EpaperLHR_21-05-24

Monday, 24 May, 2021 I 12 Shawwal, 1442 I Rs 40.00 I Vol XI No 323 I 48 Pages I Lahore Edition

Imran calls core commIttee meetIng, dIscusses engagement wIth tareen group g

PReMIeR SAyS THeRe WoN’T Be ANy CoMPRoMISe oN ACCoUNTABILITy

ISLAMABAD STaFF rEPOrT

p

RIMe Minister Imran Khan held a meeting of the Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf’s core committee on Sunday, wherein they discussed ways to engage with the jahangir Tareen group.

Imran told the meeting that there would be no compromise on accountability and nobody would be given an NRo. “My party is not for someone who thinks they will join it with a motorcycle in their possession but will rake up money for Land Cruisers,” Imran told the meeting. “even if my government collapses, I will not compromise on accountability principle, '' he added. “My government will not be blackmailed at the hands of some pressure groups.”

The premier said that accountability will continue indiscriminately and across the board. Separately, the meeting deliberated over local government elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, the two provinces where PTI has its government. The prime minister directed chief ministers of KP

ISLAMABAD: Alarm bells have rung for Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar as a veteran politician and MPA-elect Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Sunday formally announced to take oath as Member of Punjab Assembly in today’s session. The announcement comes after a series of back-to-back quiet meetings between Nisar and some key players in Rawalpindi and Lahore. Though Nisar had won election from PP-10, Rawalpindi in general elections held three years back in 2018, but he chose not to take oath and the seat remained vacant for three long years. Nisar contested the 2018 general elections from two National Assembly and two provincial seats, losing all but the PP-10 (Rawalpindi-V) seat which he won with a good margin of over 30,000 votes. MiaN abrar

CONFIRMED CASES:

900,552

LAST UPDATED AT 8:22 AM ON MAY 23, 2021

74

3,084

RECOVERED:

DEATHS:

817,681 20,251 SINDH:

PUNJAB:

308,118

333,971

KP:

BALOCHISTAN:

129,413 AJK/GB: 18,739/5,482

24,517 ISLAMABAD:

80,312

both my allies and enemies,” the prime minister reportedly told his party members.

Separately, Pakistan will host World environment Day 2021 globally for the first time in history with Prime Minister Imran heading a climate change conference on june 4 to highlight the country’s effective policy in this regard.

This year’s observance of World environment Day with the collaboration of the UN environment Programme will be on the theme of ‘ecosystem restoration’ and focus on resetting our relationship with nature. It will also mark the formal launch of the UN Decade on ecosystem Restoration 2021–2030. only four people are invited to participate in the conference with PM Imran chairing the global summit on the environment, which would also be attended by the secretary-general of the UN, Pope, and German Chancellor.

Last year, China was picked as the host of the global summit on World environment Day. The prime minister, during the summit, would highlight the Billion Tree Tsunami project, Clean Green Pakistan project, electric vehicle policy, national parks, green jobs, and other climate change initiatives taken by the incumbent government at the conference.

A mega ceremony to mark World environment Day 2021 would also be held on june 5 in Islamabad, where key announcements would be made to pursue an effective climate change policy in the country.

Nisar to take oath in Punjab Assembly after three year

pakIstan

NEW CASES:

DIReCTS To HoLD LoCAL GoVeRNMeNT eLeCTIoNS IN PUNjAB, KP THIS yeAR

and Punjab to hold local bodies poll this year.

The meeting also decided that there will be no vengeance policy by the government, neither on the opposition parties nor on allies who dissent from the policies.

The prime minister said that he never directed anyone to open a case on someone or prosecute someone based on his personal bias or to exact revenge on them. “Nobody should expect any concession from me, however, the law will mark its own trajectory for

coronavIrus In

DAY'S DEATH TOLL:

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Tight restrictions return to Sindh as Covid cases surge: CM KARACHI STaFF rEPOrT

Restrictions are being tightened in Sindh in view of increasing coronavirus cases and standard operating procedures cannot be relaxed at the moment.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah announced this in a press conference on Sunday along with medical experts and representatives of doctors’ organisations.

He said that the coronavirus situation in the province has taken an alarming turn after eid, so much so that hospitals have run out of beds in Covid-19 wards to accommodate more patients. He also said that the government successfully overcame the first wave of the virus; however, the situation is different now.

“Covid-19 positivity ratio in Karachi is more than 13 percent as we deal with the third wave of coronavirus. This shows that the cases are on the rise since eid, and we are finding it difficult to ease the restrictions in the province,” the chief minister maintained.

Announcing measures taken by the provincial government, Murad informed

Finance minister predicts 6pc GDP growth in next fiscal year Federal Minister for Finance Shaukat Tarin on Sunday the country dealt with Covid-19 situation in a better way and predicted that the growth rate would move to six percent in the next fiscal year.

“Growth rate is projected at five percent this year and would move further upward to six percent during the next fiscal year,” he said while addressing a virtual press conference and added that the government has developed short and long-term plans to achieve the target.

The finance minister stressed the need to pursue sustainable and inclusive economic growth for everyone in Pakistan.

That kind of economic growth could only be achieved when "fundamental fault lines" were corrected, Tarin said, adding that after a "long time", the government was carrying out a big planning exercise, was focused on it and would act on it.

Tarin proceeded to provide details of the strategy which had been formulated after he took office as finance minister and said that short, medium and long-term planning had been carried out on some 12 sectors and would be pre-

that shops across the province would be open till 6:00 pm instead of 8:00 pm; only pharmacies would be allowed to remain open, except for those inside shopping malls. The chief minister warned that action will be taken against shop owners in case of violation.

Indoor and outdoor dining will be completely closed, and only takeaways and home deliveries will be allowed. However, the chief minister warned that the permission must not be misused.

A ban on all kinds of events will remain in place, whereas recreational spots, parks and cinema halls will remain closed for the next two weeks.

As per the earlier decision, grocery stores will be allowed to operate till 6:00 pm while public transports will run with 50 percent passengers, with severe penalties for violations.

Meanwhile, Sindh education Minister Saeed Ghani announced on Sunday that all public and private educational institutions in Sindh will remain closed in view of the current coronavirus situation in the province.

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more inside

Scores of Israeli settlers force their way into Al-Aqsa Mosque complex STORY ON BACK PAGE

Soldier martyred in Afghan crossborder attack: ISPR

STORY ON PAGE 03

sented before the prime minister by the end of the month, which focuses on price stability.

Further, he said that Pakistan's position had changed from a country with a surplus of food to one with a deficit which had to import, blaming it on the lack of attention paid to the agricultural sector but said that the problem would be addressed this and the problem of price stability by taking administrative measures including, strict action against people engaged in profiteering and hoarding practices and food supply.

"We will tackle this through

creation of strategic reserves and dump food wherever people try to profit."

He said that previously, Pakistan had been following the trickle-down approach to economic growth but now the bottom-up approach would be utilised as well whereas Prime Minister Imran Khan was soon going to take a "major initiative" which would not only focus on the usual areas in the trickle-down approach such as housing, agriculture, industry and exports but would also incorporate the bottom-up approach. NEWS DESK

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Saudi Arabia contradicts Ashrafi’s claim on Hajj permission this year STORY ON PAGE 03 in today’s issue

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Monday, 24 May, 2021

lahore

news

PosItIvIty rate falls as confIrmed covId-19 cases surPass 900,000 ISLAMABAD

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PIA AIRLIFTS ANOTHER 2 MILLION VACCINE DOSES FROM CHINA

StAff RePoRt

HE total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases increased to 900,552 on Sunday after 3,084 more people tested positive during the last 24 hours, the National Command and Operation Centre announced, as the government struggles with new virus variants and vaccine shortfalls.

The national positivity ratio has, however, fallen to 4.96 percent.

Punjab is the worst-hit region with 333,971 confirmed cases, followed by Sindh where 308,118 people have been tested positive, said the NCOC. A total of 817,681 people have recovered in the country, with 62,620 active cases including 4,392 people who are in critical condition.

According to the NCOC, 74 people died across the country during the last 24 hours, taking the death toll to 20,251.

The country has administered a total of 4,956,853 Covid-19 vaccine doses so far till Sunday morning, including 1,193,441

persons who have been fully vaccinated.

The government is currently vaccinating people of 30 years and above besides allowing walk-in vaccination for citizens aged 18 and above, who intend to travel abroad.

As richer nations race ahead with mass vaccination campaigns, the developing countries are still scrambling to secure supplies as they grapple with concerns about more infectious variants.

The NCOC on Saturday directed the provinces and administrative units to reverse their decision to reopen schools in high coronavirus positivity areas on Monday because the new statistics are ringing alarm bells as the country is battling with the third wave of Covid-19.

According to media reports, Sindh is considering imposing a strict lockdown in the cities having a high positivity ratio, including Karachi. The province has reportedly sought input from different departments and a decision regarding it is

likely to be taken on Monday.

PIA AIRLIFTS VACCINE CONSIGNMENT: Meanwhile, a special Pakistan International Airlines flight PK-6853 airlifted yet another batch of two million doses of Sinovac vaccine from Beijing.

The latest consignment is received a week after a PIA flight had transported one million doses of the same vaccine, Qadir Bux Sangi, PIA country manager in China, told state-owned Associated Press of Pakistan.

China has also pledged to continue the uninterrupted supply of vaccines to help Pakistan defeat the contagion disease.

The Sinovac shot is more effective than it proved in the testing phase, which was beset by divergent efficacy rates and questions over data transparency. Results from its biggest Phase-III trial in Brazil put the shot’s efficacy at just above 50 percent, the lowest among all first-generation Covid-19 vaccines.

Health officials say the government

has so far received over 13 million doses of vaccines from Chinese companies — including Sinopharm, Sinovac, and CanSino — and some through the Covid19 Vaccines Global Access initiative for developing nations.

The nation is grappling with a third peak of the pandemic with the authorities continue to tighten the restrictions to contain the spread of the disease.

The vaccination for people in the 3039 age group started on Saturday and would continue for an indefinite period, health officials said.

Private sales have also been made available to the public in Pakistan, and around the world, but have earned the anger of the critics who say they make inoculations available only to the wealthy.

But even then, the private hospitals are out of supplies. The government said the private programme could make more free shots available to low-income people. By purchasing doses of the Russian Sputnik V jabs, the wealthy wouldn’t need to get the free doses, which are made by Sinopharm of China and AstraZeneca of the United Kingdom.

FO terms FM’s New York visit highly successful ISLAMABAD StAff RePoRt

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has concluded a “highly successful” visit to New York, undertaken to make attempts for a ceasefire in Gaza.

According to Foreign Office spokesperson, during the visit, Qureshi attended the special meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on Palestine and held meetings with his counterparts from other countries.

He also held talks with senior UN leadership on the situation in Palestine; and interacted with the members of the Pakistani community; representatives of Pakistani and international media; as well as members of the US Congress.

The foreign minister reached New York from Turkey on 19th of this month along with the Foreign Ministers of Palestine, Turkey, and Tunisia. After his arrival, he hosted a working dinner of the Foreign Ministers and representatives of the OIC countries to consult and make collective efforts to halt Israeli provocation and aggression against innocent civilians in occupied Palestinian territories, ahead of the UN General Assembly’s special meeting. On 20th May, the foreign minister addressed the special meeting of the UNGA and expressed the people of Pakistan’s deep anguish and strong outrage against Israel’s provocation against Al-Aqsa Mosque, indiscriminate and disproportionate use of force by Israel against Palestinian civilians.

The foreign minister urged the

international community, in particular the UN Security Council, to halt Israeli aggression and mobilize all possible humanitarian help, including medical supplies, to deal with the grave humanitarian situation in Gaza and other parts of occupied Palestinian territories. He also urged the UN secretary general to immediately launch a comprehensive humanitarian assistance plan to help the Palestinians.

In his address, the foreign minister called on the UNGA to take concrete steps to protect the Palestinians, including through the deployment of an international protection force and hold Israel accountable for its crimes against humanity.

He called for the establishment of a viable, independent and contiguous Palestinian State with pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.

On the sidelines, the foreign minister held a bilateral meeting with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud in which he expressed deep gratitude of the people and the Government of Pakistan for the leadership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Palestine issue and for convening an Emergency Meeting of the OIC’s Executive Committee at Foreign Ministers’ level on 16th May 2021.

Qureshi also met with the foreign minister and minister of state for cabinet affairs of Kuwait, Sheikh Ahmed Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah during which the two foreign ministers expressed deep concern over the deteriorating situation in

Gulalai Ismail slammed on receiving award from dubious HR group ISLAMABAD APP

The self-exiled Pakistani social activist Gulalai Ismail is in hot water after being nominated for the “2021 International Women’s Rights Award” by an “annual gathering” of human rights activist, reputed to oblige people challenging Islamic teachings and values.

The Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy, a lesserknown group calling itself an “annual gathering at UN European Headquarters of human rights advocates, dissidents” nominated Gulalai Ismail for the award to be presented on June 7.

Known in Pakistan for her tirade against Pakistan and challenging Islamic values, Gulalai shifted abroad and sought asylum in the USA in 2019. She had been an active member of the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement.

She was also booked on various charges including blasphemy and

terrorism but later, she escaped from Pakistan and settled abroad.

However, following her nomination for the award, the netizens sprung up to question her qualification for the award. The social media sites were flooded with the comments censuring the activities of Gulalai Ismail and also raised questions about the credibility of the group announcing the award.

“Whoever is against Pakistan, they award him (because) they know they can only undermine Pakistan through traitors but not through fight,” said a Twitterati ZA Warraich.

Aaqib Khan, another netizen said Gulalai Ismail had been running campaign to seek revocation of blasphemy laws of Pakistan. It is unfortunately, you have also started playing up with religion.”

Others also questioned the rationale for human rights award to a lady who has never worked for women rights in Pakistan with no substantial work on her credit.

the occupied Palestinian territories caused by the Israeli aggression.

In his meeting with the UN Secretary General António Guterres, the foreign minister expressed deep concern over the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories caused by Israeli aggression. He also briefed the UN secretary general on the serious human rights and humanitarian situation in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir including continued illegal incarceration of the Kashmiri political leaders and extra-judicial killings.

He urged the UN secretary general to use his good offices to resolve the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in line with the UN Charter and the relevant Security Council resolutions. He, moreover, highlighted Pakistan’s constructive efforts to facilitate the Afghan peace process.

The foreign minister held a meeting with the President of the UN General Assembly, Volkan Bozkir, in which he thanked him for his proactive leadership in convening the UNGA meeting to discuss the situation in Palestine, and conveyed the entire Pakistani nation’s strong sense of outrage at Israel’s use of indiscriminate and disproportionate force against innocent Palestinians.

Briefing him on the deteriorating human rights and humanitarian situation in occupied Kashmir, the foreign minister called for the resolution of the festering dispute of Jammu and Kashmir for lasting peace in South Asia.

During the visit, the foreign minister also interacted with senior Republican Senator Lindsey Graham; Senator Chris

Van Hollen; Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Chairperson of Congressional Pakistan Caucus; and its Co-chair Congressman Thomas Suozzi, member of the House of Representatives from New York. The foreign minister also engaged with the leadership of the US House of Representatives’ Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific and Non-Proliferation, Chairman Ami Bera and Ranking member, Steven Chabot.

During these meetings, the foreign minister underscored that Pakistan attached great importance to its longstanding relationship with the United States; highlighted the government’s emphasis on economic development and connectivity; and reaffirmed Pakistan’s desire for a broad-based relationship with the United States that would advance the two countries’ shared interests in the bilateral and regional spheres. He also had intensive interactions with the Pakistani American community, during which he lauded the important role of the diaspora, and said that Prime Minister Imran Khan considered overseas Pakistanis as great assets who continued to support the country by sending ever-rising remittances.

He went on to assure that under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran, special emphasis was being laid on ensuring efficient service delivery to the overseas Pakistanis.

The foreign minister also held extensive media engagements with the local and international media during his stay in New York.

Nawaz mum on Israel attacks to protect foreign assets: Fawad ISLAMABAD APP

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry Sunday claimed deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif refrained from calling out Israel for its attacks on unarmed people of Palestine to protect his dirty money stashed abroad.

“The reason for this silence is his [Sharif’s] assets worth billions of rupees abroad,” he said in a tweet.

Fawad said that the PML-N supreme leader expresses his views on everything under the sun and never misses out on any opportunity to slander the government.

But on Israel’s aggression, oppression, violence, and tyrannical attitude towards [people of] Palestine, the minister said, neither Sharif nor his daughter [Maryam Nawaz] and son-in-law [Safdar Awan] issued any statement [condemning it].

However, it emerged that Fawad was mistaken as Nawaz Sharif had indeed

commented on the matter. On Twitter, the former premier said earlier: “It is time the world must rise to the occasion,make Israel to cease cruelty being perpetrated against innocent Palestinians & ensure an immediate sustainable solution.”

The information minister’s misstep was pointed out by netizens.

COVID-19 VACCINATION CENTRE AT NPC: In a separate tweet, he announced to set up a Covid-19 vaccination centre at the National Press Club in Islamabad to inoculate the journalists.

He confirmed Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar had issued administrative orders for the establishment of a vaccination centre at the press club at the request of his ministry. “Journalists are the front-line workers in this crisis,” Fawad said and added such measures were necessary to taking care of journalists’ health.

Fawad said that such a facility would also be provided for the law chambers soon.

Pakistan on track to meet renewable energy targets: minister ISLAMABAD APP

Adviser to Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam on Sunday said Pakistan would become the world’s best example in green energy revolution as the government was on track to meet its renewable energy targets by 2030 and will raise it to 60 percent through renewable resources. Pakistan was encouraging private sector investment in renewable energy projects to reach its clean energy goal by 2030 and it would produce 60 percent of its electricity from renewable sources, he said while talking to Pakistan Television. He said the “green Pakistan” vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan aims to transform the country into lush green land with a clean environment for people and it was the topmost priority of the government.

