareholders,” the commission said in a statement. The Section 242 of the Companies Act, 2017 requires every listed company to pay cash dividend only through electronic mode directly into the designated bank accounts of a shareholder. Since transfer of cash dividend through IBANs is safe, cost effective and efficient, all shareholders are required to provide their IBANs to their respective companies, for making payment of cash dividends. “The draft amendments are available on the SECP website and the interested individuals/stakeholders can furnish comments by March 8, 2021,” the statement read. TLTP

Sindh okays subsidy on agriculture equipment, palm plantation KARACHI: The Sindh cabinet on Tuesday approved subsidy on agriculture equipment. The provincial cabinet met with Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah in the chair. Briefing the cabinet, Agriculture Minister Ismail Rahu said that his department is mulling over giving subsidies to the farmers by introducing new technologies. The minister said that the province is only having one controlled cold storage and underlined the need for more. The cabinet while approving the subsidy for the farmer, directed the agriculture department to design various schemes for the agriculture equipment. On the occasion, Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah said that cold storage is a good business and called for private sectors’ participation in this regard. The chief minister also directed to establish cold storage. The Sindh cabinet also approved plantation of palm trees on 3,000 acres of land on the request of the Coastal Development Authority. TLTP

Sri Lanka Muslims protest Covid cremations as PM Imran visits Dozens of Muslims carried a mock janazah, or coffin, denouncing the Sri Lankan government's policy of banning burials of virus victims disregarding their funeral rites.The demonstration was aimed at the visit of Prime Minister Imran who two weeks ago had weighed in on the plight of Muslims in Sri Lanka. He had welcomed an announcement by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on February 10 that burials would be allowed, but a day later Colombo backtracked and said there would be no change in the cremation-only policy.

“Respect Prime Minister's statement and allow burials,” said a banner carried by the demonstrators who assembled at an open space in front of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's office. His government has rejected international pleas and recommendations from its own experts to allow Muslims to bury their dead in line with Islamic custom. The government first banned burials in April amid concerns — which experts say are baseless — by influential Buddhist monks that burying bodies could contaminate groundwater and spread the virus. agencies

Pakistan offers connectivity with CPeC to Sri lanka contInueD froM pAge 01 The premier was given guard of honour by the contingent of Sri Lankan forces and a gun salute at a special welcome reception ceremony held at the airport.

A red carpet was rolled out for Prime Minister Imran and the national anthems of Pakistan and Sri Lanka were played on the occasion. Cultural troupe attired in traditional dresses presented a welcome dance.

PM Imran left earlier on Tuesday for a two-day official visit to Sri Lanka.

This is Khan’s first visit to Sri Lanka after assuming the office of prime minister in August 2018. He is accompanied by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Advisor on Commerce and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood and Minister of State for Overseas Pakistanis Zulfi Bukhari, Radio Pakistan reported. During the visit, Khan will hold talks with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Rajapaksa, and Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, officials familiar with the situation said.

Bilateral talks would cover issues of trade and investment, health and education, agriculture and science and technology, de-

fence and security, and culture and tourism.

Key regional and international issues would also be discussed, a Foreign Office (FO) statement confirmed.

“During the visit, the reconstitution of the Sri Lanka-Pakistan Parliamentary Friendship Association will be announced to further promote parliamentary exchanges between the two countries,” the statement added.

Khan will also participate in a joint “Trade and Investment Conference”.

Adviser to the Prime Minister for Commerce and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood on Twitter said the government’s aim was to enhance trade and investment relations with Sri Lanka so that they were commensurate with bilateral ties.

“In line with our policy of enhancing regional trade and connectivity, a delegation of prominent businessmen has arrived in Sri Lanka for visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan on February 23-24, 2021,” the adviser said on his official Twitter account.

Razak Dawood said Sri Lanka was very important country for Pakistan as “we signed our first-ever Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with it”. He said during the visit, the whole spectrum of bilateral trade and eco-

nomic relations would be discussed, and a trade and investment conference would be held at Colombo on February 24.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka, he said, had agreed to reactivate the forum of Joint Working Groups (JWGs) for redressal of technical issues pending between the two trading partners for prompting trade liberalization to increase bilateral trade between both of the countries.

It was decided to conduct the next JWG meeting during the first half of current year, he added. As Sri Lanka prepares to welcome Khan, several members of the country’s Muslim minority expressed hope for him to take up their concerns during talks with government officials.

Muslims make up nearly 10 per cent of the country’s population of 22 million, which is predominantly Buddhist. The Indian Ocean island was torn for decades by a civil war between separatists from the mostly Hindu Tamil minority and the Sinhala Buddhist-dominated government.

The government stamped out the rebellion some 11 years ago.

However, in recent years, Buddhist hardliners, led by the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) or

cMYK

“Buddhist Power Force” — a Sinhalese Buddhist nationalist group — have stoked hostility against Muslims, saying influences from the Middle East had made Sri Lanka’s Muslims more conservative and isolated.

In 2018, scores of mosques, Muslim homes and businesses were destroyed as Buddhist mobs ran amok for three days in Kandy, the central highlands district.

Representatives of the nation’s Muslims said that they were banking on the “great Muslim leader” to “speak on our behalf.”

“The community wishes to welcome a great Muslim leader who is coming as his country’s prime minister for the first time.

He is in a vantage position to speak on behalf of the Sri Lankan Muslims,” NM Ameen, president of the Sri Lanka Muslim Council, told Arab News. “Prime Minister Khan must use his visit to assist in our struggles for human rights, justice and accountability for all in Sri Lanka,” Shreen Saroor, women’s rights activist and co-founder of the Women’s Action Network, said.

A day earlier, SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Iftikhar Ali Malik had said that 2-day maiden visit of Prime Minister Imran to Sri Lanka will

further cement bilateral ties with special focus to gear up trade and strengthen economic cooperation between two countries.

In a press statement, Malik had said it was a good omen for the private sectors of either countries that PM Imran will also participate in a joint ‘Trade and Investment Conference’ aimed at promoting trade and investment between the two countries followed by a number of MoUs to enhance bilateral cooperation.

He had said that the current trade between both countries was not entirely encouraging, but both countries have markets for each other’s primary products.

SAARC Chamber chief had observed that Pakistan was an important market for tea products, which also happens to be a top Sri Lankan export item, and Pakistan also a significant importer of copra and rubber, both items are important Sri Lankan exports.

Similarly, Sri Lanka was an important market for textile products, machinery, and pharmaceuticals along with other products that Pakistan records significant exports .

He had said there exists a huge trade potential between both countries if the FTA is utilised properly.

Wednesday, 24 February, 2021

06 COMMENT

Unanswered questions about the BD ‘band of brothers’

Mismanaging the award of tickets Imran Khan’s loosening grip on the PTI

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OLLOWING the sacking of the KP Law Minister on the charge of selling his vote for money, the loss of the Nowhera seat to the PML(N) must have come as an even bigger shock to the PTI leadership. To review the situation the Prime Minister held a meeting in the Governor’s house Peshawar on Sunday that all PTI MNAs and MPAs from KP were required to attend. That 14 MNAs and 6 MPAs failed to turn up caused many to raise an eyebrow. Provincial minister Shaukat Youufzai maintained that the absent lawmakers had already informed the Prime Minister as well as Chief Minister Mehmood Khan about their prior engagements. One can understand that Murad Saeed and Omar Ayub, being federal ministers, and Asad Qaiser, being National Assembly Speaker, might have been allowed to be absent on account of the important tasks they are required to perform. But what about the other 11 MNAs? Of the six MPAs absenting themselves, two were not invited. But what happened to the remaining four who failed to turn up?

The report assumes special importance as it comes in the midst of differences within the PTI over the allotment of Senate tickets. Normally PTI MNAs and MPAs jump at any opportunity they can get to meet the otherwise inaccessible PM Imran Khan. This raises the question whether Mr Khan is gradually losing his charisma. The PM had to drop the names of some his closest aides from the final list of the PTI’s Senate nominees when he encountered strong opposition to them. The award of the ticket to Finance Minister Hafeez Sheikh nicknamed to a parachuter by a party MNA because of his being an unelected outsider and to Faisal Vawda who lied about his nationality while submitting his nomination papers as MNA had raised questions within the PTI regarding the high moral ground claimed by Mr Khan. While opposing the ticket for Ahad Khattak, a presumptuous Pervez Khattak had claimed that he could get even a piece of dead wood get elected from Nowshera. The boastful claim divided the party and led to its candidate’s humiliating defeat. How wide is the rift thus created in the PTI’s KP chapter remains unclear.

And now the moral: Mr Khan has proved himself as incompetent in maintaining party unity as in running the affairs of the country.

The BD Army Chief’s family loyalty exposed

amJeD JaaveD

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N a shocking video, Al-Jazeera has blown the lid off Bangladesh’s nexus between the Prime Minister and her Army Chief. The video highlights that the Army Chief hailed from what is accounted a lowly family, but he continued to pamper his gangster brothers even after becoming Chief. In fact, he wished Hasina to pardon his gangster brothers or commute their sentence before he took oath.

The sting shows that the Chief’s gangster brethren roamed freely in Bangladesh and even attended the wedding of the Chief’s son. No-one dared catch the fugitives.

The non-khaki gangsters were the conduits through which the Chief siphoned off money to foreign safe heavens abroad. The chief wanted to ensure that his post-retirement was cozy with the opportunity to travel Europe at will.

Bangladesh has no diplomatic relations with Israel. Yet the Chief, through his brothers, was able to buy electronic surveillance equipment. The equipment from Israel was shipped with Hungary as ‘country of origin’.

