EpaperLHR_21-03-20

Saturday, 20 March, 2021 I 5 Shaban, 1442 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XI No 261 I 12 Pages I Lahore Edition

Coronavirus infeCtions Continue upward rally as third wave intensifies g

40 PATIeNTs dIe oF coRoNAvIRUs-ReLATed coMPLIcATIoNs WHILe 813 RecoveR dURINg THe PAsT 24 HoURs ISLAMABAD/LAHORE

a

staff report

cTIve coronavirus cases were recorded at 27,188 on Friday with 3,449 more people testing positive for the deadly virus and 813 people recovering from the disease during the past 24 hours.

The positivity rate was recorded at 8.04 per cent during the past one day.

40 covid-19 patients died during past the 24 hours, 38 of whom were under treatment in hospitals and two in their respective homes under quarantine, according to the latest update issued by the National command and operation centre (Ncoc). during the last 24 hours, most of the deaths had occurred in the Punjab followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). out of the total 40 deaths, 17 of the deceased had died on ventilators during their treatment. Maximum ventilators were occupied in four major areas — Multan 41 per cent, Islamabad capital Territory (IcT) 51 per cent, Peshawar 26 per cent and Lahore 39 per cent.

The maximum oxygen beds (alternate oxygen providing facility other than ventilator administered as per medical requirement of a coronavirus patient) was also occupied in four major areas

– gujrat 75 per cent, Peshawar 53 per cent, IcT 40 per cent and Rawalpindi 32 per cent.

Around 276 ventilators were occupied elsewhere in the country while no coronavirus patient was on ventilator in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), gilgitBaltistan (gB) and Balochistan. some 42,845 tests were conducted across the country on Thursday, including 10,527 in sindh, 15,818 in Punjab, 7,443 in KP, 7,291 in IcT, 453 in Balochistan, 289 in gB, and 1,024 in AJK. Around 578,314 people have recovered from the disease so far across Pakistan, making it a significant count with over 90 per cent recovery ratio of the affected patients. since the outbreak, a total of 619,259 cases have been detected that also include those who passed away or recovered those currently under treatment for coronavirus. so far, AJK has reported 11,377 cases, Balochistan 19,290, gB 4,967, IcT 50,096, KP 77,972, Punjab 193,054 and sindh 262,503.

About 13,757 deaths were recorded in country since the first case of the highly contagious virus emerged last year. Around 4,473 people died in sindh with four deaths occurring in the hospital during the past 24 hours.

5,919 people had died in Punjab with 23 deaths occurring in the past 24 hours. 21 of them were in the hospital and two out of the hospital. 2,196 people died in KP with eight of them passing away in the hospital. 536 died in IcT, including five deaths in hospitals, 202 in Balochistan, 103 in gB and 328 in AJK succumbed to the deadly virus.

A total of 9,691,087 coronavirus tests have been conducted so far, while 631

g

hospitals are equipped with covid-19 facilities. some 2,601 coronavirus patients were admitted in hospitals across the country.

UHS CONTINUES CLINICAL TRIAL OF ANOTHER COVID-19 VACCINE: Meanwhile, the University of Health sciences (UHs) continued the clinical trials of another chinese vaccine, ZF2001.

The researchers at the UHs completed the screening of 250 volunteers.

Policy rate to remain unchanged at 7pc: SBP ISLAMABAD staff report

The Monetar y Policy committee (MPc) of the state Bank of Pakistan has once again decided to maintain the policy rate at seven per cent.

It is the fourth time that the central bank has kept its policy rate unchanged.

“MPc of sBP maintained policy rate at 7pc,” the central bank said in a statement issued on Friday, adding that the current stance of the monetary policy was appropriate to support economic recovery, maintain financial stability and keep inflation expectations “well-anchored”.

MPc viewed recent inflation

uptick as primarily driven by supply side factors and saw little signs of de-

mand-led inflation.

“As the temporary increase in in-

flation from administered prices subsides, inflation should fall to the 57pc target range over the medium-term,” the sBP said.

The MPc expects monetary policy settings to remain “broadly unchanged” in the near term, the statement added, emphasising that any adjustment in the policy rate would be measured and gradual to achieve “mildly positive real interest rates” as recovery became more durable and the economy returned to full capacity.

The MPc noted that the monetary policy should be supportive considering the “fiscal policy is expected to remain contractionary to reduce public debt” and from a policy mix perspective.

Technological education to be promoted for knowledge-based economy: PM g

IMRAN sAys PTI AssUMed PoWeR IN MosT dIFFIcULT ecoNoMIc cIRcUMsTANces

ISLAMABAD staff report

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday said that technical and technological education will be promoted to

guide the country towards a knowledge-based economy.

Addressing a ceremony at Malakand University, the prime minister stressed that education is a must to uplift a society.

He said that apart from technical education, special programs are also being launched in the universities to acquaint the youth about Islamic values and teachings of Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him). AlQadir University is being established with the same purpose while Namal University, Mianwali, will be made a knowledge city.

PM Imran said that the government is giving special emphasis to industrialisation as well as agriculture and tourism sectors to take forward the country. He said that this will create immense job opportunities for people in different sectors. He said that a new policy will be brought next week for the agriculture sector.

He also said that his party assumed power in the most difficult economic situation. “We have re-

NATIoNAL PosITIvITy RATe cRosses 8 PeR ceNT

turned Rs3,500 billion in loans over the last two and a half years,” he added.

The premier said that the government has launched mega projects such as Ravi city and a business district in Lahore for wealth creation. He said that the investors are also showing great interest in Bundal Island project. We have started work on Mohmand and Basha dams as well, he added. He was confident that these projects will help the country pay off its debts.

Prime Minister Imran said that unprecedented incentives have also been given to the construction which will help uplift the industries allied with this sector. “We are also executing low-cost housing projects,” he added.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

The spokesperson said that the covid19 vaccine is in trial phases and currently unavailable in market.

The vaccine has been administered to 70 volunteers and its approval for clinical trials was granted by National Bioethics committee (NBc) and drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (dRAP).

The clinical trials of the ZF2001 vaccines are also being carried out in Indonesia and Uzbekistan.

ZF2001 vaccine is developed by chinese Anhui Zhifei Longcom Biopharmaceutical co Ltd. They are aiming to recruit 10,000 volunteers for the clinical trials of the new covid-19 vaccines in Pakistan prior to the commencement of the holy month of Ramzan, said the spokesperson, adding that all protocols are being maintained during the vaccine trials.

UHs also appealed to citizens to avoid suspicion and to take part in its clinical trial. earlier in october last year, dRAP had issued a three-year licence to the UHs Lahore to conduct covid-19 vaccine trails.

The UHs had been given licence by dRAP so that it could be used as a site for the phase-III clinical trials of a chinese vaccine. The permission included a trial of the vaccine on humans for three years at the UHs.

Coronavirus in

pakistan

CONFIRMED CASES:

619,259

LAST UPDATED AT 8:45 AM ON MARCH 19, 2021

DAY'S DEATH TOLL:

40

RECOVERED:

NEW CASES:

3,449 DEATHS:

578,314 13,757 SINDH:

PUNJAB:

262,503

193,054

KP:

BALOCHISTAN:

AJK/GB:

ISLAMABAD:

77,972 11,377/4,967

19,290

50,096

more inside

Afghan govt, Taliban agree to accelerate peace talks after Moscow summit STORY ON BACK PAGE

PdM plans to launch long march soon after eidul Fitr: Fazl STORY ON PAGE 02

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PDM PLAnS To LAUnCH Long MArCH Soon AfTer eiDUL fiTr: fAzL ISLAMABAD

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mian abRaR

AKISTAN Democratic Movement (PDM) President Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Friday said that the alliance has already decided to go public and the long march is expected to take place after Ramzan.

Speaking to media, Fazl said that he is

in contact with all the parties of the alliance, including Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) CoChairman Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader Nawaz Sharif.

“PPP has convened a meeting of its CEC (Central Executive Committee) and a positive response is expected. We are mulling a proposal to tender resignations from the assemblies in phases. In the first phase, resignations from the National

Karachi knife attack CCTV footage emerges as attacker and father secure interim bail weB DeSk

Assembly would be submitted and in the second phase, resignations from the provincial assemblies would be given while the lawmakers of the Sindh Assembly would resign in the third phase,” said the PDM chief.

He said that it is clear that the opposition has no choice but to protest. “Because if we only have to fight in the assemblies, then why we formed the PDM,” he argued.

He said that conspiracies are being

LHC rejects Shehbaz’s plea for fast defamation hearing against PM LAHORe tLtp

The Lahore High Court on Friday dismissed a petition filed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif for the daily hearing of his defamation case against Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Upholding the objection of the registrar office, the LHC directed the petitioner to approach the concerned forum of the directorate general of the district judiciary. The registrar office had earlier raised objections to the petition, stating that the petitioner should first approach the concerned aforementioned forum. Earlier in the day, Shehbaz approached LHC over a ‘constant delay’ in the proceedings on his defamation suit against the premier. The PML-N president had made the PM and an additional district and sessions judge as respondents. The judge is conducting the trial of the case. According to the petitioner, the prime minister’s alleged false, malicious and baseless statements had tarnished his image and he seeks recovery of Rs10 billion in damages. In his plea, Shehbaz, who is also the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, stated that his repeated requests before the respondent judge to proceed expeditiously in the case went in vain. He maintained that the concerned judge had not even allowed arguments on the applications filed by the petitioner related to the closure of the right to file written statement by PM Imran, and also to try and conduct the hearing on a day-to-day basis. “The acts of the omission and commission on the part of respondent PM Imran are in complete violation and in utter disregard of the law and its spirit, reducing the judicial system as a mockery which requires intervention from the court,” the petitioner stated.

ISLAMABAD Activists gathered in front of the National Press Club in Islamabad on Friday to register their protest held on account of Global Climate Action Day, which is marked with climate strikes taking place around the world.

They were holding placards such as “Farmer’s Lives Matter” and “No more empty promises”. They chanted slogans, recited poetry and made speeches to highlight the urgent issue of the climate crisis.

They demanded prompt action from the government and the governments across the world. One of the organisers and founders of Fridays For Future Pakistan, Iqbal Badruddin Jamal, spoke on the occasion, “I don’t want future

YOUTH GROUPS ORGANISE CLIMATE STRIKES IN SEVEN PAKISTANI CITIES generations to face the worst of climate change, and be forced to spend their time worrying about it when they could just be kids instead. That’s why I am striking and will keep doing so until our government and corporations take us seriously.”

The strikes took place in Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, Mardan, Peshawar and Gilgit. The protesters also highlighted local climate issues. Rida, the founder of Impact Pakistan, and another organiser said, “Pakistan needs to ban gasoline cars instantly. These cause massive levels of pollution and harm our air.”

LAHORe The shelter homes (panahgah) established in the provincial capital on the directives of Prime Minister Imran Khan for the poor, helpless and homeless have been revealed to be constructed using poor material, are marred by mismanagement and are presently in a dilapidated condition.

The project was executed by Lahore Development Authority (LDA), whereas the Social Welfare and Bait-ul-Mal department of Punjab was the sponsoring agency.

According to the project details, shelter homes were to be set up at five different locations in Lahore – Data Darbar Chowk, General Bus Stand Badami Bagh, Fruit and Vegetable Market Badami Bagh, Railway Station and Thokar Niaz Baig and Rs337.7 million were utilised for their establishment.

According to a report by a government department which has been issued over the project, some cracks were observed in the

Hania Imran, an organiser of the strike, remarked on the occasion, “It is important we have demonstrations and protests such as these. People are dying in Pakistan and around the globe. People are suffering. We need to stand up for them and demand action on this crisis.

Planting trees is not enough.”

Fatima Shehzad from Progressive Students Federation and one of the speakers at the protest, said, “The issue of climate change will not be solved by the system that puts growth and profit over the lives and futures of the youth.”

Razan, another organiser, said, “This

Pakistan, Iraq discuss ways to enhance military engagements

issue impacts different people in different ways. I am not here just for myself and my future. I am not even one of those that will be most affected by climate change. What will our underprivileged population do? What can they do when the worst of the climate crisis hits us? Where will they escape to?”

Anam Rathor, another organiser, demanded the government to honor its international commitments on climate justice by reducing its dependence on fossil fuel energy and move towards more sustainable forms of energy consumption.

In the end, the youth groups demanded climate action and climate justice from their government, corporations and businesses, and from governments around the globe.

UK lauds Pakistan’s conciliatory efforts for peace in Afghanistan NewS DeSk

CJCSC MEETS IRAQI DEFENCE OFFICIALS TO DISCUSS SECURITY ISSUES NewS DeSk The defence authorities of Pakistan and Iraq discussed measures to enhance the level and scope of bilateral military engagements between the two countries, said the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Friday.

Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Nadeem Raza, who is on an official visit to Iraq, held talks with Iraqi Defence Minister Juma Enad Sadoon Khattab Al Jibori, Iraqi Chief of Staff General Abdul Ameer Rasheed Yar Allah Al Lami and Commander Iraqi Air Force Lieutenant General Shahab Jihad Ali, said the military’s media wing in the statement.

During the meetings, both sides deliberated upon various areas of interest including security and defence cooperation and prevailing regional situation. They discussed measures to enhance the level and scope of bilateral military engagements between the two countries and reaffirmed to continue to forge deeper ties, said the ISPR. The CJCSC also visited Defence University for Higher Military Studies and called on its Rector

Lieutenant General Saad Mizhir Muhsin Hashim Al Allaq. On the occasion, General Nadeem Raza highlighted the positive role of Pakistan in countering violent extremism and also shared Pakistan’s efforts for regional peace and stability especially in Afghanistan, said the ISPR. Earlier on February 25, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa said that Pakistan acknowledges sacrifices rendered by Iraqi nation in fight against terrorism. The Chief of Army Staff said this during a meeting with Iraqi Defence Minister Jummah Enaad Saadoon Khatab Al Jibori who called on him at General Headquarters (GHQ), said the ISPR in a statement.

The army chief also offered all possible assistance and cooperation to Iraq in development and defencerelated fields. According to ISPR, during the meeting, matters pertaining to mutual interest, regional security issues and measures to further enhance bilateral defence collaboration were discussed. Both sides reaffirmed their determination to work together for enhancing security and stability in the region.

Departments fail to properly maintain shelter homes in Lahore Shahab omeR

Ali Bhutto, sources said.

They added that all efforts aimed at creating divisions within the PDM would be foiled and a middle ground to accommodate the PPPs reservations would be found.

According to a report, after requesting the PPP co-chairman to convene a meeting of his party’s CEC soon, Fazl has been conveyed that it is difficult to convene a meeting of the CEC immediately.

activists demand prompt action to tackle climate change mian abRaR

Two days after the brutal knife attack that took place in the limits of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Falcon Complex Karachi where two men were critically injured, the attacker Ibrahim Durrani and his father Air Commodore (Retd) Khalid Durrani reportedly secured interim bail. An FIR was registered against the father and son who are residents of the housing society where the attack took place and neighbors of the victims.

hatched to break the PDM. “But we are not kids. Allah has given us intellect. If we do not understand how to deal with the situation, then we have no right to do politics,” he added.

According to sources, Zardari has sought more time from the PDM chief. A meeting of the PPP’s CEC has been convened.

Another important meeting in this regard will be held on April 4 immediately after the death anniversary of PPP founder Zulfiqar

wall of the building of the Railway Station panahgah and the leakage from the ground floor roof slab was also observed there.

The report also stated that it was planned that 850 needy persons would be accomodated under the project (in all five centers) but as per the provided break down, the existing capacity of the panahgahs was found to be slightly over 660 in which 18.93 per cent beds were reserved for females and 81.7 per cent for males. The report further revealed that the official timings for stay at panahgahs was 6:00 pm to 9:00 am while it was noticed that passengers were evacuated forcefully at 6:00 am in the morning.