Amin said Imran was committed to the challenge of initiating a green recovery through ecosystem restoration to protect nature and create much-needed green employment. “Pakistan has made remarkable progress in recent years, bringing electricity connections and impressively scaling up the use of renewable energy, particularly solar,” he added. He said Pakistan also set to approve its first-ever forest policy which aims to protect and promote the rational use of national forests, protected areas, natural habitats, and watersheds. These ecological zones have immense significance and their restoration can improve livelihoods and human welfare, he added. Talking about food security, he said the government has been adopting the policy of climate-smart agriculture initially with 8 districts to achieve food security and broader development goals under a changing climate and increasing food demand. He said the government was taking revolutionary steps to develop technologies to address climate change issues, adding, the climate-smart agriculture would help increase sustainable productivity, strengthen farmers’ resilience, reduce agriculture’s greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon sequestration.

The project aims to increase the income of households through enhancing employment potential and increasing agricultural productivity and production. Replying to a question about agricultural land, he said to fight against overpopulation, vertical cities were the best solution and vertical cities could accommodate thousands of people in a building that could save the agricultural land.

He said all housing societies have to get a regular no-objection certificate from the government before starting their projects on agricultural land, adding that housing projects on non-productive, barren lands were preferred to reduce pressure on agricultural lands which would safe food baskets. He said Imran was also focusing on cities’ master plans and introducing agriculture-friendly policies. Amin said the economy performed beyond expectations with all major macroeconomic indicators showing a positive trend amid the Covid-19 pandemic, resulting in a 4 percent GDP growth rate this year. The billion tree tsunami project would also help in achieving environmental goals, he said, adding, the measures were being taken under the prime minister’s vision for clean green Pakistan include nation-wide massive tree plantation and protection activities, promotion of renewable energy, shelving of coal-based energy projects, promotion of electric vehicles, mass transit system, the establishment of new national parks and protection of forests.

Islamabad IG lauds clerics’ role in promoting religious harmony ISLAMABAD APP

Islamabad police chief Qazi Jamilur Rehman on Sunday lauded the role of clerics in promoting interfaith harmony. The manner in which the clerics assisted the capital police in ensuring the implementation of coronavirus guidelines at mosques during the holy month of Ramadan was commendable, said Qazi. In a meeting with the chairmen of Ruet-e-Hilal Committee and Council of Islamic Ideology — Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad and Dr Qibla Ayaz, respectively, the inspector general of police asked the clerics to promote peace and tolerance to reduce the crime rate. Azad assured Qazi of every possible assistance in this regard as well as resolving other issues for maintaining a peaceful atmosphere in the capital. He also paid tribute to the martyrs of Islamabad police who laid out their lives in the line of duty.

Monday, 24 May, 2021

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Pm aPProves seZ In KarachI under cPec ISLAMABAD

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ASIM BAJWA SAYS NEW ROAD NETWORK TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO IRAN

APP

RIME Minister Imran Khan has approved establishment of a Special Economic Zone in Karachiunder the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

Chairing a review meeting on the progress of the CPEC projects and promotion of investment on Sunday, the prime minister said that the strategic

partnership between Pakistan and China is exemplary in the world.

He expressed satisfaction over the progress of SEZs. The prime minister said that it is necessary to promote investment in areas of mutual interest in order to transform these relations into strong economic ties.

The prime minister said that CPEC is not

only a harbinger of economic growth for Pakistan but also a path to development for the entire region. He said that all possible incentives should be provided to investors. He directed the Board of Investment to formulate and present a detailed plan, with consultation of the business community, for the promotion of foreign investment in specific sectors. He

also directed the authorities concerned to take immediate steps to remove barriers in issuing long-term visas to foreign investors, especially Chinese investors.

Meanwhile, CPEC Authority Chairman Lt-Gen (r) Asim Saleem Bajwa on Sunday said that work on the 103-kilometre Nokundi-Mashkhel road has been started

saudi arabia contradicts ashrafi’s claim on hajj permission this year ISLAMABAD MiAn ABRAR

Saudi Arabia on Sunday contradicted a claim made by Special Representative to Prime Minister on Religious Harmony Maulana Tahir Ashrafi about Hajj as an official of the Embassy of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia terming the announcement as ‘inaccurate’, saying that no decision had yet been taken to allow performance of Hajj this year.

“I would like to inform you about the statements of Maulana Tahir Ashrafi about Hajj [is] inaccurate. And that no

official decision has been issued regarding the Hajj yet, and all that is raised are proposals that are still under study,” the official told Pakistan Today.

It merits mention here that Ashrafi had claimed in an interview that Saudi Arabia has allowed 60,000 people from across the world, including Pakistan, to perform Hajj this year.

The premier’s aide claimed that the government is in talks with Saudi officials regarding the number of people from Pakistan allowed to perform the sacred pilgrimage this year.

“People under the age of 18 and

efforts on to ramp up covid vaccination drive, say ministers Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Health Services Dr Faisal Sultan has said that the government is working to further ramp up the Covid vaccination drive to meet the target of five hundred thousand doses per day. Talking to a private news channel, he said that mass vaccination is the only way to fight the coronavirus. Dr Faisal said that Pakistan has achieved another milestone in its vaccination drive, as the cumulative number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in the country crossed the figure of five million. He said that the government is continuously reviewing and monitoring the vaccination programme at the highest level to protect the most vulnerable population groups in the country from Covid-19.

The special assistant said that the public should have trust for AstraZeneca Covid vaccine which is not harmful. He assured that locally-made CanSino vaccine will be available for use by the end of this month. Meanwhile, Minister for Planning Asad Umar said that special programmes are being evolved for vaccination of different professional organisations. In a tweet on Sunday, Asad, who also heads National Command and Operation Centre, said that special programmes are being designed for chambers of commerce, lawyers, journalists, labour unions and teachers for vaccination. He said that vaccination drive will be made more vigorous involving all professional bodies. newS DeSk

KP govt prepares new law to curb illegal constructions PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government mulls implementing a comprehensive law to curb illegal constructions and stop the misuse of agricultural land in the province. The sources said that KP Local Government Department, with the help of a foreign aid agency, has drafted the ‘Land Use and Building Control Act’ which also recommends the establishment of a Land Use and Building Control Council. Under the act, the provincial government will formulate housing schemes keeping in view the needs of urban areas.

The plans will be prepared by the District Planning Committee and will be submitted to the council for approval while changes in the plan and its inclusion in the infrastructure plan will also be re-submitted to the council. Under the act, approval must be obtained for every building and every type of planning related to land use on the district level.

According to the draft prepared by the provincial government, it will be mandatory to submit details within three months of approval of any type of construction and use of the land plan. According to LG sources, currently, action is being taken under the Local Government Act, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Urban Areas Development Authorities Act, Peshawar Development Authority Act and Galyat Development Authority Act, however, the officials said that there are some ambiguities that will be addressed by the new act. Aziz BuneRi

above 60 years won’t be eligible for Hajj,” Ashrafi said, revealing that those going for the pilgrimage will have to quarantine for three days. Coronavirus vaccination is a must, he pointed out.

Meanwhile, Minister for Religious Affairs Noorul Haq Qadri said that the government has reached out to the Saudi health ministry to allow people inoculated with the Chinese vaccine.

“The World Health Organisation has accepted and approved the vaccine as well,” he said. Earlier the Kingdom said that it would not allow people who got the Chinese vaccine to enter the country.

Last year, the kingdom hosted a downsized Hajj pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam and a must for ablebodied Muslims at least once in their lifetime.

Only up to 10,000 Muslim residents of Saudi Arabia itself were allowed to take part, a far cry from the 2.5 million Muslims from around the world who participated in 2019.

In a relaxation of coronavirus curbs last October, Saudi Arabia opened the Grand Mosque of Makkah for prayers for the first time in seven months and partially resumed the Umrah pilgrimage.

Uzbekistan keen to build rail link between Central, south asia AnAlySiS LONDON AnADolu Agency

Uzbekistan’s eagerness to improve rail links between the Central and South Asia countries has nudged many global financial bodies like the World Bank, the European Investment Bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to express their interest to contribute in the project.

According to Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade (MIFT), the World Bank has indicated a willingness to finance the fieldwork and to provide technical assistance in the design for the construction of a railway network between Afghanistan’s Mazar-i-Sharif-Kabul and the Pakistani city of Peshawar.

After discussions with Anna Bjerde, vice president of the World Bank for Europe and Central Asia, the ministry declared that this railway project connecting Afghanistan with Pakistan will cost around US$ 5 billion. It will involve the construction of a 573kilometer (356 miles) railway line with an annual transit potential of up to 20 million tons of cargo.

The new transport corridor will improve connectivity between Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and further to the states of Southeast Asia. Its construction will have three key advantages. Firstly, it will significantly reduce the time and cost of transporting goods between South Asia and Europe through Central Asia.

Secondly, the new trans-Afghan railway, which provides access to the three Pakistani seaports of Karachi, Bin Qasim, and Gwadar, will dramatically increase the transit potential and cargo flow to Central Asia.

Thirdly, the initiative will revive the region’s historical role as a connecting link between Europe and Asia through the shortest land route.

As part of the vision for wider regional connectivity Russian Railways has proposed to Uzbekistan to look into deeper cooperation in building a Russia-India transport corridor through Uzbekistan and Afghanistan. The company anticipated this initiative could draw Central Asian states to closer technical cooperation to mutually earn long-term rewards via expanded connectivity.

Consultations between Uzbek transport authorities and the chief of the Russian Railways this week also underlined that this project will reduce the time and cost of transportation of goods from East and South Asia to Central Asia and Europe by 30%. During the discussions, further steps were discussed to increase the use of the

railway corridors between Russia and Uzbekistan by upgrading and optimizing the conditions of cargo transportation.

RUSSIAN RAILWAYS DESIGNING PROJECT: The design and technical documentation of the Mazar-i-Sharif – Kabul – Peshawar railway will be undertaken by the Russian Railways, Uzbek officials announced following talks with Russian Railways Chief Oleg Belozerov in Tashkent on May 19.

“An agreement was reached aimed at the comprehensive preparation of the project, including the development of technical documentation, and the early start of construction,” the Uzbek press service said in a statement issued in Tashkent.

Strategic planners in Tashkent see this as the launch of a new paradigm for regional development in which Afghanistan will provide a connecting link between Central and South Asia for mutually beneficial interregional cooperation.

They believe that it is important to recognize the new strategic opportunities and to take advantage of them by intensifying dialogue between all regional countries and external players.

Eldor Aripov head of Uzbekistan’s Strategic Studies Institute says that the Trans-Afghan corridor will open several advantages for the Central Asian countries. Not only will it provide the shortest path to the promising markets of South Asia, but will also diversify transport flows and significantly reduce export-import costs. The launch of the Mazar-iSharif-Peshawar railway will also create a powerful platform for achieving inclusive economic growth in Central and South Asia.

PROJECT WILL HELP TO STABILIZE AFGHANISTAN: This project is also seen to create a unique opportunity for ensuring peace and stability in Afghanistan by stimulating growth and creating tens of thousands of new jobs – necessary conditions for the development and exploitation of rich reserves of minerals (copper, tin, zinc, iron ore, marble, granite, travertine, and others).

Uzbek officials believe that the new rail link will significantly contribute to ensuring regional security and stability of the region. They anticipate that a multiplier effect including the construction of roadside infrastructure, creation of conditions for the development of rich mineral resources along the railway route will help in the creation of thousands of jobs.

The resultant economic benefits will entice players in the Afghan conflict and external forces to work for a peaceful settlement and early stabilization of the situation in the war-torn country. And with financial gain, many will realize that trading is much more profitable than fighting. A regional consensus built on such realization will prove far effective than any political agreement or geopolitical deal.

that would improve access to Iran on completion. Bajwa, taking to his official Twitter handle, shared that the detailed design of Mashkhel-Panjgur Road (200 km) was also in process.

He said the entire remote region of Balochistan would be opened by connecting N-40 with N-85 and M-8 (western route of CPEC) by linking Chagai-Nokundi Sector with Gwadar. The chairman said that Gwadar port is becoming a hub of economic activities under the mega project of CPEC.

soldIer martyred In afGhan cross-border attacK: IsPr RAWALPINDI: A Pakistan Army soldier was martyred in firing from across the Afghanistan border at a military check post in the North Waziristan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said Inter-Services Public Relations in a statement. According to ISPR, terrorists from inside Afghanistan across the international border opened fire on a military post in the North Waziristan district. “During the exchange of fire, a sepoy Umar Daraz, age 32 years, resident of Jhang, received a bullet injury and embraced martyrdom,” the ISPR said. The ISPR said that Pakistani troops responded in a befitting manner. StAff RePoRt

Punjab to increase daily vaccinations to 450,000: yasmin LAHORE: Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid on Sunday said people should thank Allah Almighty for being kind to them in comparison to India where the coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc, adhere to the health guidelines and register for vaccination. Talking to reporters in Rawalpindi, Dr Yasmin said that the Health Ministry urges people to sign up for the shots as they are the only way to combat the contagion disease. “The Punjab government is injecting vaccine to more than 140,000 people on a daily basis and in the coming weeks, the capacity will be enhanced to 450,000,” she added. The minister said Punjab is leading in vaccination campaign as the province has administered its 2.8 million shots so far. She said that a vaccine camp has already been set up at the Lahore Press Club where journalists, who she said are frontline warriors, will receive the vaccine doses. She clarified that the AstraZeneca vaccine’s first dose is being administered while the Sinopharm vaccine’s second dose is being allocated, and people should make sure of their complete vaccination. Yasmin said that restrictions during the last days of the holy month of Ramadan reduced the coronavirus positivity ratio in the province and for the first time, less than 1,000 cases were reported in Punjab. She said that public transport is operational with 50 percent capacity while Pakistan Railways with 70 percent capacity. StAff RePoRt

aPc declares btK illegal, calls for return to original status Bahria Town Karachi was declared “illegal and unconstitutional” and “a modern form of colonisation” by an All Parties Conference on Sunday, wherein the APC called for the land to be returned to its original status. The APC meeting was attended by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and nationalist parties from Sindh and Balochistan on the call of the Indigenous Rights Alliance. It was held at the outskirts of Karachi’s Gadap Town in Hadi Bux Gabol Goth. Its resolution said: “BTK had illegally occupied lands and its construction work should be stopped.” “We consider it as a form of colonialism in the 21st century which is worse than the colonialism of the 18th century,” it added. “We believe that BTK is part of [the] invasion of global capitalism.” Both the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Pakistan People’s Party were termed as “facilitators” by the meeting attendees.

The speakers alleged the PPP government, in particular, had been exposed as “anti-Sindh” by allowing and initiating the Defence Housing Authority City, Zulfiqarabad and Thar coal projects.

The APC participants alleged that “BTK’s rogue elements under the patronisation of the Sindh government are destroying homes, villages, schools and graveyards like on [the] pattern of Israel in Palestine,” adding that “it was destruction in [the] name of development.” They recalled that the Sindh government had given 43 dehs to the Malir Development Authority in 2013 and demanded that this notification should be cancelled and the land should be restored to their original position. The participants were of the view that the Supreme Court in 2018 had declared BTK as illegal. newS DeSk

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Monday, 24 May, 2021

LAHORE

NEWS

PSX LikeLy to remain green amid PoSitive deveLoPmentS KARACHI

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TLTP

ROPPING coronavirus cases across the country and positive developments at economic and political fronts are likely to boost investors’ confidence and wane away concerns of rollover week and monetary rate announcement this week.

The Pakistan Stock Exchange will most probably cross the 46,000-mark on Monday (today) amid favourable budgetary measures for the capital market in the upcoming budget that also kept the momentum green last week.

The stock market is likely to remain positive this week on expectation of no change in policy rate in the monetary policy statement scheduled to be announced on May 28 (Friday).

The provisional growth of gross domestic product (GDP) for the year 2020-21 has been estimated at 3.94 percent based upon growth estimates of the agricultural, industrial, and services sectors. This development is likely to push up the bourse.

On the political front, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led government and Jahangir Tareen group reached an agreement last week where the latter showed readiness for voting for the federal government to pass the upcoming budget 2021-22, which ended

Punjab plans tower, hostels for industrial workers: Buzdar LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar on Sunday announced the establishment of a labour tower in Lahore on land evacuated during anti-encroachment drive, besides reviewing construction of hostels for industrial workers. Chairing a meeting of the labour department, the chief minister said that the labour tower would be established by the provincial department. He also directed to complete a project of 720 flats for labourers as soon as possible. “We have retrieved 144 labour flats from the land mafia, besides raising the minimum wages of labourers to Rs20,000, which included Rs5,000 increase during the last two-and-a-half years,” he said while sharing measures taken by the government for improving the condition of labour class in the province. The meeting also decided to establish employees social security institutions and workers welfare fund smart organisation. The COMSATS will establish a campus on the land provided by the labour department and in return, 30 percent of the admissions will be provided to the children of labourers. STAFF REPORT

SC to hear Zardari’s plea for case transfer tomorrow ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court fixed a petition for hearing, filed by former President Asif Ali Zardari, seeking transfer of corruption cases against him to Karachi on Tuesday. A three-member special bench headed by Justice Umar Ata Bandial and comprising of Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan and Justice Sajjad Ali Shah will hear the case on May 25. Zardari had reached out to the apex court to get their cases transferred to the province from Islamabad. The former president was facing trial in five National Accountability Bureau references. The apex court has issued notices for the hearing to the NAB and other respondents in the case.

During a previous hearing, Zardari’s lawyer Farooq H Naek contended that it was his client’s right to file a plea for transfer of a case under the NAB law, which could not be taken away by the court through the verdict. Justice Bandial noted that the cases were filed in Islamabad by the NAB on the basis of various accusations. He said the corruption watchdog filed the references in Islamabad on the court order. APP

SC to hear govt's appeal against LHC decision in Shehbaz case tomorrow ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court will take up on Tuesday the federal government’s appeal against the Lahore High Court’s conditional permission granted to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz President and Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif to travel abroad for medical treatment. A two-judge bench, comprising Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan and Justice Sajjad Ali Shah will commence hearing on the interior ministry’s appeal against the May 7 order of the LHC. On May 18, the interior ministry had instituted an application to seek early hearing of the case in the larger interest of justice.