Bangladesh is a top contributor to the United Nations’ Peacekeeping Forces. In fact it has asked for an increase in its contribution of troops. Before accommodating the Bangladeshi troops the UN needs to be sure that its troops have not been engaged in heinous crimes against its own people. It is alleged that the troops used the Israeli spyware to pick up political opponents of Hasina Wajid and kill them in custody.

The surveillance equipment was used to spot political activists and ‘punish’ them with help of the Army rapid force. Countless people were hunted down. However one person, severely injured, gave enough evidence that led to the prosecution of the Chief’s gangster brethren. What relief can there be when an Army Chief acts in tandem with a prime minister to protect a gang?

The Chief’s brothers fled abroad after being convicted of murder. The Chief facilitated delivery of

Economic indicators worsen A sign of things to come?

A

LTHOUGH the PTI government has been mostly successful in steering the economy to relative safety through covid-19, the underlying problems that existed even before the pandemic continue to stand in the way of any recovery that is to be made.

The construction industry incentives that were introduced to increase economic activity and were renewed for this year as well are part of a strategy to mitigate the worst effects of the coronavirus on the economy. However, the latest macroeconomic indicators spell trouble for an economy that is still quite far from bouncing back.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) fell by a whopping 27 percent in the past seven months as compared to the same period of the last fiscal year.

What is more worrying is the fact that this drop is mainly due to a decline of $100 million in FDI coming in from China, which points towards a slowdown in CPEC projects, something that has been denied by the government but is reflected in the numbers. Pakistan finds itself between a rock and a hard place. On one end there is the IMF, that has forced the government to raise energy prices and taxes in order to restart the stalled $6 billion extended fund facility (EFF), and which is skeptical about CPEC. On the other end there is China that has already bet billions on CPEC’s success. The federal government is therefore walking a tightrope and must be careful not to annoy either side as both have become integral to the stability and progress of the country’s economy.

Simultaneously, the improving current account situation that had seen a surplus for a record five successive months, posted its second consecutive deficit in January amounting to $229 million. The PTI government had inherited a $20 billion current account deficit when it came to power in 2018 and over the course of two and a half years brought it to zero by curtailing imports. With sluggish exports and a rising import bill, the deficit is likely to remain in a narrow range but it is highly unlikely to be converted again into a surplus anytime soon. Unless the government rethinks its export policy that currently revolves around giving outright support to the industry in the form of tax breaks and subsidies, the trade deficit will not get any help from the inflow side. The time to do things the old way has passed.

Going beyond the Buddha’s finger

Washington Watch Dr James J Zogby

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was pleased when I heard that Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, was committed to creating a commission to investigate the January 6 insurrection. Upon learning that it was to be bipartisan and was, in her words, to focus on “our security, our security, our security,” I was somewhat less pleased.

Two stories came to mind.

The first was a tale related by a graduate school professor of Buddhist Philosophy: One day students seeking wisdom approached the Buddha asking the way to the moon. Without uttering a word, the Buddha pointed to the heavens. As the story goes, years later the students were studying the Buddha’s finger.

The second story was a pre-pandemic experience from Washington, DC: On most evenings during rush hour, at the busy intersection of Connecticut Avenue and K Streets, a very agitated man would show up shouting into a bullhorn at the hundreds of pedestrians hurriedly passing by on their way to the Metro entrance. “Repent and be saved.

If you do not find Jesus you are going to be punished

Arif Nizami Editor Managing Editor

Joint Editor

Umar Aziz Executive Editor

Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

Forces Intelligence (DGFI), and PicSix, an Israelbased firm run by former Israeli intelligence agents, besides middleman James Moloney, a Bangkokbased Irish national. The contract for the acquisition of the P6 Intercept was signed a day after Aziz Ahmed, Harris’ brother, became head of the Bangladesh army. The P6 Intercept a tool of mass surveillance, capable of tracing 200 to 300 mobile phones at the same time.

Haris handled large sums of money being channeled into Europe from Bangladesh. He had kept buying property and businesses and creating innovative ways to his money. In France, using his fake identity, he bought a stake in five companies and purchased a house in Paris. His companies were Bay of Bengal, Info Bay of Bengal, Snigdha, TPTY and MHPB Holdings. At the registered address of one of his companies is a store offering international money transfers.

Seven prominent human rights groups called on the United Nations to review its use of Bangladeshi peacekeeping troops after the world body denied claims by the country’s military that secretly bought mass surveillance equipment was used for peacekeeping missions.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) UN director Louis Charbonneau stated, ‘The UN should conduct its own inquiry into the allegations and take a fresh look at the human rights record of all Bangladesh units and individuals involved in peacekeeping missions.’ This statement was co-signed by HRW, International Federation for Human Rights, Asian Human Rights Commission, World Organisation against Torture, Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development, Robert F Kennedy Human Rights, and Eleos Justice.

It also called on the UN to make it clear that it is unwilling to be used as a cover-up for human rights abuses in Bangladesh, and that increasing Bangladeshi troops’ deployments should be put on hold pending the results of a comprehensive review of the global body’s ties with the Bangladesh military.

Unless the allegations are investigated by international agencies from all angles, the whole incident would set a precedent for others to follow.

The writer is a freelance journalist, has served in the Pakistan government for 39 years and holds degrees in economics, business administration, and law. He can be reached at amjedjaaved@gmail.com

The January 6 Commission must go deep

Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

Yousaf Nizami Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

fake documents, including passports with fake identities, to his brothers. The Chief kept close liaison with his fugitive brothers, convicted of the 1996 murder of a rival political leader.

Bangladesh’s prime minister showered favours on the Chief and his gangster brethren for the `protection’ they provided to the prime minister. At one stage she was heard saying that her political stalwarts were nowhere in sight when she was attacked during an election rally.

The Army Chief provided his two brothers Haris and Anis Ahmed as bodyguards when Hasina was opposition leader. It also alleged that the Ahmed clan’s fortunes “have been long intertwined with that of Hasina”.

None of the Ahmed brothers nor any of the Bangladesh officials mentioned in the report, including the prime minister, home minister, policeinspector general and police commissioner, responded to requests for comment in advance of the report’s release.

However, both the Bangladesh foreign ministry and army dismissed the allegations contained in the one-hour documentary. But, they did not condescend to answer any of the specific charges leveled.

They should at least unpuzzle the riddle how the chief’s brothers got involved in the murder of Mustafizur Rahman Mustafa in 1996. He was gunned down by three Ahmed brothers; Anis, Haris and Josef. Despite being riddled with bullets Rahman survived long enough to be the key witness at his own murder trial. His testimony, delivered from his deathbed in hospital, sealed the fate of the Ahmed gang at a trial in 2004.

Haris and Anis Ahmad fled Bangladesh following their murder conviction. A third brother was found guilty of the same murder charge and served 20 years in prison before being pardoned by the country’s president. Haris Ahmed lived in Hungary under the alias of Mohammad Hasan. He and Anis Ahmed owned a home in Kuala Lumpur.

Haris ran several businesses across Europe with the help of his highly placed brother, the Army Chief, who has been aware of Haris’s whereabouts and even met with him several times despite the fact Bangladesh law enforcement has an arrest warrant for him. Haris Ahmed even attended wedding of his nephew, the Army Chief’s son, in Dhaka.

The spyware deal was executed by frontline companies. It was a deal between the Bangladesh military intelligence agencies, the Directorate General of

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Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

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for your sins.” No one ever stopped to listen.

I find lessons from both stories to be instructive.

In the first case, the students clearly missed the Buddha’s direction. By focusing on the immediate, they got lost. They stopped their inquiry at the obvious and never reached the goal of their quest.

In the second instance, what was important wasn’t the message of the man with the bullhorn. It’s that no one stopped to hear him out. What he was offering would only become worth paying attention to if people stopped and listened. Only then would it matter.

How does this apply to the call for a commission?

A commission of inquiry is important. But it must not stop at the obvious. In this regard, I read a fascinating interview with former Congressman Tim Roemer, who served on the 9/11 Commission. In this interview Roemer spelled out several issues he hoped the January 6th Commission would examine: “We need to get to the bottom of the events of January 6. How was it planned? How was it carried out? Why did intelligence miss it? What did law enforcement miss? Was there a role─ and what was the role of President Donald Trump or Members of Congress? What were the roles of social media, of disinformation campaigns and conspiracy theories leading up to it, planning it, sharing it and inspiring people to be involved?”

All of these questions are, of course, important and necessary subjects of inquiry– as is the Speaker’s concern with the security of the Capitol. But they all stop short of answering the deeper question as to why so many fell prey to delusional conspiracy theories offered up by Trump, the QAnon cult, and anti-government, armed, violence-prone militias.

The existence of these groups and tactics they employ are worrisome, as is the success of Donald Trump in being able to convince millions that the election was stolen and the very future of the USA was dependent on “stopping the steal.” But more worrisome is the answer to the question: why were those millions so susceptible to his message (threequarters of Republican voters still believe the election was stolen), in the first place, making them fertile ground for these cults? And why were so many military veterans and police officers also so vulnerable to recruitment into these militia?

The answer to why January 6 happened isn’t just

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Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

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Donald Trump or social media or even “the toxic environment of politics in Washington.” Stopping there is like studying the Buddha’s finger. To get to the bottom of the problems that led to 1/6 it is necessary to understand why, to refer back to the lesson of the second of my stories, millions stopped to listen to what the hucksters were offering– whether it was from Trump, “Q”, or the leaders of the Proud Boys?