Similarly, it was also planned that Punjab Auqaf department shall provide the food for panahgahs but dinner and breakfast were provided by civilians as charity and the menu of the dinner was rice, however, the quality of the food was found satisfactory.

The report added that the passengers highlighted parking issues for their vehicles as the concerned panahgahs did

not allow them to park their vehicles inside the premises of the centres although a reasonable space was available for parking.

The report also revealed that only a single bed was being provided to a passenger and their child who was younger than 18 years, which made their stay difficult.

“As reported by the railway station staff, the quality of the potable water was not satisfactory which may cause various health issues for the passengers and the staff of the panahgahs. The mechanism for maintaining the history of the passengers was not framed by the department due to this the local peoples becoming habitual to stay at panahgahs,” the report said.

Moreover, the report identified that the registration process/system was not linked to the proper system, which hindered the law enforcement agencies’ (LEAs) ability to identify criminals/wanted persons.

The report recommended that medical screening desk should be established in panahgahs to screen the visitors for aliments and to curb spread of coronavirus.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and British High Commissioner to Islamabad Dr Christian Turner on Friday discussed Afghan peace process in detail. The British high commissioner called on the foreign minister on Friday. During the meeting, the two sides discussed bilateral and regional issues, including Afghan peace process in detail.

Qureshi said that Pakistan attaches special importance to bilateral relations with the United Kingdom. The British high commissioner commended Pakistan’s conciliatory efforts for peace in Afghanistan.

Alluding to the Indian atrocities in occupied Kashmir, the foreign minister urged the international community to play its due role for the resolution of Kashmir dispute as per the UN Security Council resolutions. Both sides agreed to further enhance relations in all areas of mutual interest. Russia on Thursday hosted a peace conference between the Afghan government and the Taliban in Moscow, as the Kremlin pushes for a ceasefire and powersharing agreement in the war-ravaged nation.

President for cementing economic, defence ties with Sri Lanka ALVI BRIEFS VISITING DIGNITARY ABOUT PAKISTAN’S ACHIEVEMENTS IN WAR ON TERROR ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

President Dr Arif Alvi has said that Pakistan highly values its relations with Sri Lanka as both countries have unanimity of opinion on regional and international issues and enjoy excellent relations in all areas of mutual interests.

He made these remarks while talking to the visiting Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Sri Lankan Army General Shavendra Silva who called on him on Friday.

The president underlined the need for further enhancing economic, cultural and defence relations between the two countries.

He said that Pakistan is an attractive destination for the Buddhist tourists and people from Sri Lanka need to be encouraged to visit the religious and scenic sites in

Pakistan. He briefed the visiting dignitary about the successes achieved by Pakistan against the war on terror.

He also highlighted the ongoing atrocities and human rights violations by Indian security forces in the Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK). The president urged that the international community should play a positive role to resolve the Kashmir issue in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolutions.

The chief of defence staff & commander of Sri Lankan Army said that Pakistan is a close and the dearest friend and his country wants to further improve bilateral ties with Pakistan.

He said that the recent visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan to Sri Lanka would boost bilateral relations. He deeply thanked Pakistan for its support which stood by Sri Lanka in difficult times.

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SC refUSeS To SUSPenD eCP’S DeCiSion of re-PoLLing in nA-75 DASKA ISLAMABAD

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HE Supreme Court (SC) on Friday once again rejected Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) plea seeking suspension of Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision regarding repolling in NA-75 Daska. During the proceedings, ECP submitted a report mentioning that on the day of by-polls, the chief election commissioner (CEC) had called chief secretary, IGP numerous times but they did not respond.

PTI’s lawyer, in his argument, stated before the court that his client has no issue with re-polling at 20 polling stations and pleaded with the court to nullify the ECP’s ruling until the hearing of the case in the apex court.

ECP TELLS COURT CEC HAD RECEIVED NO RESPONSE FROM CHIEF SECRETARY, IGP ON POLLING DAY contracted coronavirus due to which he would not be able to attend the hearing.

Azam Nazeer further said that if the court desired then Raja could record his arguments via video-link.

Later, the court adjourned the hearing of the case until next week.

It is worth mentioning here that the ECP ordered re-polling at all polling stations of NA-75 Sialkot-Daska over rigging.

Later, the commission rescheduled the NA-75 Daska byelection. According to a notification, the by-polls in the Punjab constituency will now be held on April 10.

Nothing will change even we nullify the ECP’s orders, remarked Justice Muneeb Akhtar. Justice Umar Ata Bandial said that “we respect the constitutional institutions”. “It is good to go ahead this time,” he added.

Is aerial firing such an issue to order re-poll in the constituency?

Justice Bandial asked and added that action can be taken against the police over its failure.

Earlier in the day, the court was told that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Nosheen Iftikhar’s lawyer Salman Akram Raja has

Federal govt notifies takeover of JPMC Karachi kARACHI tLtp

The federal government on Friday issued a notification regarding the takeover of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) Karachi.

“The federal government has been pleased to constitute a board of governors, in respect of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), Karachi, under section 4 of the Federal Medical Teaching Institute Ordinance 2020,” the notification read.

The board of members includes Mushtaq Kassim Chhapra, a philanthropist and industrialist, Ronaq Lakhani, a philanthropist, Dr Muhammad Irfan Daudi, associate professor surgery/ consultant surgeon, and Rashid A Khan, a businessman.

The Supreme Court (SC), in its judgement, had given the control of the three major public-sector hospitals – NICVD, JPMC and NICH – to the federal government and directed the

SINDH UP AGAINST CENTRE ON TRANSFER OF THREE HOSPITALS provincial and federal governments to complete a smooth transition of the hospitals’ control.

Meanwhile, the Sindh health department has opposed the formation of the BoG and has announced not to be a part of it. Commenting on the development, a spokesperson for the Sindh Health Department said that the transfer of hospitals is a complex and sub judice matter.

“The federal government had sought names for the Board of Governors but the Sindh health minister has refused to recommend any names,” he said.

Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Pechuho strongly opposed the new mode of management, saying it will affect the “service delivery” of the institutions.

She said that the federal government will send new management to run these institutions after completing their

exercise, but it would badly affect the service delivery of these institutions. She said the federal health authorities did not approach the provincial health department to formally take over the hospitals, although they visited “the JPMC and the NICVD 10, 10 times”, and later simply asked her to propose two names for the BoG. “It never happens this way. How come they are going to run these facilities with people sitting in Islamabad and monitoring service delivery in Karachi? Actually, they were fearing contempt of court so they started the process of takeover in haste,” she claimed, adding that it was a futile exercise and would result in suffering for the people of Karachi, other cities of Sindh and entire Pakistan.

She alleged that non-medical persons were being appointed to the

board to run these hospitals, which was not the way to handle and improve the service delivery of tertiary-care health facilities.

“They are asking us to send two of our people to Islamabad to be part of their board, which will be overseeing the performance and functions of these facilities from there. This is not possible,” she said.

The health minister claimed that the apex court had directed the federal government to reimburse all the expenses the Sindh government had incurred on these institutions since 2011.

Dr Pechuho said that there were several issues, including the service structure of employees and the status of Jinnah Sindh Medical University, which must be settled before the takeover of these institutions by the federal government.

Buzdar says there’s no truth to rumours of his removal Bahrain’s commander lauds Pakistan’s positive role for regional peace, stability RAWALPINDI: Commander of the National Guard of the Kingdom of Bahrain General Sheikh Mohamed Bin lsa Al-Khalifa Friday appreciated Pakistan’s positive role for regional peace and stability during his meeting with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa at the General Headquarters (GHQ). During the meeting, matters related to mutual interest, regional security especially Afghan peace process and measures to further enhance professional cooperation between both the armies were discussed, said an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) media release. Speaking on the occasion, the COAS said that Pakistan valued its strong diplomatic, economic and defence relations with Kingdom of Bahrain.

Both sides reiterated the desire to further enhance bilateral cooperation including efforts for peace and security in the region. Staff RepoRt

Shehzad steps down after PTi refuses to field him in nA-249 Malik Shehzad Awan, the ruling party’s lawmaker, submitted his resignation to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Friday after he was denied party’s ticket for NA-249 election. Citing the unpopularity of the party’s candidate Amjad Khan Afridi, the Sindh Assembly lawmaker said that he wanted to win the seat so he could gift it to Prime Minister Imran Khan and he would do it regardless, which is why he had resigned. newS DeSk

CM SAYS RUMOURS AIMED AT HINDERING PUNJAB’S DEVELOPMENT PROGRESS NewS DeSk Amid speculation of a possible administrative change in Punjab, including the removal of incumbent chief minister, Usman Buzdar on Friday broke his silence and rejected any such possibility in the near future, adding that these rumours are aimed at hindering the province’s development progress. Speaking to a local news outlet, Buzdar said that he had the complete support of Prime Minister Imran Khan and the provincial assembly, adding that he would continue to serve the people of Punjab. “We are governing Punjab transparently; not even a single

corruption case has been exposed,” he further said.

The chief minister also said that he had a respectful relationship with former chief minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Pervaiz Elahi. He also spoke about development projects in Punjab and claimed credit for the completion of the Orange Line Metro Train for his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

He expressed optimism that Punjab’s “flagship project”, Sehat Insaf Card, will be accessible by 2021.

Buzdar also lashed out at the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), highlighting their failures, and urging them to put their own house in order.

Air Marshal zaheer Sidhu takes reins of PAf as new chief NewS DeSk Air Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu took charge as the new air chief of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) at an impressive change of command ceremony on Friday. On the occasion, outgoing air chief Mujahid Anwar Khan pinned badges on the new air chief and presented him with the command sword. The outgoing air chief also reviewed guard of honour. A formation of JF-17 fighter jets presented a salute to him. In his farewell address, outgoing air chief said that serving Pakistan Air Force for over four decades has been a privilege, honour and a matter of immense satisfaction for him. He said that PAF is a strong element of national defence and pride of the nation. The outgoing air chief said that the air force once again lived up to the expectations of the nation and proved to be guardians of blue skies in the operation Swift Retort. He said, “Our response was timely and well calibrated which kept the adversary at bay.”

Khan said that despite testing times, the PAF has made great strides on its journey to excellence and continued transformation for the Next Generation Air Force 2047. He said, “Our vision requires relentless pursuit in the years and decades to come.”

Congratulating Sidhu on his appointment as the air chief, Khan said that his successor is a sound professional with extraordinary leadership qualities.

He expressed the confidence that during his tenure, the PAF will scale to new heights of excellence.

Earlier on Wednesday, the government appointed Sidhu as the new chief of the air staff.

He hails from Sidhu village in Punjab’s Gujrat district and was serving as deputy chief of air staff admin at the Air Headquarters in Islamabad before the new appointment.

Connectivity key to Pakistan’s foreign policy, says Mushahid ISLAMABAD inp

Senator Mushahid Hussain has said that connectivity, with countries and regions, is key to Pakistan’s foreign policy in the coming decade, with Pakistan having ‘strategic space’ to promote its vital interests.

He made these comments during his keynote speech on the theme ‘Navigating the New Decade’ at the concluding session of the National Security Dialogue. He said that Pakistan’s main challenges would be domestic as ‘strategic space’ would give Pakistan a ‘geopolitical breather’ and urged the need to redefine the notion of national security, away from military might alone, to human security. He said that Pakistan needs a rules-based national order that should bridge the gap between an outmoded state governance versus a vibrant, young, dynamic society, driven by self-starter citizen activism, particularly among youth and women.

Senator Mushahid also listed some of the emerging non-traditional security threats like the coronavirus

SENATOR STRESSES NEED FOR REDEFINING NOTION OF NATIONAL SECURITY pandemic, climate change and cyber warfare.

He cited three major transformations which would impact on Pakistan: a shift in the global balance of economic and political power, away from the West to the East in this ‘Asian Century’, Pakistan’s emerging role as a hub of regional connectivity, courtesy of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), linking up South Asia with China, Central Asia, Iran and Afghanistan, and India’s transformation into an exclusive, minority-hating ‘Republic of Hindutva’, burying Nehruvian ideals of inclusive secularism. Senator Mushahid said that Pakistan’s ‘strategic space’ was due to CPEC, proactive role in Afghanistan peace process, close ties with China and cordial relations with the US at the same time, and India being on the defensive regionally due to failure of Modi’s ‘ideological foreign policy’, with setbacks during the 2019 Balakot attack on Pakistan and the 2020-2021

border clashes with China, and popular resistance in occupied Kashmir to Indian illegal annexation.

He termed Pakistan’s mature handling of the postPulwama crisis with India through measured retaliation by shooting down two Indian planes and capturing their pilot and returning him as a gesture of goodwill, as Pakistan’s ‘finest hour’ since the deft and courageous handling of the 1998 nuclear tests, which made Pakistan a nuclear power and ensured a viable deterrent against war and aggression. Giving his outlook of future challenges, Senator Mushahid said that the region where Pakistan is located is faced with two contrasting visions. One of geoeconomics promoted by China’s Belt & Road Initiative (BRI), of which CPEC is the flagship project, promotes connectivity and cooperation and only India is on ‘the wrong side of history’ since it opposes such regional economic connectivity.

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LAHORE

NEWS

Demographic changes in occupieD Kashmir can push region to war: masooD ISLAMABAD

a

TLTP

zAD Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President Sardar Masood Khan has warned that brazen demographic change by India in the Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) is creating tensions that could push the region to a disastrous war.

He came up with the warning while addressing a virtual conference on "BJP's Demographic Re-branding of IOJK: A critical Review Under Contemporary International Law" which was organised by the Islamabad Institute of Conflict Resolution (IICR) on Friday.

In his address, the AJK president said that what India is doing in occupied Kashmir is not just rebranding, but a complete transformation of the demography

two girls die, man injured as roof of mosque collapses

and this demographic change is unprecedented in the 21st century.

He maintained that since the New Domicile Rules were adopted in April last year, more than 3.2 million Indian citizens have been issued domicile certificates in the disputed Jammu and Kashmir state, and this has been confirmed by Indian Minister for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy the other day.

"These demographic changes prepare the ground for settlements on the pattern of the Israeli settlements on Palestine land," he said adding that massive investment is being diverted to entrepreneurs to make them a part of this settlement process.

He said that special colonies have been established in occupied Kashmir for army personnel, pundits and former Indian civil servants.

LAHORE STAFF REPORT

INP

Special Assistant to Punjab Chief Minister (SACM) Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan on Friday said that through a uniform curriculum across country, a class-based education system would be eliminated, adding that “awareness can be created only through education”.

She was addressing a press conference along with Punjab Minister for School Education Dr Murad Raas on Friday. Firdous said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government was reviving education department with the help of technology. She said that coronavirus infection rate had gone beyond 8 per cent which was alarming. She appealed to people to follow the standard operating procedures (SOPs) to stay safe from Covid-19 pandemic.

21 injured as wall collapses during wedding ceremony

human rights".

Agreeing to the observations of the UNHRC experts, the AJK president said that Kashmiris are not a minority in the Indian state as this region is disputed and is not a part of India. These crimes by India violate Article 2 of the Genocide Convention and Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention which prohibits occupying forces to "transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies”.

These also violate 85(4) (a) Additional Protocol I, ICC Statutes Article 8(2) (b) (viii) and 22 (3) (b) of the International Law Commission's Draft Code of Crimes against the Peace and Security of Mankind. Above all, he asserted that the Indian actions in Kashmir violate the UN Security Council resolutions No 446, 452, 465, 476 and 677.

Class-based education system to be eliminated via uniform curriculum: Firdous

PAKPATTAN Two girls died and one person injured when the roof of a mosque collapsed on Friday. According to details, the incident took place near Chak No 01, Pakpattan where the roof of a mosque suddenly collapsed. Two girls died in the incident while one person was injured. The bodies of the deceased were handed over to their families and the injured was shifted to the hospital for treatment.

The state president said that two human rights experts of the UN Human Rights Council have also expressed grave concern over the demographic changes being made by the BJP-RSS regime in occupied Kashmir.

