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Thursday, 27 January, 2022 I 23 Jamadi-al-Sani, 1443 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XII No 209 I 12 Pages I Lahore Edition

Top civil, miliTary huddle finalises pm’s china plan

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RIMe Minister Imran Khan Wednesday chaired an important meeting with top civilian and military officials in attendance to finalise the agenda for the upcoming crucial visit to China.

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar and Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry attended the meeting. Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa and chiefs of intelligence agencies also attended.

This would be the fourth visit of Prime Minister Khan to China which is significant in wake of regional and global developments taking place.

PM Khan is likely to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. On the sidelines of the Beijing Olympics, the prime minister will meet the top Chinese leadership, where the focus would be on reviewing the progress on CPeC and other key regional and international issues.

He is also likely to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing. While the re-

lationship between US and Pakistan witnessed a slide in the recent past, especially Prime Minister Khan’s decision to skip the US Summit on Democracy, the ties with China need a new push. experts believe that new projects related to China, Pakistan economic Corridor (CPeC) are likely to be announced during Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to Beijing including the long-awaited ML-I. The project is pending for a year due to identification of funding sources and differences over the project cost.

Pakistan has been awaiting a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping since the pandemic broke out. Prime Minister Khan’s visit may be an appropriate occasion to announce the pending projects.

Khan’s visit to Beijing to attend the Winter Olympics in Beijing also carries huge political costs as it may further deteriorate Khan’s relationship with the US leadership. Almost all western leaders have observed an unannounced boycott of the Beijing Olympics.

Pakistan’s civil and military leadership has made strides in the past few months to allay the concerns of the Chinese

leadership about security issues to the Chinese workers in Pakistan.

Following the terrorist attack in July last year at Dasu Hydroelectric Power project that left 10 Chinese workers dead, the Chinese side made it clear that security of Chinese nationals and its interests was paramount for any progress on CPeC and other Chinese projects.

In order to address concerns of China, Pakistan has not only revisited some of the security protocols for the Chinese projects but also approved $11.6 million for the victims of Dasu terrorist attack.

The announcement of compensation and other measures, officials feel, would help address concerns of China. Hence, the official sources said, the visit of Imran Khan would further define the foreign policy priorities of Pakistan.

During the meeting, professional matters pertaining to the Pakistan Army was discussed, the Prime Minister’s Office said on its official Twitter account.

The visit would be followed up by two major events. Pakistan is going to host international delegates at its National Day on March 23.

A high profile military parade would be a part of the National Day celebrations where China’s J-10C aircraft would also feature. The premier also held a separate meeting with the army chief and the DG-ISI. Official sources opine that Prime Minister Imran may tell the Chinese leadership that Pakistan considered CPeC central to its economic growth and prosperity and hence all efforts would be made to expedite the progress.

The sources said that Pakistan has already announced that its economic future is linked to China and Beijing would have to take appropriate measures to help Pakistan make progress in the right direction.

An official handout said the participants were briefed about the agenda of the upcoming visit that covers further collaboration with China in fields of investment, trade, exports and information technology.

Former DG NAB Musaddiq Abbasi replaces Shahzad Akbar as accountability adviser The government has appointed the ex director-general of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Brigadier (Retd) Musaddiq Abbasi as the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Accountability on Wednesday.

According to a notification issued in this regard, Abbasi will replace former adviser Mirza Shahzad Akbar who resigned from the post on January 24.

“I have tendered my resignation today to PM as Adviser. I sincerely hope the process of accountability continues under [the] leadership of PM IK as per PTI’s manifesto. I will remain associated with the party [and] keep contribut-

ing as a member of the legal fraternity,” Akbar wrote on Twitter.

On January 26, President Arif Alvi accepted the resignation of Akbar. It is pertinent to note that a former deputy prosecutor for the NAB, Akbar was appointed as the special assistant to the prime minister on accountability in August 2018.

Later, in December 2019, he was also given an additional portfolio of adviser to the prime minister on interior affairs.

In July 2020, the barrister was promoted as the adviser to the prime minister on accountability and interior with the status of a federal minister. news desk

more inside

No decline in prices for next three months: Shaukat Tarin STORY ON BACK PAGE

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Imran says government dIgItIsIng servIces to enhance transparency IslamabaD

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HE government was rolling out an ambitious plan to go digital in order to ensure transparency and collection of authentic data, Prime Minister Imran Khan said, as ministries remain stuck in a paper-driven culture that experts say is hurting productivity.

While Pakistan has made digital transformation its main policy plank, the switch may not prove so easy as bureaucrats from different ministries still are not able to hold teleconferences together and little of their administrative work can be done online.

Analysts say the lack of government digitalisation could reduce the incentive for the private sector to go digital in a blow to Pakistan’s efforts to boost productivity.

The prime minister, in his message on International Customs Day annually observed on Wednesday, felicitated Pakistan Customs on its contribution in trade facilitation, revenue collection and safeguarding the nation’s borders against smuggling and illicit trafficking.

“It is a matter of satisfaction to note Pakistan Customs was able to generate useful data regarding trade transactions which is not only being utilised by Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) in revenue analysis and audits but also by many other government organisations for policymaking,” he said.

The launch of the track and trace system

by FBR will digitise the economy and boost additional revenues.

The prime minister said the 2022 International Customs Day theme “Scaling up Customs Digital Transformation by embracing a Data Culture and Building a

yasmin contracts covid-19 for second time in a month lahORE StAff RePoRt

Punjab Minister for Health Dr Yasmin Rashid contracted Covid-19 for a second time, her spokesperson said Wednesday. She first tested positive for the disease on January 4. The spokesperson said the minister was selfisolating, while Rashid confirmed she was in good health and would keep working in isolation until she recovered. As the Omicron variant spreads, Pakistan is seeing a jump in infections, with some of the steepest rises coming in cities home to beach resorts such as Karachi. National Assembly Opposition Leader Shahbaz Sharif and Minister for Finance Shaukat Tarin also contracted the disease last week. Sharif, too, had tested positive for a second time. These infections come in sharp contrast to studies insisting that people who have had Covid-19 are highly unlikely to contract it again for at least six months after their first infection. Isolated cases of re-infection with coronavirus, the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, have raised concerns that immunity might be short-lived and that recovered patients may swiftly fall sick again.

regulator tightens social curbs at airports kaRaChI StAff RePoRt

The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) imposed additional restrictions at the airports nationwide to combat the latest wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

The curbs have been placed to save the crew and airport staff from contracting the Omicron variant of the disease. The regulator made the wearing of facemasks mandatory for the passengers and visitors. It issued the communiqué to airports across the country.

Data Ecosystem” emphasised the need for Pakistan Customs to further strengthen and develop data analytics.

It will enable the government to effectively manage and process the trade and seizures data to upgrade Risk Management System (RMS) for better trade facilitation and strict enforcement, he added.

Khan said his government achieved record tax collection which was possible by employing e-filing for ease of tax-payers.

Moreover, through the policy of ease-ofdoing-business, the government was facilitating investors through one window by utilizing online portals. It is, therefore, imperative to adopt digital technologies for the benefit and welfare of people, he added.

“I hope that in this financial year Pakistan Customs will keep on performing with greater zeal, utmost professionalism, and integrity in supporting government’s vision of a prosperous Pakistan.”

Dismay after Kashmir leopard shot, dies from injuries NEws DEsk Calls to protect critically endangered wildlife have increased after a leopard died from injuries sustained when it was shot on the banks of a river in Azad Kashmir, Guardian reported.

The injured female leopard was found by locals over the weekend and transported to Islamabad for treatment, but did not survive.

An X-ray revealed that it had been hit by six pellets from a 12-bore shotgun.

The police said a suspect had been arrested and a case registered against

him, and that they had recovered a shotgun. The suspect has been released on bail. Rina Saeed Khan, the chair of Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB), said one bullet had lodged in the middle of the leopard’s vertebral column, paralysing it.

“Our vets have informed us that the leopard was a mother and the cubs should be around where the leopard was shot,” Khan said.

“We have seen people shooting leopards in AJK [Azad Jammu and Kashmir] for quite some time. Across the country, wildlife is diminishing. We

have to save our wildlife.”

In 2020, Prime Minister Imran Khan ordered the establishment of 12 national parks and announced plans to preserve and protect wildlife and plantations.

In October last, the prime minister ordered a leopard preservation zone with a roughly 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) radius be set up at Margalla Hills in an effort to protect the endangered species’ natural habitat.

But hunting of endangered animals — including leopards — has persisted.

Khan, the IWMB chair, said people hunted leopards for two reasons: to sell

their fur or to protect livestock.

She said the government should make sure people were properly compensated for dead livestock in order to deter them from shooting big cats.

Villagers are increasingly coming into contact with leopards due to deforestation to make way for homes where once there were jungles, she added. Imran Khan championed the protection of wildlife on the campaign trail, and in opposition criticised the government for allowing royals from the Middle East to hunt endangered Houbara bustards.

GSMA urges govt to reverse increase in withholding tax Ghulam abbas As the government has increased the withholding tax on the telecom sector through the mini-budget, the GSMA has asked the government to reverse the recent tax enhancements on mobile services.

“We invite the Government of Pakistan to consider the removal of this increase in the withholding tax from the Mini Budget,’ said GSMA through a letter sent to Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin.