To get to the root causes of the crisis we are facing, it is necessary to go deeper than the proximate causes of January 6. It requires the type of in-depth analysis the was carried out by the 1967 Kerner Commission, created by President Lyndon Johnson to examine what caused the massive racial unrest and rioting of that period. The Commission didn’t point to the obvious, they went deep, finding that the anger of black Americans was the result of systemic racism manifested in inequality in employment, housing, education, health care, and police practices. The anger had given way to hopelessness and the result was the volatile rioting that was being witnessed during that period. We had become, the Commission concluded “two societies, one black and one white.” The Commission laid out specific recommendations to address this crisis, which, despite being ignored, were nevertheless important for the understanding they created and roadmap they presented for moving forward.

What is needed today is an equally deep probe into the social unrest among those white voters who were so receptive to Trump’s angry message and the conspiracy theories of the cults. Why are they so angry? What accounts for their alienation and feelings of social, political, cultural, and economic dislocation? What role does racial resentment play in all of this? And what steps can be taken to address their concerns and create healing of the deep divide that currently characterizes the American polity?

To some extent, the question we must explore are the same as those faced by Kerner: how have we become so deeply divided into polarized tribes who see the world so differently and what must we do we become one country? If we do not address this concern, the polarization will continue and it will only be a matter of time before we explode once again.

The writeris President of the Arab-American Institute

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

Wednesday, 24 February, 2021

COMMENT 07 Editor’s mail Send your letters to: Letters to Editor, Pakistan Today, 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah, Lahore, Pakistan.

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

Keeping up the fight against Covid-19 IN December, the positivity of rate was at eight percent. Now, the ratio has dropped down to three percent. This is all because of, government that defeated with Covid-19 and we should help the government in each regard that Covid-19 should run away completely from our country Pakistan. The government has to continue the same step and inform the people about what needs to be done in case they get infected.

Imran Sattar turbat

Child labour

Indian attempts to sabotage CPEC India keeps raising specious objections

malik muhammaD ashraf

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ONCEPTUALLY speaking, characterization of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as a game changer, an epoch-making step towards eternal strategic partnership between China and Pakistan, a catalyst to economic revolution in Pakistan and an engine to propel shared regional economic prosperity, is beyond reproach. And no person in his right mind can dare to contest these claims on any rational basis.

For a resource-constrained Pakistan, direct foreign investment which initially was $46 billion and swelled to $62 billion as of 2020 in the projects under the umbrella of CPEC, undoubtedly presents the best ever chance to nullify the effects of missed opportunities in the past, embarking on the path of a sustained economic growth and changing the economic profile of the country. For China also, the CPEC is a pivot of its strategy to revive the old Silk Route and gain easy access to the Arabian Sea for expanding its commercial interests globally. It certainly promises a win-win situation for both the countries and the entire region.

But unfortunately this envisaged economic bonanza is an eyesore for some countries, including India. Strenuous efforts are being made to sabotage its implementation. India never lets go any opportunity to harm Pakistan’s interests and has unleashed a sustained campaign to malign her, as revealed by the EU Disinfo Lab recently, and is in fact in the forefront to sabotage the CPEC. It has not only failed to respond to positive overtures by Pakistan for beginning a new chapter of amity between the two countries and peaceful resolution of the disputes between them, but it continues on the path of confrontation wedded to undermining the interests of Pakistan by all means.

According to media reports, a special desk has been created in RAW to undermine and thwart the implementation of the CPEC and the intelligence agencies of Pakistan have gathered authentic information to this effect. The RAW Chief, who reports directly to the Indian Prime Minster, is personally supervising the venture.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to China, reportedly expressed concern over Chinese investment in Pakistan under the

CPEC in his meeting with the Chinese President.

The Indian position is that the Corridor would be passing through a disputed territory (GigitBaltistan). India, it may be pointed out, had also raised the same argument with the Asian Development Bank, which was one of the financiers of the Diamer-Bhasha Dam, and the bank consequently had shown some reluctance in fulfilling its commitments after the Indian objections.

RAW has been backing and sponsoring insurgency in Balochistan and cross-border terrorism using Afghan territory. The nexus between RAW, TTP and the Afghan intelligence agency, DNS, is a wellknown fact. RAW has established sanctuaries and training camps for terrorists on Afghan soil. Pakistan has persistently raised this issue with the Afghan government to abolish these camps, which are being used by RAW to destabilize Balochistan, designed to undermine CPEC and for carrying out and sponsoring of acts of terrorism throughout Pakistan.

The modus operandi of RAW for sabotaging CPEC seems to be to exacerbate the security situation in Pakistan through acts of terrorism and consequently cause the creation of an ambience of despondency among the masses. It is pertinent to point out that the frequency of terrorist attacks in Balochistan and other parts of Pakistan increased tremendously after Pakistan and China signed agreements for initiating CPEC projects in Pakistan. The massacre of the members of the Ismaili community in Karachi on 13 May 2015, when the government had invited the entire political leadership for a briefing on the CPEC, was not just a coincidence, but a well-thought-out operation to create security concerns among the people as well as the Chinese leadership about the feasibility of implementing the proposed projects. All this coinciding with Modi’s visit to China and his raising the issue with Chinese leaders seemed a link in the same chain. The responsibility of this attack was claimed by TTP and Daesh, known to have links with India.

The arrest of Kulbhushan Jhadav in Balochistan and his confessions left no doubt about Indian support to insurgency in Balochistan and its sponsoring of acts of terrorism within Pakistan. The renewed spate of acts of terrorism in Balochistan and KPK also bear the footprint

of Indian involvement.

Sabotaging the CPEC is also a part of the US-India nexus designed to contain China. A sustained campaign has been unleashed to create doubts about CPEC and the likely benefits to accrue to Pakistan. The biggest argument being advanced is that the Chinese loans would exponentially add to the debt burden of the country and Pakistan, like Sri Lanka, would be caught in the Chinese debt trap. The contention in this propaganda is contrary to the ground realities. The major portion of the CPEC projects are direct Chinese investment in Pakistan. The Chinese loans only constitute six percent of the total debt burden of Pakistan. The reality is that these loans have been advanced at rates lower than charged by the international lending agencies.

It is pertinent to point out that both Pakistan and China have repeatedly asked India to join CPEC and play its role in the shared economic prosperity of the region, as envisaged in the objectives of the BRI initiative of the Chinese President XI Jinping. The concept of ‘One Belt One Road’ envisions partnership with the countries along the route to develop infrastructure which is absolutely essential for sustainable development of any country. China has also established the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), which is a major step towards providing required finances to the partner countries for the development of necessary infrastructure in their lands to be able to contribute to the shared economic prosperity and making the project a success as envisaged.

It is estimated that the annual trade volume between China and ‘Belt and Road’ countries will surpass $2.5 trillion in a decade or so, changing the political and economic landscape of the world.

It is indeed a pity that the Indian leadership has failed to comprehend the benefits of CPEC to the region, including India itself, and instead is pursuing a policy to sabotage it at the behest of her strategic partners who are hell bent to stop China from emerging as the major economic and military power of the world, which in any case is bound to fail. China is now unstoppable. It is therefore in India’s own long-term interest to abandon its hostile posture towards Pakistan as well as its attempts to sabotage CPEC.

It is indeed a pity that the Indian leadership has failed to comprehend the benefits of CPEC to the region, including India itself, and instead is pursuing a policy to sabotage it at the behest of her strategic partners who are hell bent to stop China from emerging as the major economic and military power of the world, which in any case is bound to fail. China is now unstoppable. It is therefore in India’s own longterm interest to abandon its hostile posture towards Pakistan as well as its attempts to sabotage CPEC

Malik Muhammad Ashraf is an academic.

He can be contacted at: ashpak10@gmail.com.

I want to draw your attention to the issue of child labour in Pakistan.

Child labour is the main critical core problem of Pakistan. This deprives children of their childhood, interferes with their ability to attend regular school, and is mentally, physically, socially, morally harmful. Children who work and do not go to school will end up in low-paid jobs later, so will their children, and this way the vicious cycle of poverty repeats itself. Poverty, social attitudes, large family size, low literacy rate are basic reasons for child labour. Uneducated parents are also sometimes the cause because they force their children to work. But on the other hand, most of the parents are helpless and they need to send their children to work so they can earn and live in this world. Domestic child labour is also the main issue that is hidden away and is not regulated by government. Pakistan is facing a lot of poverty ignorance, illiteracy rate, adult unemployment and illegal acts due to child labor. Implementation of law is more important than making new laws every other day. The government should provide these children free education till high school at least. When government will start working on reducing the poverty and illiteracy of parents then child labour will automatically decreases. navEra Imran LahorE

Mould your life BOOKS are the loyal friends of humans which help them in hard circumstances, aloneness and the learning process. The curricular books, read in educational institutions, teach about limited stuff. Besides, extra curricular books guide us unlimited and interminable information including different facts, cultures and traditions, religions, beliefs, the principles of life, success, happiness, empowerment, confidence,selfesteem, communication, ethics and much more knowledgeable content.

Extra curricular books play a magnificent role in moulding somebody’s life. Extra curricular books promote optimism and goodness in an individual. One can absorb unending information into themselves through such books. They create and provide aims for someone’s life and show them the right path in every situation. Thus, the upcoming youth should also concentrate on reading extra curricular books apart from course books.

Farahnaz turbat

Cyber crime CYBER crime is a certain sort of crime which is used to manipulate the people through fake numbers. Many contact numbers they are being used in the name of different companies. The excess use of such numbers has disturb the people in Pakistan. sometimes these companies betray people in the Name of Ehsaas, Benazir Income Support Program, Jeeto Pakistan and etc by sending fake to many numbers, their messages are like in your name 10 lake have been sent or you have luckily won one car prize, or one laptop. Further, usually they give a number under for which they suggest for contact. If you contact that number, they ask for silence and will give you some instructions or they ask you to recharge a card so as to get your lottery. If you send them some money or something, they will switch off their mobile. Thus, after facing so many disturbances people are facing too manu difficulties. I request to the people please try not be fooled ahead and do not follow any instruction.