He recalled that Fernand de Verennes and Ahmed Shaheed of UNHRC have said in a joint statement that "the number of successful applicants for domicile certificates that appear to be from outside Jammu and Kashmir raises concerns that demographic change on a linguistic, religious and ethnic basis is already underway,", adding, that "these legislative changes may have the potential to pave the way for people from outside the former state of Jammu and Kashmir to settle in the region, alter the demographics of the region and undermine the minorities’ ability to exercise effectively their

Responding to a question, she said that those who use politics for personal motives would face the same fate which Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) had faced.

Prime Minister Imran had started the second innings which was aimed at country’s economic development, the SACM added.

Addressing the press conference, Murad said that in the first 45 days of the enrollment drive, 246,000 children had been enrolled in schools. He said that under the current enrollment drive, the target of enrolling one million children would be achieved.

The provincial minister said that during the last four months, the School education department asked parents to provide B-Form of their children, adding that so far 92 per cent of BForms of children had been provided

by the parents.

Murad said that all B-Forms would be verified from the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).

He said that ‘Mera School Programme’ was an initiative for all those citizens who wanted to see improvement in country’s educational system.

He also said that missing facilities would be provided in schools under the Mera School Programme.

In November 2020, registration process of private school was launched, and till now more than 50,000 applications for registration of private schools had been received through online school registration system (PEPRIS or Private Education Provider Registration and Information System), he added.

Murad said that digitization process of the School education department was under way.

ATTOCK INP

At least 21 people, including women and children, were injured when wall of a house collapsed during wedding ceremony on Friday morning. Rescue sources said that wedding ceremony was underway in Shahabad of Attock when wall of the house suddenly came down. As a result of incident, 21 people, including 10 women and 11 children, sustained injuries. Rescue 1122 teams shifted the injured to local hospital through four ambulances where eight women with critical injuries were referred to Rawalpindi.

Sindh distributes Rs46m among 3,100 minority students in 2 years NEWS DESK The Sindh government has granted scholarships to 3,100 students of religious minorities in the province in order to extend them financial assistance to get education.

These scholarships were awarded from 2018 to 2020 on the basis of needcum-merit criterion in view of the financial status of the family of the applicant.

The Sindh government in the last two years has spent around Rs46 million to dispense these scholarships. Students of the public sector universities in the province have been mostly the beneficiaries of these scholarships. Some of the scholarships are also given to the students of the government-run schools and colleges. The students enrolled in

the privately run educational institutions are not eligible for this scheme.

The Sindh government’s Department of Minorities’ Affairs dispenses these scholarships. In his statement, Sindh Minister for Minorities’ Affairs Hari Ram Kishori Lal said that these scholarships were awarded on the meritorious basis to help out the students of minority communities for continuance of their education and to enable them to contribute to the cause of national development. The application form and relevant information for the award of such new scholarships for the current financial year 2020-21 could be obtained from the website of the Sindh Minorities’ Affairs Departments. This year the department aims to dispense around 2,000 such scholarships.

The minorities affairs’ minister said that the Sindh government had been acting on the vision of the leaders of the ruling Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto-zardari and Asif Ali zardari to grant opportunities of quality higher education to the youth of the religious minorities in Sindh.

He said that award of these scholarships amply showed that the Sindh government of PPP fully believed in promoting the concepts of religious tolerance and inter-faith harmony in the province. The Minorities’ Affairs Department of the Sindh government was established as a separate entity in 2010 after it was separated from the Department of Religious Affairs.

CAA plans to upgrade Skardu airport to promote tourism NEWS DESK With an aim to promote tourism, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is upgrading the Skardu airport in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) to handle international flights.

According to sources, the aviation regulator has called for the airport to be readied for international flight operations by June-July. Located at an altitude of over 7,000 feet, the Skardu airport is listed among the world’s highest altitude airports.

The CAA has issued directives for expansion of the airport in addition to preparing it for all-weather flight operations. The airport’s runway will be equipped with the modern CAT-I system in order for flights to land even in bad weather.

The Skardu airport’s main runway is 12,000-feet long while the second runway is 8,500-feet long.

It is noteworthy that a CAA team had earlier conducted a survey to determine whether international

flights can land at the airport and as a test flight, a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Airbus-320 landed at the airport. Earlier this week, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) decided to operate weekly flights from Lahore to Skardu and Gilgit from next month.

PIA Spokesman Abdullah Hafeez on Monday said that Lahore would be added to the existing route between Islamabad to Skardu and Gilgit. “Initially, PIA will start two flights a week from Lahore to Gilgit and Skardu. More flights can be added keeping the number of passengers in view,” he added.

On a query about the earlier announced KarachiSkardu flights, the spokesperson said that flight cancellations due to uncertain weather conditions were hindering flight operations on this route.

“When a Karachi flight for Skardu is cancelled after arriving in Islamabad, the passengers get stuck in the capital. PIA faces losses in taking them back to Karachi,” he maintained.

136 punjab tehsils receive rs18bn for municipal services NEWS DESK The Punjab government on Friday disbursed Rs18 billion among 136 tehsil councils for immediate provision of municipal services to the citizens. The secretary local government disbursed the funds to the tehsil councils over the directives of Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar in a step to provide facilities to the citizens. Buzdar said in a statement that the provincial government formulated its annual development programme for 202021 that will benefit the population of 306 local governments. He said that a new era of development has begun on the grassroots level. The chief minister detailed that various development schemes have been approved worth Rs18 billion, whereas tenders of other schemes were also released to initiate the work on it.

haleem adil sheikh arrested in yet another case The Sindh Police on Friday arrested Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and Leader of the Opposition in Sindh Assembly Haleem Adil Sheikh in yet another case. The latest charge on which he was arrested is that he had attacked a polling station in Ghotki in 2019. According to the contents of the First Information Report (FIR) registered against the PTI leader, Sheikh and his co-workers resorted to hooliganism and interfered in official duty. The PTI leader is currently admitted to Karachi’s Jinnah Hospital.The Karachi police had, on February 16, arrested and then expelled Sheikh from Malir for violating code of conduct during voting for the by-election. NEWS DESK

Saturday, 20 March, 2021

LAHORE

NEWS

Technological education to be promoted for knowledge-based economy: PM cONtINuED fROM PAGE 01 Separately, the premier visited Swat Motorway and inaugurated three tunnels that will significantly reduce travel time. He unveiled the plaque on the occasion to mark the inauguration and also inspected the completed tunnels. Federal Minister for Communications Murad Saeed accompanied the prime minister. On his arrival at Zalam Kot, Malakand, the prime minister was received by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan and Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) Director General Major General Kamal Azfar. Briefing the prime minister, the FWO DG said that the 80-km-long Swat Motorway had seven interchanges and three tunnels with length of 1266, 271 and 324 metres. He also presented a 3D model of Swat Motorway to the prime minister. The KP government has successfully constructed Pakistan’s first provincial motorway from its own resources.

The Swat Motorway has reduced journey time for commuters, especially tourists and traders. It also benefits the entire Malakand Division comprising Swat, Dir Lower, Dir Upper, Chitral Lower, Chitral Upper, Bajaur, Buner and Shangla districts. The motorways originates from Karnal Sher Interchange in Swabi district on the Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway and ends at Chakdara in Dir Lower district. Former KP chief minister Pervez Khattak had performed its groundbreaking on August 25, 2016. The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has recently approved acquisition of 10,000 kanal land for the Swat Motorway Phase-II, which would be constructed from Chakdara to Fatehpur Madayn with an estimated cost of Rs37 billion, besides Rs20 billion cost of land. The completion of the first phase of Swat Motorway has opened opportunities of trade, business and tourism for the Malakand Division, besides significantly reducing the distance between Peshawar and Swat to nearly two hours. Before the construction of Swat Motorway, it used to take about four hours to reach Peshawar from Mingora, Swat due to narrow Malakand Pass.

PakIsTan seeks oPenIng oF ChIna boRDeR FRoM nexT MonTh ISLAMABAD

P

GHULaM aBBas

AKISTAN has asked China to reopen the border between the two countries from next month to facilitate cross-border trade and people-to-people ex-

changes.

In a letter sent to the Embassy of China in Pakistan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed that the border at Khunjerab Pass was closed on December 1, 2019 as per schedule. However, the scheduled opening of the border on April 1, 2020 was postponed due to the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic.

"To support the lives and livelihood of local population on both sides of the border, it is imperative that regular crossborder trade and P2P exchanges may be resumed. Therefore, the border may be opened from April 1, 2021," the ministry stated. "The esteemed embassy is requested to take up the matter with relevant quarters to open the border on April 1, 2021 for smooth and regular cross-border movement."

As per the bilateral agreement, China-Pakistan border remains closed from December 1 till March 31 every year due to severe weather conditions.

For the rest of the year, however, the border remains open for two-way movement of passengers as well as transportation of goods and cargo.

Meanwhile, traders of this route have started protesting the yearlong closure of the only land route between the two countries.

They deplored the closure of Khunjerab border at a time when other borders of the country, which also remained closed for a few weeks during the coun-

Oil prices edge higher after selloff driven by demand concerns

try-wide lockdown, had resumed operations despite the pandemic issue.

"The border has been closed for an indefinite time. Since it usually remains closed between December and April, we should not expect any development on resumption of bilateral trade before April 2021," said an importer and office bearer of Gilgit-Baltistan Chamber of Commerce while talking to this scribe.

"As bilateral trade had resumed worldwide with implementation of Covid SOPs, Pak-China border should also have been opened for trade. We couldn’t understand the rationale behind keeping airports opened and borders closed during the pandemic," he added.

It may be noted that the Pak-China border was opened for a few weeks in July last year to facilitate the release of stranded containers and later in September to shift medical material gifted by Chinese government to GB to deal with Covid-19. Two containers carrying medical equipment donated by the Xinjiang province to Gilgit-Baltistan police department had arrived at the Khunjerab pass following its temporary reopening.

PM had offered India to initiate peace talks soon after assuming office: FM ISLAMABAD staff report

Punjab PDWP approves four projects worth Rs34.4bn The Punjab Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP), in its 29th meeting for FY21, approved four development schemes at an estimated cost of Rs34,468.462 million. The PDWP meeting was presided over by Chairman Planning & Development Board Abdullah Khan Sumbal, according to a statement issued on Friday. The approved schemes included ‘National Programme for Improvement of Watercourses in Pakistan Phase-II (SMART, DLI-11)’ at a cost of Rs28.69 billion; ‘Prime Minister’s Health Initiative (revised)’ at a cost of Rs2.63 billion; construction of Mahota Dam (revised) at Rs2.804.66 billion; and ‘Strengthening of Programme Coordination Unit (PCU) under the Punjab Green Development Program (PGDP) in P&D Board, Punjab (PC-II)’ at Rs335.33 million. NeWs DesK

LONDON aGeNCIes

Oil prices rose slightly on Friday in a volatile trading session, following a big sell-off the previous day as a new wave of coronavirus infections across Europe triggered fresh lockdowns and dampened expectations of any imminent recovery in fuel demand.

Brent crude was up 31 cents, or 0.5pc, at $63.59 a barrel by 1450 GMT. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) US crude rose 37 cents, or 0.6pc, to $60.37. Both traded within a wide range of more than $2 a barrel on Friday.

Oil closed about 7pc down on Thursday as several large European economies reimposed lockdowns and vaccination programmes were slowed by distribution issues and

concerns over potential side effects.

Although Germany, France and other countries have announced the resumption of inoculations with the AstraZeneca shot after regulators declared that vaccine safe, the programme halt has made it harder to overcome resistance to vaccines among some of the population.

Britain also announced it would have to slow its Covid-19 vaccine rollout next month because of a supply delay.

“Concerns are rapidly growing of a mobility-depressing third wave in Europe amid a pause in vaccinations and rapid spread of the B117 mutation that originated in the UK,” JP Morgan said.

The bank still sees Brent averaging above $70 a barrel in the fourth quarter, however.

Goldman Sachs said headwinds related to European Union demand and Iran supply would slow the oil market rebalancing by 750,000 barrels per day (bpd) in the second quarter, though it expects the OPEC+ grouping of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies to take action to offset that.

Iran has moved record amounts of crude oil to top client China in recent months while India’s state refiners have added Iranian oil to their annual import plans on the assumption that U.S. sanctions on the OPEC supplier will soon ease.

Goldman expects a significant increase in global oil demand in the coming months, with its Brent forecast rising to $80 a barrel this summer.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Friday recalled that Prime Minister Imran Khan had offered to take two steps towards peace if India takes one soon after assuming office. In a statement, the foreign minister said that Pakistan will not shy away from dialogue if India reviews its policy and expresses readiness for peaceful solution of all issues including Kashmir dispute. Responsibility rests with India to create an enabling environment for dialogue with Pakistan, he added. Qureshi further said that the reenforcement of ceasefire agreement after talks between the DGMOs of both countries is a positive development. His comments come a day after Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa renewed the offer of peace to India and said Pakistan was ready to resolve all lingering disputes with its neighbours through dialogue “in a dignified and peaceful manner”. Addressing the gathering on the final day of the two-day Islamabad Security Dialogue, the army chief, who was the chief guest on the occasion, said that Pakistan’s “choice [to seek a dialogue] is deliberate” and based on reason, and not a result of any external pressure. A stable relationship between arch-rival neighbours was key to unlocking the potential of south and central Asian regions by way of ensuring connectivity between East and West Asia, he said. He said that it was high time that synergies are created in the region through connectivity, peaceful coexistence and resource sharing to fight common enemies such as hunger, illiteracy, and diseases instead of fighting forever wars. “The Kashmir dispute is at the heart of it [issues between India and Pakistan],” he said. The army chief stressed the need to understand that without the peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute, the process […] will always remain vulnerable to derailment to politically-motivated bellicosity.” The unresolved disputes in South Asia were dragging the entire region into debt and poverty, he observed.

French socially distanced cinema concept eyes Pakistan SINGAPORE BaBar KHaN JaVeD

Identifying Pakistan as a key market, a socially distanced cinema viewing concept from France has begun discussions with multiplexes and cinema operators in the country to chart an expansion plan. A vertical concept for cinema-goers, Ōma Cinema resembles the Galactic Senate first seen in Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith.

The platform layout creates an intimate atmosphere with a flexible seating arrangement in each “balcony” and projector positioning among special seating “pods”.

Positioned by its creators as a so-

05

CONCEIVED PRE-PANDEMIC, THE CONCEPT CAN BE USED TO BRING GROUPS OF CINEMA-GOERS TOGETHER IN A SOCIALLY DISTANCED MANNER lution to meet the public policymakers and entertainment business owners midway, by design the experience imposes social distancing restrictions for cinema-goers, allowing audiences to get much closer to the screen.

Speaking with Profit, Ōma Cinema co-founder Nicolas Chican said that he is looking forward to building the first Ōma screens with Pakistani partners and always welcome more

conversations with potential partners in the region.

“Pakistan had cinema admissions of over 8 million [audiences] and a box office figure of over $28m in 2019 – the last year unhindered by the pandemic,” said Chican. “But it still has a relatively low number of cinema screens per capita, compared to neighboring countries. This indicates a great deal of potential for a flourishing mar-

cMYK

ket once cinema doors can reopen, plus opportunities for new developments and existing sites that want to revamp their offering for audiences.”

As of 2018, there are under 200 cinema screens nationwide in Pakistan, with all featuring seating arrangements that would require leaving one seat empty between movie watchers in the Covid-19 environment. That being said, cinemas geared to the masses are open and spectacularly failing to enforce or follow any Covid-19 spread or disinfection countermeasures. Chican said that the Ōma Cinema is a totally flexible theater design meaning that the cinema owners can choose the

number of seats in each pod, from 4 to 18 people.

“If we consider the volume of a standard 100-seat cinema, an Ōma Cinema can seat up to 80 people in pod-only format and more than 100 in a mixed format – a combination of stadium seating at the front of the theater and Ōma pods at the back,” he said.