As per the letter the telecommunication sector was a key enabler for social and economic growth and Pakistan’s mobile market has significant potential, but current levels

of mobile internet adoption, smartphone take-up and usage of digital services lag behind those of other countries in the region.

“By 2023, it is projected that the economic contribution of the mobile industry in Pakistan could reach $24 billion, accounting for 6.6 per cent of GDP,” it added, “However, we wish to express our deepest concern regarding the reversal of the tax reforms in the 2021-22 Finance Bill by increasing WHT from 10 percent to 15 percent in the mini budget that has been approved by the cabinet.”

The GSMA has said that the regressive tax creates a barrier to access mobile services and affects the poorest

the most as it will be more difficult for them to claim these payments as an advance tax. This increase in sectorspecific tax will stifle adoption and innovation, which fetters sustainable industry growth and the net economic benefits to the country.

At the same time the GSMA has commended Pakistan’s tax reform measures that were approved in the Federal budget of 2021-22.

The Government had announced to reduce withholding tax (WHT) from 12.5 per cent to 10 per cent in the federal budget 2021-22 and it was announced that it would be further reduced to 8 per cent in the next financial year.

The GSMA has said that removing this withholding tax would promote

accessibility to connectivity to the lowincome group.

It said that Pakistan has the widest gender gap of 34 per cent in mobile ownership and 43 per cent for mobile internet use as compared to the regional countries.

Sector-specific taxes, such as those on smartphones and data usage, influence retail prices and may have a strong impact on the poorest consumers especially women, lessening their ability to become mobile broadband subscribers.

GSMA has said that connectivity has never been more important as the pandemic has highlighted its need and will continue to be even more essential moving forward.

India mother-ship of terrorism in South Asia: Pakistan tells UN uNITED NaTIONs APP

Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations Munir Akram said India killed at least 96,000 civilians in occupied Kashmiri since 1989 with 900,000 troops deployed in the mountainous valley since August 5, 2019, branding New Delhi a “mother-ship of terrorism”.

The ambassador also called the world body’s attention to the fact that radical Hindutva ideology associated with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is openly calling for the genocide of Muslims in India.

“Since August 5, 2019, 900,000 Indian troops have been stationed in occupied Kashmir in every city, town, village and neighbourhood to impose what Indian leaders have themselves called a Final Solution for Jammu and Kashmir,” said the ambassador while addressing a Security Council meeting on the topic of “Protection of civilians in armed conflict: War in cities

— protection of civilians in urban settings”.

The Final Solution, or the Final Solution to the Jewish Question, was a Nazi plan for the genocide of Jews during World War II. “They have resorted to cordon and operations, fake encounters to extrajudicially kill innocent Kashmiris youth, imposed collective punishment to destroy and burn the Kashmiri neighbourhood, urban centres and villages, used live ammunition against peaceful protesters, including pellet guns which have blinded hundreds of Kashmiri children, arbitrarily detained 13,000 young Kashmiri boys, many of whom have been tortured and who are in the process of changing the demography of the occupied Kashmir from a Muslim majority state to a Hindu majority territory.”

Akram said Pakistan has released a comprehensive and well-researched dossier last year, troubling accounts, corroborated by audio and video evidence of 3,432 cases of war crimes perpetrated by senior officers of the Indian occupation forces since 1989.

The ambassador said Islamabad called upon the Security Council to take cognisance of the compelling evidence of these crimes and to hold accountable those Indian officials and personnel responsible for such crimes and grave breaches of international humanitarian law.

“India is not a victim of terrorism. It is the mothership of terrorism in South Asia. It is Pakistan which has suffered from terrorism in operations that have been conducted since 2014,” he asserted.

“We have cleared our territories of terrorist groups. Our major challenge has been the continued terrorist attacks, financed, sponsored and supported by our neighbour India, including from the territory of Afghanistan. With the active support of the Indian intelligence agencies, the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Jamaat ul-Ahrar (JuA) terrorist groups have been involved in over 1,000 cross-border terrorist attacks against Pakistan Army and civilian targets in 2020 alone.”

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pakIstan rangers, IndIa’s BsF exchange sweets at wagah Border

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Pakistan reaffirms solidarity with the people of IIOJK on ‘Black Day’ Pakistan observed ‘black day’ on Wednesday on the occasion of India’s Republic Day by reaffirming solidarity with the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

“Today, when the Kashmiris in IIOJK and around the world mark 26 January as a black day against India’s oppression, the government and people of Pakistan reaffirm their unshakable resolve to continue to raise their voice and extend all possible support for the right to self-determination of the people of IIOJK,” the Foreign Office spokesperson said in a statement.

The spokesperson lamented that Indian forces, in the past few days, had intensified the military siege in

place in the occupied territory for more than seven decades.

The remarks came in response to media queries regarding Kashmiris observing India’s Republic Day as ‘Black Day’.

He further observed that coercing innocent Kashmiris to hoist Indian flags on Republic Day was “typical of India’s high-handedness to project a false sense of normalcy and a hopeless attempt at masking its systematic and widespread oppression.”

“The Indian government’s decision to award socalled gallantry awards to the personnel of its occupation forces is yet another affront to the dignity of the countless victims of India’s state-terrorism characterised by gross human rights violations, extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, suspension of

fundamental freedoms, rape, and the use of draconian laws such as Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Public Safety Act with complete impunity,” the statement read.

The spokesperson highlighted that Pakistan had on numerous occasions presented evidence of crimes against humanity being perpetrated by the Indian forces in IIOJK to the UN and the international community.

“The international community must hold India to account for its oppression, and play its due role in enabling the Kashmiris to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination as pledged to them under the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, without any further delay,” the communique concluded.

FBR chairman lauds Pakistan Customs for curtailing cross-border trade of contraband goods shahzaD PaRaCha Chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Dr. Muhammad Ashfaq Ahmed has said that Pakistan Customs is serving as the guardian of Pakistan’s borders against the movement of contraband goods as well as a major revenue contributing agency.

The Chairman FBR in his address extended heartfelt felicitations to the customs fraternity on international customs day January 26, 2022. The theme of this year was to scale up customs digital transformation by embracing a data culture and building a data Ecosystem.

While mentioning about the landmark initiative “Pakistan Single

Window”, Chairman FBR stated that after completion, this project would integrate 74 plus government entities and port communities into a single platform which would be a gigantic step towards import and export facilitation and a game changer for trade facilitation in the region.

For further facilitation of ever increasing volume of international trade, the Compliance Risk Management (CRM) Regime has also been strengthened.

The CRM regime is the management of compliant and non-complaint traders based on risk evaluation criteria adding that it has been successfully implemented across Pakistan and covers all types of air, land and sea borne cargoes.

Its effective implementation has enabled Pakistan customs to raise the ratio of low risk cargo through green channels this year from 44 per cent to 54per cent in imports and from 75per cent to 85per cent in exports.

Chairman FBR said that Pakistan customs is handling legitimate annual trade worth more than US$ 80 billion.

During the financial year 2020-21, Pakistan customs has shown growth of 20 per cent in collection of customs duty, besides, collecting 45 per cent of the total revenue collected by FBR under the head of all duties and taxes at import stage.

Pakistan Customs being the lead anti-smuggling agency is working proactively to curtail smuggling besides fulfilling its international obligations to

stop the movement of illicit goods.

Recently adopted counter-smuggling governance model is an excellent example of interagency cooperation which has yielded positive results, thereby boosting government revenue on import stage and local industrialization.

While concluding his speech, Chairman FBR hoped that Pakistan customs would continue its efforts to follow the guidelines of WCO to bring advanced technologies to integrate and secure its operations while facilitating all stakeholders.

The Chairman also said that FBR has given Rs160 billion refunds which is unprecedented and will give more refunds to the business community in coming months.

Punjab govt to appeal in SC for restoration of RUDA shahab OmER The Supreme Court of Pakistan has dismissed appeals against the interim order to restore the Ravi Urban Development Authority (RUDA) and said that the Lahore High Court (LHC) has given a final verdict in this regard, however, the Punjab government can challenge the decision of the LHC if it wants.

According to details, the apex court, while dealing with the appeals of the Punjab government against the interim order of the LHC regarding suspension of RUDA said that the interim order has been incorporated in the final decision under the law and since the final decision, appeals against the interim order have become ineffective.

During the hearing, RUDA’s lawyer requested the court for two weeks to review the LHC’s order on which Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan remarked that the LHC had given its verdict and there was no point in hanging the appeals.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Punjab government had challenged the

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security forces kill terrorist in north waziristan IBo NEws DEsk Security forces on Wednesday conducted an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the Spinwam area of North Waziristan district and killed a terrorist named Saddam. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the terrorist, who was an expert in planting improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and involved in terrorist activities against the law enforcement agencies, target killings, and kidnapping for ransom. Earlier on January 18, two terrorists were killed in an exchange of fire during an IBO in the Thal area of the district. “Security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation on the reported presence of terrorists,” the ISPR had said in a statement. “During intense exchange of fire, two terrorists, Ghayoor and Bahauddin got killed,” it had added. “A large number of weapons and ammunition was also recovered from the terrorists.”