FIda baShEEr hub

Sowing the seeds of science THE fact that Mars also called Red Planet has long been the most sought-after in the scientific arena only next to other beautiful natural creatures like Earth, Sun and Moon has been proved true once again.

The current NASA Mars Mission has got more attention from all. In particular, the landing of the so-called Perseverance Rover has been the talking point. So many conversations make it clear that a lot of great efforts have gone into this project aimed to know about the possible life existence, rock samples and the atmosphere on Mars. Such scientific endeavours not only kindle the learning curve of science but also disseminate the knowledge quotient in the long run. Even though we have been routinely attached to the technological advances, each day in our life unfolds only through the scientific activities like sunrise, sunset, the movement of air and Earth’s rotation to say a few. My high school days of the early 1990s in Korkai, Tirunelveli, Tiruchendur and Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu had given deep insights into the science domain in the form of many a book. Right now it is expected that the NASA is going to achieve the desired results from the current Mission.

Also, it is time to expand the science knowledge through proper means.

By the by, the ISRO has been planning to set up a new innovative rocket launch pad near Tiruchendur in Tamil Nadu all for scientific endeavours. That aside, such science units anywhere else as NASA should take steps to publish many more books on space missions and circulate them all in order to have the knowledge of the natural world and space.

P SEnthIL Saravana duraI mumbaI

Wednesday, 24 February, 2021

08 WORLD VIEW

Where Were the prOtesters When the rOhingya Were being murdered?

MYANMAR’S COUP HAS BROUGHT THOUSANDS ON TO THE STREETS, BUT IN 2017 THEY WERE EMPTY

GuardiaN

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kenan malik

OR almost three weeks there have been mass protests on the streets of Myanmar. On 1 February, the tatmadaw, or military, moved against the government of Aung San Suu Kyi, claiming fraud in last November’s elections, which her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), comprehensively won.

Since then, civil servants and teachers, bus drivers and garment workers have taken to the streets. Myanmar’s main city, Yangon, was brought to a standstill by a “broken-down” rally, where drivers left their cars parked across the roads, with bonnets open. there are even stories of police having joined in. the nationwide defiance of the military coup has been courageous and impressive, and echoes similar protests in Russia, Belarus and elsewhere. But, as welcome and important as these demonstrations are, they also lead to a difficult and uncomfortable question.

Where was all the marching and shouting and defiance over the past four years as the tatmadaw organised a brutal campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya

people, razing their villages, killing thousands and forcing hundreds of thousands to flee to neighbouring Bangladesh? the Rohingya, Muslims who live mostly in the northwest state of Rakhine, bordering Bangladesh, are the most persecuted of Myanmar’s many ethnic groups. though Rohingya have lived in Rakhine for generations, they are treated, officially and unofficially, as foreigners. the authorities refer to them as “Bengalis”, and the 2014 census refused to include Rohingya as an ethnic category. the military junta that came to power in Myanmar in 1962 (or Burma as it was then) fomented hatred against the Rohingya as a means of cementing support. the latest and most vicious drive began in 2017. Under the pretext of a campaign against “terrorists”, the army implemented a programme of ethnic cleansing, which many deem as possessing “genocidal intent”, a clampdown as brutal as China’s suppression of the Uighurs.

And yet, the assault on the Rohingya was met with at best indifference, at worst active collusion, both from the majority population and democracy activists. the tatmadaw began loosening its control in 2011, leading eventually to elections in 2015 which Aung San Suu Kyi’s NLD comprehensively won, as it did again last

year. For all the talk of democracy, however, the tatmadaw never relinquished power. the constitution, written by the generals, reserved a quarter of parliamentary seats for the military, gave it sole control of the three key ministries of defence, home affairs and border affairs, and a veto over constitutional change.

Aung San Suu Kyi provided a cover of democratic legitimacy. She also gave cover for brutality against the Rohingya. Many members of her NLD have been openly involved in extremist anti-Rohingya organisations. Aung San Suu Kyi herself first stayed silent, then dismissed claims of atrocities as “fake news”, and eventually backed the military’s campaign against “terrorists”. in 2019, she personally defended the military against charges of genocide at the international court of justice in the hague. her supporters have claimed that she had no choice, that it was not possible to challenge the might of the military; that if she did, it would turn on her, and so she had to accommodate it. As the coup demonstrates, accommodating the wishes of the military has made little difference. the generals still turned on her when it suited them. there is a deeper question, too: what price is a movement for democracy willing to pay to win a slice of power? Compromise may be inevitable in a situation

Afghanistan: Biden embraces the forever war REVERSING TRUMP’S PEACE AGREEMENT WILL MEAN THE AFGHAN WAR ENTERING ITS THIRD DECADE

sPiked

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Tim Black

N 7 October this year, it will be 20 years since the US and the UK launched Operation Enduring Freedom. this was the start of what we now know of as the War in Afghanistan. the operation may not have done much for freedom, but it has certainly endured, despite President Obama giving the operation a name change in 2014. in fact, it is the longest war that the US has ever been involved in. Longer than Vietnam. Longer even than the two world wars combined. it has cost the lives of tens of thousands of Afghan civilians, and hundreds of American and British soldiers. the Watson institute at Brown University puts the overall death toll at over 157,000 and counting.

And for what? the continued impoverishment of one of the poorest nations on the planet? A territory which is held by roughly the same antagonists in the same proportions as it was held 20 years ago? Rarely have so many given so much for so little. that grim 20th anniversary approaching in October was never meant to be reached, however. Under the conditions of the Agreement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan, struck between the trump administration and the taliban on 29 February last year, the 2,500 US and the 6,500 NAtO troops still based in Afghanistan were slated to be fully withdrawn by 1 May this year.

But that now looks increasingly unlikely to happen. President Joe Biden’s administration, rather predictably given its hawkish inclinations, is currently reviewing the trump deal, with US secretary of state Anthony Blinken wanting to ‘retain some capacity to deal with any resurgence of terrorism, which is what brought us [to Afghanistan] in the first place’. And NAtO, too, has refused to announce or confirm a troop departure date. ‘While no ally wants to stay in Afghanistan longer than necessary’, said NAtO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg last week, ‘we will not leave before the time is right’.

On the face of it, Stoltenberg is referring to the ongoing hostilities between the taliban, which is now in control of just over half of Afghanistan’s still largely tribal territory, and the Afghan government based in the capital of Kabul. indeed, the trump peace deal was dependent on three conditions being met: the severance of the taliban’s relationship with al-Qaeda, a reduction of taliban violence, and the start of meaningful negotiations between the taliban and the Afghan government.

So, with a rise in taliban attacks on government forces, as well as on judges, civil-society leaders and others, alongside rumours of taliban-al-Qaeda relations persisting, and fractious talks with the government barely continuing, it is not clear that the taliban really wants to broker a deal with the Afghan government. indeed, as one taliban commander told a times correspondent days after the trump agreement last year, ‘We

haven’t been shedding blood all these years with the intent of sharing power with the Kabul government. We fight for sharia, for the islamic emirate, not to make deals with democrats in the time of our victory.’ Such sentiments do not bode well for peaceable relations between the taliban and the government.

Yet, even if talks between President Ashraf Ghani’s government and taliban leaders do result in some sort of agreement, does that really qualify, in the eyes of the US and NAtO, as the ‘right time’ finally to leave Afghanistan? Or, even then, will the time still not be quite right? Will there be something else wrong in Afghanistan that necessitates the continuation of war? this gets at the heart of the problem with the Afghan War. For the time to be right, one has to know what it is the US and its allies want, what they are waiting for. When exactly is the ‘right time’? Because that has never been clear.

Even when Operation Enduring Freedom was launched in the aftermath of 9/11, the aim was never fixed. initially, it was to hunt down al-Qaeda and its leader Osama bin Laden, in retaliation for the attack on the twin towers. But that was soon folded into the broader, necessarily interminable ‘war on terror’. As many observed at the time, how can one fight a war against an abstract noun? to attempt to do so would necessarily condemn the protagonist to waging a war without any concrete objective. A war, that is, without end. And so, in the tragic context of Afghanistan, it has proved.

As bin Laden evaded capture, and the ‘war on terror’ expanded during the early 2000s, the aim of the Afghan War morphed into the elimination of the taliban as a source of terror. then it acquired smaller spin-off objectives. to stop the production of opium. to promote democracy. to liberate women from the strictures of an islamic state. indeed, Jake Sullivan, Biden’s pugnacious national security adviser, even talked last week of reviewing the trump deal because he wanted to ensure the ‘extraordinary gains’ made by Afghan women were protected.

Fine. But is that really the point of waging a 20-year-long war? to grant women in a nation thousands of miles away certain human rights? And, if so, why stop at Afghanistan? Why not wage a war in the name of human rights everywhere they are deemed to be withheld? this is not whataboutery. this, unfortunately, is precisely the ‘ethical’ logic that has justified countless devastating humanitarian interventions, from iraq to Libya, over the past few decades.

At this stage, then, it is not clear what could bring the war in Afghanistan to an end. What’s more, there are many who would like to see it continue. the Afghan government, itself a partial creation of NAtO and the US, continues to rely on the support, political and military, of the US and its allies.