“For the moment we are focused on bringing the Ōma experience to audiences that are inside. However, the structure for the ‘pods’ needs to be built from metal, which does make audience mobility easier, compared to a concrete framework. For it to work outside, we’d also have to think about stairs to the rear access of the pods.”

Saturday, 20 March, 2021

06 COMMENT

Working woman versus Housewife

COAS Bajwa speaks out loud and clear Regional peace and a new interpretation of national security

Money is the only reason to choose a working wife

W

hAT the army chief said at the Islamabad Security Dialogue on Thursday was music to the ears of many who support peace in the region. Gen Bajwa told India it was time to bury the past and move forward. he even sought the world’s help for peace with the neighboring country. he was spot on to observe that disputes were forcing the two countries to spend enormous sums on arms which could otherwise be diverted to social development to rid South Asia of poverty. COAS Bajwa stressed the need for the resolution of Kashmir dispute through peaceful means as the first step towards regional harmony. he was again on the ball to underline the importance of providing a conducive environment for ensuring human security, national progress and development in any national security policy.

That the sentiments were expressed by the army chief was all the more appreciable. Political leaders supporting peace with India have in the past faced accusations of being Indian agents and traitors. The attempts by Benazir Bhutto’s government to normalize relations with India led to Rajiv Gandhi’s visit to Islamabad in 1988. Soon after a campaign was initiated to brand BB a security risk.

Nawaz Sharif’s diplomacy brought PM Atal Bihari Vajpaye to Lahore for talks. The summit between the two leaders was hailed worldwide as a major breakthrough and milestone in bilateral relations and a historic step towards ending conflict and tensions in South Asia. The Lahore Declaration and the MoU signed by the two sides incorporated a joint commitment to intensify efforts to resolve the Kashmir conflict and other disputes. PM Nendra Modi made a surprise visit to Lahore in 2015.

Instead of being given credit, Nawaz Sharif was branded as “Modi ka yaar” and a traitor.

COAS Bajwa has rightly underlined the need to put our own house in order. Can the target be achieved in the current toxic environment marked by malice, hostility and vindictiveness? Can anybody tell PM Khan that the culture of intolerance he has promoted helps in the nourishment of extremist tendencies and militancy, curbing which is a major part of setting our house in order?

Rayees KumaR

T

he most common misunderstanding among the people, especially among those having a materialistic approach, is that a lady working in a government department, a private company or a multinational corporation is to be regarded as a working woman, whereas a lady who isn’t working in such departments or companies, but is doing all the household tasks from dusk to dawn tirelessly like cooking, washing, taking care of children and many other such jobs, is called a nonworking woman or housewife.

Can we call a lady drawing a monthly salary a working woman and the one making our life easy, comfortable and pleasant a non-working woman? No and absolutely never. If we make a review of the daily routine and needs of a home if it is to run smoothly, we come to a conclusion that it is a woman who has made it run smoothly and with utmost success.

After a man has completed his education and also has got a good job in the public or private sector, his next priority has always been to marry a good girl.

Among many criteria fixed by intending grooms for choosing a woman as a wife, one of the most important is whether to marry a working woman or a stay-athome housewife. his own choice, the wish of his parents and the opinion of his close friends or colleagues directly have an impact on his final decision about marrying a working woman or a stay-at-home housewife.

It can be undoubtedly said that the rising inflation and the skyrocketing prices of essentials, becoming more expensive with each passing day, are compelling

Afghanistan conference Commitment to progress among all stakeholders is key

T

hAT Russia would host a conference at which the USA was also represented, by no less than Special Representative on Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad, should not be a surprise, even though this was the first time the USA was represented at such a regional gathering, which also brought together China, Afghan government representatives, Afghan Taliban representatives and Pakistan as well. For a start, that presence shows US desperation, which in turn shows that its own indecision over whether or not to honour the agreement made by the Trump Administration to withdraw all forces by May 1.

The US presence was also an acknowledgement that the Doha talks between the Taliban and the Kabul government were not progressing. The presence was thus also an acceptance that the way forward required a multilateral approach, rather than the bilateral approach that it had favoured so far. Pakistan should also absorb the important lesson that the USA is not going to make the running with the assistance of Pakistan, but that the other powers also have a stake which must be given due weight.

As all the parties are basically following their on national interests, the conference is an important acknowledgement that the peace of Afghanistan involves the peace and prosperity of the entire region.

Pakistan will need to keep the regional view in sight, because the US and Russia, for differing reasons, will be pushing for an India role. Pakistan needs to avoid any kneejerk reaction. It should remind itself that any Indian role, if it does not organically flow out of the situation, cannot be imposed by any other power. Conversely, if it has developed an interest in Afghanistan, no amount of maneuvering by Pakistan or China can serve to keep it out. however, it should not be forgotten that India cannot impose itself, because the present multilateral approach might not satisfy individual powers as much as the original bilateral one, and it certainly cannot be used to create an interest unless one already exists. The Kabul government is understandably anxious about the interim government proposal, which the Taliban have rejected. however, the way forward requires just some such mechanism, and as a country which wants a regional settlement, Pakistan must continue its commitment to the process.

Zainab naZiR

M

AN is a sovereign, self-governing and autonomous rational being. We, as humans, prefer to call ourselves conservative or are labeled as traditional by our society. We are afraid to accept a change or revolve and always try to stay in our existing circle. It is basically due to our limited and restricted understanding of the world that we are unable to absorb or explore any change. It may also be due to some fear caused by some previous experience. What is it about being modern or what is modernity? It is more complex than just an era or a period, it’s the story of human life, human form, and human advancement. ever since man has lived on earth, change has been constant and that is all that added to ‘modernity’. human life is in a flowing dimension and modernity is a relative aspect and concept. There is one class of individuals who label themselves as modern and at the same time traditional. The majority of the human population belongs to this group or class.

They want to enjoy the richness of the ancient world and the richness and the attractions of the new world.

They are generally confused about the new and the old. They try to fit in but are usually unable to make their place. Such people live in a mixture of the modern and traditional worlds.

‘Modern’ has become a hazy word and can be evaluated using many different interpretations. An-

Editor Joint Editor

Umar Aziz Executive Editor

Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

The writer teaches at Government Secondary School Anderwan Ganderbal, Union Territory of Kashmir, India.

Modernity is a state of mind, not a brand

Arif Nizami

Managing Editor

Due to the over-busy schedule, the working couple faces many problems and issues both at home as well as outside the home. There is a common saying that “money can’t buy everything”, so a working couple with a materialistic mind, intent on making wealth and gathering all luxuries for their life, always find themselves lamenting in the end

Defining modernity

Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

Yousaf Nizami Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

today’s youth to look for a match with a working woman, but there are certainly other reasons also because of which they prefer a working woman over a non-working one. Sometimes a government employee or an officer in government department regards it as an insult to choose a non-working woman when he finds his own friends or colleagues marrying working women. Living a luxurious life, having a better standard of life and maximising one’s desires is forcing almost every individual to seek ways for a good income from all available means.

Marrying a working woman is one such means to increase one’s income to meet one’s expenses. however there is also a good percentage of people who, despite being in government service, prefer to marry a non-working woman. For this they have their own reasons and aspirations. For a good service at home and living their own comfortable and stress-free life, they prefer to a have a nonworking woman staying at home.

Though at the time of wedding or choosing one’a life partner, one feels delighted to have a working woman for a partner but after some time things make one realize that he hasn’t taken a good decision. In a joint family, often the situation takes an ugly turn and mostly the couple feel worried when the working daughter in-law doesn’t receive a good cooperation from her husband’s parents and other in-laws.

When the lunch, dinner and two times tea for the husband and in-laws gets late due to the known reasons of the daughter in-law, everybody in the family gets worried and sometimes force the daughter in-law to say goodbye to her service.

A working woman may not be able to manage her children the way they should be. After coming back from the school when the children find themselves alone in the house and wait for hours together for their parents, their personality isn’t developed properly because parents’, and especially the mother’s, love, af-

fection and presence is a must in the early few years of the child’s growth and development. The strong and humanistic fabric of the family gets altogether shattered when parents, children and siblings don’t get required time in expressing their problems or issues and discussing about the proper way out so that each family member doesn’t feel alienated. At many instances it has been found that the aged and ailing parents of the working couple were either found dead in their own rooms without being noticed by any family member or were taken to hospitals by the people other than those duty-bound to do so. The social life of the working couple too gets affected due to their over-busy schedule. They can’t reach their loved ones, near and dear ones or relatives on the specific occasions.

Due to the over-busy schedule, the working couple faces many problems and issues both at home as well as outside the home.

There is a common saying that “money can’t buy everything”, so a working couple with a materialistic mind, intent on making wealth and gathering all luxuries for their life, always find themselves lamenting in the end.

On the other hand a stay-at-home housewife, who always serves her husband with utmost care and honesty, takes care of husband’s ailing and aged parents and manages her children with true spirit of a mother, is regarded as a successful woman by all in and outside the family. A non-working lady can best serve her husband, manage the home and her social life too remains intact. The family members of her home, her neighbours and relatives unanimously praise her for the extraordinary skills she shows in managing the home and taking care of every aspect of family life.

One more important aspect is that the working women often become victims of depression and mental trauma while their non-working counterparts often live a happy, prosperous and contended life.

I

Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

I

other possible interpretation of being modern is being accommodative to the views of others, who are ready for a change in the society and who are capable of redefining their lifestyles. But this doesn’t mean adopting Western culture under the guise of modernization.

In our country, the majority of the youth wants to be westernized and believes that Westernisation is the only way of being modern, superior and liberal than others. Being modern has more to do with the grooming and presentation rather than just the thought of being modern.

The real meaning of being modern lies in being open-minded, examining and evaluating everything on the basis of logic and reasoning and not on age-old concepts. According to an old saying, “Nothing is constant but change.” Modernity is basically accepting the change and understanding the world. Modernity, to borrow a term from the philosoher edmund husserl, expresses a relation of consciousness to time, where the notion of being modern is based on ‘now” as breaking the bonds from pre-modern systems. Modernity is unending because the world is evolving and transforming rapidly. Rapid urbanization, the spread of good education, the emergence of media and the vast population explosion all contribute to the social spectrums of being modern.

To become a modern person you just need to understand your role in the society. It doesn’t mean that you have to be “new” or “unique” to be modern.

Modernity has its basis in learning the significance and importance of social changes occurring in the world. Modernity has nothing to do with new clothes, new trends, new gadgets, or new accessories. A modern individual tries to live in the world of reality; that

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

demands knowledge and logic, not anything new, to show off in front of the fellow individuals. People think that being new is being modern and cool, but in reality, modernity has nothing to do with their socalled “coolness”. Modernity is not about anything new or the very recent past. For example what is not modern for you, must have been modern for your parents or grandparents.

Anyone and anything can be modern. even the earliest man or the most ancient things can be regarded as modern. Being modern not only means dealing with developments of the world or its complicated concepts, rather, it means to have a realistic view of the world.

The key sentiment of modernity is the desire to move in a circle and restore the human in you with the rapidly evolving society. This is a never-ending effort since life poses its questions, challenges and tasks every day and one has to be ready to meet them happily to succeed in this modern world.

Modernity is a worldview, an ideology and an idea. The true essence of modernity lies in creating a balance between past, present and future. It requires logic, reasoning and understanding of the world. God has gifted human beings with the ability to think wisely and intelligently. To be modern means to be intelligent, just, wise, fair, and logical. Anyone who just blindly follows a trend only to label himself as modern can’t be regarded as purely modern. Modernity is a phenomenon which describes how a society looks at itself. It defines a set of norms and values that are purely the evolution of old ideas. The complexity of being modern is an exciting game indeed.

Modernity is a worldview, an ideology and an idea.

The true essence of modernity lies in creating a balance between past, present and future. It requires logic, reasoning and understanding of the world.

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Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

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The writer is a freelance columnist

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

Saturday, 20 March, 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

Importance of IT

Kashmir and the role of the USA President Biden mustn’t met skip the chance

DR. Ghulam nabi Fai

T

he Kashmir question is one of the oldest unresolved international problems in the world. The experience of nearly seven decades has shown that it will not go away and that an effort is urgently required to resolve it on a durable basis.

‘Durable’, in this context is synonymous with ‘equitable’. It is imperative, whatever be the rights and wrongs in the equation as far as arguments go, real populations with a pronounced sense of identity of their own, with their suffering and their aspirations, rather than just legal title and merit, are involved.

The Kashmir dispute primarily involves the life and future of the 23 million people of the land. Because of its impact on relations between India and Pakistan, however, it directly affects the peace and stability of the region of South Asia that includes Afghanistan as well. This is a region, which contains one-fifth of the total human race.

The following considerations are most pertinent for an assessment of the dispute by the policy-making agencies and personalities of the world powers, including the United States.

When the Kashmir dispute erupted in 19471948, the United States championed the stand that the future status of Kashmir must be ascertained in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of the people of the territory. The United States was the principal sponsor of the Resolution 47 which was adopted by the Security Council on 21 April 1948 and which was based on that unchallenged principle.

Following the resolution, the USA, as a leading member of the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP), adhered to that stand. The basic formula for settlement was incorporated in the resolutions of that Commission adopted on 13 August 1948 and 5 January 1949.

The part played traditionally by the United States Government is apparent from: The appeal made by President harry Truman and British Prime Minister, Clement Attlee that any con-

tentious issues between India and Pakistan relating to the implementation of the agreement on Kashmir must be submitted to arbitration; the appointment of an eminent American, Adm Chester Nimitz, as Plebiscite Administrator on Kashmir; the appeal personally made in 1962 by President John F. Kennedy to the President of Ireland to the effect that Ireland sponsor a resolution on Kashmir in the Security Council reaffirming the resolutions of the Commission; the forceful advocacy by the US Delegation of points regarding the demilitarization of Kashmir preparatory to the plebiscite at countless meetings of the Security Council from the years 1947-48 to 1962; and its sponsorship of 12 substantive resolutions of the Council to that effect; the protracted negotiations conducted by another distinguished American, Mr. Frank Graham, from 1951 to 1958 in the effort to bring about the demilitarization of Kashmir, making possible the holding of a free and impartial plebiscite.

Unfortunately, all these pronouncements and commitments by the USA remain unfulfilled until today and the Kashmir dispute has brought both India and Pakistan to the brink of nuclear catastrophe.

Now, it is being said that peace between India and Pakistan could help unlock another conflict with even higher stakes for the USA: the war in Afghanistan. Indeed, a growing chorus of experts has begun arguing that the road to Kabul runs through Kashmir— that the USA will never stabilize the former without peace in the latter. Suddenly, bringing India and Pakistan together seems to be very much in the USA’s interest. Which makes the Biden Administration’s determination to avoid the issue increasingly hard to fathom.

There is a convergent thinking among Indian, Pakistan and American scholars that key to progress of peace in Afghanistan lies in Kashmir.

On one hand, Indian Independent thinker and writer, Pankaj Mishra wrote in The New York Review of Books, “As always, the road to stability in Pakistan and Afghanistan runs through the valley of Kashmir,” and on the other hand, Pakistani journalist, Ahmed Rashid wrote in Foreign

Affairs on 11 October 2010, “The road to Kabul runs through Kashmir…There can be no peace in Afghanistan until these two neighbors (India & Pakistan) sit down and talk about a common approach to both Kabul and Kashmir, rather than negotiating by proxy war.”

And see the similarities of the idea, expressed by a US journalist, Jonathan Tepperman, who wrote in Newsweek on 10 February 2010, “To understand why Kashmir is so important to Afghanistan, start with the fact that the U.S. can’t defeat the Afghan insurgency without Pakistan’s help. Fear of India also keeps Pakistan from putting enough troops on its 2,250-kilometer-long Afghan border, which the Taliban still cross at will… Yet even he (Richard holbrooke) concedes that Kashmir makes Afghanistan “more difficult to resolve,” and Washington simply can’t afford to avoid it if it hopes to leave the region any time soon.”