N a goodwill gesture, Pakistan Rangers exchanged sweets with India’s Border Security Force (BSF) on the occasion of 73rd Indian Republic Day. It is a tradition of the Indian and Pakistani forces to exchange sweets on days of national importance for the two countries.

According to reports, exchange of sweets is also undertaken by the two sides during festivals like Diwali and Eid, Republic Day, Independence Day, BSF Raising Day on December 1 and Pakistan’s Independence Day on August 14.

Earlier on January 1, Pakistan and India had exchanged sweets at various places along the Line of Control (LoC) at the beginning of the New Year and wished each other a “Happy New Year”.

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interim order of the LHC which had stopped RUDA from working. However, the LHC on yesterday declared the Ravi Urban Development Project unconstitutional.

On the other hand, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) RUDA, Imran Amin informed this scribe that the Punjab government would appeal against the decision.

“Our legal team has briefed the Prime Minister in this regard. The court has raised objections to the Land Acquisition Act and this act is not part of the authority but part of the constitution. However, the objections raised by the apex court against this law will be settled by the Punjab government in a legal manner.

The court did not say in its decision that the land acquisition that we had done was completely null and wide. However, the court did say that the procedure for notification of sections 4 and 5 of the law was not correct. However, we have not yet received a detailed judgment in this case,” CEO said.

The CEO further informed that the land acquisition authority is the Punjab

Board of Revenue and any government agency that needs to acquire land has to contact that agency.

“Under this project, RS 3.75 billion has been spent on land acquisition so far.

However, an area of 3,200 acres of river bed has been acquired. We had to start work on generalization and water barrages in this area. Similarly, the land acquired outside the riverbed covered an area of about 1,200 acres. Moreover, we were given an area of 102,000 acres which we had to manage and develop.

We even had to collect property taxes in this area because the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) could not manage it,” Amin added.

When the CEO was asked why the authority did not prepare the master plan of the project, he replied that it was not so but the master plan of the project was made from 2016.

When asked if the land was really bought from the farmers at cheap rates, he replied that whenever the government has to acquire the land for any project, it is bought at DC rates.

“Here also DC rates were offered

for lands. What happens now is that in order to access the DC rate, we look at three-year land registries and the DC rate is calculated according to the value of the land in them. In our country, people underestimate the value of land in registries to avoid taxes. However, when the land for this project has been acquired at DC rates, people have started demanding to sell it at market rates. However, we still negotiated with the farmers and listened to their objections. We have created a compensation package for the farmers to give them the file of plots along with cash. 40 to 50 per cent of the people have given us their lands whereas the land acquired in River Beds was not agricultural and SMBR (Senior Member Board of Revenue) paid from RS 200,000 to RS 350,000 per acre and also gave a plot file of seven marlas to the seller,” he said.

The CEO further informed that the apex court has ordered to repay the loan of RS 5 billion to Punjab government and the authority will appeal against this decision.

no mention of financial irregularity in transparency International’s report: Fawad IslamabaD INP

Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Wednesday said that Pakistan’s ranking on the corruption perception index (CPI) released by the Transparency International dropped owing to a decline in rule of law category. Taking to Twitter, Fawad said that at the time when the World Bank is confirming Pakistan’s growth rate at 5.37 percent, a report whose data sources are vague has made headlines.

“Transparency International has highlighted a decline in rule of law in the country, however, no one knows what is the basis of their assessment,” he said and added that the report has not mentioned any financial irregularities. He said that without reading the report, even the corrupt opposition dared to criticise the government.

What a time has come that PML-N and Fazlur Rehman are declaring the Imran Khan-led government as corrupt, the minister added. It is pertinent to mention here that Transparency International had shared a report of the global corruption perception index (CPI 2021), showing that corrupt practices have witnessed an increase in the past year with Pakistan losing three points and 16 ranks in the list.

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corporate corner gSv and neD launch Pakistan's first iconic football stadium KARACHI: Global Soccer Ventures (GSV) and NED University of Engineering & Technology (NED) held the ground-breaking ceremony of the iconic landmark stadium at NED University on Wednesday. This marks the beginning of construction work on building the first stadium of the 10-year agreement to create the first soccer city stadium in Pakistan. The state of the art stadium, to be built on the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) standard, is influenced and designed

by German engineering to develop a series of football infrastructure projects in Pakistan by GSV to make the city of light a soccer city. This world-class football facility will feature an international standard academy to promote football in Pakistan. The graceful ceremony was held at the stadium site, attended by International football legend and official Ambassador of GSV Michael Owen, NED ViceChancellor Dr. Sarosh Hashmat Lodhi, top management of GSV and students of NED. Owen also interacted with the university students and passed on helpful football tips.

Speaking on occasion, Michael Owen said, "Pakistan is the perfect destination for football, and the passion of the young Pakistani footballers has no bounds. I am thrilled to be a part of Pakistan's historic football transformation program, as I look forward to taking football to a whole new level." NED Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Sarosh Hashmat Lodhi, said, "Building this state of the art stadium in the University is a great pleasure. This will let the students and football players of the city explore the much-awaited opportunities. International interest in grooming our young talent is a great opportunity for our youth. We are delighted to have international star Michael Owen be a part of this life-changing vision. We hope this stadium will be making international football stars." Yasir Mahmood Group Chairman of GSV, said, "This 10-year agreement with the top University of Pakistan follows the vision of the government to empower youth and ensure their progress.

GSV will materialize the dreams of youth by providing them with the opportunity to make their mark globally."

Zabe Khan, CEO of GSV, said, "GSV aims to identify and develop players from the grass-roots while they continue their education. They will enhance their skills by being trained by top football coaches. Pr

nBP continues to support FIa's inquiry related to hascol KARACHI: “As has been reported in the press, FIA is conducting an inquiry on Hascol Petroleum’s banking arrangements with NBP as well as several private and other public sector banks. NBP has been and continues to cooperate fully with the FIA on this investigation and make available all relevant records and transactional history including arranging meetings with its employees who have managed the Hascol relationship with NBP. NBP’s own stance on the Hascol event has been documented in a submission made to the SBP in December 2021 and subsequently provided to the FIA. The fundamental challenges identified by NBP, stemmed from a material negative re-statement of the company’s financial records with acknowledgement of fraud by Hascol management at that time. Credit decisions made by banks were based on a set of audited financials which were different and as the fraud unfolded, two of the company’s auditor’s resigned citing financial irregularities within Hascol. While all the OMCs incurred losses during the Covid crisis due to a rapid decline in demand, fall in oil prices and the Rupee’s devaluation, Hascol’s issues were exacerbated by its financial fragility due to high leverage and over-valued assets.

NBP continues to support the FIA inquiry to its rightful conclusion in consultation with its Board and primary regulator, the SBP.” Pr

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JahangIr Tareen neITher leFT PTI nOr ParT OF anTI-gOvT caMPaIgn: PunJaB gOvernOr MULTAN

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OvERNOR Punjab Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar has said Jahangir Tareen hasn’t left PTI nor his part of any anti-government campaign.

Addressing a conference at Circuit House Multan after the inauguration of more than 20 projects of Punjab Aab-e-Pak Authority worth Rs 60 million, Governor Sarwar said that nobody can or will oust Prime Minister.

He said that the government will complete its constitutional term.

Provincial Minister for Energy Akhtar Malik, Chairman Punjab Aabe-Pak Authority Dr. Shakeel Ahmed, PTI MPA Javaid Akhtar Ansari and others were also present.

Chaudhry Sarwar said that the first phase of local government elections

will begin formally from May 15th as promised. Some people within the party may differ in their views but under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan they are all on the same page, he added.

Responding to the questions of journalists during the conference, Sarwar said that they have been listening to the long march of the opposition parties for a long time but the opposition parties are not on one page, so there is no danger to the government from any protest or march of the opposition.

Governor Punjab said that the incumbent government does not want to clash with the opposition on any issues but we have always invited the opposition to negotiate on national issues but the opposition is not ready to talk to the government.

Opposition parties are asked to talk to the government on national is-

sues, instead of engaging in politics of confrontation and anarchy as all political parties have a responsibility to play their part in the development and prosperity of Pakistan, he added.

In response to the question of making South Punjab a separate province, Chaudhry Sarwar said that from day one, he has been in favor of making South Punjab a separate province.

“Even today I think that South Punjab should be a separate province.

I want to make South Punjab a separate province but everyone knows that legislation is needed in the parliament to make South Punjab a separate province. The opposition is not ready to go along with the government on this issue,” he added.

He said that as far as Jahangir Khan Tareen is concerned, he is still a part of Tehreek-e-Insaf. Despite his differences, he did not become part of

any campaign against the government.

He said that more than 300 projects of water of Aab-e-Pak Authority are being completed in South Punjab and today we have also inaugurated 20 more projects to provide clean drinking water to the people of the entire province including South Punjab.

The promise will be fulfilled and clean drinking water will be provided to 15 million people of Punjab by the end of March, he added.

Earlier, Governor Punjab Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar while addressing the convocation of MNS Agricultural University said that we have brought transparency and merit in the universities and the university is being cleansed from political interference.

All the vice-chancellors have been appointed on merit and the universities of Punjab are being included among the best universities in the world, he added.