And, without trump, an avowed if inconsistent opponent of ‘forever wars’, in the White house, the levers of US foreign policy are once again in the hands of those, from Sullivan to Blinken, who have always embraced foreign policy as a means of projecting American power abroad. What’s more, many Democrats in both houses, backed by hawks in the foreign-policy establishment, always opposed trump’s Afghanistan deal. As Democratic senator tammy Duckworth, channelling the spirit of the ‘war on terror’, put it in November, withdrawing troops from Afghanistan will endanger ‘our national security’. So, incredibly, it looks like the Afghan War could well continue into its third decade. No doubt it will be reframed once again, perhaps in terms of peacekeeping, or maintaining stability, or national security, or even counter-terrorism. But then, that is the thing about this most endless of wars. As a war for nothing in particular, it can be waged for anything in general. Forever.

Tim Black is a spiked columnist.

such as Myanmar’s, where the choice may be between working with the military or continued military rule. For many, though, and most especially for the Rohingya, the difference between the two has been hard to discern.

Failing to defend the Rohingya has only weakened the movement for democracy. there can be no form of democracy or freedom bought at the expense of the most vulnerable or despised in a society. this is true not just of the Rohingya in Myanmar, but of Muslims in india, of women in Saudi Arabia, of migrant workers in South Africa, of undocumented migrants in Europe. there are stories now of new links being forged between the democracy movement and Rohingya activists.

Many Rohingya have joined the anti-coup protests, while democrats’ hostility towards Rohingya seems to have reduced. trade unions, too, are beginning to forge new relationships with the struggle both for democracy and for Rohingya rights.

Whether these tentative steps develop into a proper movement remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: there can be no democracy unless there is democracy and equal rights for all.

Kenan Malik is an Observer columnist.

Media gatekeepers mad because they’re losing power THOUGH THE MEDIA-BIG TECH REGIME IS DOING ITS BEST TO SILENCE OPPONENTS AND SEIZE CONTROL OF THE HIGH GROUND, THE NEWS FROM WITHIN IS GRIM

New York Post

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Glenn H Reynolds

ith Donald trump out of office and de-platformed, you’d think mainstream media gatekeepers would be happy. You’d think wrong. though the media-Big tech regime is doing its best to silence opponents and seize control of the high ground, the news from within is grim. they aren’t happy with how things are going. that’s because they know they’re losing.

Some are losing audiences and revenues. But more important, they’re losing control of the narrative.

And since control of the narrative, and the power and self-importance that accompany that control, is the most important thing in their lives, they can’t be happy.

Consider the cri de coeur of Washington Post public editor hamilton Nolan, inspired by tesla’s decision to scrap its media-relations department. how could that happen?

Nolan knows how, and that’s what bothers him: tesla scrapped its media-relations department because the media don’t much matter to it. tesla has plenty of ways to get its story out without relying on the media, and that makes the media much less important — and much less powerful.

And it’s the power part that hurts the most.

Writes Nolan: “We are living through a historic, technology-fueled shift in the balance of power between the media and its subjects. the subjects are winning. . . . As journalists, we all view this as a horrifying assault on the public’s right to know, and on our own status as brave defenders of the public good. And that is all true, for what it’s worth. But this is about power.” it sure is. And the media have less. Some of that is because of technology, but more of it is because reporters and editors have lost their standing with the people whose “right to know” they allegedly uphold. the “right to know” claim rings hollow when

the Washington Post, along with virtually every other mainstream outlet, did its best to kill the stillundisputed hunter Biden stories published in these pages ahead of the election. Do the people have a “right to know” things in general? Or just the things Nolan would want them to know? Seems more like the latter, and people have noticed.

Right now, much of the media regurgitate news releases for those they favor — like the stories about President Biden’s firewood or First Lady Jill Biden’s scrunchie that were served up as news this week. And the media shut down stories they don’t want people to know about, like hunter’s. Why should tesla or any other news subject go along with that? Meanwhile, the New York times ran a hit piece on the “Slate Star Codex” blog, on the basis, apparently, that lots of Silicon Valley people read it and it says un-PC things sometimes. As Matt Yglesias wrote, the coverage boiled down to this: “Scott Alexander’s blog is popular with some influential Silicon Valley people. Scott Alexander has done posts that espouse views on race or gender that progressives disapprove of. therefore, Silicon Valley is a hotbed of racism and sexism.”

As Reason’s Robby Soave commented, “one starts to get the feeling that the times simply wants to tarnish every view that exists outside its own narrow purview, perhaps because the times has appointed itself the gatekeeper of the unsayable and resents having to relinquish this role to newer media ventures.”

One starts to get that feeling because it’s true. the times has also gone after the Clubhouse app, an audio forum that lets people talk about things in real time, also apparently because the paper doesn’t like the idea of free speech. in a tweet, the times warned that “unfettered conversations” are taking place on Clubhouse.

Quelle horreur! Bring out the fetters posthaste!

Actually, fetters seem to be what the times wants. in an earlier episode, New York times hall monitor taylor Lorenz falsely accused Clubhouse participant Marc Andreessen of using the word “retard” in a conversation, then issued a non-apology apology when cornered. Other journalists complained that because Clubhouse doesn’t keep or allow recordings, there’s no way to hold people “accountable” for saying something controversial. in all cases, the complaint is that people are bypassing the gatekeepers and saying what they want to say. Given the behavior of the gatekeepers, that doesn’t seem like a bug but a feature.

Bypass away!

Glenn Harlan Reynolds is a professor of law at the University of Tennessee and founder of the InstaPundit.com blog.

Wednesday, 24 February, 2021

BUSINESS 09

LAHORE corporate corner easypaisa introduces Whatsapp channel support for enhanced customer experience KARACHI: Easypaisa is transforming customer experience with WhatsApp channel support. This initiative enables users to access an interactive, automated support channel 24/7on a dedicated WhatsApp number +923411103737. Easypaisa’s WhatsApp support is a first of its kind initiative for any branchless banking player in Pakistan. Speaking on the development, M. Mudassar Aqil, CEO Easypaisa / Telenor Microfinance Bank, said: “As the pioneer of digital financial services in Pakistan, at Easypaisa, we have always strived to provide customers with the best-in-class digital payments experience and are constantly developing innovative solutions for them.

Through WhatsApp channel support, our aim is to provide customers the information they require in a convenient manner so that they can make better financial decisions when it comes to their digital banking needs”. PRESS RElEASE

ConFusIon oveR ev RegIstRatIon PRoCess IRks IMPoRteRs ISLAMABAD GHUlAM ABBAS

W

HILE the government has issued a presidential ordinance for early implementation of the Electric Vehicle (EV) policy, registration of vehicles is still not possible due to the need for an amendment in the relevant act.

According to sources in the federal excise and taxation department, an amendment was needed to implement the revised registration fee (for imported vehicles) under the EV policy and presidential ordinance.

"This amendment in the act is necessary since the government had decreased the registration fee/tax for EVs from 4pc of the value of the motor vehicle to 1pc under the presidential ordinance," said an official on the condition of anonymity. "The excise and taxation department has moved the proposed amendment to the interior ministry and may forward the same to the finance ministry before subsequent approval from the parliament."

Interestingly, an official at the Engineering Development Board (EDB), which is an attached department of Ministry of Industries and Production, claimed that the EV registration fee was

waived under the cabinet-approved EV policy. But it is now up to the provincial governments to implement it as they have their own excise and taxation departments, he explained.

"We don't know where the issue of registration of EVs has come from.

The concerned excise departments should implement the EV policy wherein the registration fee has been waived," he said.

Under the prevalent uncertain situation, it seems the importers of EVs would have to wait for more time to avail the facility for registration of vehicles.

"People who have imported EVs to

SCCI chief concerned over increase in charges by shipping lines LAHORE: Sanofi Pakistan and BIMA Mobile Pakistan inked a unique partnership to work together to address the unmet need for access to healthcare in Pakistan. This is probably the first time in Pakistan that a leading multinational pharmaceutical company and a microinsurance company have joined hands to disrupt the health eco-system positively. PR

Sialkot Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) President Qaisar Iqbal Baryar has expressed grave concerns over increase in charges by the shipping lines for export consignments.

In a press statement on Tuesday, Qaisar Iqbal Baryar said that in view of Covid-19, the charges of the shipping lines for different destinations have increased radically,

and are touching the highest level.

“Along with increase in prices, the services of the shipping lines are also not up to the mark,” he added.

Expressing his concern, Baryar said that the government is encouraging the export industry to boost up the foreign exchange earnings but the shipping lines are taking such unpleasant steps which are badly damaging the export sector,

making it uncompetitive in the international market.

The president SCCI stressed that the government should restrict shipping lines from increasing charges, so that the export sector could focus on the increase of exports which would ultimately result in betterment of the economy and increase the progress of the country. NEWS DESK

Govt urged to revive sick industrial units to create jobs KARACHI STAFF REPORT KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Monday held a gong ceremony to mark the listing of Panther Tyres Ltd. The successful initial public offering of Panther Tyres Ltd was this fiscal year’s fifth listing on the stock exchange in FY21. PR

Meezan Bank posts Rs22.1bn profit for 2020 The Board of Directors of Meezan Bank Ltd recently approved the audited financial statements of the bank for the year ended December 31, 2020. The meeting was presided by Riyadh S.A. A. Edrees -- Chairman of the Board. Faisal A. A. A. Al-Nassar – Vice Chairman of the Board, was also present on the occasion. The bank posted a results profit after tax of Rs22.17 billion for the year ended on December 31, 2020, as compared to Rs15.23 billion in the corresponding period last year – an impressive growth of 46pc. The bank’s earnings per share increased to Rs15.67 per share against Rs10.77 per share in December 2019 on enhanced capital of Rs14.147 billion. The board approved 20pc (Rs2.00 per share) final cash dividend for the year, bringing the total payout for the year to 60pc (Rs6.00 per share), as 40pc (Rs4.00 per share) interim cash dividend was paid in addition to 10pc bonus shares issued during the year.