I believe that the time has come that the United Nations and world powers, particularly the USA, intervene in Kashmir to bring peace and prosperity not only to Kashmir but also to the whole region of South Asia, including Afghanistan. Dr Syed Nazir Gilani said it best, “Kashmir solution would help US and NATO forces to have a credible respite.

They would have a strong impregnable complementary military shield in Pakistan, which would be a reliable constituent to build peace in Afghanistan.”

In this regard, President Biden can listen to Steve Coll, Dean of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, who wrote in The New York Review of Books on 30 September 2010, “Silence and indirectness about the conflict is no longer workable….The United States does not need to intervene directly in Kashmiri negotiations to support the IndoPakistani peace process. It does, however, need to rediscover the sense of urgency and international leadership that characterized its engagement with Kashmir in the 1950s and early 1960s.”

We hope that President Biden will heed the advice of President Barack Obama who said on 30 October 2008, “The most important thing we’re going to have to do with respect to Afghanistan, is actually deal with Pakistan…We should probably try to facilitate a better understanding between Pakistan and India and try to resolve the Kashmir crisis so that they can stay focused not on India, but on the situation with those militants.”

Dr. Fai is the Secretary General, Washington-based World Kashmir Awareness Forum. He can be reached at: 1-202-607-6435 or gnfai2003@yahoo.com

PRIMe MINISTeR Imran Khan here Friday said the government was working for the promotion of technical education and information technology to ensure sustainable economic growth which would ultimately help generate more jobs and empower country’s youth. Addressing the inauguration function of new block at Malakand University, the Prime Minister said developed nations’ success was attributed to their priorities they accorded to quality education, research and knowledge based economy and that is why his government was investing on human resource development for rapid economic growth and generate more employment opportunities. he said NUML University was providing quality education to thousands of aspiring students and hoped it would soon become on a par with the Oxford University. Al Qadir University would be completed by this September and it would also become a hub of quality education and research works, he added. The Prime Minister said the country’s wealth had been stolen for the past 30 years and its plunderers had either taken shelter in hospitals or fled away abroad to escape accountability. happiness, he remarked, could only be achieved by following the right path and serving people with dedication and commitment. The Prime Minister said there was no short cut in life for achieving goals and all objectives could be achieved through hard work and professionalism, adding aimless life destroyed potential of individuals. Imran Khan said Pakistan possessed all the potential to become a developed country and great responsibility lied on the educational institutions by bringing intellectual revolution among students as per Quaid e Azam and Allama Iqbal’s vision. he said when his government took over the country’s reigns it was facing massive loans’ burden and bank default and national kitty was almost empty. With the support of friendly countries and his government’s strong economic policies, he said, the country was now heading towards a right direction of economic stability and prosperity. The country, prime minister said had come out of difficult economic situation now and his government had returned a record Rs6.2 trillions interest loans during last two and a half years, whereas, PMLN could only repay Rs3 trillions during the same period. In comparison, his government had returned Rs35 trillion as repayment and loans interests whereas PMLN had paid back only Rs20 trillions, he informed. The Prime Minister said the government was focusing on mega development projects to generate economic and financial resources. In addition to two mega projects of Bhasha and Mohmand dams to meet energy needs, Ravi and Business Cities were also being established in Lahore with potential to generate Rs6000 billion revenue and promote economic activities, he added.

Priority, he said was being given to the construction industry keeping in view its enormous potential to generate employment opportunities, besides providing low-cost housing to poor, labourers, farmers and have-nots.

Thirty industries would be directly benefited from the promotion of construction industry in Pakistan, he added.

AhmAd JunAid iSlAmAbAd

Education and development eDUCATION is the backbone for the development of any nation in the history We can take example from few successful countries like Japan, Russia, China, Amrica, France, and United Kingdom. These Nations are successful because they had worked for the betterment of education.

They worked hard & by the striving day and night for the betterment of education. They were successful due to their education system as well as great efforts of their scholars, in the history japan is the example for those countries, Who want to develop their country with the help of education. history is witnessing that Japan become destroyed in the past decades but they didn’t lose their courage and they demanded to other countries that they don’t want to their food and shelter, The only one thing they want that was a good teacher’s from the countries. They want good teachers for the development of their own country and they had Proved in the world that nation developed by the power of education & good teacher. In the world those nations were successful which were worked for the education. I want to share here one famous quote that, “If you want to destroy any nation then deprived them from education as a result they will fight with each other and then they will automatically destroy thereself”. We can learn a lot of lesson from that quotation which is regarding the importance of education so education is a change agent for the every country in the world.

SAffdAr Ali ChAnnA lArkAnA

US withdrawal from Afghanistan PReSIDeNT Trump while in office announced that he will withdraw US forces from Afghanistan as soon as possible. his special envoy to the region, Mr. Zami Khalizad started preparing grounds for the US forces to leave Afghanistan. he met with the Pakistani leadership to seek their help and facilitation in the talks with the Taliban. The US had realized that without involving Pakistan, it would be impossible to get out of the quagmire they were in. The back and forth meetings between the Taliban leadership, the FM of Pakistan, and the US envoy started rolling and they finally met in Doha, Qatar to strike a deal that would ensure the peaceful withdrawal of the US forces from Afghanistan. This deal and the announcement by the US were welcomed by everyone except a few who have selfish motives associated with the presence of the US and the lack of peace in the region. Unfortunately, last week the newly elected president of the US, Mr. Joe Biden said that it might be difficult to withdraw all the forces from Afghanistan by the mutually agreed date of May 01, 2021. While this would make those happy who benefit from the conflict in this region, the rest of the world has reacted strongly to this assertion by the US president. There have been severe reactions from Russia and China and the Taliban spokesperson has announced that if the US does not honor its commitment to leave Afghanistan, peace cannot be guaranteed. This development is worrisome for the entire world but more so for Pakistan as it suffers directly and immensely from the conflict in Afghanistan. I wonder if the US, the self-proclaimed leader of the free world, is indeed serious in peace around the world. It seems the US leadership is willing to put peace at stake to preserve self-image and political rhetoric at home. rAJA ShAfAtullAh iSlAmAbAd

Saturday, 20 March, 2021

08 WORLD VIEW

The world’s richesT counTries are hoarding vaccines. This is morally indefensible

guardian

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FatiMa Bhutto

AST year, European and North American countries managed to ignore warnings of a highly contagious pandemic – dragging their feet in setting protocols in place, delaying mandatory mask-wearing, and giving mostly miserly handouts to the millions struggling to survive in lockdown. Though the virus originated in China, not the west, western countries imagined that the virus would not touch them in quite the same way: Europe and the US entertained the fantasy that they alone were the captains of a more sophisticated political and bureaucratic system that could not only withstand a global pandemic but also remain largely immune to its threats. This year, these same countries have managed to outdo themselves by vacating their role on the international stage – hoarding vaccines and practicing only the most expedient, shallow pretenses of vaccine diplomacy. The wealthiest western nations have wiped their hands clean of any responsibility to slow a pandemic they helped magnify and spread.

Rich countries with 14% of the world’s population have secured 53% of the best vaccines. Almost all of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines will go to rich countries. The Moderna vaccine will go to rich countries exclusively; it is not even being offered to the poor. In fact, nine out of 10 people in poor countries may never be vaccinated at all. Washington is sitting on vaccines, making sure no one gets any while the US needs them. The European Union has exported 34m doses to, of all places, Singapore, Saudi Arabia and hong Kong – countries that have no problem sourcing or paying for vaccines. In fact, the EU sent about 9m doses to the UK, a country which, no longer in the EU, also has what amounts in practice to an export ban of its own, official denials notwithstanding.

It’s unlikely that Moderna’s chief exec-

rich countrieS with 14% of the worLd’S popuLation have Secured 53% of the beSt vaccineS. aLmoSt aLL of the pfizer/biontech vaccineS wiLL go to rich countrieS. the moderna vaccine wiLL go to rich countrieS excLuSiveLy; it iS not even being offered to the poor utives feel badly about the unvaccinated poor. The company forecasts sales of over $18bn for 2021, pushing Moderna into profit for the first time since its founding 11 years ago. Pfizer hasn’t done too badly either; they’re expecting a cool $15bn in sales.

South Africa, Africa’s worst-hit country, is buying Oxford’s AstraZeneca vaccine at nearly two and a half times the per-unit price of European countries. AstraZeneca’s French division told the press in November 2020 that it was capping the price per dose at €2.50, but somehow European countries are buying doses below the cap and African countries far above it. Canada has bought more doses per head than anyone else – enough doses to vaccinate every single Canadian five times over. But the entire continent of Africa – home to 1.3 billion people – has been allocated a total of 300m doses.

As of the last week of January, in all of subSaharan Africa, only 25 vaccines had been administered. Twenty-five. The director general of the World health Organization warned that the world was on the brink of a “catastrophic moral failure”. But the west has passed the brink a long time ago.

Israel, administering over 150,000 doses of vaccine a day in the dawn of the new year, leading the world in vaccine rollout, is pointedly, purposefully, not vaccinating the Palestinian people it occupies. When asked about it, the Israeli health minister sniffed that Israel had no legal obligation to vaccinate Palestinians. What then were the obligations of the Palestinians, he asked, to look after dolphins in the Mediterranean? It is a statement too stupid – too cruel – to answer. Yes, you have an obligation to the peo-

ple you occupy; yes, you have an obligation to “the sea”. Israel wants to gift its surplus supply of Moderna vaccines to countries that moved their embassies to Jerusalem (or have promised to), such as hungary, the Czech Republic and honduras. A virus, for some, is manna. Let the Palestinians die.

While western countries were barging ahead, stockpiling vaccine doses for themselves, China and Russia were practicing vaccine diplomacy. China offered free doses of their vaccines to 13 countries; between the two of them, China and Russia have supplied more than 800m doses to 41 countries. No one imagines they do this out of charity, but it’s a clear, resounding sign of the changing world order. Eight hundred million to the EU’s paltry 34m. The US and UK have given nothing at all. This petty vaccine nationalism is irreparably damaging the west, betraying their claims to magnanimity, inclusive global leadership and concern for global health.

Covid-19 has brought us new models: Vietnam, New Zealand, Iceland, Rwanda – smaller countries, striving countries, poorer countries. Those countries protected their populations, they set protocols in motion, they saved lives. Until July 2020, according to the New York Times, Vietnam, a nation of 97 million people, was the largest country in the world to have not confirmed a single fatality from the coronavirus. By November 2020, it had registered just over 1,000 cases.

On the other hand, a year into the pandemic, half a million Americans have died from Covid-19, more Americans than died in combat in the first and second world wars and the Vietnam war combined. Yet, even as its country suffered and struggled, the mighty power

still found time to bomb Syria. Joe Biden doesn’t herald a new start in American politics; he is a continuation of destructive, reckless American power. Trump, Biden and Obama are all guardians of a power that has no funds for healthcare, no cash for stimulus checks, but is rich in bombs and weaponry, flush with money for war.

One-third of US military personnel have refused to take the Covid vaccine, hesitant and suspicious. It is a special irony that the very organisation that had no doubts about invented weapons of mass destruction is grappling with skepticism about a vaccine. The same organisation that didn’t evince any trepidation over the specialised brutalities of Abu Ghraib and Guantánamo is now paralysed by the ethical quandaries of the anti-vaxxer movement. The soldiers of the largest, most sophisticated military in the world choose not to do anything at all while hundreds of millions of people in the non-western world don’t have the luxury to question a potentially lifesaving vaccine – it’s not even being offered to them.

It was the hyper-capitalists who spread the plague, got rich off the vaccine, and now will heal comfortably, first in the queue for the best vaccines that they don’t even want. The poor who struggled to eat and survive, lockdown after lockdown, will wait in line and die. Covid-19 will destroy many things, but hopefully too the broken scaffolding of our moral imagination.

Fatima Bhutto is a Pakistani author of fiction and nonfiction. Her novel The Runaways was published last year by Verso Books.

Job scam in army Laxity may affect quality of workforce Tribune, Chandigarh The exposé of a job scam in the Indian army is a matter of concern. Regarded as an august institution with strict rules which are meant to be complied with, the involvement of its personnel, besides private individuals, is a serious matter. There are allegations of bribery and irregularities in the recruitment of officers and persons of other ranks through the Service Selection Board. The army holds the CDS and NDA exams through the UPSC which are followed by rigorous physical, psychological and medical tests. The army also holds recruitment rally for lower ranks for which too there are clear guidelines. The charges mention the involvement of serving personnel in accepting bribes for clearance of medical review of temporarily rejected officer candidates which is serious as it involves compromising the quality of manpower required in the armed forces through arbitrary relaxation in rules.

The pandemic and the lockdown had cast their shadow on army recruitment also.

Not only had the process to be halted temporarily, but also recruitment had to be made in compliance with Covid-specific norms. Registration was done online and candidates were warned to beware of mediators or touts assuring success in the recruitment process. Aspirants were required to bring a Covid-asymptomatic certificate signed by a competent authority and take precautionary measures while taking part in the recruitment process.

Laxity in enforcing all this should be ascertained and corrective action taken.

Facing a shortage, the army had been finding itself unable to attract adequate and quality manpower because of the availability of alternative remunerative career options.

An institution that claims to care well for those serving it was finding it difficult to meet its requirements because of the service conditions and risk perception. But circumventing rules is no solution to get the required manpower for a demanding career, especially at a time when the country is involved in a tense standoff on its borders. A CBI inquiry apart, the army should take action at its own level to fix such lapses.

Palestinian elections: The resurrection of Salam Fayyad Some in the corridorS of iSraeLi, arab and weStern power Seem to be doing everything they can to end aLL formS of paLeStinian reSiStance once and for aLL

Middle easT eye

m

Joseph Massad

UCh jockeying for position is unfolding within the leadership of the Fatah movement in preparation for May’s planned Palestinian Authority (PA) elections. This is not a rivalry among rightwing conservatives, middle-of-the-road liberals and radical socialists, but rather a battle among different pro-Oslo, neoliberal, rightwing factions and personalities.

The current leadership of Fatah and the PA is taking no chances, having issued a veiled threat to Marwan Barghouti, languishing in an Israeli prison since 2002 but still active in the movement from his cell. And a few days ago, Fatah expelled former leader Yasser Arafat’s nephew, Nasser al-Qudwa, from the movement over his electoral challenge to President Mahmoud Abbas.

But those intent on saving the PA from Abbas, whether through internal Fatah rivals or through “independent” technocratic personalities, are not to be outdone; they have just unleashed their latest electoral candidate, former PA Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, who recently announced in an interview with the Palestinian newspaper al-Quds that he is returning to the Israeli-occupied West Bank to run for elections as an independent.

NATIONAL UNITY GOVERNMENT: Fayyad declared that the parliamentary bloc he intends to form would consist of “inde-

pendent personalities” and that they would conduct their campaign with “transparency and honour”. he added that the elections should establish a government of national unity that includes everyone, “and not a majority government”. Still, he expressed concerns about the achievement of such unity through elections, given the divisions among Palestinian factions, especially Fatah and hamas, and the crackdown by the ruling Fatah-PA on freedom of expression.

Fayyad, who served as PA prime minister after the Fatah coup against hamas in 2007 until 2013, is currently a visiting scholar at Princeton University. he departed from the Palestinian scene after dabbling in an NGO whose funds were sequestered in 2015 by a PA court, which accused the organisation of using its funds for political, not philanthropic, aims - a charge Fayyad denied.

Fayyad’s curriculum vitae includes working for the International Monetary Fund from 1987 to 2001, where the latter half of his tenure included serving as resident representative in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. In 2002, he became the PA’s finance minister.

While serving as prime minister in 2009, Fayyad - dubbed by Israel’s late President Shimon Peres as “the Palestinians’ first BenGurionist”- predicted that a Palestinian state would be established by 2011. More than a decade since his unfulfilled prediction, he seems to have reneged on his own hope and, if his recent declarations are to be believed, changed course radically.

During his long stint as prime minister, he recognised Israel as a “biblical country”, noting: “Related to the Zionist ethos, fine, Israel is a biblical country, there are lots of hilltops, lots of vacant space, why don’t [the settlers] use that, and let us get on with it?”