Karachi cop allegedly involved in rape of 18-year-old girl surrenders before police A Karachi cop allegedly involved in the rape of an 18year-old girl surrendered before the police on Wednesday.

A spokesperson of Sindh police said the policeman had surrendered himself before SSP Investigation (South) after he was nominated in the FIR. He said the SSP Investigation was personally monitoring the case.

It is pertinent to note that the Saddar police had registered a first information report (FIR) against the cop on Monday on the complaint of the girl’s father, who had approached police claiming that his daughter was raped by the officer at their home inside the residential colony of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC)..

According to the FIR, the man brought his daughter to the hospital on Monday after she complained of abdominal pain.

She underwent a medical examination including an ultrasound revealing that she was expecting a child.

Later, the FIR says, the girl

BOP holds seminar at Faisalabad for creating awareness about various schemes by SBP told her family that she was sexually assaulted by the policeman who lives in their neighbourhood.

She said the incident occurred on July 28, 2021, when she was alone at home as her entire family had gone to attend the funeral of a relative.

“He called me at around 3pm when I was cleaning the house and asked me to come to his home, saying his daughter wants to talk to me,” the girl told her family.

She said when she entered the policeman’s house, he slapped her, dragged her to a

room and raped her at gunpoint.

The girl said he also threatened her with dire consequences if she told anyone about it.

The girl’s father approached the police station the same day and filed an FIR, saying his daughter had been raped at gunpoint and demanded legal action against the suspect.

Additional police surgeon at JPMC, Dr Summaiya Syed stated that the girl, daughter of a guard at the hospital who lived within the premises, was brought for medical examination on Monday night.

The Bank of Punjab today held a seminar at Faisalabad for creating awareness about the various schemes by State Bank of Pakistan for financing Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) including the Prime Minister’s Kamyab Jawan Youth Entrepreneurship Scheme (PMKJ-YES), SME Asaan Finance (SAAF) Scheme, and Government’s Mark-up Subsidy Scheme for Low-Cost Housing (GMSSLCH). The seminar was attended by senior officials from the State Bank of Pakistan BSC Faisalabad along with the office bearers and members of All Pakistan Bedsheet & Upholstery Manufacturers Association (APBUMA) and Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers & Exporters Association (PHMA).

Speaking on the occasion, Asif Riaz, Group Head Retail & Priority Sectors Lending Group, BOP highlighted the importance of SMEs and said that such seminars will help create awareness about various financing options available through banks, especially the recently launched SAAF Scheme which offers collateral-free loans up to Rs 10 million for eligible SMEs. He added that this program shall prove to be a game changer for SME segment. Muhammad Akbar, Senior Joint Director, State Bank of Pakistan, Kashif Ahmed Zia, Chairman PHMA and Arif Ehsan Malik, Central Chairman, APBUMA appreciated BOP’s role in providing loans to SMEs and thanked the bank’s management for organizing the seminar.

BOP has been the No. 1 bank in PMKJ-YES for the second consecutive year and is the sole executing bank for the Punjab Rozgar Scheme of the Government of Punjab. The bank has so far disbursed more than Rs 10 billion in Government Schemes. Pr

KP signs agreement for constructing Swat Motorway Phase-II PESHAWAR Aziz Buneri

PiD (i). 5131/21

CMYK

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Highways Authority and a private construction company on Wednesday signed agreement for construction of second Phase-II of Swat Motorway.

The agreement signing ceremony was held at the Chief Minister’s House where CM Mahmood Khan was the chief guest. The 80-km long motorway – from Chakdara to Fatehpur – will be constructed under Public Private Partnership at an estimated cost of Rs37 billion.

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Thursday, 27 January, 2022

06 COMMENT

The Neros of Lahore

Ravi Riverfront Project scrapped Whither Bundle Island and KCCDZ?

How a functioning city was reduced to its present chaos

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iRSt there was Bundle island. imran Khan claimed that through the island’s development, Pakistan could earn billions in revenue, provide employment to the people of Sindh and also earn foreign exchange reserves. the environmentalists said the proposed real estate project would trigger an environmental disaster. the Sindh government did not allow the federal government to initiate the project. then came Federal Maritime Affairs Minister Ali Zaidi’s so-called Karachi Coastal Comprehensive Development Zone (KCCDZ) project to be established on KPt’s reclaimed land. Zaidi promised the foreign funded $3.5 billion plan envisaging new berths for port, a new fishery port, a harbour bridge to unlock Pakistan’s Blue Economy. the out-of-the-blue project, called by the federal government a game-changer for Pakistan, simply evaporated into thin air.

Now the Lahore high Court has scrapped the Ravi Riverfront Project by declaring several provisions of the Ravi Urban Development Authority (Ruda) Act 2020 unconstitutional. the project was being presented by the govt as Pakistan’s answer to Dubai, a brand new multitrillion-rupee development of towering skyscrapers, futuristic domes and floating walkways. there were claims that the project had attracted $8 billion in foreign investments.

Right from the beginning the project, which commanded 85 percent prize agricultural land in its area, faced accusations of rampant land grabs leading to the eviction of hundreds of thousands of farmers who could never afford to live in the modern urban utopia which would benefit land developers. there were a number of petitions in the LhC challenging the forcible acquisition of land through the Ruda Act. Some of the petitioners also questioned the legality of the environment impact assessment of the project, prepared by a non-registered consultant. the LhC declared the acquisition of agricultural land for the project unconstitutional and in violation of the fundamental rights of citizens. it was also ruled that any scheme established without a master plan is unconstitutional.

While the government is likely to go into appeal before the Supreme Court, its failure to prepare a master plan, give due consideration to environmental concerns and indecent haste to evacuate the farmers have already done a lot of harm. tens of thousands of people have been uprooted. the foreign investors feel betrayed and are likely to hesitate to do business in the country on account of the government’s lack of competence in planning its development projects.

Dr FariD a Malik

O

N my first visit to Rome in 1979, i went looking for the place in the ruins of the old city where ‘ Nero was playing his flute while the city was burning. he was the fifth Emperor of Rome who died in the year 68. he was adopted by the Roman emperor Claudius and then succeeded him to the throne.

Some historians believe that he instigated the great inferno that engulfed the city. Unfortunately, the city of Lahore has been run by our own ‘Neros’ who have caused its decline. As a child growing up on the Mall very close to the seat of power in the historic building of the Lahore Municipal Corporation (LMC) called town hall, unfortunately i lived through the silent plunder of this great city that has the unique distinction of producing six Nobel Laureates. Although the Corporation started to work in 1931, there is a long history which cannot be covered in one article, here the period under discussion is from 1985 to date. Whether the ‘Lord Mayors’ who ruled during this period were Nero’s of Lahore is the big question?

Every morning when i walked to school on the Mall from the Anarkali intersection towards the high Court building, the city was clean and tidy. Garbage had been removed, streets washed, public transport was plying, every locality had a functional school run by the municipality. the Lahore Omnibus Service (LOS) was designed on the lines of the London

transport System which covered the entire length and breadth of the city. An officer of the LMC now MCL (Metropolitan Corporation of Lahore) was sent to the United Kingdom to study its public transport system and then replicate it in the city of iqbal. there was an LOS Depot near Mozang Chungi from where the buses started every morning. there were special routes for the important schools in the city. Education and transport of the city was well covered. the Fire Brigade also operated from there. there was an effective public complaint system as well. in the 1960s BNRs (Bureau of National Reconstruction) were started which provided reading and sports facilities to the youth under the banner of the Young Folks League.

Cricket, Badminton and table tennis facilities were provided on the grounds of the town hall and the surrounding Gol Bagh was later named Nasser Bagh during the islamic Conference held in the city in the 1970s.

While the town hall was the nucleus of the city, several departments branched off from here which include Lahore improvement trust (currently LDA), Excise and taxation Department, Settlement and Rehabilitation Department (Now BOR) etc. together with several town councils. While the city land was encroached, the Neros of Lahore played the fiddle. there was a park across the Civil Secretariat which had several slides and was named ‘ Ghaisi Park ‘ by the kids who played there, which was taken over to build the Planning and Development Department. the Doongi Ground on M.M. Alam Road was almost devoured to build a Cinema Complex but later turned into a library due to public outcry and change of government. the historic Punjab University Grounds near Old Campus were known for the Cricket Pitch and the hockey Stadium but now in ruins, turned into a dump for building the Metro Bus. in Rome, Nero wanted to burn the Republic

while in Lahore they were able to build their own empires. A Punjabi proverb describes the situation in Rome as; Na Khaidaan Gay Na Khaidan Dawaan Gay ( Neither will we play nor let you play ). in Lahore it is covered by “ Ahnaa Wanday Rerorian Mur Mur Apnay Ghar” (Blind man distributed the sweets again and again amongst his own kin). the Neros of Lahore over the years have built huge empires that include Universities, Colleges, Schools, hospitals, television Channels, Plazas, housing Societies together with land encroachments by the Qabza Groups. the Elahi Buksh Clinic, where Colonel Elahi Buksh, the personal physician of the father of the nation, is buried was forcibly taken over by the rogue elements. Even a large parcel of land has been allegedly encroached by the Sharif Complex in Jatti Umra. the Urban transport Depot on Ferozepur Road in the Garden town area was dug up to build a huge complex but with the change of government it was taken back, it now poses a serious security risk for the people living around. Large tracts of Punjab University New Campus land have been encroached upon to build private farms and Dera’s. the movement for the restoration of the city of Lahore has to be launched in the town hall where it all started. if Neros manage to seize control of the city yet again it will continue to sink. Lahore has always been the trend setter of the country. Change has to start from here. ‘Riasat-e-Lahore’ has to be built on the lines of the first Welfare State of the world that was created in Madinah where no one sleeps hungry at night together with education, health and employment ensured for every resident.