Deposits of the bank closed at Rs1.25 trillion – 35pc up from December 2019. Meezan Bank is now the fifth largest bank in Pakistan in terms of deposits. The bank has a network of 815 branches and 880 ATMs in 248 cities across the country. NEWS DESK

The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) has urged the government to pay special attention to the rehabilitation of sick industrial units so as to boost economic activities and reduce unemployment.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Haji Zubair Ali, convener of the FPCCI committee on revival of sick industrial units, said that special relief should be provided to traders and investors for promotion of investment and industrial development. He said the rehabilitation of ailing industries would create vast employment opportunities, besides significantly increasing exports and government revenue.

While talking to a delegation of different chambers & associations, Ali said that huge capital is required to set up new units, which usually take at least three to four years to start production, whereas rehabilitation of a sick industrial unit requires small investment and it can be quickly incorporated into the mainstream of the national economy.

"In order to increase the country's GDP, uninterrupted supply of electricity and gas to industries must be ensured in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and integrated tribal districts, and Balochistan."

He sought special tax rebates as well as interestfree loans for investors and traders on easy terms so that the sick industries can stand on their own feet and move Pakistan on the right path of economic development. He said that many institutions had been forced to close down due to the global recession and local energy crisis, with production activities declining by 10pc in the industrial sector.

The government had initially announced creation of 10 million jobs, which is impossible without the development of industries and rehabilitation of ailing industries, he opined.

He further said that the government will have to take special measures and practical steps to revive the economy through industrialization. He also advised the owners of ailing industrial units to contact the FPCCI for necessary assistance towards rehabilitation of their ailing industries.

Govt striving to enhance Pak-Lanka trade, investment relations: Dawood ISLAMABAD: Adviser to Prime Minister for Commerce and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood said on Tuesday that the government was working to achieve its aim of enhancing trade and investment relations with Sri Lanka to commensurate with their bilateral ties. “In line with our policy of enhancing regional trade and connectivity, a delegation of prominent businessmen has arrived in Sri Lanka for the visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan on February 23-24, 2021,” the adviser said on his Twitter account. He said Sri Lanka was a very important country for Pakistan as “we signed our first-ever Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with it”. He said during the visit, the whole spectrum of bilateral trade and economic relations would be discussed, and a trade and investment conference would be held at Colombo on February 24. Pakistan and Sri Lanka have agreed to reactivate joint working groups to address technical issues hampering bilateral trade. The advisor said that it was decided to conduct the next JWG meeting during the first half of the current year. APP

avail the relaxed duty on Completely Built Units (CBUs) are now waiting for the implementation of relaxed registration fee structure," said an importer while talking to this scribe. "It is unfortunate that the registration process is still pending despite the issuance of an ordinance which was, ironically, aimed to speed up the implementation process," he added.

According to sources, the government had earlier announced complete waiver of registration and annual renewal fee for EVs in Islamabad. But the same was also uncertain as the process could not start owing to delay in the implementation of the EV policy.

Byco Petroleum's net profit jumps to Rs961m in 1HFY21 The Board of Directors of Byco Petroleum Pakistan Ltd (BYCO) on Tuesday announced the company’s financial results for the six months ended 31 December 2020. The company’s gross revenues declined 20pc due to fall in oil prices to Rs100.1 billion from Rs125.6 billion in the corresponding period last year, owing to Covid impact on the economy. BYCO's gross profits, however, increased 30pc to Rs3.3 billion from Rs2.5 billion a year earlier due to favorable crude and furnace oil prices. Operating profit increased 20pc to Rs2.3 billion from Rs1.9 billion in the same period last year, mainly on the back of strict discipline on costs. The company’s net profit increased to Rs961 million, or Rs0.18 per share, from Rs213 million, or Rs0.04 per share, in the same period of 2019, more than 4.5 times last year’s corresponding net profit. BYCO Chief Executive Officer Amir Abbassciy commented: “Byco expects that discussions between the Government of Pakistan and oil refineries will be productive in developing a long overdue refining policy, so that refineries and the government can chart the next decade of development in this crucial sector. The company places its gratitude with the Government of Pakistan, its customers, shareholders, suppliers, and all other stakeholders for the co-operation extended during the pandemic.” NEWS DESK

Industrial use of electricity up 17pc in Jan: minister ISLAMABAD: Power Division Minister Omar Ayub Khan revealed on Tuesday that the industrial use of electricity witnessed about 17 per cent increase during the month of January 2021, owing to the provision of power to the industry at concessional rates and abolishment of peak hours' factor. In a tweet, the minister noted the industry has now started performing, terming it the "real change". "The Power Division, while materializing the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan, has started provision of electricity to the industrial sector at concessional rates," he tweeted. It may be noted that the government had last year slashed the power tariff primarily for the industrial sector with an aim to utilise the idle capacity of electricity and put the country on its way to industrialisation. APP

MARKET DAILY

Stocks extend losses in range-bound trade KARACHI STAFF REPORT

Following the massive decline a day ago, the stock market extended its fall, though at a slower pace on Tuesday, with the indices failing to hold on to early gains amid weak investor sentiment.

Global equity markets also showed a negative trend, whereas crude oil prices appreciated further from the previous close; WTI crude price rising 1.02pc to $62.34 while Brent crude price increasing 0.87pc to

$64.92 (as at 4:00pm PST).

"Reminiscent of yesterday, the index failed to maintain the positive momentum and closed in the red. Banking, cement, oil & gas marketing sectors continued with the downtrend following the announcement of half yearly/annual results. Exploration & production sector, on the other hand, remained positive on the back of an uptrend in international crude prices. Technology stocks closed in the red despite posting significant gains in early trade," a report issued

by Arif Habib Ltd read.

MARKET SUMMARY: The benchmark KSE-100 Index moved in a narrow range on Tuesday, registering its intraday high at 46,083.66 (+193.62 points) and low at 45,663.03 (-227.01 points). It settled lower by 161.29 points at 45,728.75.

Among other indices, the KMI-30 Index gained 37.40 points to end at 75,937.72, while the KSE All Share Index dropped 21.38 points, closing at 31,626.19.

The overall market volumes fell from 721.95 million shares in the previous session to 717.40 million shares (0.5pc). Worldcall

CMYK

Telecom (WTL +5.81pc), Byco Petroleum Pakistan Ltd (BYCO -5.01pc) and Media Times Ltd (MDTL +8.24pc) led the volume chart, exchanging 84.27 million, 70.37 million and 55.44 million shares, respectively.

Sectors that kept the benchmark index in the red included technology & communication (-112.74 points), banking (-75.65 points) and oil & gas marketing (-30.59 points). Among the companies, TRG Pakistan Ltd (TRG 103.08 points), Habib Bank Ltd (HBL -54.68 points) and Pakistan State Oil Company Ltd (-19.24 points) dented the index the most.

Shedding 2.79pc from its cumulative market capitalization, the tech & communication sector ended as the session’s worst performer, with TRG Pakistan Ltd (TRG 5.70pc), Systems Ltd (SYS -1.08pc) and NetSol Technologies Ltd (NETSOL 0.58pc) closing in the negative.

On the financial side, Byco Petroleum Pakistan Ltd (BYCO -5.01pc) declared earnings per share Rs0.10 for 2QFY21 (Rs0.12 last year), whereas Pakistan Tobacco Company Ltd (PAKT +1.29pc) posted an EPS of Rs64.55 for FY20 (Rs50.45 in FY19).

Wednesday, 24 February, 2021

10 FOREIGN NEWS

LAHORE

US pUtS SanctionS on two MyanMar generalS over coUp WASHINGTON

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AGENCIES

HE United States on Monday imposed sanctions on two members of Myanmar’s military junta and threatened further actions over the country’s February 1 coup. The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control said the move took aim at General Maung Maung

Kyaw, who is the air force commander in chief, and Lieutenant General Moe Myint Tun, a former army chief of staff and commander of one of the military’s special operations bureaus which oversee operations from the capital, Naypyidaw.

“The military must reverse its actions and urgently restore the democratically elected government in Burma, or the Treasury Department will not hesitate to take further action,” the department said

in a statement.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken echoed the threat. “We will not hesitate to take further action against those who perpetrate violence and suppress the will of the people,” Blinken said in a statement.

A general strike against military rule shut businesses in Myanmar on Monday and huge crowds gathered peacefully despite fears of violence after authorities warned

that confrontation could be deadly.

Three weeks after seizing power, the junta has failed to stop the daily protests and a civil disobedience movement calling for the reversal of the coup and release of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi. “We call on the military and police to cease all attacks on peaceful protesters, immediately release all those unjustly detained, stop attacks on and intimidation of journalists and activists, and restore the

Nepal's top court orders reinstatement of parliament in blow to PM KATHMANDU AGENCIES

Nepal’s top court on Tuesday ordered the reinstatement of parliament, dealing a blow to Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli two months after he dissolved the house and called for

an early election amid squabbling within the ruling Communist party. The ruling means Oli, who was elected in 2018 following his party’s landslide win in an election in 2017, faces a no-confidence vote once parliament re-sits.

The Himalayan nation has been in political turmoil since December when Oli, who turned 69 on Tuesday, made a sudden decision to call elections 18 months ahead of schedule amid the coronavirus pandemic that has hit the tourism-dependent economy hard. “The recommendation for the dissolution of the House of Representatives and the notice dissolving Parliament have been rejected by the honourable judges,” Bhadrakali Pokharel, a court official, told Reuters.