It had pleaded that the petition was an urgent matter and needed fixation before the apex court on an early date as valuable rights of the petitioner were involved in the case. The petitioner also pleaded that the balance of convenience also lay in its favour. APP

the political instability that kept the PSX under pressure last week.

According to analysts, the National Command and Operation Centre has advised stricter restrictions and shorter work hours, but has ruled out a complete lock-

down on a national level. This will be a sigh of relief for the business community, they said, adding a strong result season appears to be a solid indicator of the economic and corporate recovery.

“We expect the market to remain positive in the upcoming week,” stated a report from Arif Habib Limited. “With the monetary policy scheduled to be unveiled next week (May 28, 2021), we foresee the state bank to maintain a status-quo on its benchmark policy rate,” it added. “We believe market performance will be dictated by budgetary expectations while key risk for the medium term depends on a spike in Covid-19 cases,” it added.

The benchmark KSE-100 of Pakistan Stock Exchange is currently trading at a PER of 6.7x (2021) compared to Asia Pacific regional average of 16.1x while offering a dividend yield of ~7.2 percent versus ~2.6 percent offered by the region.

The stock market posted smart gains last week and the benchmark KSE-100 Index surged 740 points (1.6 percent) to settle at 45,919 points. Average daily traded volume surged 153 percent week-on-week to 609

million shares while average daily traded value increased 84 percent week-on-week to $137 million.

In terms of sectors, contribution to the upside was led by cement (+139 points), oil and gas marketing companies (+102 points), fertilizers (90 points), food and personal care products (89 points) and technology and communication (64 points).

On the other hand, sectors that contributed negatively included commercial banks (32 points) and power generation and distribution (18 points).

Scrip-wise, major gainers were TRG Pakistan (93 points), Unity Foods (68 points), Lucky Cement (62 points), Mari Petroleum (57 points) and Engro Corporation (46 points).

Foreigners turned net sellers this week as they offloaded stocks worth $49.4 million compared to a net buy of $1.04 million last week. Major selling was witnessed in all other sectors ($43.4 million) and exploration and production ($7.8 million). On the domestic front, buying was reported by individuals ($37.2 million) followed by companies ($18.1 million).

PSX seeks end to WT on futures transactions, disparity in tax rates KARACHI TLTP

The federal government has been urged to exempt withholding tax on transactions made for futures contracts, end disparity in tax rates for corporate and non-corporate businesses, and remove sunset clauses on capital gain tax (CGT) exemptions for real estate sector in the upcoming budget.

In its budget proposals submitted to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) highlighted the aforementioned issues, saying currently a buyer of a commodity withholds tax (4 percent-9 percent) from the seller before making payment with the exception of growers. This tax adds cost and puts the investors at a disadvantageous position when dealing in actual commodity exchange at PMEX in futures contracts/e-WHR5 as grain markets are not documented and as such this tax is ac-

tually not being paid. The stock exchange proposed to exempt commodity futures contracts and EWRs from the application of section 153 of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 like these are exempted from GST under SRO 445(1)12004 June 14, 2004.

Giving rationale to the proposal, the PSX said that development of regulated and organized commodity markets will greatly benefit the agriculture sector. Revenue impact will be neutral to positive due to adjustability of withholding tax while documentation leading towards more income tax from traders and related parties.

Likewise, the PSX said that inequality in tax rates for corporate and non-corporate businesses has discouraged corporatisation in the country. The stock exchange pointed out that corporate business profits are taxed twice: once at company level at 29 percent and on dividend distribution at 15 percent. As compared to 44 percent of total tax in case of com-

panies, unincorporated businesses are being taxed from 0 percent to 35 percent in slabs.

This inequity in taxation is discouraging corporatisation and documentation as unincorporated businesses are subject to substantially lower taxes. Therefore, the PSX recommended that inequality of taxation of businesses should gradually be removed by reducing corporate tax rate/increasing tax rates for AoPs [First Schedule Part 1, Division I, II, hA & Ill].

It said that equality of tax regime will promote corporatization culture leading towards documentation and will therefore generate more tax revenue.

Adding clarity with respect to the status of LLP will encourage more businesses particularly in the services sector to opt for this perpetual business structure. It will also help in increasing tax revenue from these segments.

The PSX has also pointed out that at present timelines for exemption from

capital gain tax (CGT) are discouraging long-term investors from entering the real estate sector. Moreover, different Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) categorisations have created distortion and excluded commercial and mixed-use REIT projects.

Furthermore, the REIT scheme is exempt from income tax when 90 percent income is distributed as dividend and therefore advance tax cannot be adjusted.

The PSX proposed exemption from CGT provided in clause 99A, Part 1, 2nd schedule of Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 should be applied to all categories of REITs (mix-use projects). Giving rationale to the proposals, the PSX said it will promote documented real-estate and will attract more investments particularly by companies with disclosure of actual prices and income. Revenue impact will be positive as it will generate indirect and additional revenues from allied businesses.

Small, medium businesses go for digital platforms amid pandemic: report NEWS DESK The impact of the coronavirus pandemic has forced the small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to go for digital platforms in order to avoid closure and stay afloat, says a survey report.

The SMBs in Pakistan reported higher rates of closure by 28 percent compared with regional countries, rising from 23 percent in October and dropping from 38 percent in May last year, according to the survey conducted by Facebook on ‘Global State of Small Business’.

The Covid-19 pandemic has affected businesses around the world for over a year but the SMBs have been hit particularly hard due to their vulnerability to economic shocks. The closure rate of SMBs in India stood at 32%, 13% in Taiwan, and 16% in Taiwan. The restrictions on business activities as a result of lockdowns and reduced consumer spending have imposed significant stress on these businesses.

Business sectors most reliant on close customer interactions have been most affected by the pandemic. Hotels, cafes, and restaurants were most likely to be affected by closures amid declining sales, and falling workforce.

Globally, 25% of these businesses were closed, with 20% closed in the US, as per the survey. The majority of operational SMBs that reduced employment in Pakistan stood at 59%, Indonesia at 62%, Colombia at 62%, Mexico at 65%, and the Philippines at 68%, according to the survey report. These SMBs laid off half or more of their employees, it added. Against the backdrop of lower sales and reduced cash flows, the SMBs were pessimistic about rehiring many of the employees laid off or furloughed during the pandemic.

About two-fifths of operational SMBs reported that they had rehired former employees in the past 3 months in South Africa 38%, Pakistan 39%, Indonesia 40%, Israel 41% and India 42%.

Given their importance to the economic recovery, it is essential that policymakers and government leaders understand their perspectives, challenges, and opportunities.

To provide information that can facilitate policy discussions on how to support the SMBs during this period, Facebook surveyed more than 35,000 SMB leaders in 27 countries, including Pakistan.

The survey aimed at assessing the state of SMBs and the impact of Covid-19 on

these businesses. This survey investigated the effects of the pandemic on these businesses’ performance, how they adapted to the current circumstances, and the SMB leaders’ expectations for the future.

It also looked at the impacts of the pandemic on women-led and minority-led SMBs. This survey provides an update on the state of SMBs at the start of 2021. Its report said that the pandemic’s impacts were expected to continue well into 2021 due to the resurgence of cases and the reimposition of restrictions in many coun-

tries after a relative lull in the summer.

However, the development of vaccines has provided greater hope for economic recovery to build over the years. The World Bank forecasts significant growth in global GDP of 4.0%, albeit from lower 2020 levels (World Bank 2021).

“It is hoped that the evidence produced can provide valuable insights for policymakers and governments regarding the challenges facing small businesses, which will be at the heart of the economic recovery,” said the survey report.

Monday, 24 May, 2021

LAHORE

‘TIMe IS now To aCT on PaleSTIne anD KaShMIr’ iSLamaBad

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AnADolu AgenCy

IME is now to act on Palestine and Kashmir and tangible actions need to be taken now by the UN whose “credibility is at stake”, said top Pakistani politician Shehryar Khan Afridi.

“Why the League of Nations failed miserably?” asked Shehryar Khan Afridi, who is chairman of Pakistan parliament’s special committee on Kashmir.

“Expectations are enormous. Our coming generation, future is at stake. So, everyone needs to chip in. Let’s protect this universe, and this entire world to peaceful means,” Afridi told Anadolu Agency in an exclusive interview discussing situation in Indian-administered Kashmir and occupied territories of Palestine.

Kashmir and Palestine are two oldest cases on the table of the UN which await final resolution.

“We have mutually assured destruction ability [nuclear power]. We have nuclear deterrence; the entire global peace is at stake,” said Afridi referring to tensions between India and Pakistan over

Kashmir, calling for granting right to self-determination to people of Jammu and Kashmir.

On Palestine, said Afridi, “Benjamin Netanyahu needs to learn from the Holocaust… all the miseries, the way Jews were pulled and how humanity bled at all levels.”

“Palestinians are humans… They’re as human as anyone else, and they cannot be treated like that. And if the world is still silent on that… if the word remains ignorant. Trust me, we will have to pay a very heavy price, and none of us will be able to justify it,” said Afridi who represents Kohat seat in Pakistan’s parliament.

ROLE OF OIC ‘PIVOTAL’: Afridi said it was “horrific” for him to see scenes from Gaza which was bombed by Israel since May 10 killing 248 innocent Palestinians.

“We need to put our houses in order.

They constantly get your pulse. The pulse of youth, the pulse of your leadership, the pulse of the Ummah, where we stand today? We are polarized in the name of sectarianism. Apart from that, we are polarized in the name of countries, in the name of languages, in the

name of values, norms and cultures. So, I believe, a Muslim Ummah needs to unite,” he explained.

The Kashmir Committee chairman said the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) “has a pivotal role to play.”

“Why was the OIC established… because of Palestine, Arab League, all the Muslim countries, need to come forward and become one and the only agenda point of the Ummah should be we need to be treated equally. It’s not about any religion. It’s not about any sect or it’s not about any race, it’s about the global commitment,” he said.

He recalled prior to 1945, “there was no existence… nothing of any sort by the name of Israel in Palestine.”

“And what has been happening since then is demographic terrorism, worse form of terrorism, innocent people of all age groups are being bullied, humiliated.

They’re killing innocent children.”

Afridi said it is not about Turkey and Pakistan or Iran, nor Hamas.

“It’s about every human. It’s about every sane human on the face of the earth. It is about all those who value their loved ones. So, it is time to wake up be-

fore it’s too late and tangible actions need to be taken now by the prosperous world,” he added.

‘NON-RESOLUTION OF KASHMIR THREAT TO GLOBAL PEACE’: The Kashmir Committee chairman said nonresolution of Kashmir dispute is “threat to global peace.”

“If we include Russia in this [South Asian] region, half the globe lives here.

When we talk of half of the population of this entire globe, then we need to understand the importance of Kashmir issue,” Afridi explained.

“Why Prime Minister Imran Khan has been constantly reminding the global community, and the prosperous world, that Kashmir is a flashpoint, is for a reason that both India, and Pakistan, China and Russia have got nuclear deterrence and anything can challenge the peace of this global community,” he saud.

He said around 80 million people in Indian-administered Kashmir since 5th August, 2019 “are not only treated in an unjust manner, they are being bulldozed of their identity; their rights have been taken away when Articles 35A and 370 was abrogated from Indian constitution.”

Nisar to take oath in Punjab Assembly after three year continued from page 01 I have consulted my associates and the people of my constituency and will be taking oath in the Punjab Assembly tomorrow, on Monday,” a statement issued by his office said.

Nisar, a former Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz stalwart, parted ways with his party of more than 35 years in 2019 after developing differences with deposed prime minister and party’s leader Nawaz Sharif.

In his statement, Nisar said that his agreement to take the oath did not mean he had changed his mind but maintained that he would neither take his salary, nor avail the perks provided to legislators.

He further said that he had decided to take the oath almost three years after winning the seat so as to take control of the political situation in his constituency.

Boycotting the by-election and leaving the political turf unoccupied for rivals will be a major political mistake, he said.

He said that it would not be sensible to participate in the by-polls without becoming a member of the provincial assembly.

He further said that he was also mindful of the risk of the spread of Covid-19 during election campaigns and mass gatherings in case of him stepping down as a lawmaker and the subsequent scheduling of a by-poll.

Nisar’s decision has come amid the government’s plan to bring an ordinance for cancelling the membership of lawmakers who have not taken oath within the required period after winning the election.

His decision to not taking oath for three long years has also been challenged in the Lahore High Court.

A petition was filed in the court pleading to direct the Election Commission of Pakistan to de-notify Nisar for his failure to take oath, and also order the federal and Punjab governments to amend the relevant laws and introduce a time frame for lawmakers-elect to take their oath.

The petitioner said that Nisar’s decision to not take his oath was a violation of the law of people’s representation.

DECISION DOESN’T MEET THE EYE: However,

political observers and political circles have disregarded the claim. Sources in twin cities suggest that Nisar had made up his mind after assurance from key politicians of political support to replace chief minister Punjab Usman Buzdar.

Buzdar, who has a majority by a few votes, has been unable to prove effective as chief executive of the biggest province in the country and governance has been a major hindrance. The opposition has increased its support manifold and key quarters say the next few weeks and months would prove important in a change of guard in Punjab.

Political observers also wonder that, after remaining silent and not taking the oath of the Punjab Assembly for over three years, why Nisar had decided to take the oath as a mere MPA. “Nisar has served as the most powerful federal minister many times. He has also served as opposition leader in National Assembly. Why would he take oath as MPA now,” a political observer said.

A journalist said that Nisar always aspired to become chief minister Punjab and he must have changed his mind to take oath as MPA if assured of political support to oust Buzdar.

Another source in the PML-N told Pakistan Today that Nisar had held back-to-back meetings with PMLN President Shehbaz Sharif in Rawalpindi and Lahore and later had made up his mind to take oath as member of Punjab Assembly. Nisar, who was once a close confidante of deposed premier Nawaz, had virtually said goodbye to the PML-N since his relations with the latter strained in 2017 over differences.

Two days back, PTI MPA from Rawalpindi Chaudhry Adnan had claimed that Chaudhry Nisar had planned to take the oath of his PP-10 Rawalpindi seat.

Adnan was not the only person to make such a revelation. A few leaders from the PML-N, who requested anonymity, also confirmed that Nisar planned to take the oath.

The PML-N officially distanced itself from the development with its spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb

saying that it was not in their knowledge whether Nisar would take an oath or not. It is not the first time that media had been abuzz with such news.

In April 2019, there were reports of Nisar taking the oath of his PP-10 seat, however, that turned out to be untrue.

The rift between the Sharifs and Nisar widened when the latter in 2018 said he would not beg the PMLN’s parliamentary committee for an election ticket.

He also criticised the PML-N for having become a “family party”, which he said made it impossible for him to stay in it even though he had never really wanted to quit it. Nisar had a 35-year long association with the party.

SMELLING RAT, IMRAN SUMMONS BUZDAR: As soon as Nisar confirmed his decision to take the oath, Prime Minister Imran Khan summoned Chief Minister Buzdar to Islamabad and discussed with him the overall political situation. The meeting discussed among other issues, the demands made by pro-Tareen lawmakers during their meetings with Buzdar and Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry.

The PTI sources said that Buzdar informed PM Imran of the reservations of the Jahangir Tareen group members and suggested steps to be taken to allay their misgivings. Both leaders also discussed the overall political situation, including the oath-taking of Nisar.

Buzdar also gave a briefing to the premier on the upcoming Punjab budget 2021-22.

The prime minister, later, also chaired a meeting of the PTI core committee at Bani Gala.

The meeting took stock of the political situation prevailing in the country and the participants came up with a framework as to how to tackle the issues. The meeting also deliberated on talks with the Tareen group members.

JKT GROUP MEETS TODAY: Tareen group has called an informal meeting on Monday at the residence of provincial minister Ajmal Cheema and would take stock of the political situation and the meetings held so far with the government ministers. The meeting will discuss the future course of action. A luncheon will also be served in honour of the participants.

NEWS

05

Tight restrictions return to Sindh as Covid cases surge: CM continued from page 01 According to a notification issued by the Sindh government in this regard, all educational institutions will remain closed until further notice.

During the suspension of the teaching process in educational institutions, headmasters and teaching staff will be allowed to go to campuses in accordance with the 50% attendance rule, Ghani said. “During this period, all classes will continue to take place online,” the minister said, adding that in addition to the online classes, students should be given homework through alternative means too through the use of different software and online platforms, including Microsoft Office, email, and messaging services like WhatsApp.

Finance minister predicts 6pc GDP growth in next fiscal year continued from page 01 With regards to the financial sector, Tarin said that measures would be taken to encourage people to deposit their money in banks so it could be put to more productive use. He also called for the money collected from the across the country to be spent on the respective provinces instead of "nine cities".

While responding to a question about power tariffs, he said the government would not increase tariffs to prevent further burden on the people and the same would follow for taxes. He said the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had been told that money would instead be collected through other "innovative ways" and he had "full hope" that the IMF would give space. He also explained that Pakistan had fulfilled most of the Financial Action Task Force's conditions with one or two "transactional items" left so he said the government was hopeful of a favourable response in the meeting in June.

Ill-gotten policies building up to wheat crisis ISLAMABAD: Despite record wheat production across the country, a wheat crisis is looming due to ill-gotten policies of the government. Punjab Flour Mills Association (PFMA) Vice Chairman, Kashif Shabir, told Profit that flour mills are facing severe difficulties in procuring wheat despite the fact that Punjab has achieved the purchase target of 3.5 million tonnes during the current season. He cited different reasons including the permit system and shortage of supply of wheat to flour mills. The federal government has introduced a new system to control wheat supply and demand and issued permits to flour mills in this regard. However, the Punjab government has refused to recognise the permit due to which flour mills are in shortage of supply. He said that farmers have also stored wheat instead of selling it due to which the prices have increased.