Neros can either burn or plunder but cannot restore the glory of Lahore. Bhutto called the city the ‘Leningrad’ (St Petersburg now) of Pakistan which has been the home of all the movements including the creation of the islamic Republic of Pakistan. With the direct election of the Mayor, the 7.5 Million voters of the city can get rid of the Neros and elect able and honest leadership to lead from the historic town hall located on the lower end of the Mall Road. Let the crusade begin from ‘Data Ki Nagri’.

Neros can either burn or plunder but cannot restore the glory of Lahore. Bhutto called the city the ‘Leningrad’ ( St Petersburg now ) of Pakistan which has been the home of all the movements including the creation of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

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

To the rescue

Is the PM listening?

Extension of the 1122 service to 79 tehsils is creditable

t

hE achievement of extending the 1122 emergency service to 79 tehsils of the Punjab is creditable, and reflects the success of the service since it was founded in 2004. As 1122 Rescue provides an ambulance service, a rescue service, and a fire service, it has an impact on people when they are undergoing what will prove to be the biggest crisis of their lives. it is the public’s approval of what they have been doing that has led to the current expansion, which has led to their now bringing services to the tehsil level in well over half the province’s tehsils, 79 of 125. Coverage of all 36 districts has already been achieved.

Now Rescue 1122 has got a tehsil presence consisting of two ambulances at each tehsil headquarters and a 29member staff. Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar handed over keys of 22 ambulances at a ceremony in Lahore for the first 22 ambulances, covering 11 tehsils, where the service is immediately available. the remaining 68 tehsils will be made operational by June. it should not be forgotten that Rescue-1122 is plugging an important gap, which should be provided by local governments. indeed, the fire service is proverbially considered a municipal service. however, the presence of 1122 rescuers, ahead of the more orthodox services in a wide range of emergencies, has shown that it is meeting a much needed gap. As the service becomes available in seven minutes, it is not just faster than its older parallels, but often proves the difference between life and death. this has made it such a desperately sought first-responder. the target should now be to extend coverage to all the province’s tehsils. While fiscal prudence is to be prized as a virtue, it should not be allowed to come in the way of saving lives. With the expansion of the service will come auditors anxious to find malfeasance in the upkeep and operation of motor vehicles. that might mean long periods when vehicles are garaged because funds are not being released for repairs. that too is one of the dangers that must be guarded against.

Zeeshan Bhutta

W

ith the sacking of accountability adviser Shahzad Akbar, Prime Minister imran Khan has run out yet another partner. Such has been the fate of his quest of turning the country into the promised land and bringing back the looted fortunes.

Granted that the challenges this government has faced have been more complex than its predecessors, capped by a pandemic that has troubled even the most solid economies of the world.

Pakistan has historically struggled with a soaring debt burden and a depleting exchange rate- double jeopardy, really— but the state of affairs has hit a new low with the current inflationary pressures. in a recent hugo Chavez-like live telephone session, it seemed the PM wanted to do some power hitting to lower the required run rate. he has resorted to this exhibition of exuberance a few times in the past, somewhat captivating his audience and tipping the scales in his favour.

But real problems remain. the energy, grain and sugar crises, political point scoring by a widespread opposition, mood swings by some friendly countries, warning shots from parliamentary allies, and a media frenzy speeding up the countdown are just some of the problems this slender-majority crippled government is facing on a daily basis.

Clearly, the Captain is concerned. this concern became visible in his recent salvage

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effort on screen. While he played his shots with considerable ease on either side of the wicket, his frustration got the better of him at one point when he spoke about the Sharif brothers and how they had dodged the system. the Prime Minister shook his head in despair as if the most powerful civilian in the country was rendered powerless. he literally begged the courts to expedite proceedings and dared the elder Sharif to return to the country he’s ruled thrice.

Next day, we hear Mr Shahzad Akbar gets the sack. this could mean two things really— either Mr Akbar has not been true to the task he was assigned, of gathering evidence against the Sharif family and presenting a solid case, or he did that but failed to find headway with the legal system; either way he could not deliver the goods. the prime minister no longer wants to wait, by reputation he’s always been a man who wants some action.

So, what has triggered this urgency? is it the rumour mill that’s been working over time of late? Alleged meetings being held between secret societies and usual suspects? the recent jolt that the incumbent government faced in its very own Fort Knox during the local bodies ballot?

Going back, during the same charm offensive, the supposedly handsome prime minister cautioned his opponents that if he was to quit, he would take to the streets and turn out to be far more potent— hence, conceding the opposite. this assertion has stirred up a storm, it’s being debated far and wide as commentators are wondering why this was said and who it was for. Let’s assume that this message was for an audience of unknown origin, but for a sitting prime minister to suggest that he would be more powerful and effective if he was protesting on the streets indicates a serious deficiency in the affairs of state- parliamentary democracy à la Rawalpindi. the age-old hung- parliament recipe has not been of much service to Pakistan but the argument remained secondary to the tenure-trimming treachery. however, in the last two legs of what’s left of democracy in Pakistan the latter may come to the fore as governments got to complete their innings on unplayable pitches . the recipe needs to change for continuity with ingenuity— a prime minister must feel more powerful in the office as opposed to opposition.

Such is the essence of democracy by the people— for a democratically elected prime minister is usually the representative of the majority of the people. that’s where the power must stem from, contrary to other

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sources of power generation. the prime minister’s nostalgia for container-concert heydays also indicates how troubled things must be in Pakistan’s oval office, further complicated as distances grow between capitol hill and the hilly capital. this at a time when a friendly government on the western flank is flipping its wings for a maiden flight.

Only God knows where that might land.

While Pakistan has turned out on top with regards to ‘depth’ in its strategy, it’s fallen short on strategy in its depth. the ‘exodus’ of foreign troops after losing a 20-year battle might make merry hearts, but it’s come at a glaring cost which only adds to our vicious internal crises. Our economy, definitely a civilian subject, continues to suffer at the hands of terrorism, uncertainity and instability.

Resultantly, the goings are tough while allegedly the leadership is incompetent, could that be the latent heat behind PM steaming off? ironically, our leadership options oscillate between incompetent and corrupt— not much difference there in my opinion, provided one’s moral compass can survive the snow jobs up north. if you’re corrupt you’re not competent enough to partake the job and if you’re incompetent then you’re corrupt for taking up the job in the first place. this logic, on a side note, by extension also applies to the PM’s recent accountability accountable who must be looking for a new team in the next super league draw.

Question remains, is Mr Akbar the only one looking for a job amid prime minister calling younger sharif’s latest speech a job application, Mr Ahsan iqbal recently viewing Shah Mahmood’s onslaught in the assembly a job interview and PM himself reminiscing the job he had with all the fanfare and no flak. is this what it is or this hype is a pirate remix of staying alive especially at the request of the self exiled.

Credit must be given to PMLN’s media team for keeping the long distance relationship alive while the prime minister must seriously think his media strategy or the lack thereof because clearly his team hasn’t been able to clear the air, in fact they have the prime minister playing right into the hands of the opposition. this was also said by an esteemed caller on the show that must go on. the caller shamed these apologists for not creating awareness about the wonderful social welfare initiatives like ehsas and sehat card.

Perhaps, she was also referring to their lack of ehsas and sehat of the government. it’s time to address the banshees. is the prime minister listening???

The writer is a former newspaper editor and an academic. He can be reached at bhutta@gmail.com

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

06-07 Comments - 27th January 2022_Layout 1 1/26/2022 11:59 PM Page 2

Thursday, 27 January, 2022

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

Immunomodulatory effect of liquorice in broiler

Bangladesh needs both the USA and China Trying not to take sides MehJaBin Bhanu

B

ANGLADESh needs both the USA and China. Now, Bangladesh and the Bay of Bengal get attention from world powers. the USA, the UK, China, india and Japan have focused their attention on South Asia, Bangladesh and the Bay of Bengal. the USA has shifted its policy from ‘Asia-Pacific’ towards ‘indo-Pacific’ to counter China’s ‘BRi’. Both parties want Bangladesh in their respective blocs.

Bangladesh’s policies are not towards bipartisan international politics. Bangladesh was an active member of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). Bangladesh has no intention and interest to join any bloc. But Bangladesh has the intention to be benefitted from the blocs.

Bangladesh wants and believes in peaceful coexistence in the region. it always avoids any kind of clash with any actor. Despite having provocation from Myanmar during the Rohingya refugee crisis in 2017, it abstained from using any kind of force. Bangladesh is balancing successfully with ‘BRi’ and ‘iPS’. Whether Bangladesh is involved in the US-led indo-Pacific Strategy (iPS) or the Chinese-led Belt and Road (BRi), it must maintain peace and the rule of law in the region to reap the maximum economic benefits from these.