Judges heard more than a dozen petitions challenging Oli’s move as unconstitutional and seeking the reinstatement of the house, which still had two years to run when it was dissolved. Oli had

defended his move, saying his rivals in the Nepal Communist Party had not cooperated with the government in the appointment of officials to panels such as the national human rights and anti-corruption commissions, and in other policy decisions. But judges rejected this and ordered that parliament be convened within 13 days. “The House of Representatives is reinstated as it is able and competent to perform its work,” the court said. About 100 slogan-shouting activists, their faces smeared in vermillion, lit candles on the street in the heart of Kathmandu to celebrate the verdict and urged Oli to quit.

The verdict was welcomed by opposition parties and opponents from his own party who have launched street protests across the country since the dissolution. “This is a victory of the constitution and the Supreme Court has fulfilled the popular aspiration for justice by restoring the parliament,” said Pampha Bhusal, a senior leader of the Nepal Communist Party. Oli and his aides were not immediately available for comment but his lawyers said they would honour the ruling. “We respect the court and honour the verdict. The parliament will sit within 13 days as ordered by the court,” Ramesh Badal, one of Oli’s lawyers, told Reuters.

Facebook 'refriends' Australia after changes to media laws CANBERRA AGENCIES

Facebook will restore Australian news pages, ending an unprecedented week-long blackout after wringing concessions from the government over a proposed law that will require tech giants to pay traditional media companies for their content.

Both sides claimed victory in the clash, which has drawn global attention as countries including Canada and Britain consider similar steps to rein in the dominant tech platforms and preserve media diversity.

While some analysts said Facebook had defended its lucrative model of collecting ad money for clicks on news it shows, others said the compromise - which includes a deal on how to resolve disputes - could pay off for the media industry, or at least for publishers with reach and political clout.

“Facebook has scored a big win,” said independent British technology analyst Richard Windsor, adding the concessions it made “virtually guarantee that it will be business as usual from here on.”

Australia and the social media group had been locked in a standoff after the government introduced legislation that challenged Facebook and Alphabet Inc’s Google’s dominance in the news content market.

Facebook blocked Australian users on February 17 from sharing and viewing news content on its popular social media platform, drawing criticism from publishers and the government.

But after talks between Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, a concession deal was struck, with Australian news expected to return to the social media site

in coming days. “Facebook has refriended Australia, and Australian news will be restored to the Facebook platform,” Frydenberg told reporters in Canberra. Frydenberg said Australia had been a “proxy battle for the world” as other jurisdictions engage with tech companies over a range of issues around news and content.

Australia will offer four amendments, which include a change to the proposed mandatory arbitration mechanism used when the tech giants cannot reach a deal with publishers over fair payment for displaying news content.

‘UNTESTED’: Facebook said it was satisfied with the revisions, which will need to be implemented in legislation currently before the parliament.

“Going forward, the government has clarified we will retain the ability to decide if news appears on Facebook so that we won’t automatically be subject to a forced negotiation,” Facebook Vice President of Global News Partnerships Campbell Brown said in a statement online.

The company would continue to invest in news globally but also “resist efforts by media conglomerates to advance regulatory frameworks that do not take account of the true value exchange between publishers and platforms like Facebook.” Analysts said while the conces-

sions marked some progress for tech platforms, the government and the media, there remained many uncertainties about how the law would work. “Retaining unilateral control over which publishers they do cash deals with as well as control over if and how news appears on Facebook surely looks more attractive to Menlo Park than the alternative,” said Rasmus Nielsen, head of the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, referring to Facebook headquarters.

democratically elected government,” Blinken said.

Like several military officers named in the first round of US sanctions on Myanmar since the coup, both generals blacklisted on Monday have been appointed as members of the junta’s State Administration Council.

Their designation freezes any US assets they may have and generally bars Americans from dealing with them.

Defying court order, Malaysia deports more than 1,000 Myanmar nationals KUALA LUMPUR AGENCIES

Malaysia sent more than 1,000 Myanmar nationals back to their strife-torn homeland on Tuesday despite a court order to halt the deportation, a move rights groups said could endanger the deportees’ lives.

The 1,086 Myanmar citizens were sent back on three navy ships sent by Myanmar’s military, which seized power in a February 1 coup, sparking weeks of protests from pro-democracy activists.

Malaysia had initially said it would deport 1,200. Malaysia vowed not to deport Rohingya Muslims or refugees registered with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). But the agency has said at least six people registered with it were among the deportees. Refugee groups also say asylum seekers from the minority Chin, Kachin and non-Rohingya communities fleeing conflict and persecution at home are among those being deported. Malaysia’s Immigration Department director-general said the repatriated Myanmar citizens did not include Rohingya refugees or asylum-seekers.

“All of those returned had agreed to be sent back voluntarily without being forced by any party,” Khairul Dzaimee Daud said in a statement. He did not respond to queries on why the repatriation was carried out despite the court-ordered halt. The Kuala Lumpur High Court had granted a stay until 10 a.m. on Wednesday (today), when it was scheduled to hear an application by rights groups for a judicial review to suspend the deportation. Just before the ruling, the migrants were bussed in from across the country to the naval base at Lumut in western Malaysia where the Myanmar ships were docked. Myanmar’s military-backed news outlet Myawaddy reported that the ships were bringing back Myanmar nationals who were not granted permission to come back under the former ruling civilian government.

Wednesday, 24 February, 2021

SPORTS 11

LAHORE

Peshawar Zalmi defeat multan sultans by six wickets

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NEWS DESK

ESHAWAR Zalmi picked up their first points of the season with a near-perfect batting display in chase against Multan Sultans. Anchored by a Tom Kohler-Cadmore 53, and handy knocks from Kamran Akmal (37) and Imam-ul-Haq (48), Zalmi outdid Sultans' 193 with six wickets and six balls to spare. A slow-burn kind of innings exploded into life at the end, thanks to Haider Ali's blitz, 24 off just eight, and Sultans' thin bowling on the night was laid bare for all.

Sultans themselves had had a good batting innings, one that had begun with the early wicket of Chris Lynn, but was set right by a trademark languid effort from James Vince. Coming in at No. 3, Vince displayed his aesPESHAWAR ZALMI 197 thetic gifts in partnerships FOR 4 (KOHLER-CADMORE with captain Mohammad 53, IMAM-UL-HAQ 48) BEAT Rizwan (41), and a rollicking Sohaib Maqsood (36). But MULTAN SULTANS 193 FOR 4 their total - having lost only (VINCE 84, RIZWAN 41) BY four wickets - seemed well short by the end of the evening.

SIX WICKETS The stars were strewn all over for Zalmi. With the ball, Mohammad Imran nicked a four-over spell on an expensive night: 4-0-24-1, with the wicket of Rizwan. Mohammad Irfan got Lynn with his partnerships, setting up for the perfect little first ball and then held a sharp catch to end surge at the end to win with six balls to Vince's innings. spare.

Their batting was an all-round effort that The architects were their top three seemed almost too good to be true: the per- Akmal, Imam, and Kohler-Cadmore, who fectly paced innings, and the perfectly paced put up back-to-back half-century stands in a

tall chase. With that base, they made perfect use of Sherfane Rutherford, Shoaib Malik, and Haider to accelerate at the end. Even with the loss of some quick wickets at the end, they seemed in total control - particularly Haider, who said he had been padded

up and waiting since the innings began, with a potential No. 3 role. Ultimately, he bashed an unbeaten eight-ball 24 to make sure Sultans had no further openings.

Sultans had a decent powerplay, but one that might have kept them from getting a

bigger score on a belter of a batting surface.

Their 46 for 1 involved a bit of rebuilding after the early wicket, but Rizwan and Vince took some time getting to pace with the pitch. They did put up what was then the highest total of the tournament, but their bowling innings showed they didn't quite get as much as was on offer.

Sultans also missed a trick with their bowing combination. The use of Carlos Brathwaite as a fifth bowler seemed contingent on their experienced bowlers all hitting their straps. On this night, that didn't happen and his 42 off four overs, including the final over where Haider changed the momentum of the chase, proved costly. There was also a demonstrable miss - a run-out opportunity with Kohler-Cadmore stranded halfway down the pitch in the 10th over.

Usman Qadir cannot take a step into his bowling action without comparisons to his father, and in a short T20 career, he's shown guile that warrants those comparisons. While it's been a sedate start in other formats for him, Qadir showed why he enjoys success in this format - he revels in keeping batsmen glued to the crease with little idea what the ball is doing. And he did that on Tuesday night as well, getting Sultans the breakthrough with a googly that was preceded by dipping length balls that could have beaten either edge of the right- and left-handed batsmen at the crease - Akmal and Imam. He did end up getting Akmal with a skiddy googly, and while Shahid Afridi struggled to get into his spell with comfort at the other end, Qadir kept the scoring rate in check.

Root, Kohli fear pink ball twilight collapse NEW DELHI AGENCIES

England captain Joe Root and India skipper Virat Kohli have both warned of the challenges of playing during the twilight zone in day-night Tests -when batting collapses can happen -- ahead of their third Test clash starting Wednesday (today).

The match will be the first time that India and England–level at 1-1 in the four-match series–face each other in a day-night encounter.

"It's much more challenging to play with the pink ball regardless of what pitch you are playing on," Kohli said on the eve of the match in the world's biggest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad.

"And especially in the evening, if, as a batting team, you are starting your innings under lights, then that one-and-a-half hour is challenging," Kohli told reporters.

"When it starts to get dark, especially during that twilight period, it gets very tricky. Light changes, it's difficult to sight the ball and under lights is like playing the first session in the morning in a normal Test match. The ball tends to swing a lot." Both teams have had painful experiences of pink-ball cricket.

India were bowled out for 36 by Australia in Adelaide in December and New Zealand skittled England in Auckland for 58 in 2018. "Both are bizarre experiences for two quality sides," Kohli said. "Barring that 45 minutes of bad cricket (in Adelaide) we dominated the Test match. We are very confident in

how we play the pink ball."