But in his recent interview, he insisted that Palestinians should now claim their national rights in all of “historic Palestine”.

REPRESSING PALESTINIANS: When in office, Fayyad presided over the repression of all forms of Palestinian resistance to Israel, dubbed “incitement”, including freedom of speech and freedom of political action.

While US-trained PA security forces were repressing Palestinians, Fayyad assured Israeli readers in an interview with haaretz: “Incitement can take the form of many things - things said, things done, provocations - but there are ways for dealing with this. We are dealing with this.”

Yet, not only did Fayyad pose as a democrat who was above partisan politics and the conflict between Fatah and hamas, he insisted at the same time that he applied the PA security apparatus, trained with the oversight of US Lieutenant General Keith Dayton, to repress only those who violated the law on either side.

In an interview published by the Washington-based Journal of Palestine Studies (JPS), he insisted that he opposed human rights violations, torture and politically motivated arrests, despite a massive record of ongoing abuses on all these fronts by his security forces, which at the time targeted especially anyone associated with hamas.

Fayyad also blithely surrendered the Palestinian people’s right of return to their homes and lands from which they had been expelled in 1948 by European Jewish colonists, saying: “Of course, Palestinians would have the right to reside within the state of Palestine” to be established in parts of the West Bank and Gaza. he was also quite flexible on the city of Jerusalem. In the 2009 original Arabic version of his JPS interview published in the Beirut-based Majallat al-Dirasat al-Filastiniyya, Fayyad was so concerned about the ongoing Israeli colonial theft of Jerusalem that he soberly recommended full Arab normalisation with Israel to put a stop to it: “The Arab identity of the city will be strengthened

when the Arabs come to visit it, not when they boycott it under the pretext that visiting it would be normalisation with the occupier.

I believe that it is the duty of Arabs to visit Jerusalem and I encourage this strongly, for in doing so, they would be supporting and strengthening the Arab dimension of Jerusalem’s identity.”

In contrast to his previous declarations, the new, radical Fayyad appears adamant that Jerusalem be claimed by Palestinians, saying it would be a test for the Biden administration, about which he is less than sanguine, to reverse the Trump administration’s policies.

REFORM COALITION: In a break from his past Israel-friendly positions, in his recent interview, Fayyad called to abandon the two-state solution and surprisingly insisted on the right of Palestinians to all of “historic Palestine”, which should be pressed internationally as a unified Palestinian position.

The new, radical Fayyad even insisted that Fatah adopt the line that hamas and Islamic Jihad have always expressed - namely, that elections be held not under the rubric of the Oslo Accords, as the recently resurrected Quartet (the US, UN, EU and Russia) insists, but rather on the basis of rejecting Oslo altogether. he demanded that Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem participate in the vote, as they were able to do in previous PA elections.

When asked by al-Quds about rumours that he may be running in the elections based on an initiative of the UAE government, which recently normalised relations with Israel, Fayyad denied the rumours categorically.

Palestinian pollster Khalil Shikaki, a senior fellow at Brandeis University’s Crown Center for Middle East Studies, said that “if Fayyad is No 2 on a list created by Marwan Barghouti and led by Nasser alQudwa, or part of a larger reform coalition, their chances of taking votes from Fatah

would significantly increase. Along with a unified leftist electoral list, such a reform coalition could influence the makeup of the next Palestinian governmental coalition.”

This suggests that Fayyad’s claimed political independence may have to be dependent on, or complicit with, the anti-Abbas Fatah faction to achieve electoral victory. A whole slew of pro-Oslo and pro-western Palestinian intellectuals, both inside and outside Palestine, have expressed excitement about Fayyad’s auspicious return to Palestinian politics.

INTRIGUING IMPLICATIONS: This is not Fayyad’s first time at the circus. he had a dry run back in 2006, when he ran on the “Third Way” list that he co-founded with Palestinian politician hanan Ashrawi, which was also “independent” of the other Palestinian factions. At the time, Fatah accused the Third Way of being financed by the CIA, which they denied. When the elections were held, the Third Way received 2.4 percent of the vote. It is not clear what percentage of the vote Fayyad hopes to get in the upcoming May elections.

The resurrection of Fayyad from political retirement is indeed a most intriguing event. Some in the corridors of Israeli, Arab and western power seem to be doing everything they can to revamp PA rule and collaboration with Israel, and with it the machinations of the Israeli occupation itself, to end all forms of Palestinian resistance once and for all, with a Biden-lite version of Trump’s “deal of the century”.

The PA elections are the game in which this imperial and Israeli strategy, and that of competing PA and Fatah collaborators clamouring for power, is being played out.

Joseph Massad is Professor of Modern Arab Politics and Intellectual History at Columbia University in New York.

Saturday, 20 March, 2021

BUSINESS 09

LAHORE

GOvt tO PROvide teLecOM, inteRnet SeRviceS At Key tOuRiSt SPOtS

corporate corner

ISLAMABAD

LAHORE: Bank of Punjab’s Centralised Procurement Head Muhammad Mansoor Khan receives ‘Excellence Award’ from the Institute of Tender Management. PR

ISLAMANAD: Fauji Fertilizer Company (FFC) recently held its Annual General Meeting, establishing a quorum of 62.5pc with representation either in person or through video conferencing and proxies from individual shareholders as well as major equity holders. PR

t

GHULAM ABBAS

HE government has decided to provide telecom or internet facilities to key tourist spots in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan.

According to officials, the Universal Service Fund on Friday approved a 'special connectivity project' to provide basic telecom and internet services at tourist spots, including Babusar Top, Saiful Malook Lake and Kumrat Valley.

It may be noted that the IT ministry had earlier forwarded a proposal in this regard to the USF Board on the directives of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Stocks add 177 points in volatile session KARACHI

LAHORE: BOP Taqwa Islamic Banking has signed a memorandum of understanding with Dupak Properties Pvt Ltd to extend BOP Taqwa House Finance Facility to Defence View Apartments’ individual and eligible customers who are willing to buy apartments in the said housing project of Dupak Properties. PR

Railways to earn Rs30bn through freight trains: Swati LAHORE: Federal Minister for Railways Azam Khan Swati has vowed to make Pakistan Railways profitable in next nine months. Addressing a news conference on Friday, Azam Khan Swati said that Pakistan Railways will earn Rs30 billion through freight trains. He said that railways and Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) will work together to make the organization efficient. The minister said that strengthening railways is imperative for overall economic development of the country. He said that railways land in Rawalpindi and Islamabad will be used in public private partnership programmes to generate income. Swati vowed to utilise all available resources to overcome losses in the Pakistan Railways and transform it into a profitable institution. He said the railways has unlimited potential, which, if utilised properly, can usher in a new era of economic prosperity and vitality. TLTP

Development Program for Tourist Locations', will go a long way in the promotion of tourism in the country," he maintained.

Meanwhile, USF Chief Executive Officer Haaris Mahmood Chaudhary briefed the meeting about the provision of high-speed mobile broadband services in tourist areas including Babusar Top, Lake Saiful Malook and Sharan Forest in Mansehra district, Kumrat Valley in Upper Dir district, Mahodand Lake in Swat district and several areas in Galiyat, Hazara Division.

"The project will not only ensure the provision of ICT services to domestic and foreign tourists, but will also play a significant role in sending timely

response to the concerned agencies in case of an emergency," he added.

The board decided that a team of USF experts, KP tourism department and telecom officials would jointly determine the base price for the auction of IT infrastructure development projects in these areas.

"The main issue with these areas is to determine the highest usage during peak tourist seasons so that investments may be made to meet that requirement," said a senior official of the IT ministry.

The USF board also approved nine projects worth around Rs8.15 billion for internet services in several unserved and underserved areas of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

MARKET DAILY

STAFF REPORT

ISLAMANAD: Nutshell Communications enters into a strategic partnership with Martin Dow Group to provide external stakeholder engagement and corporate branding/awareness services to the Group. Martin Dow Business Growth & Strategy Director Anum Jawed Akhai and Nutshell Communications COO Sadaf Mahmood sign the agreement on behalf of their respective organizations. PR

"IT minister Syed Aminul Haque had advised the USF board to launch special projects at key tourist spots," a ministry insider informed. "Connectivity in the modern era is like any other essential utility required to promote local and international tourism."

During the meeting on Friday, IT & Telecom Secretary and Universal Service Fund (USF) Board Chairman Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui noted that the main issue with tourist areas was that the number of users increased significantly during the summer months, whereas the number of resident users remained low.

"The new programme, titled 'Next Generation Broadband for Sustainable

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) staged a minor recovery on Friday after losing over 700 points in the previous session, with the benchmark index gaining over 170 points to close just shy of 45,000 mark.

Global equity markets, on the other hand, showed a negative trend, whereas crude oil prices also inched lower from the previous close; WTI crude price declining 0.18pc to $59.95 while Brent crude price falling 0.32pc to $63.08 (as at 5:06pm PST).

"The market opened on a negative note but bounced back strongly in the latter half, with refinery, cement, steel, oil & gas marketing stocks witnessing buying activity," a report issued by Arif Habib Ltd read. "The anticipation of SBP's monetary policy,

which was announced after the conclusion of the session, had little effect on investor sentiment."

SUMMARY: The benchmark KSE-100 Index endured a volatile session today, recording its intraday low at 44,393.28 (330.81 points) and high at 45,172.33 (+448.24 points). It settled higher by 177.22 points at 44,901.31.

Among other indices, the KMI-30 index gained 216.68 points to close at 73,816.55, while the KSE All Share Index added 94.36 points, closing at 30,750.20.

The overall market volumes contracted from 554.05 million shares in the previous session to 484.63 million shares (-13pc).

Average traded value also declined 9pc, from $152.8 million to $140.0 million. Byco Petroleum Pakistan Ltd (BYCO +9.96pc), K-Electric Ltd (KEL

+3.40pc) and TRG Pakistan Ltd (TRG +1.71pc) led the volume chart, exchanging 101.38 million, 38.24 million and 30.60 million shares, respectively.

Sectors that kept the benchmark index afloat included power generation & distribution (+50.74 points), technology & communication (+43.82 points) and oil & gas marketing (+43.59 points).

Among the companies, Habib Bank Ltd (HBL +62.48 points), Pakistan State Oil Company Ltd (PSO +32.61 points) and TRG Pakistan Ltd (+25.85 points) remained the top contributors.

Adding 8.20pc to its cumulative market capitalization, the refinery sector ended as the session’s top performer, with Attock Refinery Ltd (ATRL 7.50pc), Pakistan Refinery Ltd (PRL 7.47pc) and National Refinery Ltd (NRL 6.64pc) posting significant gains.

PMTA's support sought to operationise Islamabad metro bus corridor ISLAMABAD SHAHZAD PARACHA

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has sought support from the Punjab Mass Transit Authority (PMTA) to operationalise the Metro-bus Corridor from Peshawar Morr (G-9) to New Islamabad International Airport.

The request was made by CDA Chairman Aamir Ali Ahmad during a meeting held under the chair of Finance and Revenue Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh to decide upon the modalities to operationalise the corridor.

The CDA chairman emphasised the need for immediate operationalisation of the metro bus service to provide a comfortable, safe and secure transportation facility to the commuters in the federal capital.

He informed the meeting that the cabinet had already approved the formation of the Capital Mass Transit Authority (CMTA) to run the metro bus service. "However, the CDA requires support from the PMTA in the form of buses and technical knowhow to make the corridor operational until the CMTA becomes fully functional."

The finance minister asked the Punjab government to facilitate CDA in this regard by providing the requisite number of buses and technical know-how until the department establishes its own fully functional authority along with all the allied infrastructure.

He also constituted a sub-committee, to be headed by Planning Commission deputy chairman, to finalise the arrangements between CDA and Punjab government for smooth functioning of the newly-constructed corridor.

OGRA warns LPG profiteers of stern action ISLAMABAD: The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has warned those involved in overcharging and less filling of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders of stern action. OGRA Spokesman Imran Ghaznavi in a press statement on Friday advised the LPG consumers to check the quantity of the commodity considering “total weight of filled cylinder minus weight of empty cylinder as it is mentioned on each cylinder.” He said the LPG cylinders should be weighed before taking delivery from the distributors by the general public. He said the authority has directed all the LPG marketing companies as well as distributors to install “accurate weighing scales for correct measurement,” besides ensuring that LPG cylinders carried markings which should be clearly readable by a common eye. In case, the spokesman said, any LPG marketing company or distributor was found involved in less filling or overcharging “it shall be dealt in accordance with Rules 18, 19 and 29 of the LPG Rules, 2001.” TLTP

1,100MW K-2 nuclear power plant connected to national grid Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) has connected the much-awaited 1,100MW Karachi Nuclear Power Plant Unit-2 (K-2) to the national grid. In a statement, the PAEC termed it a ‘Pakistan Day’ gift to the nation. It said the nuclear power plant (NPP) had achieved criticality at the end of February and was undergoing certain safety tests and procedures before it could finally be connected to the national grid. The loading of nuclear fuel onto the plant had started on December 1, 2020 after getting clearance from the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority. Congratulating the nation over this achievement, Federal Energy Minister Omar Ayub Khan in his Twitter message informed that 105MW electricity was being obtained from the power plant.

The PAEC pointed out that K-2 is the first nuclear power plant in Pakistan with a generation capacity of 1,100MW and its addition to the national grid will “surely help improve the economy of the country”. It may be noted that K-2 is one of the two similar under-construction nuclear power plants located near Karachi and will be inaugurated for commercial operation by the end of May this year. NEWS DESK

Pakistan receives $7.21bn foreign assistance in July-Feb period: EAD ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Pakistan received a total of $7.21 billion external inflows during July-Feb period of the current fiscal year (2020-21) from bilateral and multilateral development partners, foreign commercial borrowing, and time deposits.

According to the data released by the Policy Analysis & Development Wing of Economic Affairs Division (EAD), these external inflows from multiple sources are around 59 per cent of the annual budget estimates of $12.23 billion for the entire fiscal

year FY21. In the corresponding period of FY20, the external inflows were $6.28 billion i.e. around 51pc of the then annual budgeted amount of $12.96 billion.

Out of $7.21 billion, the government received $1.35 billion in the form of programme/budgetary support assistance to restructure economy, $3.11 billion as foreign commercial borrowing to repay maturing foreign commercial loans, $1.35 billion as project assistance to finance its development projects for improving the socio-economic development of the country and for asset creation and $399 million as commodity financing while $1 billion were received as safe

deposits from China.

The disbursement from bilateral and multilateral development partners also maintained a strong trend and is $3.10 billion of foreign economic assistance during 8MFY21 against the budgetary allocation of $5.811 billion for FY21 on concessional terms with a longer maturity. These healthy inflows also helped to improve foreign exchange reserves and exchange rate stability, the monthly bulletin of Foreign Economic Assistance by the Economic Affairs Division (EAD) reported.

Foreign assistance obtained by Pakistan through multilateral sources during July-Feb

CMYK

FY21 totalled $2.83 billion. Amongst the multilateral development partners, Asian Development Bank provided $1.21 billion and World Bank $909 million against the budgetary allocation of $2.257 billion.

The monthly bulletin revealed that the collective disbursement from bilateral donors amounted to $272 million during 8MFY21 wherein Pakistan received $95.4 million from China, followed by the United States with $76.6 million and France with $34.8 million. Increased level of external inflows from multilateral and bilateral development partners is indicative of their confidence in development priorities and

policies of the government including implementation of reforms in the priority areas of fiscal and debt management, energy sector, and ease of doing business.

The strong official inflows during the first seven months of the current fiscal year helped the government to discharge its external public debt obligation of $4.12 billion against the annual repayment estimates of $10.36 billion for the entire Fiscal Year. Of which, $3.47 billion (84pc of total external public debt servicing) was repaid as principal and $650 million (16pc) as interest on the outstanding stock of external public debt.