“Flour mills are purchasing wheat at Rs2,040 per 40kg while the government rate is Rs1,800 per 40kg.” The PFMA official feared that flour prices are expected to rise across the country after the rise in wheat prices in the open market. In case of an increase in the price of flour, he said that the price of tandoori bread is also likely to increase. He requested the provincial food department to abolish the permit system and allow flour mills to buy wheat from all over the province. SHAHZAD PARACHA

FIGhTInG For SurvIval City noteS M A niAZi

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HERE are many impressions created by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, not least the posturing by so many. Perhaps the main posturing has come from the ending of the conflict, with Palestinians taking to the streets in joy at its end by the IDF-Hamas truce. The Palestinians were flashing victory signs. Over here, it’s not so much a symbol of victory as of defiance, being flashed by politicians and political workers after arrest, and most typically flashed when they are being loaded onto a police van, on the way to prison.

In a way, perhaps the Palestinians were

right to flash it. After all, it meant that they were being made to face the prison that are the occupied territories. Pakistan’s Parliament came up with a brilliant solution. They would send a medical mission.

The most famous medical mission I can think of is the one led by Dr Ansari to Turkey in 1913, during the Third Balkan War, which was organised by the students of Aligarh. That was one of the central moments in the Pakistan Movement, and incidentally is one of the reasons Turkey looks with such friendship on Pakistan.

But I can’t help thinking that while a medical mission might be a bold step for a people under colonial rule (and while the colonial power looked askance at the country being helped), I’m not sure a state which pledges to aspire to be Riasat-eMedina will win much praise with merely

a medical mission.

You might remember, during World War I, when the colonial power and the caliphate appeared on different sides, there was not even a medical mission. Indeed, when the Ali Brothers tried to stir trouble among the troops being sent to the Middle East to point out that they should not fight the caliph, they were put on trial. However, when Pakistan was created, there were a number of medical missions. Staffed, but of course, by the only institution to retain its integrity, the army. All those earthquakes in Turkey and Iran had Pakistani field hospitals going pretty quick.

But a medical mission was not entirely on the government’s mind, after PM’s Adviser on Overseas Pakistanis Zulfi Bokhari resigned because his name cropped up in the Rawalpindi Ring Road scandal. Avia-

cmYK

tion Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan’s name appeared, but he didn’t resign. Nor did the Commissioner Rawalpindi at the time, but that can be understood. I mean, Bokhari will merely be reappointed, but you resign from a civil service job, and that’s it. No reappointment, even if your name is cleared. Even if you go on leave, there’s no restoration of your leave period if you’re cleared.

Bokhari will be cleared. Before him, Dr Babar Awan, Aleem Khan and yes, Bokhari himself, were cleared, in various scandals.

Bokhari is also supposed to have been instrumental in getting a returning pilgrim from Iran out of quarantine last year, and thus letting covid-19 into the country.

I wonder whether he too intends to set up a group like Jahangir Tareen. One that demands he get a fair shake. That group

awaits a signal before making a move.

Faisal Vawda says it’s an SHO. True, Tareen should only count on support after some supporter has been accused of buffalo theft, yet remained loyal. But still, Vawda must be feeling threatened, after his monopoly over sounding ridiculous sorry, extreme was challenged by Murad Raas, who wondered why the Palestinians were still fighting with stones, and what they did with all the money they got in aid. That means that they couldn’t be helped, not unless they proved they weren’t corrupt elements.

Footnote to these notes: The two richest men in the world, Jeff Bezos of Amazon and Bill Gates of Microsoft got divorced.

My turn will be a long time coming, if they work their way down the list by wealth. I’ll leave the worrying to other people.

Monday, 24 May, 2021

06 COMMENT

Vaccinating the world in a much-improved way

Inventing good news The GDP projection by the NAC has drawn flak

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he national Accounts Committee’s GDP projection for the current fiscal year of 2020-2021 seems as self-serving as it is convenient. At 3.94 percent, it outperformed the estimates not just of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, of between 1.3 and 1.5 percent, but of government bodies like the State Bank of Pakistan, of 3 percent, and of the Finance Ministry itself, which was slightly lower. After the previous year, 2019-2020, when growth was a pandemic-stunted -0.47 percent, this would be a rebound, if only it was true.

The Prime Minister crowed over the news, ascribing it to his government’s efficient management. he did not explain why it sacked two Finance Ministers recently. It would be puerile to expect people hard-pressed to make ends meet in the face of spiraling prices to ignore their plight on the basis of these figures. If the nAC has been made to cook up the figures, or at least massage them a little, it will have no effect other than making Mr Khan think that progress is being made. The problem is that the figures underlying the projection do not add up. The overall projection is based on healthy growth in agriculture and large-scale manufacturing, and the latter almost exclusively on growth in automobile production.

Agricultural growth has not really taken place, and a major crop, cotton, has worsened.

This has created problems in the manufacturing sector, but there too the nAC has sounded an optimistic note without sufficient justification. There does not seem to have been sufficient provision made for the expected collapse in foreign remittances, which have been at record levels this year, and thus have bolstered the growth figure so far this year. however, if that figure does not sustain itself, and if there has to be a current account deficit, the growth figure itself will not sustain itself. Pakistan’s exports have so far not recovered, and will not do so until the world’s largest economies recover and start buying again.

There are reasons why the nAC figure is being doubted so vociferously by the opposition, and the government should realise that by trying to make the figures fit its own La-La Land narrative, it is merely increasing the credibility gap rather than doing itself any favours.

Intellectual property rights are blocking a people’s vaccine

Dr Omer JaveD

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he World Trade Organization and WhO to convene major vaccine-producing countries and manufacturers to get agreement on voluntary licensing and technology transfer arrangements for covid-19 vaccines (including through the Medicines Patent Pool). If actions do not occur within three months, a waiver of intellectual property rights under the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights should come into force immediately.’ – Excerpt from a recent report by ‘The independent panel for pandemic preparedness and response’ titled ‘Covid-19: make it the last pandemic’ The Economist article ‘Tracking Covid-19 across the world’ updates regularly to provide details on Covid-19 related aspects. Based on the data produced

by Airfinity, which is a company that provides data on life sciences, vaccine inequality mainly on the back of vaccine nationalism is one clear message from the data at hand, whereby if the vaccine rollout suffered no inequality, and barring some delays/disruptions, there would already been 2.8 doses for a significant portion of the world’s population at 5.2 billion people. Yet, such inequality is strongly in place, where the current level of inequality could be gauged from, for instance, as pointed out in the article ‘Canada has signed contracts for enough jabs to give every adult 13 doses each, whereas eastern european countries are expecting to receive just 1.8 doses per adult, on average.’

The Report by ‘The independent panel for pandemic preparedness and response’ titled ‘Covid-19: make it the last pandemic’ pointed out that ‘there are 5.7 billion people in the world aged 16 and over.’ hence, if there was no vaccine hoarding and in turn inequality, the 2.8 billion doses already produced, would have been more than enough to vaccinate the 5.7 billion people aged 16 and over. In this regard, the Report highlighted the acute level of vaccine inequality as ‘The uneven access to vaccination is one of today’s pre-eminent global challenges. high-income countries have over 200 percent population coverage of vaccine doses, obtained mainly through bilateral deals with manufacturers to secure existing and future stocks. In many cases low and middle-income countries have been shut out of these arrangements. In the poorest countries, at the time of

Questions of citizenship A public health issue more than anything else at the moment

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he hafiz hamdullah case and covid-19 vaccinations pose essentially the same question.

The former JUI(F) Senator from Balochistan, hafiz hamdullah, had his CnIC restored by the Islamabad high Court, in a judgment discussing the law of citizenship at a time when millions of people on Pakistani soil may be deprived of covid-19 vaccinations because they do not have a CnIC. hafiz hamdullah was declared a non-citizen by nADRA and deprived of his CnIC at the time of his party’s Azadi March in 2019. As soon as nADRA took away his CnIC, PeMRA banned him from appearing in TV talk-shows. The IhC noted that he was born in Pakistan, his father worked for provincial government, and his son received a commission in the armed forces.

The IhC said that neither nADRA nor the intelligence agency which declared him a non-citizen had the right to adjudicate upon his citizenship. The IhC judgment dilated at length on the benefits of citizenship, which are very wide-ranging. One such benefit, in this time of covid-19, is that of eligibility for a vaccine. There are an estimated three million people who neither possess CnICs, nor are registered as refugees. While the bulk are Afghan refugees, there are also Bengali, Rohingya and nepali migrants. even if parents have entered illegally, children born in Pakistan are eligible for citizenship. however, they cannot claim citizenship without going to court, something they cannot afford. none of them are former Senators like hafiz hamdullah. The government policy of benign neglect will no longer work, for unvaccinated they are a danger to the entire community. If they cannot be expelled, they must be vaccinated, if only to safeguard those whose citizenship even nADRA has no doubts about. The pandemic had made only too clear that this is no longer a politico-administrative question about citizenship, but one of public health. The government cannot bury its head in the sand in the hope that the problem will go away. It must formulate a policy on vaccinating those without ID cards, lest it be accused of callousness towards its own citizens.

The sacrifices of the people of Kashmir will not go in vain The martyrs of the past point towards the future

Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai

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n the annals of history, nations and peoples are often blessed with leaders, guides and activists who play singular roles providing leadership that transcends inspiration and casts a lasting impact on these societies.

May 21, 1990, was the day when the Indian occupation forces assassinated an illustrious Kashmiri freedom-fighter, Mirwaiz Mohammad Farooq, along with 70 mourners when the army resorted to firing on his funeral procession while it was on its way to Martyrs Cemetery. Twenty-two years later, on May 21, 2012, Indian forces also killed Khawaja Abdul Gani Lone, leader of the All Parties hurriyet Conference, who had come to Martyr’s cemetery to pay homage to the Kashmiri martyrs, including Mirwaiz Sahib, who had given their last full measure of devotion in unflagging pursuit of a just and noble cause. May 21

Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami Editor Yousaf Nizami Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad Managing Editor

Joint Editor

Umar Aziz Executive Editor

Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

finalising this report, fewer than 1 percent of people have had a single dose of vaccine. The Covid-19 Vaccines Global Access Facility (COVAX Facility), rapidly established with the intention of ensuring global, equitable access, is making good progress but has been hampered in that goal by a lack of sufficient funds and by vaccine nationalism, and now, vaccine diplomacy.’

On the contrary, up till now many rich countries have hoarded a significant amount of covid-19 vaccine doses than required. For instance, Pakistan has only one dose per adult ordered in 2021 for the entire adult population, whereby it will take the end of 2022 for all the adult population to be vaccinated, given there is excellent administration– a very tall ask given constraints of a third world country’s health sector context– and all the doses ordered get administered in the same year as ordered. On the other hand, rich countries like Canada has more than six times the doses available to inoculate (on two-doses-per-person inoculation basis) its entire adult population in 2021, and has already inoculated 61.4 percent of its adult population, while Pakistan has provided only three percent of its adult population with one done only up till now, and only 0.9 percent of the adults have received two doses.

Similarly, in most of Africa, around tw percent of the adult population have been inoculated. At the same time, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (AfricaCDC) up till 20 May, ‘Coronavirus variants of concern have been found in 37 African countries.’ The source of these variants has been indicated to be from South Africa, the UK, and India. Given the very slow pace of inoculation up till now on the back of severe lack of supply covid-19 vaccines, this keeps a very big chance of these causing lot of new infection rates in not just Africa, but in many parts of the world; and then the longer they keep active the more chances of them mutating its newer and possibly more dangerous variants.

Vaccine nationalism practiced by rich countries in general, and the profit-mindedness of the big pharmaceutical companies– for instance, Lee Fong of The Intercept reportedly indicated ‘Pfizer executives announced that the company’s coronavirus vaccine was projected to bring in $15 billion this year alone from sales, making it one of the highest grossing pharmaceutical products of all time.’– should be weary of the death toll their lack of cooperation could entail for not just the global south, but also possibly on the rich countries themselves due to new dangerous covid-19 variants.

With regard to providing solutions for dealing with the pandemic, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) released a Report on 19 May, titled ‘A proposal to end the Covid-19 pandemic’, and written by Ruchir Agarwal, and Gita Gopinath, whereby it provided some important proposals ‘The proposal tar-

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Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

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will remain embedded in the history of Kashmir and in the hearts and the minds of millions of Kashmiris as the day of supreme sacrifice.

While our martyrs earned a choice place in the hereafter, the Indian occupation forces earned the dubious honour of creating more martyrs - over 100,000 to-date and the count goes on. These martyrs include infants, women, and the old; they are common Kashmiris as well as outstanding scholars and leaders.

In many ways, Mirwaiz Sahib and Lone Sahib were yet other martyrs to the cause, another addition to the list of martyrs of Kashmir being compiled since 1931 when our people first raised their voice against tyranny and alien occupation.

When in 1990 the winds of change blew across the world, destroying dictatorships and occupations, the people of Kashmir also renewed their struggle. During our period of quiet the world had forgotten us. now, they were filled with hope and longing of a new dawn.

It was at this crucial juncture that the Mirwaiz Sahib and Lone Sahib emerged to present a much larger aspect of their leadership. They not only rekindled the issue afresh but also gave it a new vigour and meaning.

Mirwaiz Sahib and Lone Sahib were brilliant and articulate statesmen who were gunned down for their leadership role in educating their people in their struggle for self-determination. They were gunned down because they reminded the world about the pledge that was agreed upon by India and Pakistan, and championed by the democratic powers, including the USA and endorsed by the Un Security Council.

I had the good fortune of having a detailed meeting with the late Mirwaiz in 1980 just two weeks before I was forced to leave Kashmir. This meeting took place during the visit of the Imam Kaaba to Kashmir when Mirwaiz had been kind enough to invite me along with the Imam to the Mirwaiz Manzil. We discussed the issues of mutual concern and more importantly the ways for the resolution of the Kashmir issue. I could discern

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

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Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

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gets: (1) vaccinating at least 40 percent of the population in all countries by the end of 2021 and at least 60 percent by the first half of 2022, (2) tracking and insuring against downside risks, and (3) ensuring widespread testing and tracing, maintaining adequate stocks of therapeutics, and enforcing public health measures in places where vaccine coverage is low.’

Moreover, the IMF pointed out that ‘The benefits of such measures at about $9 trillion far outweigh the costs which are estimated to be around $50 billion– of which $35 billion should be paid by grants from donors and the residual by national governments potentially with the support of concessional financing from bilateral and multilateral agencies.’ having said that, the writer could not find in the Report any recommendation/proposal that intellectual property rights (IPRs) should be temporarily suspended for the duration of the pandemic at least, which is indeed one of the most important proposals not mentioned. What the writer could find in the Report instead was the IMF encouraging a ‘voluntary licensing and sharing of intellectual property rights’, and in this regard indicated ‘here we allocate about $1 billion, half of it in terms of grant financing, to encourage cross-border deals to increase regional capacity of vaccines in developing countries.’ It is hoped IMF will strongly recommend suspension of IPRs to both rich countries, pharmaceutical companies, and the World Trade Organization, as this is one of the key steps to reach much-needed enhanced production at the earliest possible, and in reaching a ‘people’s vaccine’ based on open-source information sharing, so that most powerful against variants. hence, the world should come together at the earliest, and rich countries and pharmaceutical companies should change their current course of action, whereby among other steps excess vaccines with countries should be transferred to those needing them, and also much needed enhancement in production of vaccines is ensured, and ones that are based on open-source information sharing to be most effective against variants, through temporary removal of IPRs at least during the duration of the pandemic.

The writer holds PhD in Economics degree from the University of Barcelona, and previously worked at International Monetary Fund.Prior to this, he did MSc. in Economics from the University of York (United Kingdom), and worked at the Ministry of Economic Affairs & Statistics (Pakistan), among other places. He is author of Springer published book (2016) ‘The economic impact of International Monetary Fund programmes: institutional quality, macroeconomic stabilization and economic growth’.He tweets @omerjaved7

within him a selfless desire to serve and emancipate his people from under the Indian occupation.

Lone Sahib was a great personality blessed with great talents, not only as a politician but also as a deep thinker. By far the most vivid recollection I have of Lone Sahib was his speech at the United nations headquarters in new York during an OIC Foreign Minister Annual Meeting on 27 September 1999. The participants were fascinated by his presentation.

Lone Sahib said, “I am grateful for the opportunity to address the Organization of the Islamic Conference as the voice of the All Parties hurriyet Conference, the genuine embodiment of the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.” he added, “Indeed, to speak of humanitarian tragedies and injustice without mentioning Kashmir is like reciting the holocaust without mentioning Auschwitz or the Palestinian-Israeli cruelties without mentioning Sabra and Shatila refugee camp slaughters.”

Lone Sahib shocked the conscience of the OIC leadership by asking: “Is the lesson of Kashmir to be that a nuclear power with an attractive economic market can defy international law, human rights, and morality with impunity? What would that do to the cause of non-proliferation? What would that do for the cause of humanity? What would that do for securing adherence to the international norms, universal values and above all to the United nations Security Council resolutions?”

The people of Kashmir will never forget the selfless contribution and the tireless efforts of the Mirwaiz Sahib and Lone Sahib. Their efforts will remain forever a milestone in the history of the freedom struggle of Kashmir.

The vision of Mirwaiz Sahib, Lone Sahib and the unity and sacrifices of the people of Kashmir will undoubtedly lead the Kashmiri freedom struggle to its logical conclusion, that is freedom from the occupation and alien subjugation.

Let us all rededicate ourselves to the vision of our martyrs and continue our struggle in unity with full faith in Allah (Subhanahu wa Taala) to whom belongs victory and defeat, success and failure.

May Allah accept the sacrifice of the fellow Kashmiri martyrs? Ameen.