Bangladesh still believes in the relevance of NAM, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam said at the summit in Venezuela in 2016. NAM was set up during the Cold War as an association of countries that did not wish to take sides with either the USA or USSR. Basically, Bangladesh wasn’t to take sides against either. But after the demise of the USSR, the present USA-China rivalry recalls the past. the participation of Bangladesh in the 18th NAM summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, in 2019 further strengthened the country’s position in the international arena.

Bangladesh is handling this issue tactically. it avoids direct involvement with the blocs. having been requested by the USA for years, Bangladesh didn’t show any interest to sign the ACSA (Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement) and GSOMiA (General Security of Military information Agreement) with the USA. On the other hand, When the Chinese Envoy to Bangladesh commented that Bangladesh shouldn’t join iPS last year, Bangladesh strongly protested against the remarks, saying Bangladesh is capable of forming its own national policy.

Bangladesh wants and believes in peaceful coexistence in the region. Whether Bangladeshis are involved in the US-led indoPacific Strategy (iPS) or the Chinese-led Belt and Road (BRi), it must maintain peace and the rule of law in the maritime region to reap the maximum economic benefits.

But the USA may target Bangladesh because Bangladesh is an active partner of the Chinese BRi project. the recent sanctions on Bangladesh RAB are the clear-cut example to understand it.

But the USA should understand that Bangladesh is also with the USA. the USA is the main export destination of Bangladeshi garments. Bangladesh also believes in the USA’s ‘free and open’ indo-Pacific strategy.

Bangladesh needs both the USA and China simultaneously for its development process. it is pertinent to mention that Bangladesh wants to be a welfare state in South Asia. its economic success is now praiseworthy. thus, it needs all, the USA, China, and the EU for ensuring the pace of the rapid economic growth. the USA shouldn’t be worried about Bangladesh. Bangladesh strongly believes in friendship with all.

According to the various open sources, Bangladesh is the USA’s main ally in South Asia. the two countries have extensive cooperation in regional and global security, counter-terrorism and climate change. Bangladesh is an important participant in the Obama Administration’s major international development initiatives, including food security, healthcare and the environment. in 2012, a strategic dialogue agreement was signed between the two countries. in 2015, US Ambassador to Bangladesh Marcia Bernikat described the relationship as “vibrant, multifaceted and essential”. As of 2016, Bangladesh is the largest recipient of US assistance in Asia outside of Afghanistan and Pakistan. the US-Bangladesh relationship is strengthened by the Bangladeshi American community. Fazlur Rahman Khan designed the United States’s tallest tower in Chicago.

According to the data of the US State Department and US Embassy to Bangladesh, the USA is the largest export market in Bangladesh. it is one of the largest sources of foreign direct investment in Bangladesh. the largest US investment in the country is by Chevron, which produces half of Bangladesh’s natural gas. Bilateral trade in 2014 was $6 billion. the major US exports to Bangladesh are agricultural products (soybean, cotton, wheat, dairy products), aircraft, machinery, engines and iron and steel products. American imports from Bangladesh include clothing, footwear and textile products; toys, games and sporting goods; fisheries and shrimp; And agricultural products. there are many Bangladeshi students in US universities. the USA has assisted Bangladesh during cyclone relief operations in 1991 and 2007. in 2017, U.S. direct investment in Bangladesh was $460 million, an increase of 0.4 per cent from 2016. Bangladesh’s exports to the USA were valued at $9.4 billion between January and October last year. Boths belong to a number of the same international organizations, including the United Nations, ASEAN Regional Forum, international Monetary Fund, World Bank, and World trade Organization. According to the media reports, the American government also donated $218 million as Covid-19 donations alongside 28 million vaccines. in addition, a US company has signed an agreement with Bangladesh to install the undersea submarine cable at a cost of $700 million to $1 billion by 2023 that will connect France via Singapore.

On the other hand, though China and Bangladesh shared an adversarial relationship during the latter’s independence movement and immediately after that, the relationship has undergone a tremendous transformation to the extent that China is now considered by many in Bangladesh as an ‘all-weather friend’. they established diplomatic ties in 1976; it was defence ties that was an important area of their relationship, which led to further expansion of ties.

China, the largest economy in Asia, has decided recently to grant duty-free access to 98 percent of Bangladeshi products through the inclusion of 383 new products, especially leather

and leather goods, in the zero-treatment list.

Over the past 46 years, the relationship between China and Bangladesh has been developing, with mutual cooperation and friendship on both sides. in the international arena, Bangladesh has, to the best of its capacity, maintained unwavering support for the “One China Policy” and China’s peaceful rise.

From January to July 2021, the overall import and export volume of China and Bangladesh was $13 billion, a rise of 58.9 percent year on year. China has become Bangladesh’s largest trading partner, and Bangladesh is China’s third largest trading partner and third largest engineering contracting market in South Asia. Bangladesh is an important participant in the BRi and one of the first countries to respond to it. Although bilateral trade favors China heavily, Bangladesh has enormous potential in the Chinese markets. Because of the official entry into force of the zero-tariff treatment of 98 percent of Bangladesh’s tariff items, Bangladesh’s exports to China may show a growth in 2022.

On 14 October 2016, Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Bangladesh on a historic visit.

During that visit, China announced huge investments in various sectors of Bangladesh. the implementation of those investment projects is now in full swing. Among the ongoing projects are the Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project, the Karnafuli tunnel, Dhaka-Chittagong highway Four Lane Upgradation, Payra Port Development, Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar Railway Project, Power Grid Network Strengthening Project, Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway, DhakaSylhet Four Lane highway etc.

During the Coronavirus pandemic, China showed that the ‘friend of danger is the real friend’. At this time, China has bound Bangladesh with the belief that ‘the boat of love sails mountains’. the country once again extended a helping hand to Bangladesh when it was in dire straits to get the coronavirus vaccine.

China has given 1.2 million vaccines to Bangladesh in two phases as a gift and has assured that the country will supply tens of millions of vaccines to Bangladesh step by step commercially. it is expected that China will soon start vaccination production in a joint venture with Bangladesh in addition to supplying vaccines. the two countries are also discussing this.

Lee Jimming, the country’s ambassador to Dhaka, said that the friend of danger is the real friend. Bangladesh will remember this friendship with China. the Bangladesh Army has been equipped with Chinese tanks, its navy has Chinese frigates and missile boats and the Bangladesh Air Force flies Chinese fighter jets. in 2002, China and Bangladesh signed a “Defence Cooperation Agreement” which covers military training and defence production. in the line with the above-mentioned discussions, we can say that Bangladesh needs both China and USA. Despite having various challenges, Bangladesh is going to be a South Asian economic miracle and a welfare state in South Asia. thus, it is the moral responsibility of both China and the USA to cooperate with Bangladesh. Bangladesh wants to coexist with all actors in the regions. the rise of Bangladesh in South Asia is very peaceful. it believes in perpetual peace. Of course, to achieve the ultimate goal, Bangladesh needs both the USA and China.

The writer is a freelance columnist

iNFECtiOUS bronchitis virus (iBV) is a significant poultry pathogen that causes millions of dollars of loss. the poultry birds are vaccinated against iBV. Yet it is difficult to control the disease if the maximum vaccine amount is not achieved. the best immune status of poultry birds is the key to optimal growth. the current compromised health status of poultry is due to the maximum use of antibiotics. in such conditions, the birds are immunocompromised and cannot fight with the pathogen which leads to a disease outbreak. herbal plants and their extracts are more effective for a better immune system. Liquorice extracts have some beneficial effects under such circumstances as well. therefore, liquorice benefits poultry nutrition and has properties on the growth, better performance and immunity status of poultry.

A study was conducted, to determine the immunomodulatory effects of liquorice on broiler chicken vaccinated with infectious bronchitis live vaccine. Day-old (n=60) broiler chicks were assigned to four groups with 15 birds each. the three groups (A, B, C) were vaccinated with infectious bronchitis live vaccine and two groups (A, B) were supplemented with 0.1gm and 0.3gm of liquorice extract in one-litre drinking water whereas the fourth one was taken as control. Liquorice extract was prepared in 75 percent ethanol and then ethanol and water evaporated in rotatory evaporator. the broilers were reared on the floor provided with an ad libitum supply of feed and water. the broilers were vaccinated with live vaccine at a dose rate of 0.5 ml at 3rd and 17th day of age. Antibody titer was determined at 1, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42 days of age from four birds of each group. At the 42nd day of age, five birds were taken from each group to determine gross and histopathological lesions of immune organs. the results of the study indicated an increased antibody titer of liquorice supplemented groups. the overall results of the present study indicated that liquorice extract increased antibody titer in vaccinated chickens with infectious bronchitis live vaccine. this high antibody titer, in turn, protects the birds from severe infections of infectious bronchitis. there were no histopathological changes observed due to liquorice and live vaccine in broiler birds.

HAFIZA QAMAR-UN-NISA AND AMIR MAJEED LAHoRE

EVMs for transparency?