'ROLL WITH IT': Root agreed that batsmen need to careful–and not just in the evening when the lights come on the ball can start swinging. "I think there's been a trend in all the pink-ball Test matches of collapses on occasion," Root told a separate news conference. "It seems to be a trend and it's something as a batting group you need to make sure you stop," he said.

"It's sometimes been right at the start of the game, you know the morning session, late on in day four, that this strange sort of passages of play has happened."

He added: "When you get that opportunity and you're on the right side of it, you're in the field with a ball in hand, you really get and roll with it. You take every opportunity and chance and you make that really count in your favour.

"Similarly with a bat in hand, you've just got to really make sure those (first) 20 balls, you're fighting with everything you've got to get yourself in, get accustomed to the wicket, the conditions and make sure you build that partnership which is so vital." The Ahmedabad stadium has a capacity of 110,000 people and authorities have allowed 55,000 tickets to go on sale each day. Each side has had a convincing win in the first two Tests.

England won the first by 227 runs, while India claimed the second by 317 runs. Both need a win to keep alive their hopes of reaching the World Test Championship final.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s headed brace helps Juventus beat Crotone and keep pace at top TURIN AGENCIES

Cristiano Ronaldo kept Juventus within sight of the Serie A summit on Monday with a headed brace which helped the champions to a 3-0 win over bottom club Crotone.

Portugal forward Ronaldo struck twice late in the first half to break the resistance of lowly Crotone and keep

Juve eight points behind league leaders Inter Milan. Weston McKennie made sure of the points midway through the second half, lashing home when the ball broke to him after a corner.

Andear Pirlo’s side climb to third with the win thanks also to Roma, who are a point back in fourth, only managing a goalless draw at Benevento on Sunday night. They are also four points behind second-placed AC

Milan who have lost three of their last five league matches, including Sunday’s 3-0 derby thumping at the hands of Inter. Juve, chasing their 10th straight league title, have a game in hand on both Milan clubs and play Inter in the penultimate round of league games in Turin.

Crotone meanwhile remain rooted to the bottom of the division thanks to their fifth defeat on the bounce.

Warner prepared for long-term pain from groin injury SYDNEY AGENCIES

Australia opener David Warner has admitted the groin injury that kept him out of half of the Test series against India over the new year might still be causing him pain for another nine months.

The 34-year-old, who sustained the injury in a onedayer against India in November, missed the first two Tests against the tourists before playing partially-fit for the remainder of the series as Australia slumped to a 2-1 defeat.

The lefthanded batsman will be key to Australia's hopes of retaining the Ashes when England tour at the end of this year but Warner said he might not be playing pain-free until just before that series. "I am almost back to full 100 per cent sprinting in a straight line," he said while commentating on Australia's first Twenty20 against New Zealand on Monday.

CMYK

"This next week is getting back to fielding, picking up, throwing -- very difficult that was, last couple of weeks, even trying to throw. "Now it's all about lateral (movement), running between wickets, building that up.

"It's just the tendon that has got that slight tear in it now.

It's going to aggravate me for the next six to nine months but I am sure the medicos will help me out there."

Warner, who is scheduled to captain Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League in April, was selected for Australia's Test tour of South Africa but that was later aborted because of health concerns. He said he had spoken to other athletes who had suffered similar injuries. "They have just said it's a niggle," Warner added. "You have just got to teach your brain to not worry about the pain and that it's not going to happen again. "It's just getting back that confidence to sidestep and run as hard as I can and dive around again. Once I get that, I will be right to go. It's just not 100 per cent there yet."

Wednesday, 24 February, 2021

NEWS Pakistan critical to Pushing taliban to reduce violence as Peace talks resume ISLAMABAD

a

staff report

FTeR more than a month of delay, escalating violence and a flurry of diplomatic activity peace talks between the Taliban and Kabul have resumed in Qatar, with Pakistan seen as critical to pushing the Afganistan-based insurgent group to reduce violence and eventually, agree on an outright ceasefire.

Taliban spokesman Dr Mohammad Naeem tweeted Monday night that talks had resumed in Doha, where the insurgent movement maintains a political office. There were no details other than the atmosphere was “cordial”, a commitment that negotiations should continue and an announcement that the first item of business will be setting the agenda.

When talks ended abruptly in January, just days after beginning, both sides submitted their wish lists for agendas. The task now is for the two sides to sift through the respective wish lists, agree on items to negotiate and the order in which they will be tackled.

The priority for the Afghan government, Washington and NATO is a serious reduction in the violence lead-

ing to a cease-fire. The Taliban have said it is negotiable, but until now have resisted any immediate cease-fire.

Washington is reviewing the February 2020 peace deal the previous Trump administration signed with the Taliban that calls for the final withdrawal of international forces by May 1. The Taliban have resisted suggestions of even a brief extension, but a consensus is mounting in Washington for a delay in the withdrawal deadline.

There is even a suggestion of a smaller intelligence-based force staying behind that would focus almost exclusively on counter-terrorism and an increasingly active and deadly Islamic State affiliate, headquartered in eastern Afghanistan.

But neither Washington nor NATO has yet to announce a decision on the fate of an estimated 10,000 troops, including 2,500 American soldiers, still in Afghanistan. The Biden administration has emphasized a political solution to the protracted Afghan conflict, retained Zalmay Khalilzad, the man who negotiated the US peace deal with the Taliban and until now avoided any definitive statements about the road forward.

The resumption in talks in Doha

follows on the heels of a blizzard of diplomatic activity including a steady stream of officials to Pakistan and Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa.

Pakistan is seen as critical to getting the Taliban back to the table but also to pressing the insurgent movement — whose leadership is headquartered in Pakistan — to reduce violence in Afghanistan.

Just this past week the US Central Command head Gen Kenneth F McKenzie was in Islamabad, as was Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Afghan envoy, Zamir Kabulov and Qatar’s foreign ministry’s special envoy Dr Mutlaq Bin Majed Al Qahtani. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s special envoy Umar Daudzai is expected in Islamabad on Wednesday.

While details of the meetings have been sketchy, Afghanistan featured prominently and officials familiar with the talks said a reduction of violence and eventual cease-fire dominated discussions.

Pakistan, which also still hosts 1.5 million Afghan refugees has repeatedly said the only solution in Afghanistan is political and has previously been credited with getting the Taliban to the negotiating table.

PDM to name long march as inflation march ISLAMABAD Mian abrar

An exclusive meeting of the steering committee of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) to finalise the preparations for the long march scheduled for March 26 was held on Tuesday, yet failed to make any official announcements for the march.

Sources in the coalition of 11 opposition parties said that the meeting was marred by mismanagement and disputes which is why it could not reach any conclusion. Reportedly, Convener Committee Ahsan Iqbal failed to invite all parties to attend the meeting in time.

Moreover, the meeting had to be shortened due to the absence of its members and the media was not briefed as the number of members

was not complete. In the last meeting, Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) had made it clear to all parties to bear the expenses of their workers themselves.

The meeting, which was held in the federal capital and chaired by PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal, discussed the Senate elections and the strategy of the long march. It also discussed the strategy and expenditure of the opposition for the success of the march.

The sources said that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Raja Pervez Ashraf, Usman Kakar of Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), Sikandar Sherpao of Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) and Mian Iftikhar Hussain of Awami National Party (ANP) attended the meeting.

The central leadership of the

PDM, in a separate meeting chaired by the coalition president, decided to name the long march as the Inflation March.

On behalf of the PML-N, Vice President Maryam Nawaz, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Ameer Haider Hoti from ANP, Aftab Sherpao of QWP, Mahmood Khan Achakzai of PkMAP and other leaders also attended the meeting.

Meanwhile, an important meeting of the General Council of PMLN has been convened on February 27.

Party leader Nawaz Sharif will participate through video-link. PMLN General Secretary Iqbal has said that the important meeting of the PML-N General Council will be held on February 27 in which party leader Nawaz Sharif and vice president Maryam Nawaz will participate.

How rich is Saudi Arabia?

Kingdom does the math in balance sheet overhaul The kingdom is working on creating a consolidated balance sheet of its assets and liabilities which will include items currently kept off the oil-rich economy’s books, including the investments and debts of its powerful sovereign wealth fund.

“The main purpose of this programme is to have a financial equivalent of an MRI of the government balance sheet,” a Finance Ministry spokesman told Reuters, adding that it would include assets and liabilities that are currently “off-balance sheet”.

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman has put Public Investment Fund (PIF), Saudi Arabia’s main sovereign wealth fund, at the centre of reforms aimed at diversifying the economy of the world’s top oil exporter away from fossil fuel.

Under the prince’s chairmanship, PIF has transformed from a sleepy sovereign wealth fund into a global investment vehicle making multi-billion

dollar bets on hi-tech companies such as Uber as well as other equity investments and pledging tens of billions of dollars to funds run by Japan’s Softbank.

Its financial statements are not published and it does not feature in the kingdom’s budget, which is publicly available.

Gulf countries don’t typically publish information about their overall debts and assets but the PIF’s riskier investment profile and infusion of state funding have made its opacity an issue for some investors.

“Transfers of wealth from liquid pools of assets like central bank reserves into PIF’s less liquid [and less transparent] investments increases the overall risk profile of the public sector balance sheet,” said Kirjanis Krustins, a director in Fitch’s sovereign team.

“Debt investors would tend to see the government and its key government-related entities such as PIF as representing substantially the same risk. agencies Published by Arif Nizami at Qandeel Printing Press, 4 Queens Road, Lahore, for PT Print (Pvt) Limited. Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965. Email: newsroom@pakistantoday.com.pk