Dr. Fai is the Secretary General of Washington-based World Kashmir Awareness Forum and can be reached at: 1-202-6076435 or gnfai2003@yahoo.com

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

Monday, 24 May, 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

Face mask mandatory KARAChI Commissioner Iftikhar Shalwani on Friday issued a city-wide directive, making the wearing of face masks compulsory for all citizens.

The decision was taken in view of the rising incidence of coronavirus cases in the port city, according to a press release issued by the commissioner’s spokesperson. Shalwani, who also holds the charge of Karachi administrator, directed deputy commissioners to ensure that all citizens wore masks and to impose penalties of up to Rs500 in case of violation of the order. The commissioner further directed the DCs to ensure that SOPs to combat the virus were being implemented in markets and shopping malls in their respective areas, adding that shopkeepers must ensure that their staff and customers don’t enter the premises without wearing a mask. he added that penal action would be taken against the shopkeepers and market administration in whose premises SOPs were being flouted. To a question about whether commuters will also have to wear masks while riding vehicles, the commissioner replied in the affirmative.

MEhMood Khan Karachi

Committees

The blood moon and the Gaza conflict

aisha NOOr

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enSIOnS between Israel and Palestine escalated into a broader war, with Israel striking targets in Gaza. It was the night of April 13, the first day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, when conflict started. Israeli police raided on Al Aqsa mosque, one of the holiest sites in Islam. It has led to the worst violence between Israelis and Palestinians in years. Police officers armed with tear gas, grenades and rubber-tipped bullets burst into the mosque compound setting off hours of clashes with stone-throwing protesters in which hundreds were injured. The dramatic escalation occurred on Monday, May 10, and after that thousands Palestinians were killed and injured including children and women.

Fighting between Israel and Palestinians armed groups had decreased compared to previous years. But last year, in 2020, Israeli forces again started to pressurize Palestinians with discrimination and repression, sometimes by restricting trade and enforcing the travel ban on Palestinians in the occupied Gaza strip, limiting their water and electricity and other basic facilities of life, by lowering their economy. On the other hand, the Israeli government transferred its citizens into settlements with provision of security and facilities in the Occupied West Bank.

According to the Un office of Coordination for humanitarian Affairs (OChA), as of 19 October 2020, the Israeli government demolished 568 Palestinians homes and other buildings in the West Bank last year, including in east Jerusalem, displacing 759 people. The cause described by the Israeli government is the lack of a permit for building which is impossible to obtain. Israeli Prime Minister netanyahu believes that Israel is about to be able to ‘celebrate another historic moment in the history of Zionism’ with his determination to leave the people of occupied Palestine without a state. no other country in the world has racked up as many violations of Un Resolutions as Israel has.

On the other hand, Palestinians always sacrificed for peace. There was no major chaos in Jerusalem when US President Donald Trump unjustly recognized it as Israel’s capital and moved the US embassy there. even when four Arab countries started relations with Israel, but why tensions escalated now? Of course, Israel is never far from war for the struggle of power and dreams of a reign like David’s who was the most powerful of Israel’s kings. According to the Quran, David was something more than a messenger, and was a divinely guided leader who es-

tablished God’s rule on earth. ‘’O David! We have appointed you as a vicegerent in the land; so judge among people with the truth, and do not follow personal inclination, lest it leads you astray from the path of God. Surely, those who wander astray from God’s path- for them there is a severe punishment because they have forgotten the Day of Reckoning. (38.26 Quran) God would never be on the side of oppression.

The Jewish interpretation of endtime prophecies not only misleads them in religious concepts but in state policies too, leading them towards oppression and violence.

Recently, there has been a surge of interest in heavenly signs relating to end-time Bible prophecies. For Christians and Jews, Jerusalem is the linchpin of their eschatology. Some religious leaders believe that the blood moon does signal the end of the world and some warn of a major turning point on earth, though the details vary.

This month’s lunar eclipse can be called ‘super flower blood moon.’ Blood moon is about to rise in this month of May 26, 2021. The claim of a blood moon being a sign of the beginning of the endtimes originates in the Book of Joel where Peter quotes the prophet Joel saying: “And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood and fire and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes.”(2:30–31) Pastor John C. hagee, a well-known Christian Zionist, of San Antonio, Texas, in his book, Four Blood Moons: Something Is About to Change, predicted dramatic though unspecific developments connected with Israel. he connected key events in Jewish history to several sets of four lunar eclipses (scientifically called tetrads) that had occurred around Jewish holy [ days and significant events in Israel’s history.

Mark Blitz’s Blood Moons: Decoding the Imminent Heavenly Signs (2014) is also linked up with biblical prophecies, lunar eclipses and historical events. According to Blitz, the Second Coming of Christ was expected in 2015. hagee and Blitz’s claims all were related to blood moon series called Tetrad in 2015.They associate these lunar tetrads with the fulfillment of Bible prophecy concerning signs in the heaven. Before this, evangelist harold Camping predicted the Second Coming on 21 May 2011.

The blood moon tetrad series was over in 2015.The claims of hagee and Blitz have been comprehensively rubbished by astronomers, biblical scholars and theologians. Furthermore, the eclipses haven’t even been visible over Israel, and the link to historical events is a bit patchy. not

only that, but there have been plenty of tetrads during Passover and Tabernacles during which nothing of significance in Jewish history happened at all. Later on, nASA’s remarks cleared it by saying, “In fact, as best as we can tell, no large object is likely to strike the earth any time in the next several hundred years”. Moreover, Matthew 24;36 makes clear that only God knows the timing of such ,anyone who makes such a prediction is acting contrary to the word of God. According to Jesus, only God knows when the end of all things is at hand but that we should live each day as if our last and be prepared for the Second Coming at any time.(Mark 13 32-33) So predictions cannot reveal omens for the triumph of a nation and signs for endtime as only the Almighty knows the exact timing. All the prophets before Muhammad (PBUh) did not reveal Allah’s messages and divine knowledge in full, since they were sent only to one nation.

Muhammad, on the other hand, was sent to all nations. The messages of the prophets before Muhammad were believed to have been either forgotten or distorted, but the Quran both corrects and confirms the sayings of the earlier prophets. All prophecy before Muhammad is incomplete and points to the coming of the final revelation. The Quran says “Verily the knowledge of the last hour is with God alone. he sends down rain, and he knows what is in the wombs,” (31:34) ”The hour has drawn near and the moon was split ˹in two.”The prophet (PBUh) said, “The sun and the moon are two signs of Allah; they are not eclipsed on account of anyone’s death or on account of any one’s birth. So if you see them, glorify and supplicate Allah, observe the prayer, give alms.”

It looks quite awful to follow such predictions that have no base and no implications. Israel cannot achieve her targets by oppressing innocent citizens of Jerusalem. Their books do not persuade them for violence but they themselves target the dwellers of Palestine with unjust and atrocious cruelty. history shows that David, the very powerful king of Israel, was never unjust and he was a prophet of Allah. “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.” (Psalm 24:1–2) But what effect do these predictions have?

What can be expected more than a war which is already being waged against Palestine? mean that it will not mean permanent peace.

But what effect do these predictions have? What can be expected more than a war which is already being waged against Palestine?

Who really owns the land in Palestine and the Temple site and who targets the innocent dwellers by keeping faith in illusions and then hopes for God’s mercy is no more a dilemma. There may be a truce now, but the end time predictions mean that it will not mean permanent peace

The writer can be contacted at aishaz99@gmail.com and tweets @aishaz99

PUTTInG committees, God knows where this ritual started, when it happened, why it happened, no one knows. Ritual said that the women of the middle and slum population now adopt the style of making it so that the committee is being formed without saying anything. I wonder how these women can put up such long committees, and even receive a word of pleasure and no one dies before the committee! This is probably the secret of women’s longevity. To this day, I have not seen a woman whose committee is yet to come out and who has died before the committee.

Women’s committees are not just committees, they are written history.

Their committees are so long that it can be inferred from this that the virgins of that time now come to their house with three children and go back to their in-laws after giving the committee. See the importance.

ShEhzadi haSan ali Karachi

Corona situation COVID-19 situation on 1st Aug 2020 (Source: WhO Islamabad): “Pakistan reported 841 new cases of COVID-19 on 31 July 2020. The total number of cases notified since the beginning of the outbreak is 279,146 with 5,970 deaths (CFR: 2.13%).”COVID-19 indicators in Pakistan are showing an improving trend in Pakistan. however, the impact of the eid holidays during the current weekend and the upcoming Moharram congregations will be crucial in determining if this positive trend is maintained or otherwise. The possibilities of a second wave are considered real. no major relaxation of social lockdown is foreseen in the near future.

British Airways has announced the resuming of its flight operations (heathrow-Islamabad) by restarting its 3-flights per week schedule from 15 August. While the COVID19 numbers show a relative slowdown, it cannot be translated as the pandemic having reached a peak. Therefore, the government has imposed lockdown again in selected area in various large cities (LhR, ISB) according to emergence of new cases.

Shafiq chohan lahorE

Children’s mental health WAnT to draw attention toward the people of Gaza. They are suffering through a lot, lives have been lost and families shattered, with devastating impacts on children. imagine 3 a 4-year-old child enjoying airstrikes thinking that it’s a norm. For many years, these children have been witnessing violence, leaving them traumatized. Many have experienced the loss of a family member or friend, which has a tremendous impact on their mental health and emotional well-being. The situation was further exacerbated by the threat of conflict, the fear of bombs, and the constant insecurity which has a strong impact on the region and the psychosocial well-being of children.

Requesting the authorities to kindly do something for them using their sources.

SAvErA HASSAn KArACHI

Food items cheap rate The rate increases in Ramadan is becoming a big problem for the cities, especially the poor people, they cannot fulfill their requirement due to high rates in Ramadan even cannot purchase their basic needs for their family and Children. Most of the Muslim and non-Muslim countries give the subsidy for their Muslim cities especially in Ramadan to enjoy their holy Month with worship and fulfill their requirement easily.

There are so many welfares working in our country, they disturb necessary food items to poor people as per their capacity, if our government interduce (Sasta Bazar) cheap Rate Markets where the poor people can purchase the all-necessary food items in very cheap rate with the help of Government Fond and normal cities contribution. haSan noor UMEr anSari Karachi

Preventing child rape ChILD Rape is still one of the biggest issues in Pakistan. Last year, the executive director of Sahil, Manizeh Bano said the cases of sexual assault after kidnapping had increased by 91 percent compared to 2019. While it is true that the government has punished the perpetrators of this crime, there is yet a lot to be done before this crime is significantly reduced. To reduce child rape, the government needs to understand why child rape is happening in the first place so that they can make effective policies to reduce it. In order to make effective policies the government should, first of all, hold a survey which would discover the causes of child rape. After that, the government should make policies according to the information collected. If the method mentioned above is implemented child rape could be prevented in the future. hafSa hUSSain Karachi

Monday, 24 May, 2021

08 WORLD VIEW

What does Islam mean to IndIan, muslIm and non-muslIm?

Open Magazine

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Mani Shankar aiyar

hazala Wahab comes from a family that was ‘poor and illiterate’. She was born in a Muslim ghetto in agra, which was ‘riddled with poverty, illiteracy, backwardness, and unthinkable danger’. her lane was ‘canopied by crisscrossing electric wires’. There was a ‘permanent police presence at the mouth of the lane’. Yet, hers was a happy, if pious, childhood from which two features stand out: ‘the world view of the women in my family was extremely limited’ but her father and grandfather ‘had several non-Muslim friends and business associates.’ She grew up ‘inclined towards Sufism’ which, she says, finds its connection to Islam ‘in the flexible religious practice of the dargahs’.

In 1983, when Wahab was about 12, her father and the nuclear family moved to a neighbourhood ‘inhabited by Brahmins and Baniyas; we were the only Muslims there.’

The move was made possible because her father ‘had become one of the biggest Indian exporters of footwear’ to the Soviet Union and other East European countries, including the German Democratic Republic. he was also honoured by the Government of India for his innovative designs and export performance. Indeed, he was so successful in his business as to suggest that his 16-year-old daughter might consider going to the US for her higher studies. ‘had I gone to the US in September 1989 as planned,’ she remarks wistfully, ‘I would have missed out on the life-altering events that had started to unfold in India.’ What were these ‘life-altering’ events?

She had joined a journalism course at Delhi University but was intrigued that, unlike her school friends, ‘nobody asked me anything’ about Islam. ‘In fact, none of them had any curiosity about Muslims.’ This was the vacuum into which communalism poured its vitriol. The majority community knew so little about the largest minority and were so little interested in learning about their way of life that when lK advani started his Ram Rath Yatra in September 1990 (with an unknown RSS pracharak called Narendra Modi in tow), he could spread his poison with few questions being asked by his growing band of followers about the essential humanity of their 14 percent minority of fellow-citizens. It was easy to convert indifference into prejudice and ignorance into violence.

Wahab’s own growing up received a shocking blow in November 1990 in the aftermath of advani’s Ram Rath Yatra. It is best described in her own words: ‘My family, who had no previous experience of communal violence, was in a dilemma. We didn’t know where we would be more secure – in an upscale hindu-majority neighbourhood, where the privilege of the residents would throw a security blanket around us, or in a Muslim-majority lower middle class neighbourhood where our numbers would isolate us…as the communal situation started to worsen all over north India, I was asked to come home.’

It was the moment of reckoning not for her alone but for all of us, majority or minority. ‘home’ was her family bungalow in an upmarket hindu-majority area of agra.

That, alas, provided them with no protection—for that is where communalism came to meet them. It started with slogan shouting, followed by the sound of the windows of their house being stoned and smashed. an impetuous uncle picked up his gun.

Wahab’s father told him to put it down.

“You fire one shot in the air, and they will burn the house down.” It was not till ten at night that their well-connected family, ‘with a vast network of friends among the bureaucrats who had served in agra’, were able to

‘MUCH BEFORE THE ARRIVAL OF MUSLIMS IN THE SUBCONTINENT, THE DESTRUCTION OF TEMPLES WAS COMMONPLACE IN INDIA AS A MARK OF VICTORY’ SINCE POWERFUL HINDU KINGS GENERALLY ENDOWED TEMPLES AS A SIGN OF THEIR POWER ROMILA THAPAR HAS INDUBITABLY ESTABLISHED THAT THE FIRST INVADER AND LOOTER OF SOMNATH WAS NOT MAHMUD OF GHAZNI BUT A SERIES OF NON-MUSLIM CONQUERORS get the police to turn up.

Wahab accompanied her mother to their ancestral home. The open maidan at the entrance to the locality was like a ‘war zone’, with stones scattered all over the unpaved ground and—in an unforgettable image— ‘carcasses of two-wheelers’. Windows were broken and doors were hanging ‘by their hinges’. Worse was to follow. On entering their old family home, they found the TV set smashed, ‘lying face down on the marble floor’, ‘pieces of glass, remains of crockery…and the heirloom copper paandaan’ scattered among other debris. her aunts, ‘distraught and dishevelled’ hugged her mother ‘in a frightened collective embrace’. The police had come in that morning, ‘dragged my uncles out in their sleepwear’ to inflict ‘ugly welts’ on their bodies for the crime of belonging to their religion, then returned to ‘deliberately break things’. Wahab’s poignant conclusion at this barbaric vandalism by those who were required to protect them was that her father and one brother might have ‘travelled a small distance from the Muslim mohalla to an upper-class hindu colony but emotionally they had travelled the distance of a lifetime…when it came to communal division, they were nothing but Muslims. Forever suspects, forever scapegoats.’ That is the measure of our national descent.

It was this encounter with the ‘new realities’, brought to the fore by advani’s Ram Rath Yatra and all the way through Bombay (1992-93) and the Gujarat pogrom (2002) to the riots in north-east New Delhi in February 2020, that led to the questions posed in this book: ‘what did Islam mean to Indian, Muslim and non-Muslim?’ Could this be ‘a question of identity itself? an Islamic identity superimposing itself on the Indian Muslim identity?’ as well as ‘bigger issues’ like ‘insecurity, discrimination, injustice, and criminalization?’ She addresses her answers to ‘both Muslims and nonMuslims’. To fellow-Muslims she asks: ‘Is it not possible to be Muslim and forwardlooking?’ To non-Muslim Indians she seeks to explain ‘how their perception of Muslims is based on hearsay, not facts’ in the hope of building ‘a bridge of conversation’. This is what imparts to this book its unique distinction. It neither raves nor rants against ‘hindu’ iniquities; nor does it indulge in hyperbole about her own community. She looks for practical solutions in thought and action, focusing principally on what Muslims can do—and are doing—for themselves. This is the authentic voice of one who does not regard the expression ‘Indian Muslim’ as an oxymoron. Wahab affirms that one can be both an Indian and Muslim.

From where then do the principal insecurities of the Muslim community arise?

Ideologically, Wahab says, from the view of the RSS leader, MS Golwalkar, who claimed that Indian Muslims do not view ‘Pakistan’ as the culmination of their endeavours but ‘as a first step towards establishing the Islamic Empire’.

These ideological issues were reinforced by Savarkar’s precept being brought into practice by the ruling establishment: ‘Nothing can weld peoples into a nation and nations into a state as the presence of a common foe. hatred separates as well as unites.’ In Pakistan, the common external foe fits the bill; within the country, the Indian Muslim is the obvious target. ‘The focus of hindu communalism,’ writes Wahab, ‘remains Partition’.

This is accompanied by the blatant distortion of history. as the author bemoans, ‘historicity means little in the face of belief’. The claims made and spread by propagandists seeking to prove that the Muslim invaders were atavistic barbarians rests on

the dubious assertion that Muslim rule destroyed 60,000 hindu temples. The fact, as unearthed by the historian, Richard M Eaton, is that archival and literary records document ‘eighty instances of temple desecration whose historicity appears reasonably certain.’ Whether it was 80 or 60,000, this has to be weighed against the fact that ‘much before the arrival of Muslims in the subcontinent’, ‘the destruction of temples was commonplace in India as a mark of victory’ since powerful hindu kings generally endowed temples as a sign of their power, inviting desecration or destruction by those who overthrew them wanting to show the populace who was now in power. Romila Thapar has indubitably established that this was even the case at Somnath, whose first invader and looter was not Mahmud of Ghazni but a series of non-Muslim conquerors. Such false propaganda also draws the veil over the fact that ‘once the Muslims assumed power in parts of India, they often [became] benefactors of temples’.