Saturday, 20 March, 2021

10 FOREIGN NEWS

LAHORE

MyAnMAr sEcurity forcEs Kill ninE As indonEsiA, Envoys cAll for End to violEncE

s

AGENCIES

ECURITy forces killed at least nine opponents of Myanmar’s Feb. 1 coup on Friday, a funeral service and media said, as Indonesia urged an end to violence and Western ambassadors condemned what they called the military’s immoral, indefensible actions.

Police and soldiers have used increasingly violent tactics to suppress demonstrations by supporters of detained elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi, but that has not deterred the protesters and crowds turned out again on Friday.

Security forces opened fire in a confrontation in the central town of Aungban as they tried to clear a protesters’ barricade, media and a witness reported.

“Security forces came to remove barriers but the people resisted and they fired,” the witness, who declined to be identified, said by telephone.

An official with Aungban’s funerary service, who declined to be identified, told Reuters eight people were killed, seven on the spot and one wounded person who died after being taken to hospital in the nearby town of Kalaw. The spokesman for the junta was not immediately available for comment

but has previously said security forces have used force only when necessary. Critics have derided that.

One protester was killed in the northeastern town of Loikaw, the Myanmar Now news portal said. One person was shot and killed in the main city of yangon, social media posts showed. Reuters could not confirm that death. Police ordered people in some yangon neighbourhoods to dismantle barricades and have been hunting for protest leaders, residents said. Video on social media showed police forcing a man to crawl down on a street on all fours.

Demonstrators were also out in the second city of Mandalay, the central towns of Myingyan and Katha, and Myawaddy in the east, witnesses and media reported. Ambassadors of Western countries condemned the violence as “immoral and indefensible”, in particular in yangon’s Hlaing Tharyar industrial district, where dozens were killed over several days after Chinese-owned garment factories were torched last weekend.

“Internet blackouts and suppression of the media will not hide the military’s abhorrent actions,” they said in a statement. The total number of people killed in weeks of unrest has risen to at least 234, based on a tally by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners activist group.

‘NO MORE VICTIMS’: Myanmar’s Asian neighbours, led by Indonesia, have offered to help find a solution but failed to make headway.

The 10 countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has long held to the principle of not commenting on each other’s internal affairs, but there are growing signs that the Myanmar crisis is forcing a reassessment of that.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo made some of the strongest comments yet from a regional leader on the crackdown.

“Indonesia urges that the use of violence in Myanmar be stopped immediately so that there are no more victims,” Jokowi, as he is known, said in a virtual address.

“The safety and welfare of the people must be the top priority. Indonesia also urges dialogue, that reconciliation is carried out immediately to restore democracy.”

Myanmar’s coup leader, General Min Aung Hlaing, took part in a video conference with regional defence chiefs on Thursday, his first international engagement since seizing power, state television showed. At the meeting, the head of Indonesia’s armed forces, Hadi Tjahjanto, expressed concern over the Myanmar situation, the Indonesian military said on its website. Singapore’s military chief, Lieutenant-General Melvyn Ong,

also expressed “grave concern” and urged Myanmar to avoid lethal force, the Singapore defence ministry said.

INTERNET RESTRICTIONS: Authorities have tightened restricted on internet services, making information increasingly difficult to verify, and also clamped down on private media.

The U.N. human rights office said this week about 37 journalists had been arrested so far. Two more were detained in the capital, Naypyitaw, on Friday while covering a hearing for an arrested member of Suu Kyi’s party, said the Mizzima news portal, the former employer of one of them, Than Htike Aung.

The other detained reporter was Aung Thura of the British Broadcasting Corp (BBC). The BBC said they were taken away by unidentified men and it called on authorities to help find its accredited journalist and confirm he was safe.

Suu Kyi, 75, faces accusations of bribery and other crimes that could see her banned from politics and jailed if convicted.

Her lawyer says the charges are trumped up.

The army has defended its takeover, saying its accusations of fraud in a Nov. 8 election swept by Suu Kyi’s party were ignored by the electoral commission. It has promised a new election but not set a date.

Europe aims to get vaccinations back on track after clearing AstraZeneca shot AMSTERDAM/LONDON AGENCIES

Europe pushed to get its Covid19 vaccination drive back on track on Friday after EU and British regulators said the benefits of AstraZeneca’s shot outweighed any risks following reports of blood clots.

The end to the suspension of AstraZeneca shots by more than a dozen countries will now kick off a test of public confidence, both in the vaccine and regulators who are under unprecedented scrutiny as variants of the virus spread and the global death toll climbs beyond 2.8 million.

Safety concerns had led at least 13 European countries to stop administering the shot, slowing an already faltering inoculation campaign across the European Union, which is lagging Britain and the United States.

Europe’s leaders say they need to accelerate their vaccination drive, with deaths in the EU topping 550,000, less than a 10th of the bloc’s population inoculated and growing signs of an imminent third wave of infections.

Germany, Italy and others countries including Indonesia began on Friday to administer the

shots they had suspended after reports of about 30 cases of rare brain blood clots sent scientists and governments scrambling to determine any link. France’s health regulator, however, recommended only over 55s should get AstraZeneca shots due to concern those younger were more at risk of clots while Lithuania will let people chose their vaccine in a possible litmus test of sentiment.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) came to what it called a clear conclusion that the vaccine’s benefits in protecting people from coronavirus-related death or hospitalisation outweighed the possible risks.

Still, EMA said a link between rare events of blood clots in the brain and the shot could not be definitively ruled out and it would continue its scrutiny, as will the British Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

“This is a safe and effective vaccine,” EMA Director Emer Cooke told a briefing on Thursday.

“If it were me, I would be vaccinated tomorrow.”

PRUDENT REINTRODUCTION: The EMA said it would update its guidance on the vaccine to include an explanation for patients

once called crazy, indonesian eco-warrior turns arid hills green WONOGIRI AGENCIES

Once considered crazy by fellow villagers, Indonesian eco-warrior Sadiman has turned barren hills green after 24 years of effort, making water resources available in the drought-prone mountainous region where he lives. Affectionately addressed as ‘mbah’ or ‘grandpa’, the 69-year-old has worked relentlessly to plant trees in the hills of central Java after fires to clear the land for cultivation nearly dried up its rivers and lakes. “I thought to myself, if I don’t plant banyan trees, this area would become dry,” said Sadiman, wearing his trademark ranger hat and safari shirt, who goes by one name, like many Indonesians. “In my experience, banyan trees and ficus trees can store a lot of water.” The long and wide-spreading roots of at least 11,000 banyans and ficus trees Sadiman has planted over 250 hectares (617 acres) help to retain groundwater and prevent land erosion. Thanks to his effort, springs have formed where once there was barren and arid land, their water piped to homes and used to irrigate farms. yet, at the beginning, few village residents appreciated his work. “People ridiculed me for bringing banyan tree seeds to the village, because they felt uneasy as they believed there are spirits in these trees,” Sadiman added. Some even thought he was a madman because he bartered saplings for the goats he reared, said one villager, Warto.

about potential risks and information for healthcare professionals to help people recognise when they may need medical assistance.

Germany resumed administering the vaccine on Friday morning after a three-day pause as the nation’s health minister warned there were not enough vaccines in Europe to contain a third wave of coronavirus infections.

“We can reintroduce AstraZeneca but prudently with informed doctors and appropriately educated citizens,” Health Minister Jens Spahn said.

In Italy, where Prime Minister Mario Draghi said the country was also resuming vaccinations with AstraZeneca’s shot, about 200,000 inoculations had been put on hold due leaving regions in control of inoculations to reschedule them.

Analysis: Move to ban Kurdish party shows Erdogan's march to nationalism ISTANBUL AGENCIES

In the early days of peace talks with Kurdish militants in 2013, Turkey’s thenPrime Minister Tayyip Erdogan spoke out against ethnic divisions and declared, “we are a government that has trampled on every kind of nationalism”. Eight years on, long after the talks collapsed in a surge of violence, analysts say Erdogan, now president, is dependent on his nationalist allies in parliament led by Devlet Bahceli. This has limited his political options, fuelled autocratic moves and alienated Kurds across the country, they say.

Erdogan’s long pivot from boosting Kurdish rights to a hard pact with nationalist Turks was reinforced this week when a top prosecutor moved to ban the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) over militant ties, after months of calls to do so from Bahceli’s Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). Cengiz Candar, who wrote a report examining how to end the decades-old insurgency before the peace process, said the timing of the HDP charges, just before an MHP congress, showed Bahceli’s heavier hand in decision-making. “It illustrates that Turkish autocracy is getting much more repressive against the Kurds and... even more nationalistic,” the veteran political commentator told Reuters. “Either Erdogan is their (MHP’s) hostage, or acts in unison with them.” “The tunnel into which the government has pushed Turkey is getting even darker. We don’t see light at the end.” Echoing that view, HDP co-leaders Pervin Buldan and Mithat Sancar said in a statement the AKP had “presented a gift to the MHP congress through the judiciary, and the prosecutors have acted upon political instructions”. The government says Turkey’s judiciary is independent.

Erdogan’s Islamist-rooted AK Party (AKP), in power since 2002, itself narrowly survived a closure case in 2008. He has spoken out in past years against shutting parties, including the ban on another pro-Kurdish party in 2009. But since the ceasefire with Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants ended in 2015, Erdogan has taken a harder line. Thousands of HDP members have been arrested in a crackdown and many of its lawmakers and mayors unseated and jailed. Erdogan’s communications director Fahrettin Altun said the HDP had “organic ties” to the PKK. The HDP, Turkey’s thirdlargest party, denies PKK links. More than 40,000 people have been killed in the conflict the PKK launched in 1984.

It is designated a terrorist group by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.

Saturday, 20 March, 2021

LAHORE

NaBi heLPS afGhaNiStaN SeaL t20i SeRieS wiN oveR ZimBaBwe

Sharjeel is beneficial for national team, says Babar NEWS DESK

ABU DHABI

a

SPORTS 11

AGENCIES

GGRESSIVE batting from Karim Janat and Mohammad Nabi and three wickets from Rashid Khan helped Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by 45 runs in the second Twenty20 international in Abu Dhabi on Friday.

Janat smacked 53 off 38 balls for his maiden international fifty while Nabi’s fiery 15-ball 40 lifted Afghanistan to an impressive 193-5 after they won the toss and batted.

Ace spinner Rashid chipped in with 330, taking all three wickets in the 17th over, as Zimbabwe were dismissed for 148 to give Afghanistan an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Afghanistan won the first match by 48 runs. The third and final match is on Saturday, again in Abu Dhabi.

Zimbabwe lost Tinashe Kamunhukamwe off the first ball of their run chase and skipper Sean Williams for nine in the second over to slump to 11-2.

Ryan Burl (40) and Richmond Mutumbami (21) shared 62 runs for the sixth wicket to give Zimbabwe fresh belief.

Nabi, who also took 2-20, broke the stand while Rashid, held out the attack until the 10th over, dismissed Burl to extinguish Zimbabwe’s hopes.

Earlier, Janat brought up his fifty with some lusty hitting after losing his partner Rahmanullah Gurbaz for nine, cracking four sixes and three fours.

But it was Nabi who gave impetus to

AFGHANISTAN 193 FOR 5 (JANAT 53, GHANI 49, NABI 40) BEAT ZIMBABWE 148 ALL OUT (BURL 40, RASHID 3-30, NABI 2-20) BY 45 RUNS

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam has said that batsman Sharjeel Khan, being in form, will be a winning addition to the national side. In a virtual press conference in Lahore ahead of the team’s training camp for the Africa tour, Babar said that Sharjeel with the support of the management is working on his fitness issues.

“Sharjeel will work on his fitness. One cannot expect him to become [as fit as] Shadab Khan overnight,” the skipper added. "He is a match winner. He is in form and it [his inclusion in the side] will be beneficial for Pakistan. His form right now can help us and he is one of the best openers. I have played with him in Karachi Kings and he can take away the pressure and totally change the game. I never asked for him in ODIs but for T20 cricket, which is a short format, you can adjust."

Babar’s comments came after Head Coach Misbahul Haq had expressed his reservations over the batsman's selection amid poor fitness.

Bayern draw PSG in Champions League quarters as Real face Liverpool LONDON AGENCIES

the innings, smashing four sixes in a whirlwind knock. Three of his sixes came offspinner Brandon Mavuta’s over which

yielded 23 runs.

Usman Ghani also chipped in with a brisk 34-ball 49 with and shared 102 runs

for the second wicket with Janat. Paceman Blessing Muzarabani was the pick of Zimbabwe bowlers with 2-44.

United beat Milan to reach Europa League quarters, Zagreb knock out Spurs MILAN AGENCIES

Paul Pogba scored the winner on his return from injury as Manchester United beat AC Milan 1-0 on Thursday to join Arsenal in the Europa League quarter-finals, while Dinamo Zagreb knocked out Tottenham Hotspur after extra time in Croatia.

The France midfielder struck the only goal at the San Siro four minutes after replacing Marcus Rashford as a half-time substitute, scooping home after an ugly scramble inside the Milan area. United goalkeeper Dean Henderson produced an excellent reflex save to deny Zlatan Ibrahimovic an equaliser against his old club and secure a 2-1 aggregate victory for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team.

“We’ve come through a very difficult tie against a fantastic club and we’ve overcome some difficulties,” Solskjaer told BT Sport. “We’ve missed Paul, he’s been out for almost two months. He was just getting into his best form.

He’s going to give us a big boost for the rest of the season.” The three-time European champions are one of two English clubs in draw for the last eight, as Arsenal also qualified despite suffering a 1-0 loss to Olympiakos in the second leg. Youssef El-Arabi’s deflected second-half strike earned Olympiakos another victory at the Emirates but Arsenal advanced 3-2 on aggregate, avenging their exit

to the Greeks on away goals last season.

“Really happy to be through. We had a tough opponent, so happy to be through. Sometimes we have to be fair with ourselves – we were nowhere near the levels we could be,” said Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.

Jose Mourinho’s Spurs crashed out of the competition after surrendering a 2-0 lead from the first leg, with Dinamo forward Mislav Orsic scoring a brilliant hat-trick for the Croatian champions.

Dinamo coach Zoran Mamic resigned this week after being sentenced to four years and eight months in jail for multi-million euro fraud involving Luka Modric’s move to Tottenham and other transfers. However, Orsic curled in a marvellous shot from the corner of the area to give Dinamo the lead on 62 minutes and then capped off a fine move with a thumping finish to send the match to extra time.

Orsic completed his treble in style as he ran past three players and hammered a low drive beyond Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris from the edge of the box on 106 minutes. Harry Kane nearly snatched a late goal that would have put Spurs through on away goals but his effort was clawed out by Dinamo goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic as the hosts won 3-2 on aggregate.

‘BASICS OF LIFE’: “My team didn’t bring to the game the basics of football or life –- to respect our jobs and give everything. I can only apologise to the Tottenham support-

ers,” said Mourinho.

“If I forget the last 10 minutes of extra time, where we did something to get a different result, the 90 minutes and first half of extra time was one team leaving everything on the pitch. “My team didn’t look like it was playing an important match. Another attitude is needed. To say I feel sad is not enough. What I feel is much more than sadness.”

Steven Gerrard’s Rangers finished with nine men in a 2-0 home loss to Slavia Prague, as the Czech side won 31 on aggregate.

Peter Olayinka gave Slavia an early lead at Ibrox and Rangers’ hopes of a comeback suffered a double blow with Kemar Roofe and then Leon Balogun sent off for the Scottish champions in the second half.

Nicolae Stanciu’s free-kick immediately after Balogun’s dismissal ensured victory for Slavia.

Ajax made sure of their passage into the next round as a David Neres goal and Dusan Tadic penalty rounded off a 5-0 aggregate win over Young Boys. Gerard Moreno’s double in Spain gave Villarreal a second 2-0 victory over Dynamo Kiev in as many weeks, while Granada extended their debut run in Europe, going through 3-2 overall despite a 2-1 loss to Norway’s Molde in Budapest. Roma also progressed as a 2-1 victory courtesy of two goals from Real Madrid loanee Borja Mayoral against Shakhtar Donetsk in Kiev wrapped up a 5-1 win on aggregate.