BEiNG well into my nineties, i have witnessed all the elections held in Pakistan since independence. Never have i witnessed an election where the defeated party or individual would concede in a graceful manner. in a country like Pakistan where literacy levels are low, resources are limited, and personal ethical values are far from perfect, irregularities are guaranteed to happen. Because everyone does it, nobody concedes when they lose. i recall, decades ago, that i travelled to my village to cast my vote, but to my surprise, the presiding officer at that polling station told me that my vote had already been cast. i was not alone; such incidents are quite common and often lead to mudding the transparency of the electoral process. through time we as a nation become cynical of the electoral process and are unwilling to accept defeat in the process. it has now become our national character to reject defeat and cry foul play if we don’t win. this has even crept into our attitude toward defeat in other domains such as sports.

For example, if we win a cricket match it is celebrated with great jubilation. however, if God forbid, we lose, it is dubbed as some kind of foul play ranging from a grand conspiracy against Pakistan to players selling themselves for money. therefore, i am afraid the EVMs that our government is trying to push for so vehemently would make any difference in improving the trust of people on the electoral. Given that all the opposition parties have rejected the idea and that such machines have had their problems around the world, it might further erode whatever trust people have in the elections. the political leadership of the country must first change their attitudes and set examples of conceding defeat with grace. Once people see that win and loss are a logical outcome of the process and their leaders show dignity in wake of loss, they would regain trust in the system. As long as our leaders keep celebrating their wins and blaming the loss on rigging, people are not going to trust whatever method of elections is used.

RAJA SHAFAATULLAH ISLAMAbAD

Murder of language thERE was a time when Radio Pakistan and Pakistan television were considered as institutions, where besides other official responsibilities, language proficiency was another important domain. Lexicographers and linguistic experts were hired for the training of newcomers and staffers. the same pattern was followed in the newspapers. the silver screen was another medium where efforts continued to teach people by using the correct language. As a result of that, both listeners and viewers while enjoying the high standard of language, also started understanding how the correct language can be spoken. those people who are now in their 40s, still remember the quality language, having idioms and couplets by the actors like Begum Khursheed Mirza, Arsh e Munir, Mahmood Ali, Subhani Bayunis etc. those days are gone now, and it seems difficult, if not impossible to restore the language in its true shape. in the fast-changing scenario, probably neither we have time, nor need to take care of the language.

Most of the people think it is quite enough the language is being spoken, but how, it is not their headache. Nowadays, it seems the language itself is the biggest victim of the era. there is no invasion of our language from outsiders. instead of that, we the insiders, are the real culprits against our language. No one has the time to ponder why the language is being victimized by none other than ourselves. true, there should be as easy communication, but in the name of easiness, there should be no murder of language. to preserve our national language is in true shape is our common responsibility and if we do not accomplish the task, history will not forgive us.

DR SYED QAMAR AbbAS KARAcHI

08 WORLD VIEW 27th January 22_Layout 1 1/26/2022 10:04 PM Page 1

Thursday, 27 January, 2022

08 WORLD VIEW

CAn EUropEAn EnErgy CopE wItH A ConflICt In UkrAInE?

Centre for StrAtegiC And internAtionAl StudieS

H

nikos Tsafos

OW would a conflict in Ukraine affect European energy security? The answer to this question depends on many unknowns. Any assessment must begin with observations about Ukraine’s energy situation and its role in the European energy system. Only then can the significance of different scenarios be fully understood.

THE CONTEXT: Ukraine used to be a key node in the European energy system, but its criticality has diminished. In the 1990s, most gas that Russia exported to Europe crossed Ukraine. But Russia has since diversified routes. In 1994, it started construction on the Yamal–Europe pipeline through Belarus and Poland, which reached its full capacity in 2006.

In 2003, Russia completed a pipeline to Turkey (Blue Stream); in 2011, it completed a route to Germany (Nord Stream); and in 2020, TurkStream provided a second link to Turkey. This multi-decade Russian effort has reduced Ukrainian transit by 70 percent—from over 140 billion cubic meters (bcm) in 1998 to less than 42 bcm in 2021.

As Ukraine’s transit role diminished, so did the number of countries that depended on it for supplies.

By 2021, Ukraine was a transit corridor largely for gas going into Slovakia, from where it continued to Austria and Italy. There was a time when Ukraine sent a lot of gas south, to Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, and Turkey, but TurkStream changed that. Even Hungary, the second-largest recipient of gas from Ukraine in 2021 stopped imports in October 2021.

This shift in Ukraine’s role was reflected in the most recently “union-wide simulation of gas supply and infrastructure” conducted by ENTSOG, the organization that coordinates Europe’s national gas transmission system operators (TSOs). It found that the downstream impacts of a cutoff in Ukrainian supplies could be managed assuming a well-functioning market and regional collaboration.

At this point, a physical interruption of gas flows through Ukraine would impact Slovakia, Austria, and Italy, each of which has different options to cope. Italy, given its access to the sea, has the most alternatives. A cut would also hit Poland, which has more alternative options than ever. Moldova would be in a harder position, although its imports come through a different artery; whether gas is cut off would depend on the type and duration of the conflict. Whether these countries can access alternatives will hinge on global market conditions and the amount of gas in storage around the continent.

An interruption in Ukrainian transit would also impact Ukraine itself. Over the years, Ukraine has stopped purchasing gas from Russia directly. Instead, it meets its import needs through backhauling.

In the past, this involved shipping gas west and then re-importing it back into the country; this process is now done virtually. According to the Ukrainian gas system operator, 89 percent of Ukraine’s 2021 imports came through virtual backhaul.

This is the backdrop for thinking about the energy security impacts of a conflict in Ukraine. The country used to be the main corridor for delivering Russian gas to Europe; it is no longer that, though it remains significant for certain countries. But Ukraine’s own energy security still hinges on its role as a transit country. Ensuring adequate supplies in the country without such transit will be considerably more difficult. But otherwise, the downstream impacts would be far more localized and narrow.

THE IMPLICATIONS: How this plays out depends on many variables. A conflict in January is not the same as a conflict in April, after winter is over. A weeklong skirmish is different than a multimonth stalemate. Localized fighting might not impact gas flows, whereas all-out war might. Gas infrastructure could be targeted by accident or by intent to gain a military advantage. The damage to infrastructure can be minor or major. These parameters are unknowable at this time.

But some scenarios can be postulated. One option is that gas flows are disrupted because infrastructure is damaged. Or gas could be used as leverage. Russia could cut off gas to pressure Ukraine or Europe. Ukraine could disrupt supplies to rally Europe to its side. Or gas flows could be disrupted without a quick ability to assign blame. All these outcomes are possible. As long as the disruptions are restricted to the Ukraine corridor, the downstream consequences will be limited to the countries mentioned above.

Another set of scenarios would see the energy conflict spread beyond Ukraine. Russia could cut off supplies not just through Ukraine but through other routes. History tells us that energy is a lousy weapon

to achieve political goals. But it could still be wielded. In fact, some would argue that Russia is weaponizing gas already, holding back supplies despite record prices in Europe. The reality is a bit more complex. But there is no doubt that Russia has been uniquely unhelpful in addressing the panic that has engulfed the market. Its responsibility is hard to miss.

The conflict could also spread to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. The German position has not shifted yet, although Nord Stream 2 could be part of Germany’s response. How Germany proceeds is an unknown at this point. Despite the rhetoric in Washington, Germany cannot merely “cancel” Nord Stream 2, since the pipeline is already built. And if there is no immediate conflict in Ukraine, Germany’s position becomes untenable. It must either approve the pipeline’s operation or keep it on hold in case a conflict happens—at that point, the threat loses its deterrent value if Russia concludes that the project is doomed no matter what. The current equilibrium is not stable.

What is clear is that Russia’s ability to influence the market does not depend on Nord Stream 2. In 2021, all that Russia had to do to agitate markets was not refill its storage sites in Europe. With such leverage, it is hard to think that a new pipeline gives Russia some decisive advantage. Russia’s cards are strong no matter how the gas gets to Europe. And no level of diversification could enable Europe to dispense of Russian gas any time soon. This is the reality.

But Germany’s willingness to put Nord Stream 2 on the table signals a broader dissatisfaction with Russia. Russia has only itself to blame. Its conflicting messages over gas supplies have alienated even those who accept Russia’s role in the European energy system. While Russia may not be using energy as an overt weapon, it can hardly claim to be a reliable supplier as it has in the past.

Therein lies a final irony in the European energy chessboard. Europe has built its defenses since the energy crises of 2006 and 2009. It invested billions in infrastructure that allows it to import gas by ship and to move gas around more in the continent.

Ukraine’s transit role has shrunk. But the European attitude toward Russia may be changing, partly due to a crass effort by Russia to remind Europe of its dependence on Russian gas. Europe is much better insulated today against a disruption of gas supplies through Ukraine, even if such an interruption would still hurt. But Europe’s tolerance for such dependence, and Russia’s antics, might be dwindling. That is the front to watch as this crisis unfolds.

Nikos Tsafos is the James R. Schlesinger Chair for Energy and Geopolitics with the Energy Security and Climate Change Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C.

Iran signals readiness for direct talks with US Al-Monitor StAff Spokesperson for the Iranian government Ali Bahadori Jahromi said at a briefing in Tehran on Jan. 25 that “the American side has, through different channels, presented requests for direct talks” with Iran. He added that no such engagement has thus far taken place.

Iran and the world powers are currently holding negotiations in the Austrian capital, Vienna, in hopes of reinstating the 2015 nuclear deal formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The United States has been only indirectly involved in talks to re-establish the accord following the 2018 pullout ordered by former President Donald Trump.