But whatever the ideological fault lines and perversions of history, the Partition of 1947 was an indisputable and evident fact.

She quotes Mohammed adeeb, who was a colleague of mine in the Rajya Sabha and a very good friend, as saying, “Muslims forfeited their right to pursue their politics after Partition. Their only hope today is to stand with secular hindus.”

The India that reacted to the horrors of Partition by following the Mahatma and Jawaharlal Nehru into a secular nation, that regarded the protection of the Muslim minority and the promotion of their interests as a civic and constitutional duty to be performed in a spirit of compassion and largehearted generosity, have taken to calling the humane treatment of our minorities, particularly Muslims, as “tushtikaran” (appeasement), twisting the tale to say, “hindu khatre mei hai” (The hindu is in danger).

The relative calm of the ’50s was disturbed by the outbreak of an average of six riots a year over the next three decades.

The author walks us through Jabalpur (1961), Ranchi (1964), and the ‘biggest riot’ (ahmedabad, 1969) – which brought to the surface the ‘underlying distrust bordering on hatred between the two communities’ that caused insecure Muslims to slink ‘into their ghettoes’ and created border lines within the city ‘menacingly referred to as hindustan-Pakistan’.

Jamshedpur (also 1969) marked the advent of ‘loud cries of Jai Bajrang mingled with stone throwing’. The ’70s were a decade again of relative calm until Moradabad (1981) shot us out of our complacency. The police firing at the Eidgah marked ‘post-independence India’s Jallianwallah Bagh’: ‘the cold-blooded massacre of Muslims by a rabidly communal police force’, as activists Sharjeel Imam and Saqib Salim were to later describe it. The protests and riots spread through much of Uttar Pradesh. There followed Meenakshipuram (1981) in the deep south where RSS cadres protested the ‘mass conversion’ of the scheduled castes to Christianity. ‘Major conflagrations’ broke out in 1982 at Meerut, leaving 90 Muslims dead, ‘42 of whom were killed by the PaC (Provincial armed Constabulary)’. Then came the horror of the Nellie massacre in assam (February 1983) ‘which killed between 1,800 to 3,000 people in the span of a few hours… spread across several villages inhabited by Muslims of Bengali origin’. She also vividly describes the post-Babri Masjid destruction riots in Bombay (1992-93) and the retaliatory Muslim-led bombings of March 1993, and from the Gujarat pogrom of 2002 right up to North-east Delhi (February 2020) marked by the infamous slo-

gan coined by a minister of the BJP central government, “Goli maro saalon ko.”

This prepared the ground for the most lasting of all communal issues that has bedevilled our land from the mid-80s into contemporary times: the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi (BM-RJB) dispute. Wahab does a superb job of reversing the conventional chronology of events to show that the Vishwa hindu Parishad had started the agitation over BM-RJB as early as april 1985 (the same month as the Supreme Court judgement on the Shah Bano case) by taking out a Rath Yatra from Sitamarhi to ayodhya and that the locks at ayodhya were opened on January 31st 1985, a month before the Muslim Women (Rights on Divorce) Bill was introduced in Parliament by the law Minister on February 25th. ‘This sequence of events,’ the author points out, ‘shows that Muslim communalists were placated only <after> hindu communalists had been accommodated’ (emphasis added). She also points out that it is hardly possible that Shah Bano was ‘destitute’ or in imminent danger of ‘vagrancy’ as she had been married for 46 years and ‘her firstborn would have been at least 40 years when she divorced’. Second, Shah Bano herself never availed of the derisory maintenance grant of Rs.179.20 per month granted her by the high Court and confirmed by the Supreme Court, and yet survived for decades.

Then came the desecration and dismantling of the Babri Masjid (December 6th 1991). It fundamentally altered hindu-Muslim relations by aggravating ‘the sentiment that drove the violence’. Wahab was then 20.

She has lived the last three decades of her life under the shadow of that ‘barbaric’ act of ‘egregious violence’, to quote the Supreme Court in its 2019 judgement.

‘This,’ she says, ‘affects the psyche of the community, its relationship with itself, and with others. Frightened people cannot think clearly…Today, both Indian Islam and Muslims need to embrace modernity…But it can only happen if the community feels secure and at peace. The current atmosphere in India is the exact opposite of that.

It is inducing fear, self-pity, as well as latent anger. Nothing good can emerge from this.’ and yet there has been a countervailing reaction from significant sections of the community—especially a new breed of Muslim politicians, Muslim women, and a new generation of Muslim youth.

Thus, in sharp contrast to the Indian Muslim politician of the 20th century who placed the fate of the community in the hands of ‘secular’ parties, there is the nascent rise of politicians of a new ilk like asaduddin Owaisi, whose ‘erudition sits comfortably with his overt Muslim identity’. While his brand of Muslim politics is ‘combative and assertive’, he underlines that ‘there is no Muslim leadership. I am a representative of my people, not just the Muslims’.

In India, as the author underlines, ‘Owaisi insists that his brand of politics is positive and does not depend on fear of the Other.’ all he seeks is that Indian Muslims ‘must look beyond their fears; that they must assert their rights which the Constitution of India guarantees them’. In varying degrees and in different idioms, there is a similar turning away from the hangover of Partition to look to themselves self-confidently as both ‘Indian’ and ‘Muslim’, such as the venerable Shia leader Maulana Kalbe Jawad; arif Mohammad Khan (who, alas, has confused being an ‘Indian Muslim’ with aligning himself with hindutva); Badruddin ajmal in assam (who has ‘a tough time performing the balancing act between being overtly religious and secular’); hamid Dalwai (a ‘dissenting reformer’); Kamal Fa-

rooqui of the all-India Muslim Personal law Board (whom I would describe as a ‘conforming reformer’!); and ali anwar of the Pasmanda Muslim Mahaz that seeks to serve the needs of the low caste and low class ajlaf and arzal communities of Muslims, as against the traditional Muslim political preoccupation with high-class ashrafi interests. She concludes: ‘No Muslim can win the battle of competitive sectarianism in today’s India. Their only hope is to fight sectarianism through inclusive and progressive politics.’

For the new role of Muslim youth, the author quotes a young lawyer and activist, one anas Tanwir, who argues that: ‘Muslims chose to stay in India in 1947 because it was going to be a multicultural, secular state with one of the world’s most visionary and liberal constitutions. Those who wanted a theocratic state migrated to Pakistan.’

The present generation of Muslim youth is demanding their rights not as Muslims but as Indians, principally because their rights as Indians are being denied to them because they are Muslims. Shaheen Bagh’s lasting contribution has been to awaken the community and the country to the indubitable fact that, numbering nearly 200 million, no ‘fundamental decision’ about their ‘destiny’ can be taken without their ‘consent’.

Wahab’s enduring solution to the problems of Indian Muslims does not lie in any expectation of reforming hindutva and its followers. They are incorrigible. also, as ‘Indian Muslims have been victims of systematically cultivated prejudice… the slogan of ‘sabka saath, sabka vikas’ is meaningless for the Muslims because it assumes all communities are equally impoverished. But a large part of the Muslim population is much worse-off than many other minorities.’ This has been proven by the Justice Rajinder Sachar report.

Wahab believes the answer for the community lies in themselves, above all in the ‘small middle-class that has emerged over the last few decades’ and ‘the embrace of modern education by a growing number of Muslims.’

There is a major role here, says the author, for Islamic philanthropy. annual zakat collections amount to around Rs. 50,000 crore a year. There are besides Muslim ‘millionaires, upper-middle and middle class’ who need to be tapped to create a Muslim welfare fund led by a reputable organisation like aziz Premji’s Wipro or the famed hamdard. Recognising that setting up new schools, vocational and coaching centres, and institutions of higher education will take time and effort, the author pleads that the ‘madrassa’ system be left alone as students at madrassas ‘mostly come from extremely impoverished backgrounds…Madrassa education offers them free boarding and lodging and the possibility of employment in some mosque.’ So, ‘instead of the proliferation of madrassas, schools should proliferate’. and as for the future of Islam in India, the author makes bold to suggest that ‘Indian Muslims, given their role in the evolution of Islamic thinking, should take the lead in bearing responsibility for the future of their faith in partnership with the most populous Muslim country in the world, Indonesia.’ and where do the rest of us non-Muslim Indians fit into the scheme of things? Wahab does not cite him, but I would like to end this review with a quotation from Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi speaking in the lok Sabha on May 3rd 1989: “a secular India alone is an India that can survive. Perhaps an India that is not secular does not deserve to survive.”

Mani Shankar Aiyar, a diplomat turned politician, is a former Union minister and an author of several books.

Born a Muslim: Some Truths about Islam in India by Ghazala Wahab, Aleph, 409 pages, Rs 999.

Monday, 24 May, 2021

business 09

lahore

RiCe exPoRteRS iRKed oveR Govt’S PLan to ReduCe BaSmati PRoduCtion

Govt encouraging foreign investors to invest in Pakistan: Qureshi Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that the government is encouraging foreign investors to invest in Pakistan. Talking to American-Pakistani entrepreneurs in New York, he said Pakistan needs a strong economy for effective foreign policy and the government is focusing on priorities at this front. He said there has been a historic increase in foreign remittances this year and the credit goes to Pakistanis living abroad. “Pakistan has received over one billion dollars remittance during six months after launching the Roshan Digital Pakistan initiative.” He also said the government has initiated e-visa regime to promote tourism in the country. MONITORING REPORT

Systems Limited joins hands with Citizens Foundation for educating underprivileged students KARACHI PRESS RELEASE

CEO Asif Peer has announced a new initiative of Systems Limited where the company will collaborate with The Citizens Foundation (TCF) to provide underprivileged students a chance to attain formal education. As part of the company’s CSR drive, the initiative is geared towards promoting meaningful educational programs that bring about an empowering social impact for the community. The first-of-its-kind initiative will see Pakistan’s premier technology organisation join hands with one of the largest privately owned networks of low-cost formal schools in Pakistan.

HBL and Katalyst Labs partner for startup acceleration, enabling women leadership KARACHI PRESS RELEASE

HBL and Katalyst Labs have signed a strategic partnership agreement for startup acceleration and enabling women leadership. This will further build and strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem of the country.

HBL is shaping the future through a paradigm shift towards a ‘technology company with a banking license’.

The bank aims to form ecosystem partnerships and deliver scalable solutions to customers. The end goal remains to be a customer centric bank that is quick to pivot as opportunities present themselves by being a mobile first, data enabled, inclusive and agile organisation. Katalyst Labs is a technology accelerator and innovation hub, founded by Jehan Ara who along with her team has played a key role in building the entrepreneurship ecosystem of Pakistan. As part of the partnership, Katalyst Labs will develop and run a cohort-based fellowship program for women entrepreneurs, professionals, and upcoming business leaders with the purpose of training them and helping them develop into a high-powered network of women leaders across the country. An acceleration program will also be run with an aim to have an increased focus on facilitating collaboration between start-ups and corporates for knowledge sharing and market exploration with special focus on fintech, food and agri tech, mCommerce, edTech, health tech and other verticals.

ISLAMABAD

F

GHULAM ABBAS

OLLOWING the government's request to farmers for limiting the production of Basmati rice, exporters have express serious concerns and called the decision completely irrational.

In this regard, Prime Minister’s Task Force on Agriculture Chairman, Jamshed Iqbal Cheema, during a press conference regarding the agriculture reform package had said that the export market mostly required coarse rice but Pakistani farmers were addicted to Basmati and would be asked to shift most of the sowing to coarse rice which attracts better price and limit Basmati for local consumption.

According to the government's estimates, He maize output through the same line of action would be tripled from 13 million tonnes to 40m tonnes.

It may be mentioned here that the statement came at a time when Pakistan is fighting a case related to Geographical Indication (GI) tagging for Basmati rice in the European Union (EU) against India.

On the other hand, Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) former vice president, Taufiq Ahmed Khan, is talking about hybrid rice and other varieties which are priced much lesser than the Basmati.

EXPRESS FEAR THAT GOVT STATEMENTS WOULD HARM COUNTRY’S BASMATI GI TAG CASE AGAINST INDIA IN EU

“We do not understand the rationale behind limiting production of Basmati, which is exported to most of the 120 countries with comparatively higher prices. The hybrid rice is sold at around $400 per tonne while Basmati is marketed at over $1000 per tonne in the international market,” he said, adding that while marketing the new hybrid variant, Pakistan would be competing with around 50 countries whereas, for marketing Basmati rice, the country needed to compete with only one country, India.

“We have already established an in-

ternational market for Basmati in the Middle East and Europe where the aromatic rice is very popular. By limiting cultivation of the important crop, Pakistan would lose such a lucrative market,” the exporter added.

“Though we have not been consulted for the Agriculture Reform Package, what Cheema has expressed as per the package is alarming for not only exporters but also traditional growers of Basmati,” Taufiq said.

Another exporter of rice suggested that instead of limiting production of

rice, the government should focus on maximising the production of highly valued variants besides improving the supply chain system.

According to exporters, who are also fighting the case in the EU along with the government, such negative statements by responsible personalities in the government would harm the country’s case against India.

It may be mentioned here that since Basmati rice fetches higher prices than non-Basmati rice in international markets, India has attempted to block Pakistan’s trade in the EU by registering as the sole owner of Basmati’s GI. Pakistani basmati also enjoys an edge in European markets as the level of pesticides in our local crop is low as per the EU’s standard as compared to India.

In overall basmati exports, Europe holds a 40 per cent share. The commodity is also being exported to Gulf countries, Australia, US, etc. while non-Basmati markets include China, African countries, Far East, etc.

Pakistan produces 7.4m tonnes of rice annually out of which over 4m tonnes is exported while the rest is consumed locally.

The country exported 4.166mn tonnes of rice in FY20 which earned $2.175bn out of which basmati exports stood at 890,207 tonnes valuing $790m while non-basmati exports were 3.275m earning $1.384bn.

Central bank clarifies estimated GDP growth rate numbers The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has released on Sunday a clarification on the media debate over GDP growth estimations being cited by the National Accounts Committee (NAC) noting underway strong economic recovery already highlighted in its quarterly reports.

In a set of tweets published by the central bank via its official handle say that the provisional estimate for the financial year 2021 growth of 3.94 per cent that NAC released, reflects the strong economic recovery underway already anticipated and posted in its reports.

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has released on Sunday a clarification on the media debate over GDP growth estimations being cited by the National Accounts Committee (NAC) noting underway strong economic recovery already highlighted in its quarterly reports.

In a set of tweets published by the central bank via its official handle say that the provisional estimate for the financial year 2021 growth of 3.94 per cent that NAC released, reflects the strong economic recovery underway already anticipated and posted in its reports.

“SBP had raised its own growth forecast in March on the basis of buoyant economic activity reflected in different high-frequency data.”

“This was done in an appropriately conservative manner while noting upside risks to growth.”

The central bank said that it had anticipated the upside potential of the economy given the numbers but was conservative in posting them. However as the potential really materialised, the NAC’s forecast is substantiated.

“Data received since then, and discussed in the

NAC, suggest these upside risks have materialized.”

It said the estimate released is carried out in consultations with SBP and the numbers are unani-

mously approved.

“The estimate released was approved unanimously and has the full backing of the SBP.” NEWS DESK

Dubai house prices to rise for first time in six years in 2021 BENGALURU AGENCIES

Dubai house prices will rise for the first time in six years this year, supported by a swift vaccine rollout that has lifted hopes for an overall economic recovery, according to a Reuters poll of property analysts.

The city state’s real estate sector has been weak for years due to chronic oversupply coupled with low economic growth, a problem exacerbated by the coronavirus crisis.

But on Monday the second-wealthiest emirate in the UAE eased Covid-19 restrictions and allowed hotels in the hub to operate at full capacity, raising hopes for a region heavily dependent on tourism.

Seven of 10 real estate analysts who responded to an additional question said an acceleration in Dubai housing market activity this year was more likely. The remaining three forecast a slowdown.

“We can already see improved investor confidence and a boost in demand as prices have been on the lower side for the last few years and supply has been significantly curtailed,” said Anuj Puri of ANAROCK Prop-

erty Consultants.

“The vaccination drive here also has been going well, and the economy has been gradually recovering amid government measures to spur growth.”

CMYK

The May 11-19 Reuters poll of 10 analysts forecast Dubai house prices would rise 1.1% this year and 2.8% next, marking a complete U-turn in expectations from a January survey when prices were forecast to decline 2.0% in both years.

Eight of 10 property analysts said the risks to those forecasts were skewed more to the upside.

Prime Dubai properties have been snapped up in the past few months as buyers take advantage of low prices, easy credit and an economy open for business despite the Covid-19 pandemic.

Still, eight of 10 analysts who responded to another question said a sharp turn in the economy or an increase in demand were the biggest upside risks to housing market activity this year.

Dubai’s economy was projected to grow 4.0% this year after an estimated 6.2% contraction last year, according to Dubai Statis-

tics Centre data.

Contributing about 8% to economic output, the real estate sector has shown an uptick recently, data from Dubai Land Department showed.

“The real estate market has been very buoyant since H2 2020 and continues to flourish. As more government incentives come into fruition to stimulate the economy, this will have an effect on the housing market,” said Lynnette Abad Sacchetto, director of Research & Data at Property Finder.

When asked what was the biggest downside risk to housing market activity this year, five of 10 analysts said an economic slowdown. The others said lack of demand or a lack of affordable homes.

“The only potential risk I see at the current period is that Covid-19 lingers longer than expected and further affects economic growth and tourism to the emirates,” said Simon Baker of Haus and Haus.