In Gaza, loss of a leg doesn’t deter ‘hero’ footballers GAZA AGENCIES

Palestinian footballer Mohammed Abu Bayad, whose leg was amputated after being injured by Israeli fire, has become the first to score using crutches in a football match in Gaza.

Using his crutches Abu Bayad ran as fast as he could, kicked the ball and scored a goal becoming the first to score in a football match between Palestinians whose legs were amputated after they were hit by Israeli fire. “I played football before I was injured and my life changed, but I was determined to continue,” said Abu Bayad, at a stadium west of Gaza City. After a break of a few months due to the coronavirus pandemic, the tournament between four clubs culminated Thursday in the final, organised by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Palestinian Football Association. Abu Bayad was shot by the Israeli army in 2014 during the last war between Israel and Gaza’s rulers. According to the United Nations, some 8,000 other Palestinians

were injured by Israeli army fire during the “great march of return” protests that started in March 2018. For several months, thousands of Palestinians gathered along the barrier between the Gaza Strip and the Jewish state, heavily guarded by the Israeli army. They were demanding an end to the decade-long Israeli blockade on the enclave. They also demanded the right of Palestinians to return to the lands they fled, or were driven from, when Israel was created in 1948.

Ahmed Abu Nar, who also scored a goal for his team, lost his left leg during those protests. “It was very difficult when I was wounded,” he said. “Playing football helps me psychologically and physically, and makes me happy.”

His teammate Mohammad Abu Samra said his interest in the game grew after his injury. “I wanted to challenge myself and prove to the Israeli enemy that we will not surrender,” Abu Samra said. For ICRC spokesman Hesham Mhanna, the players are “heroes,” “victims of armed conflicts” who send a message that it is possible to overcome obstacles stemming from disability.

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Holders Bayern Munich will face last year’s beaten finalists Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals of this season’s Champions League, while Friday’s draw for the last eight also threw up a clash between Liverpool and Real Madrid. The draw also pitted Premier League leaders Manchester City against Borussia Dortmund, with Chelsea set to play Porto in the other tie. Bayern defeated PSG 10 behind closed doors in Lisbon last August to win their sixth European Cup and remain the team to beat in Europe, having won 18 and drawn one of their 19 games in the Champions League since the beginning of last season. The first leg is set to be played in Germany on April 6 or 7, with the return in Paris a week later. Meanwhile, the meeting of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool and Real is another re-run of a recent final, with the Spaniards beating the Reds 3-1 in Kiev in 2018 to win the last of their record 13 titles to date.

Liverpool bounced back from that to lift the trophy for the sixth time in Madrid in 2019.

Klopp’s side are due to be away from home in the first leg, but it remains to be seen where that match will be played. Atletico Madrid’s home leg against Chelsea in the last 16 ended up being moved to the Romanian capital Bucharest due to restrictions imposed on travel to Spain by British authorities. The winner between Liverpool and Real will go onto a semi-final against either Chelsea or Porto, throwing up the possibility of an allEnglish last-four tie. Liverpool beat Chelsea in the semi-finals in 2005 and again in 2007.

Unbeaten in 13 games since the appointment of Thomas Tuchel as coach in late January, Chelsea will be expected to get the better of Portuguese champions Porto, who ousted Juventus in the last 16.

Saturday, 20 March, 2021

prAyer timings

newS

AFghAn govt, tAlIbAn AgRee to AcceleRAte peAce tAlks AFteR MoscoW suMMIt MOSCOW

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ing place between the Afghan government and the Taliban in Qatar’s capital Doha, largely stalled over government accusations that the Taliban have failed

Agencies

HE Afghan government and the Taliban agreed on Friday to try to accelerate peace talks, at a meeting in Moscow that followed an international conference there on the peace process, a senior Afghan official was quoted as saying.

The United States, Russia, China and Pakistan called on Afghanistan’s warring sides to reach an immediate ceasefire at the conference, held in Russia just six weeks before a deadline agreed last year to withdraw US troops.

“We expressed our readiness to accelerate the (peace) process,” Abdullah Abdullah, chairman of Afghanistan’s High Council for National Reconciliation, told Russia’s RIA news agency. “They (the Taliban) did as well.”

Abdullah said the sides had not discussed any specific issues when they met in Moscow on Friday.

Moscow hosted the international conference on Afghanistan on Thursday, at which Russia, the United States, China and Pakistan released a joint statement calling on the Afghan sides to reach a peace deal and curb violence, and on the Taliban not to launch any offensives in the spring and summer.

The conference aimed to reinvigorate negotiations which have been tak-

to halt violence.

The United States sent a senior representative to Moscow for the talks on Afghanistan. Washington agreed last year

with the Taliban to withdraw its troops by May 1 after nearly two decades, and is looking for support among regional powers for its plans for the peace process.

Pakistan reaffirms support to political settlement in Afghanistan ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has reaffirmed Pakistan’s resolve to facilitate all efforts for a negotiated political settlement in Afghanistan, underlining the importance of exercising vigilance against the role of “spoilers.”

Qureshi said this in a telephonic conversation with his Afghan counterpart Hanif Atmar on Friday. Views were exchanged on matters of mutual interest, including Pakistan-Afghanistan bilateral relations and the latest status of Afghan peace process during the phone call. Reiterating Pakistan’s consistent support to the Afghan peace process, the foreign minister underlined that the intra-Afghan negotiations provided a historic opportunity to achieve an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political settlement in Afghanistan. The foreign minister urged Afghan parties to work constructively for the shared objective of a stable and peaceful Afghanistan. He underscored the need to remain cognizant of the challenges and impediments on the way, which could be overcome through patience, perseverance and persistence. In the bilateral context, the foreign minister reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to forge closer cooperation with Afghanistan in all fields. He underlined the importance of AfghanistanPakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APAPPS) as a vital platform to carry forward the bilateral cooperation on key tracks. The foreign minister also emphasised the need for early conclusion of talks relating to the APTTA. The two foreign ministers exchanged greetings and good wishes on the eve of Nowruz. Foreign Minister Qureshi extended an invitation to Foreign Minister Atmar to visit Pakistan at the earliest convenience. In a related development, Afghan President’s Special Envoy for Pakistan Affairs Mohammed Umer Daudzai has said that Kabul wants Islamabad to play the same role in facilitating an agreement between the government of Asfhraf Ghani and the Taliban as it did in the Doha pact which was possible due to Pakistan’s cooperation. “The agreement between the Taliban and the US, there was serious Pakistan cooperation in it and the US thanked Pakistan. Now we, as their brothers and sisters, expect Pakistan to do the same between the Afghan Republic and the Taliban,” he said. About the role of government in Islamabad, Daudzai said that Afghanistan has its expectations from Pakistan to use its influence over the Taliban, to consistently come to a negotiation table and also to follow the negotiation on a result base. “The other thing we expect [from Pakistan] is to again use influence over Taliban to agree to a ceasefire,” the Afghan envoy said. This peace effort, he said, is different from the earlier efforts as the animosity between the Taliban and the US are over. “The Taliban used to claim that Afghanistan is occupied by the US and as long as it continues we will fight. Now they have signed an agreement in February last year in Doha which means their problem is over, they have overcome their problem but now they have continued to fight against the Afghanistan government forces.” He said that since 2018, a framework has been developed, specifying areas of cooperation. “The first one is state-to-state friendship and cooperation. The second is Pakistan’s cooperation in the peace process, third is the trade and transit, the fourth one is counter-terrorism and the fifth one is refugee return.”. tltp

Top US, Chinese diplomats clash at start of first talks of Biden presidency ANCHORAGE Agencies

The first high-level United States-China talks of the Biden administration got off to a fiery start on Thursday, with both sides levelling sharp rebukes of the others’ policies in a rare public display that underscored the level of bilateral tension.

The run-up to the meeting in Anchorage, Alaska, which followed visits by US officials to allies Japan and South Korea, was marked by a flurry of moves by Washington that showed it was taking a tough stance, and blunt talk from Beijing.

“We will […] discuss our deep concerns with actions

by China, including in Xinjiang, Hong Kong, Taiwan, cyber attacks on the United States, economic coercion of our allies,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told his Chinese counterparts in highly unusual extended backand-forth in front of cameras.

“Each of these actions threaten the rules-based order that maintains global stability,” he said.

The Biden administration has made clear that it is looking for a change in behaviour from China, which has expressed hope to reset relations that had worsened drastically under former US president Donald Trump.

China’s top diplomat Yang Jiechi responded with a 15minute speech in Chinese while the US side awaited translation, lashing out about what he said was the United States’ struggling democracy, poor treatment of minorities, and criticising its foreign and trade policies.

“The US uses its military force and financial hegemony to carry out long arm jurisdiction and suppress other countries,” said Yang.

“It abuses so-called notions of national security to obstruct normal trade exchanges, and incite some countries to attack China,” he added.

‘GRANDSTANDING’ AND PROTOCOL BREACHES: Throughout Yang’s monologue, US National Security Adviser Sullivan and other officials in the

delegation passed notes to each other. At the end, Blinken held journalists in the room so he could respond.

What is typically a few minutes of opening remarks in front of journalists for such high-level meetings lasted for more than an hour, and the two delegations tussled about when media would be ushered out of the room.

Afterwards, the US accused China of “grandstanding” while Chinese state media blamed US officials for speaking too long and being “inhospitable”.

Both sides accused the other of violating diplomatic protocol, with a US official saying the two had initially agreed two minutes of opening statements by each of the principals.

“The Chinese delegation […] seems to have arrived intent on grandstanding, focused on public theatrics and dramatics over substance,” the official told reporters at the Anchorage hotel where the meeting was taking place.

“Exaggerated diplomatic presentations often are aimed at a domestic audience,” the official added.

Many netizens on China’s social media said Chinese officials were doing a good job in Alaska, and that the US side had shown zero sincerity.

Some even characterised the talks as a “Hongmen Banquet”, a historical event that took place 2,000 years ago where a rebel leader invited another to a feast with the intention of murdering him.

Still, the two sides reconvened for another meeting on Thursday evening, and a senior Biden administration official said that the first session was “substantive, serious, and direct,” running well beyond the two hours originally allotted.

“We used the session, just as we had planned, to outline our interests and priorities, and we heard the same from our Chinese counterparts,” the official said in the pool report, adding that a third session of talks was scheduled for Friday morning.

While much of Biden’s China policy is still being formulated, including how to handle the tariffs on Chinese goods implemented under Trump, his administration has so far placed a stronger emphasis on democratic values

and allegations of human rights abuses by China.

China firmly opposes US interference in what it regards as its internal affairs, issues such as Taiwan, Hong Kong and Xinjiang.

TERMS OF DISAGREEMENT: Washington says Blinken’s Asia tour before the meeting with Chinese officials, as well as US outreach to Europe, India and other partners, shows how the United States has strengthened its hand to confront China since Biden took office in January.

But the two sides appeared primed to agree on very little at the talks.

Even the status of the meeting became a sticking point, with China insisting it is a “strategic dialogue”, harkening back to bilateral mechanisms of years past. The US side rejected that, calling it a one-off session.

On the eve of the talks, the US issued a flurry of actions directed at China, including a move to begin revoking Chinese telecoms licences, subpoenas to multiple Chinese information technology companies over national security concerns, and updated sanctions on China over a rollback of democracy in Hong Kong.

Adding to tensions, China on Friday tried a Canadian citizen on espionage charges, in a case embroiled in a wider diplomatic spat between Washington and Beijing.

At the talks on Thursday, Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi questioned Blinken about whether the sanctions were announced ahead of the meeting on purpose.

Washington has said it is willing to work with China when it is in US interests, citing climate policy and the coronavirus pandemic as examples.

Blinken said Washington hoped to see China use its influence with North Korea to persuade it to give up its nuclear weapons.

Bonnie Glaser, an Asia expert at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, said tough statements from both sides in the run-up to the meeting had created a risk that it would devolve into an exchange of accusations and demands.

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Renowned cardiologist’s son drowns, grandson rescued DR MOBEEN, 49, WAS CAUGHT IN A RIPTIDE AND DROWNED WHILE RAFTING DURING HIS VACATIONS IN THE CARIBBEAN Lahore’s renowned cardiologist Dr Shahryar Ahmed Sheikh’s only son Dr Mobeen Ahmed Sheikh passed away in an unfortunate event on Friday, according to a local news outlet.

According to the report, Dr Mobeen, 49, was caught in a riptide and drowned while rafting during his vacations in the Caribbean. However, his son, who was rafting along with him, survived the accident and was shifted to a nearby health facility for medical treatment. Dr Mobeen graduated from the Aga Khan Medical College in 1995. He used to work in Beverly, MA and specialised in Cardiovascular Disease and Internal Medicine. He was affiliated with Beverly Hospital. Dr Shehryar is a renowned cardiologist and currently works at Doctors Hospital in Lahore. news desk

WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook down for 30 minutes globally

Facebook-owned Instagram and WhatsApp, as well as the Facebook Messenger app, went down globally for around 30 minutes on Friday.Many users said that they were unable to log in or use the apps. The website Downdectector.com reported issues with the apps around the world. Facebook issued a statement saying that its services were being affected by a number of issues, after more than 1 million people across the world reported problems with its services.“Multiple teams are working on it (the outage), and we'll update you when we can,” Facebook's gaming unit said in a tweet.Instagram was showing users a server error while Facebook was also running an error message for some users attempting to log in.Downdetector showed there were more than 1.2 million incidents of people reporting issues with Instagram, while over 23,000 users posted about issues with WhatsApp on the website.The website tracks outages by collating status reports from a series of sources, including user-submitted errors on its platform. news desk

Pakistan signs 161-nation statement highlighting water’s importance amid Covid-19 UNITED NATIONS App

Pakistan has joined 161 countries that have co-signed a joint statement underscoring the importance of water amid the coronavirus pandemic in which cleanliness and hygiene are the first defence lines in the absence of a vaccine, particularly in many developing countries.

The cross-regional statement was issued as a high-level meeting deliberated on the “Implementation of the Water-related Goals and Targets of the 2030 Agenda” on Thursday.

The statement called water a matter of

life and the source of existence for all living, saying that human rights to water and sanitation must be promoted, protected and fulfilled at all times.

It said that water is a matter of life, as it is an important source of existence for all.

“Pakistan is proud to be part of drafters of the joint statement co-signed by 161 countries,” Pakistani Ambassador Munir Akram, said in a tweet.

“This reaffirms that through collective resolve and cross-border cooperation we can achieve universal & equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all,” Ambassador Akram, who is also the president of

UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), said.

“I call for scaling up investments in water-related infrastructures, in accordance with international law, to achieve water security by 2030.”

Separately, UN General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir said that the lack of providing everyone access to safe drinking water was a global “moral failure”, as he opened a high-level meeting on water-related issues and targets on Thursday.

“If I may be candid: it is a moral failure that we live in a world with such high levels of technical innovation and success, but we

continue to allow billions of people to exist without clean drinking water or the basic tools to wash their hands,” he said.

The meeting centred on implementation of the water-related goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda, the blueprint for a better, more sustainable world. It promises to leave no one behind, with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 specifically addressing access to water and sanitation.

Additionally, the UN General Assembly has declared 2018 to 2028, the Water Action Decade, which also addresses the increased global pressure on water resources, and exacerbated risk of droughts and floods.

Bozkir, a top Turkish diplomat, said that the fact that during the pandemic, billions have not had basic handwashing facilities, while health workers in some of the least developed countries do not have running water, represents a “stark example of global inequality” that requires action.

“While we cannot go back and change what has happened, we must acknowledge our failings and use this opportunity to root out the systemic gaps that have allowed the crisis to flourish,” he said.

“When the next global pandemic or crisis strikes, and we know that it will, we will have no excuse for having not acted now.”

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