Monday, 24 May, 2021

10 FOREIGN NEWS

LAHORE

Congo volCAno lEAvEs smoUldErIng wrECkAgE bUt mAjor CIty sPArEd

A

AGENCIES

SMOKING trail of lava from a volcanic eruption covered hundreds of houses in eastern Congo on Sunday, leaving residents to pick gingerly through the wreckage for belongings and loved ones, though the flow halted just short of the city of Goma.

Goma was thrown into panic on Saturday evening as Mount Nyiragongo, one of the world's most active and dangerous volcanoes, erupted, turning the night sky an eerie red and sending a wall of orange lava downhill towards the lakeside city of about 2 million people.

It was not immediately clear how many people had died, or how widespread the material damage was. Haunted by memories of an eruption in 2002 that killed 250 people and left 120,000 homeless, residents fled on foot with their belongings, some towards the nearby border with Rwanda.

The International Federation of

Red Cross said that between 3,000 and 5,000 fled into Rwanda on Saturday, many of them peasants and farmers with livestock. Local authorities said five people died in a traffic accident in the rush to leave.

Saturday's eruption was caused when fractures opened in the volcano's side, causing lava flows in various directions.

ItAlIAn CAblE CAr CrAsh kIlls At lEAst 13, InjUrEs thrEE AGENCIES At least 13 people died and three were seriously injured on Sunday when a cable car linking Italy's Lake Maggiore with a nearby mountain in the Alps plunged 20 metres to the ground, local officials and rescuers said. The Stresa-Mottarone cable car takes tourists and locals from the town on Lake Maggiore, almost 1,400 metres above sea level to the top of the Mottarone mountain in 20 minutes. "We are devastated, in pain," Marcella Severino, Stresa's mayor told national broadcaster RAI, while Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi voiced his condolences to the families of the victims, "with a special thought" for the injured children. The accident happened as the cable car was travelling up the mountain, with the cabin dropping some 20 metres and rolling several times down the steep slopes before it was stopped by trees, Severino said. People hiking on the mountain heard a loud hiss just before the crash, she said, adding that it was believed to have been caused by one of the cables breaking. A call came just after midday (1000 GMT), Italy's alpine rescue service said, adding that the cable car was "crumpled" in the woods and two children had been taken by helicopter to a paediatric hospital in the nearby city of Turin. Severino told SKY television that some of the victims had been found trapped inside the car, with others thrown out into the woods.

Another injured person, an adult, had been also been taken to hospital by helicopter, she added.

Coroners had started identifying the victims, who included foreign nationals, she said, without giving further details. Luca Cari, a fire brigade spokesman, said it was still not clear how many people were in the cable car. "Our teams are still pulling bodies out," Cari added.

'HARD TO BELIEVE': The Stresa-Mottarone lift had only recently re-opened following the gradual lifting of coronavirus restrictions. The Mottarone peak is popular among tourists because of its panoramic views on Lake Maggiore and its picturesque islands as well as the vista of the surrounding Alps. The cable car service first opened in August 1970 after almost three years of works to replace a cog railway, its website said.

The dual cable system is split into two sections, just over two kilometres between Stresa and Alpino and another three kilometres between Alpino and Mottarone. It consist of two cars - in alternate directions - with each one carrying up to 40 passengers, it added. Severino said that important maintenance works, including changing the cables, had been carried out in recent years. "All of this is hard to believe," she said.

As the sun rose on Sunday a smouldering black gash about half a mile wide could be seen on the outskirts of Goma, where the lava had cooled to rubble. At some points it was three storeys high, engulfing even large buildings and sending smoke into the grey morning sky.

Residents in the Buhene district sorted through the mangled white re-

mains of tin roofs or lifted rocks - tiny individual efforts in what will likely be a months-long campaign to restore the zone. Elsewhere, groups of people posed for photos on the steaming lava.

‘I CURSE THIS DAY’: Some said they lost family members.

Ernestine Kabul, 68, said she tried to carry her sick husband from

their house as the lava approached, but he was too unwell to leave.

"I said to myself, I can't go alone, we've been married for the best and for the worst," said Kabul. "I went back to at least try to get him out but couldn't. I ran away and he got burned inside. I don't know what to do. I curse this day."

The flow towards Goma stopped

a few hundred meters from the city limits. The nearby airport was untouched. A separate lava flow that headed east over unpopulated terrain towards Rwanda also appeared to have stopped.

"Local authorities who have been monitoring the eruption overnight report that the lava flow has lost intensity," government spokesman Patrick Muyaya said on Twitter on Sunday.

Still, authorities warned that the danger was not over and that seismic activity in the area could cause further lava flows.

Lava crossed a main road out of Goma overnight, cutting it off from cities to the north. Traffic was in gridlock in most places as people tried to leave or return to assess the damage to their homes. Experts were worried that the volcanic activity observed in the past five years at Nyiragongo mirrors that in the years preceding eruptions in 1977 and 2002.

Volcanologists at the OVG, which monitors Nyiragongo, have struggled to make basic checks on a regular basis since the World Bank cut funding amid embezzlement allegations, though experts said that the timing of this eruption was impossible to predict.

"We've been extremely lucky that it was very brief," said Dario Tedesco, a volcanologist based in Goma. "From the little information we have, it was just the lava within the crater that came out, there was no additional lava from below."

Cold weather in China kills 21 in ultramarathon, sparks outrage AGENCIES Twenty-one people were killed when extremely cold weather struck during an ultramarathon in rugged Gansu province in northwestern China, sparking public outrage on Sunday over the lack of contingency planning.

The 100-km (62-mile) race began on Saturday from a scenic area at a bend in the Yellow River known for its sheer cliffs and rock columns. The route would take runners through canyons and hills on an arid plateau at an elevation of over 1,000 metres (3,300 feet).

The race kicked off 9 a.m. (0100 GMT) with runners clad in t-shirts and shorts under overcast skies, according to photographs posted on the social media account of the Yellow River Stone Forest area in Jingtai, a county under the jurisdiction of Baiyin city.

Around noon on Saturday, a mountainous section of the race was hit by hail, freezing rain and gales that caused temperatures to plummet, officials from Baiyin told a news briefing on Sunday.

"The rain was getting heavier and heavier," said Mao Shuzhi, who was about 24 km into the race at the time. Shivering in the cold, she turned back before the high-altitude section, due to previous bad experiences with hypothermia.

"At first I was a bit regretful, thinking it might

have just been a passing shower, but when I saw the strong winds and rains later through my hotel room window, I felt so lucky that I made the decision," Mao told Reuters.

A massive rescue effort was initiated, with over 1,200 rescuers dispatched, assisted by thermal-imaging drones, radar detectors and demolition equipment, according to state media.

A landslide following the severe weather also hampered the rescue work, said officials from Baiyin, about 1,000 km (620 miles) west of the Chinese capital Beijing. A total of 172 people took part in the race. By Sunday, 151 participants had been confirmed safe. A last missing runner was found dead at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, bringing the death toll to 21, state media reported. Jingtai county saw a low of 6 degrees Celsius (43 degrees Fahrenheit) on Saturday excluding wind chill.

'FOAMING AT THE MOUTH': Baiyin - including Jingtai - was expected to see moderate to strong winds from Friday night through Saturday, according to the China Meteorological Administration in Beijing late on Friday.

A separate report on the website of provincial weather services on Thursday predicted a "significant" drop in temperature in most parts of Gansu - including Baiyin - through Sunday.

"It was very hot one day before the race, and al-

though the weather forecast said there would be wind and moderate rain in Baiyin on Saturday, everybody believed it would be mild," Mao said. "It's dry in northwestern China."

The deaths sparked public outrage on Chinese social media, with anger mainly directed at the Baiyin government and unhappiness over the lack of contingency planning.

"Why didn't the government read the weather forecast and do a risk assessment?" one commentator wrote. "This is totally a manmade calamity. Even if the weather is unexpected, where were the contingency plans?"

At the news briefing, Baiyin officials bowed and apologised, saying they were saddened by the tragic deaths of the runners and that they were to be blamed.

"The wind is too strong, our thermal blankets have been torn to bits," a runner wrote in a WeChat chatroom to which Mao belonged.

Many of the runners had suffered from hypothermia and had lost their way in the strong winds and heavy rain, according to screenshots taken by Mao of the messages in the chatroom.

"A few are unconscious and are foaming at the mouth," another runner wrote. The Gansu provincial government has set up an investigation team to further look into the cause of the deaths, the People's Daily reported.

No sign yet Iran will take steps needed to remove sanctions: Blinken AGENCIES US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday said the United States has not seen yet whether Iran will move to comply with its nuclear commitments in order to have sanctions removed even as ongoing talks have shown progress. Iran's president last week said the United States was ready to lift trade sanctions, although a senior Iranian official contradicted him and European diplomats said difficult issues remained.

Indirect talks have been underway in Vienna as the Biden administration seeks a path forward with Iran, including how Tehran can resume compliance with its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

"Iran, I think, knows what it needs to do to come back into compliance on the nuclear side, and what we haven't yet seen is whether Iran is ready and willing to make a decision to do what it has to do. That's the test and we don't yet have an answer," Blinken told ABC News' "This Week With George Stephanopoulos" program.

With a fifth round of talks in coming days, Blinken said the discussions have clarified what both sides needed to do, telling CNN's "Fareed Zakaria GPS" program: "We've actually made progress."

The United States abandoned the international pact in 2018 under former Republican U.S. President Donald Trump, who reimposed sanctions on Iran's oil, banking

and shipping sectors.

Democratic President Joe Biden, who succeeded Trump in January, has said he believes Iran is seriously engaging in talks but that it remained unclear what steps Tehran would actually take to comply with the deal, which was cemented when Biden was vice president under former President Barack Obama.

If both sides can return to the original deal, Blinken told CNN on Sunday, "then we can use that as a foundation both to look at how to make the deal itself potentially longer and stronger” - and also engage on these other issues, whether it’s “Iran’s support for terrorism” ... “its destabilizing support for different proxies throughout the Middle East”.

But, he said on ABC: "The first thing that we need to do is put the nuclear problem back in the box."

‘US WAITING TO SEE IF NORTH KOREA WANTS TO ENGAGE IN DIPLOMACY’: Blinken said that the US is waiting to see if North Korea wants to engage in diplomacy over the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.

US President Joe Biden and South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Friday injected fresh urgency into attempts to engage North Korea in dialogue over its nuclear weapons, with Biden saying he would meet its leader Kim Jong Un under the right conditions. read more "We are waiting to see if Pyongyang actually wants to engage," Blinken said. "The ball is in their court."

UAE says it is ready to facilitate Israel-Palestine peace efforts AGENCIES The United Arab Emirates stands ready to facilitate peace efforts between Israel and the Palestinians, the de facto ruler of the Gulf state said in remarks carried on state media on Sunday. Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed alNahyan made the comments in a telephone call with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, whose country, with US support, brokered a ceasefire on Friday that ended the fiercest fighting in years between Israel and Hamas. The UAE, which last year normalised ties with Israel, "is ready to work with all parties to maintain the ceasefire and explore new paths to reduce escalation and achieve peace", state news agency WAM cited Sheikh Mohammed as saying.

The Crown Prince stressed however the need for "additional efforts, especially by Israeli and Palestinian leaders". Last year's normalisation deals signed by the UAE and Bahrain, followed by Sudan and Morocco, were denounced by the Palestinians as abandoning a unified position under which Arab states would make peace only under a two-state solution, negotiations for which have been deadlocked for years.

Monday, 24 May, 2021

LAHORE

MuShfiquR, MiRaZ Give BanGLadeSh 1-0 Lead deSpite haSaRanGa heROicS

SPORTS 11 Ruthless Ruud topples Shapovalov to win Geneva Open PARIS AGENCIES

WANINDU HASARANGA KEPT BANGLADESH HONEST IN THE DYING STAGES, BUT BANGLADESH’S BATSMEN HAD ENSURED THEY HAD ENOUGH RUNS TO PLAY WITH DHAKA

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AGENCIES

EHIDY Hasan took 4 for 30 to wreck Sri Lanka’s top order and set Bangladesh on track to defend their 257 for 6, which in the end, they managed easily, despite a valiant Wanindu Hasaranga innings. That they were chasing so many on a sluggish surface was down to Mushfiqur Rahim’s 87 off 84, as well as half-centuries from Mahmudullah and Tamim Iqbal. It had been a 107-run fifth-wicket stand between Rahim and Mahmudullah that raised Bangladesh from a difficult middle-overs position, and delivered them in a healthy state to the death overs.

But it was Miraz who made the most decisive plays of the match. He claimed the first wicket of Sri Lanka’s innings, getting Danushka Gunathilaka caught and bowled in the Powerplay, before coming back in the middle overs to dismiss Kusal

Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva and Ashen Bandara - all of them bowled - to leave Sri Lanka gasping at 102 for 6 in the 28th over. He was almost unhittable through the middle overs, batsmen attempting to sweep him, charge him, and play him from deep in the crease, all to little avail.

Also in good rhythm for Bangladesh was Mustafizur Rahman, who took 3 for 34 from his nine overs, relying heavily on his slower deliveries, and of course, his cutters. Mohammad Saifuddin claimed two wickets and Shakib Al Hasan took one, as they bowled Sri Lanka out in the 49th over for 224.

The Bangladesh attack also withstood Hasaranga’s late charge. He hit 74 off 60 in a scintillating innings that contained five sixes, bringing Sri Lanka within 50 runs of the target. But Saifuddin eventually had Hasaranga caught at deep square leg in the 44th over, and Rahman then had Isuru Udana (with whom Hasaranga had put on a 62-run eighth-wicket stand) caught at

Robert Lewandowski left buzzing after historic goal number 41 BERLIN

wide long on, next ball. Sri Lanka’s mild recovery was complete - Bangladesh nicely poised at 199 for 4. Mushfiqur hopes were snuffed out.

Earlier, it had been Mushfiqur and Mah- would soon perish hitting a reverse sweep mudullah’s stand that had been the backbone to short third man, and Mahmudullah of Bangladesh’s innings. They came to- would be bowled by de Silva, but Afif Hossain and Saifuddin ensured the gether when Bangladesh lost two platform that had been laid got wickets in two balls - Dhanana decent finish, which projaya de Silva trapping Tamim pelled Bangladesh beIqbal and Mohammad BANGLADESH 257 yond 250. Earlier, Iqbal Mithun in front in the FOR 6 (MUSHFIQUR 84, had produced a solid 23rd over, to leave MAHMUDULLAH 54, TAMIM 52, 52 off 72 balls.

Bangladesh at 99 for 4.

Sri Lanka never But together, the DHANANJAYA 3-45) BEAT SRI seemed to have the new pair set about bedLANKA 224 ALL OUT measure of this chase. ding in against the spinGunathilaka was out in ners, cautiously at first, (HASARANGA 74, MEHIDY the fifth over. Pathum venturing only the occaHASAN MIRAZ 4-30) BY Nissanka dragged Rahman sional boundary. The run 33 RUNS to short midwicket to leave rate had fallen to 4.13 by the the visitors two down for 41 in end of the 30th over, but eventuthe eighth over. Then Miraz mowed his ally they would pick up the pace Rahim crashing Hasaranga for four through way through a tentative top order, and it deep midwicket, before hitting de Silva aeri- never seemed likely that Sri Lanka would ally over cover to complete his half century, make a serious charge for victory, even off 52 balls. Although the Mirpur track was when Hasaranga was batting beautifully.

On the bowling front, de Silva had reslow, there was no drastic turn at this stage, and both batters soon appeared extremely turned Sri Lanka’s best figures, taking 3 comfortable against Sri Lanka’s spinners, for 45 from his 10. Udana had been expenfrequently slinking around the field to ma- sive, especially at the death, conceding 14 noeuvre the ball into gaps square of the and 10 in his last two overs, with his 10 wicket. By the end of the 42nd over, their overs costing 64.

Top four rivals set for dramatic finish to Premier League season LONDON AGENCIES

AGENCIES

An elated Robert Lewandowski could not believe his luck after he scored his 41st league goal the season in the final minute of the final game of 2020-21 season on Saturday to break a 49-year-old record held by fellow Bayern Munich great Gerd Mueller.

Lewandowski rounded Augsburg keeper Rafal Gikiewicz in the 90th minute to score league goal number 41, one more than Mueller, in their 5-2 victory. “I really have no words to describe this,” Lewandowski said.

“When you try over 90 minutes to score a goal and it is just not happening and then with the last kick of the game you score, then it feels absolutely amazing.” “I am very happy. This is certainly a highlight in my career.” Lewandowski, who is already second on the all-time scorers list in the Bundesliga, with 277 goals, behind only Mueller’s 365, had wasted more than half a dozen golden chances to score much earlier. Gikiewicz delivered a string of stunning saves to deny his countryman. But the keeper could not hold on to a low Leroy Sane shot in the 90th, allowing the striker to beat him. “It was difficult for me to remain patient,” Lewandowski said. “But I kept believing that the situation might come and I would have to be ready for it.” “You have to fight for a record. It does not come easy. I want to thank the team because they are part of this record.

It is a special moment, a historic moment.”

Liverpool, Chelsea and Leicester will stage a thrilling battle to finish in the Premier League’s top four as the English top-flight season comes to a dramatic conclusion on Sunday.

Heading into the final round of fixtures, just one point separates third placed Chelsea, fourth placed Liverpool and Leicester in fifth. With the top four guaranteed a lucrative berth in next season’s Champions League, the stakes could not be any higher. Champions Manchester City and second placed Manchester United are already certain to finish in the top four, leaving two places on offer.

Chelsea, one point above Liverpool and Leicester, will clinch third place if they win at Aston Villa. Deposed champions Liverpool can salvage a difficult, injury-plagued season by nailing down fourth place when they host Crystal Palace. To do that, Jurgen Klopp’s team, ahead of Leicester on goal difference, must match the FA Cup winners’ result against Tottenham at the King Power Stadium. Liverpool have a goal difference of +24 and Leicester are on +20, meaning a Reds victory against Palace should be enough barring a remarkable goal spree from Brendan Rodgers’ team.

Having won seven of their last nine games, Liverpool are expected to finish the job and Klopp insists the pressure

of the tense finale won’t be a problem.

“I can’t remember a season when it didn’t go to the wire because it was pretty much a final or we had to fight to the last match day for qualification for the Champions League,” Klopp said.

“Even at Dortmund it was like this, at Mainz it was to stay in the league or when we got promoted. “I am really used to stress until the last match day.”

Around 10,000 Liverpool fans will be inside Anfield after a season played almost entirely behind closed doors because of the coronavirus.

Those supporters have missed a rollercoaster campaign that saw Liverpool fall eight points adrift of fourth place in mid-March before a run of 23 points from the past 27 hauled them back into contention. “What did we do?

We found stability, created confidence again or got it back, scored goals in the right moments and conceded less, that helped as well,” Klopp said.

Chelsea seized control of their top four destiny with a crucial 2-1 win against Leicester on Tuesday.

Thomas Tuchel’s team could also qualify for the Champions League if they beat Manchester City in the final of this season’s tournament on May 29.

Tuchel, who has revived Chelsea since replacing the sacked Frank Lampard in January, has no fear of the inevitable criticism if the Blues fall out of the top four. “Honestly, it was the max-

imum target to reach the top four this season,” Tuchel said.

“But I know what you’re speaking of, and I will not hide. You don’t have to be a genius, I know what can happen if we lose. “Of course you can lose any match in football but listen, there’s a big difference between fear and danger.”

Leicester potentially face heartbreak for a second successive season after missing out last year due to a finalday defeat by Manchester United.

Although they won the FA Cup for the first time with their final triumph against Chelsea on May 15, Leicester’s defeat at Stamford Bridge three days later may prove decisive. Knowing they might need to win by a big margin against Tottenham, Rodgers said: “We’ll talk about the different situations that may arise in the game. “The key is to win the game, and get three points. There are very few games where you are going to get five or six goals in the Premier League, so win the game.” West Ham need a point at home to Southampton on Sunday to secure sixth place and a Europa League spot. Tottenham can still pip them on goal difference should they beat Leicester and the Hammers lose.

Fixtures (all 1500GMT) Arsenal v Brighton, Aston Villa v Chelsea, Fulham v Newcastle, Leeds v West Brom, Leicester v Tottenham, Liverpool v Crystal Palace, Man City v Everton, Sheffield United v Burnley, West Ham v Southampton, Wolves v Man Utd.

Third seed Casper Ruud claimed his second career title on the ATP Tour after beating Denis Shapovalov 7-6(6) 6-4 in the final of the claycourt Geneva Open on Saturday. Norwegian Ruud did not concede a single break point to the Canadian second seed to prevail in the battle of the 22-year-olds and add to the Argentina Open title he won last year. Neither player blinked in the opening set, which went with serve but Ruud almost lost his way in the tiebreak when Shapovalov fought back from 6-2 down to 6-6. However, the Norwegian kept his cool and won his fifth set point when Shapovalov directed a volley into the net. In the second set, Ruud converted his fifth break point of the match to go 3-2 up and never looked back, clinching the title when Shapovalov’s return on match point went long.

The title will see Ruud move up to 16th in the rankings and, coupled with his semi-final runs in Madrid and Monte Carlo, it bodes well ahead of the French Open later this month.

Zidane tight-lipped over Real Madrid future Media reports have speculated that the Frenchman would walk away at the end of the season without winning any trophy MADRID AGENCIES

Zinedine Zidane refused to confirm whether he will still be in charge of Real Madrid next season after the Spanish giants ended the season empty handed. Zidane’s side finished two points behind La Liga champions Atletico Madrid, with a total of 84, following Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Villarreal. They were dumped out of the Copa del Rey in the third round by minnows Alcoyano, while their Champions League challenge ended at the semi-final stage. Local media reports have speculated that the Frenchman would walk away at the end of the season, with some going as far to suggest he had already told the Real squad of his intentions - something he strenuously denied at the time. “Right now, we need to be relaxed and then when things have calmed down in the next few days then I’ll talk to the club, and that’s that, but today’s not the day,” he told a news conference. “Soon we’ll see what happens, not only with me but with everything the club is planning for next season.

You’ve (the media) have said it already - we didn’t win anything this year and we know what we have to do at this club. “The fans are the most important thing, and they have to be proud of everything the players have done, we gave our absolute everything.” Captain Sergio Ramos, who was an unused substitute in Saturday’s game, is out of contract next month and his future remains uncertain after 16 years at the club, with no agreement in place for his renewal. Fellow defender Lucas Vazquez, an injury absentee on Saturday, also looks set to leave, with his deal expiring at the end of June.

‘Man of character’ Suarez leads Atletico to La Liga as Real fall short FORWARD BEGAN THE SEASON CRYING AFTER BEING FORCED OUT OF BARCELONA BUT ENDED IT WITH HIS 21ST GOAL OF THE SEASON VALLADOLID AGENCIES

Atletico Madrid won La Liga and Luis Suarez found vindication, his goal securing the 2-1 victory over Real Valladolid on Saturday that clinched his team another remarkable Spanish title.

Suarez began the season crying after being forced out of Barcelona but ended it with his 21st goal of the season earning Atletico a first league triumph since 2014, this one at the expense of Real Madrid.

“It was hard last summer, the way that Barcelona despised me, under-appreciated me,” said Suarez.

“Atletico opened the door to give me the chance to show that I could still be a force.”

Coach Diego Simeone said of his evergreen 34-year-old striker: “Suarez is a man of character. He’s defiant, he’s a goalscorer.”

A trophy-less season for Real means more questions will be asked of coach Zinedine Zidane’s future. “I will discuss with the club in the next few days, quietly. But not now. We will see in the next few days,” said the Frenchman. Atletico knew victory would guarantee them the title regardless of what Real Madrid did at home to Villarreal but it was never comfortable, with Valladolid taking a shock early lead.

Real Madrid were behind too for most of the afternoon but Karim Benzema equalised in the 87th minute and Luka Modric even scored a late winner for 2-1 at Valdebebas, leaving Atletico hanging on at the end, as

they were suddenly one goal away from squandering it all. When the final whistle blew, the players ran onto the pitch, Suarez underneath a pile of red and white shirts, with Europe’s most nerve-wracking and unpredictable title race finally complete.

Just over a week ago, Simeone said this was the “Suarez Zone” and so it proved, the Uruguayan scoring the winner against Osasuna last week to keep the title in Atletico’s hands and then again on the last day to put their name on the trophy.

This is only the second time in 17 years that a team other than Barcelona or Real Madrid have won the title, with Atleti claiming the other one under Simeone in 2014.

Atletico went into the game having been top since December.

But they have done nothing the easy way this season, with their 10-point lead in February cut to two in May and their position at the top relying on numerous slip-ups from both Real Madrid and Barcelona.

CMYK

So it was apt that faced with beating Real Valladolid, who were 19th in the table, they still had to scrape over the line.

Suarez had a couple of early openings but any hopes for a comfortable afternoon were dashed in the 18th minute when Valladolid took the lead.

It came from an Atletico corner as Yannick Carrasco lost the ball and Valladolid broke at speed, pinging passes through midfield and finally through to Oscar Plano, the former Real Madrid youngster who pulled away and fired past Jan Oblak.

There was plenty of time left and the other consolation for Atletico was Real Madrid fell behind too, Gerard Moreno’s poked pass causing confusion at the back, with Yeremi Pino prodding Villarreal into the lead. Atletico pushed as Suarez’s effort curled wide and Felipe headed straight at Jordi Masip but they also looked for calm.

Both title contenders were trailing at half-time but Atletico came out with re-

newed vigour and a crucial few minutes fell their way. Real Madrid struck first, Benzema heading in Casemiro’s cross before Angel Correa levelled for Atletico as well, collecting on the edge of the area and firing through the legs of Jawad El Yamiq.

Atletico’s equaliser, though, was made all the more precious after Real Madrid’s was ruled out, Benzema’s left arm shown to be offside by VAR. Valladolid might have scored again but Shon Weissman headed over with the goal gaping and then Atletico took the lead, a gift of a pass-back by Sergi Guardiola allowing Suarez to skip clear.

Suarez slid the ball past Masip before ending up under a pile of Atletico teammates. Real Madrid equalised in the 87th minute, Benzema curving a delightful finish into the top corner and it was still not over, Modric scoring again to leave Atletico with some nail-biting final moments.

They got over the line.

Monday, 24 May, 2021

PrAyEr TimiNgS

NEWS

ScoreS oF ISraelI SettlerS Force theIr Way Into al-aqSa MoSque coMplex JERUSALEM

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AgENciES

COReS of Israeli settlers forced their way into the flashpoint AlAqsa Mosque compound in occupied east Jerusalem on Sunday, according to a Palestinian agency.

In a statement, the Jordan-run Islamic Waqf Department, which oversees the holy sites in Jerusalem, said 127 settlers entered the complex under police protection for the first time in three weeks.

According to eyewitnesses, Israeli police barred Palestinian youths from entering the site since dawn and imposed restrictions on the entry of worshippers into the complex.

Six people, including four mosque guards, were detained by Israeli police, the Islamic Waqf Department said.

The department earlier said that 50 Israeli settlers had stormed the site.

Meanwhile, the head of the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism Party, Moshe Gafni, called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to keep the flashpoint compound closed to Jewish visitors, according to the KAN channel.

Separately, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry on Sunday warned that Israeli

settler incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied east Jerusalem risk undermining efforts to maintain a ceasefire between Palestinians and Israel and revive the peace process.

The continued settler incursion “amount to a disregard of efforts aimed at stabilizing the calm and reviving the peace process,” a ministry statement said.

The ministry condemned “the Israeli restrictions and siege on the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in east Jerusalem and the repression of its residents,” warning that the Israeli violations jeopardize the ceasefire and revival of the peace process.

Tension escalated across the Palestinian territories since last month over an Israeli court verdict to evict Palestinian families from their homes in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in Jerusalem in favor of settlement groups. The situation flared up after Israeli forces raided the Al-Aqsa Mosque and assaulted worshippers inside.

The tension spread to the Gaza Strip, with Israel launching airstrikes that killed at least 248 Palestinians, including 66 children and 39 women, and injured more than 1,900 others. Health authorities in the West Bank have separately confirmed 31 were killed in the occupied territory, totaling 279 across all Palestinian territories.

12 Israelis were also killed in Palestin-

ian rocket fire from the Gaza Strip. The fighting, the fiercest in years, came to a halt on Friday under an egyptian-brokered cease-fire.

Al-Aqsa Mosque is the world’s thirdholiest site for Muslims. Jews call the area the “Temple Mount,” saying it was the site of two Jewish temples in ancient times.

Since 2003, Israel has allowed settlers into the compound almost on a daily basis.

Israel occupied east Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa Mosque is located, during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. It annexed the entire city in 1980 in a move never recognized by the international community.

PALESTINE URGES US INTERVENTION TO STOP ISRAELI PROVOCATIONS: The Palestinian Authority on Sunday called on the US administration to intervene to stop Israeli provocations in occupied east Jerusalem.

In statements cited by the official Wafa news agency, PA spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh said, “Israeli support to extremist settlers amount to a blatant disregard of Arab and international efforts to stop the [Israeli] aggression.”

He warned that “Israeli restrictions and siege on the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in Jerusalem and the continued raids of the AlAqsa Mosque compound could drag the situation back into escalation and tensions.”

Abu Rudeineh held Israel responsible for sabotaging US and egyptian efforts “to stabilize the cease-fire and prepare for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip”.

ISRAELI ARMY ARRESTS 23 PALESTINIANS IN WEST BANK RAIDS: Israeli army forces rounded up 23 Palestinians in overnight raids across the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Prisoner Society said on Sunday.

The NGO, however, did not give details about the accusations leveled against the detainees.

There has been no comment from the Israeli military on the report.

The NGO said last week that more than 1,800 Palestinians have been arrested

by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank and Arab towns inside Israel since mid-April.

Meanwhile, the Prisoner Society said two Palestinian detainees maintained their hunger strike for the 19th consecutive day in protest of their prison conditions and administrative detention, a policy that allows Israeli authorities to hold Palestinians without charge or trial.

Around 4,400 Palestinians are estimated to be held in Israeli prisons, including 39 women, 115 children and 350 administrative detainees, according to Palestinian rights groups.

India battles fatal fungal threat as virus deaths near 300,000 Doctors in India are fighting a fatal fungal infection affecting Covid-19 patients or those who have recovered from the disease amid a coronavirus surge that has driven the country’s fatalities to nearly 300,000.

The life-threatening condition, known as mucormycosis, is relatively rare but doctors suspect that the sudden increase in the infection could further complicate India’s fight against the pandemic.

India has reported more than 26 million confirmed cases of the coronavirus since the pandemic began, with almost half occurring in the past two months. On Sunday, the Health Ministry reported 3,741 new deaths, driving India’s confirmed fatalities to 299,266.

It also reported 240,842 new infections, as daily cases remained below 300,000 for a week. The numbers are almost certainly undercounted, with many cases likely being missed due to limited testing.

experts say new infections in India, which had been rising steeply, may finally be slowing. But there are some early indications that mucormycosis, also known as “black fungus,” is fast becoming a cause of worry.

Mucormycosis is caused by exposure to mucor mold, which is commonly found in soil, air and even in the nose and mucus of humans. It spreads through the respiratory tract and erodes facial structures. Sometimes, doctors have to surgically remove the eye to stop the infection from reaching the brain.

On Saturday, federal minister Sadananda Gowda said nearly 9,000 cases had been reported in India so far, leading to a shortage of Amphotericin B, the drug used to treat the condition. Gowda didn’t share the number of fatalities, but local media have said more than 250 have died because of the disease.

Health officials were working to alleviate the drug

shortage, which comes at a time when the country is already short on supplies of oxygen and other health care needs, Gowda said. Mucormycosis has a high mortality rate and was already present in India before the pandemic.

It is not contagious but its frequency in the last month has left doctors shocked.

“It is a new challenge and things are looking bleak,” said Ambrish Mithal, the chairman and head of the endocrinology and diabetes department at Max Healthcare, a chain of private hospitals in India.

Mithal said the fungal infection preys on patients with weakened immune systems and underlying conditions, particularly diabetes, and irrational usage of steroids. Uncontrolled blood sugar can put immunocompromised people at a higher risk of contracting the disease. “earlier I used to come across just a few cases every year but the current infection rate is frightening,” said Mithal. AgENciES

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WB calls for spreading gains from global trade widely Global trade has contributed to growth and poverty reduction in the past three decades, but gains from trade can be more inclusive, the World Bank said. Spreading the benefits of trade more widely, within and between countries, can play a key role as the world seeks to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, which has reversed years of poverty reduction. “There is no question that the rise in trade over the past 30 years has helped dramatically reduce global poverty, but the benefits were not shared equally,” said Mari Pangestu, World Bank Managing Director of Development Policy and Partnerships. “Trade plays a vital role in pandemic response, ensuring food and medicine can cross borders freely and vaccines are distributed where they are needed.

Better policies are needed to make trade more inclusive, as we work to build back better and set a path toward green, resilient and inclusive development.” Policy-makers in developing countries can use the new findings, data, and approaches in the report to better understand the distributional effects of trade, monitor the implementation of policies to address them, and coordinate responses across governments. The rapid increase in global trade has been a key engine of growth and poverty reduction in developing countries. From 1990 to 2017, global poverty fell from 36 percent to 9 percent as developing countries increased their share of global exports from 16 percent to 30 percent.

Many countries have used trade to create jobs, boost exports, reduce poverty and increase shared prosperity. NEWS DESK

Global corporate rating stabilisation continues: Fitch The increasing pace of non-financial corporate rating outlook stabilisations and reversals of negative rating actions in Fitch Ratings' global portfolio should persist over the near term, as vaccinations continue and mobility restrictions ease in certain parts of the world, said Fitch Ratings. However, the share of Fitch's global corporate portfolio with a Negative Outlook or Rating Watch remains elevated and regional differences exist due to the timing of the pandemic's spread, sector composition and a gap in economic recovery prospects around the world. According to the rating agency, divergent recovery prospects among countries and companies will be evident in future corporate rating actions over the remainder of 2021. NE WS D ESK

Analysis: Fundamentalist Jewish terror in Palestine dates back more than a century ISTANBUL ANADolu AgENcy

Violence against civilians in Palestine has been continuing uninterruptedly for over a century. The problem of violence that Palestinians have faced for so long is also unique in this regard. There are few other examples in the world that compare to Israel’s violence against Palestinians; in fact, it is one of the few that has lasted more than a century. On a global and regional scale, world politics has changed dramatically in the last century; great wars have occurred; regimes and country borders have shifted; technology has advanced; the space age has begun; but Israeli violence against Palestinians has remained unchanged. The persecution of the Palestinians began way before the state of Israel was established. Conflicts arose early in the process between local Palestinians and Jews who had immigrated to these lands, and after the state of Israel was established, a pattern of disproportionate bloody violence against a community, perpetrated by a state with all its might, began to emerge.

DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGE: While the proportion of Jews in Palestine was 10% immediately after the First World War, the region’s demography changed in a very organized manner in a short period of time.

Jewish immigration to Palestine had already picked up speed before the First World War, as early as the 1880s. For Jews, immigration to Palestine also has a very strongly religious aspect. These waves of migration are known as “Aliyah”, which means “to rise up”. The First Aliyah lasted from 1882 to1903, the Second Aliyah from 1904 to1914, the Third Aliyah from 1919 to 1923, the Fourth Aliyah from 1924 to 1928, and the Fifth Aliyah from 1929 to 1939. Tens of thousands of Jews migrated to these lands during these periods. Between 1948 and 1951, Jewish immigration to Palestine was at an all-time high following the Second World War. 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