Jahromi’s comments coincided with what has been described by US officials as a “decisive moment” for the JCPOA’s resurrection, as some gaps are reportedly being bridged and prospects for an agreement are slowly appearing on the horizon.

On the same issue of direct talks, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian signaled Iran’s readiness earlier on Monday.

“Should in the course of the negotiations we get to a stage where a good deal with solid guarantees necessitates some level of talks with the United States, we will not ignore it.”

Under Iran’s official line, a “good deal” is characterized by a verifiable relief of American sanctions as well as a well-knit structure of guarantees that future US administrations will remain strictly compliant so that a Trump-style withdrawal would not send the situation back to square one. The sitting administration of President Joe Biden has expressed absolute unease with the second demand.

It is not clear if the Iranian side will modify the guarantee request to move closer to a deal. Yet there were signs in a tweet by the country’s Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani that direct talks could be weighed as an option. “This communication method can only be replaced by other methods when Good Agreement is available,” he wrote Jan. 25.

In what has been interpreted as a possible policy shift, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei earlier this month toned down the rhetoric and nodded to “talks and engagement with the enemies at certain points of time,” saying that would not be tantamount to “surrender.” Less than four years ago, Khamenei rigorously banned negotiations with the Trump administration when he famously and confidently declared that the United States would not be able to wage a military war on Iran and “there will be no negotiations, either.” The timing of a potential deal also remains open to speculation within Iran’s political circles. Last week, Mahmoud Abbaszadeh Meshkini, the spokesperson for the Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, spoke of an “agreement within reach” before the end of the Iranian year (March 20).

Still, Iranian negotiators directly involved in the Vienna marathon have not announced any timeframes and have even rejected “deadlines” pushed by their Western counterparts.

The Iranian side has declared that it will continue the diplomatic path no matter how long if seriousness is exhibited by the other parties. The Western side, in turn, is anxiously looking at the clock ticking on diplomacy at a moment when Tehran is allegedly fast-tracking its advance toward becoming a possessor of nuclear weapons.

A global tax on millionaires would benefit the wealthy as well as the poor rt Bradley Blankenship

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N open letter was recently published that was signed by more than 100 millionaires and billionaires, pleading to their class brethren – particularly those participating in the World Economic Forum’s recent online Davos summit – to adopt a fairer international tax system.

“To put it simply, restoring trust requires taxing the rich. The world – every country in it – must demand the rich pay their fair share,” the letter states. “Tax us, the rich, and tax us now.” In its conclusion, the letter adds a pretty astute assessment of the situation we face around the world. This is not a group of self-hating rich folk but rational-minded people looking to protect their own selfinterest, as convoluted as that might sound.

“History paints a pretty bleak picture of what the endgame of extremely unequal societies looks like. For all our well-being – rich and poor alike – it’s time to confront inequality and choose to tax the rich. Show the people of the world that you deserve their trust,” the letter continues. “If you don’t, then all the private talks won’t change what’s coming – it’s taxes or pitchforks. Let’s listen to history and choose wisely.”

What the signatories are talking about is the fact that global capitalism has ratcheted up inequality, its primary contradiction, to a point that it is unlikely to be able to sustain itself much longer. This was already a huge problem prior to Covid-19, but it has only got worse.

As Oxfam found in a report published earlier this month, the 10 richest men in the world have doubled their cumulative fortune from $700 billion to $1.5 trillion

AS OXFAM FOUND IN A REPORT PUBLISHED EARLIER THIS MONTH, THE 10 RICHEST MEN IN THE WORLD HAVE DOUBLED THEIR CUMULATIVE FORTUNE FROM $700 BILLION TO $1.5 TRILLION SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC. A NEW BILLIONAIRE WAS CREATED ONCE EVERY 26 HOURS FROM MARCH 2020 TO NOVEMBER 2021, IT FOUND since the start of the pandemic. A new billionaire was created once every 26 hours from March 2020 to November 2021, it found. But, on the flip side, according to Oxfam, more than 160 million people are so far estimated to have slipped beneath the poverty line. This egregious inequality, the report says, is responsible for more than 21,000 deaths per day.

Separately, the World Bank said in a report in September last year that the incomes of the bottom 40% globally fell by 6.7% compared to pre-pandemic projections. Inflation is surely eating away at wages even more at this point.

A major driver of this inequality has been the tax system. For example, in the United States, former President Donald Trump’s signature tax cuts to the wealthy and corporations created fertile ground for the pandemic handup. The Trump tax cuts lowered the corporate tax rate by 40% and, in its first year, doubled the number of companies paying zero taxes from 30 to 60. This included major firms such as Amazon.com Inc., Netflix Inc., Chevron Corp., Eli Lilly and Co., and Deere & Co., some of which have faced heavy criticism over working conditions.

The Trump estate tax cut – essentially a giveaway to the ultra-rich – triggered a 50% nosedive in IRS revenue from wealthy individuals, according to a Bloomberg report. This figure went from around $20 billion to just over $9 billion in 2020.

So, what can be done? Well, there’s already been talk about a global minimum tax. Late last year, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development put

forward a “two-pillar” solution, following an agreement

by G20 countries in October 2021. This will establish a 15% minimum global tax by 2023 – however, analysis from Reuters found that there are glaring, billion-dollar loopholes such as “profit shifting” across countries – a strategy now widely used by major tech companies.

Fortunately, a detailed report by Oxfam, the Fighting Inequality Alliance, the Institute for Policy Studies, and the Patriotic Millionaires has found that a simple wealth tax on the global ultra-rich could raise over $2.5 trillion each year. This would have a graduated rate structure, with a 2% tax on wealth over $5 million, 3% on wealth over $50 million, and 5% on wealth over $1 billion.

The bottom line? This would be enough money to lift 2.3 billion people out of poverty, vaccinate everyone in the world, and ensure the likes of universal healthcare and a social safety net for everyone in low- and lower-middleincome countries, which covers about 3.6 billion people.

This seems a pretty easy fix to save capitalism from itself.

However, the discussion deserves further reflection, given that it wouldn’t be just poorer people who would benefit, but everyone – including the ultra-wealthy. First of all, it’s important to realize that ultra-wealth is not actually cash in hand, in many cases. The world’s richest man, Elon Musk, derives his fortune from stock holdings, namely Tesla, the company he acts as CEO for, and has admitted in court filings that he has debt against this stock.

In his own words, people like him are just in charge of huge “capital allocation” – and that is a responsibility,

which no doubt induces massive stress, that no one person should have.

Second of all, there’s a reason why most billionaires live much of their lives in secrecy. They’re not the most popular individuals – and rightfully so, since their wealth often comes from exploitation. Maybe this is why people such as Musk and Jeff Bezos want to escape to another planet, Mark Zuckerberg is trying to create an alternative reality, Bill Gates spends a fortune in the media to make people like him, and Jack Dorsey is delving into ancient meditation practices. Even your average, everyday millionaires – which actually works out to be quite a lot of older folks, at least in the US – have persistent stress and anxiety. The tension in society is omnipresent.

But, finally, the thing is that even if these guys weren’t in these roles, someone else would be. You can take that to the bank, since their stock-dependent wealth means they are bound by shareholders to juice profits by any means.

In the end, we are not talking about a moral failing of individuals, but a systemic issue that requires a systemic response, namely redistributive policies – otherwise, bring on those pitchforks. Hats off to the signatories of that open letter who have the wherewithal to see the proverbial writing on the wall.

Bradley Blankenship is a Prague-based American journalist, columnist and political commentator. He has a syndicated column at CGTN and is a freelance reporter for international news agencies including Xinhua News Agency.

Thursday, 27 January, 2022 | lahore

news corporate corner Power Shutdown Notice According to Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO)’s spokesman, System Maintenance/Development Work is in process. Therefore power supply of below mentioned feeders/areas will be temporary suspended as per given schedule: On 27th January, From 09:00 AM to 02:00 PM, Iqbal Town, Service Road East, Chara, Sohdaran, F-10/2, G-10/3, I-9/4, Police Line, Bahria University, G-11 / 2, E-11/2, Bhara Kahu, Company Bagh, Gharial, Upper Topa, Pir Sohawa, E Block, Faizabad, Nora Road, Zafarul Haq, Dhok Khabba, Gulshanabad, Jamia Masjid, Mohammadi Chowk, Abu Bakar, Kayani Road, NRC, Officer Colony, Pind Hoon, Rata, EME Complex, Jhangi, Mall Road, Jahangir Road, Jail Park, PWD-1, Mehboob Shaheed, MSF, Major Riaz, Chontra, Chakri, UC Lakhan, Chowk Pandori, Color City, Hamid Jhangi, LTC, New Mandir, Old Mandir, Industrial, Sukho, Nishan Haider, CB Khan-2, Ghazi Kohli, Haro, PMC, Hussainabad, Pathargarh , Hameed, Gondal, Miskinabad, Marvi, Shadi Khan, Attock Cantt, Kharpa, Qutbal, Anjara, Amanpur, Mahfooz Shaheed, Galyal, Gagan, F-13 Garmala, Langarpur, Shakrila, Mandi Bhalwal, Fatehpur, Kohar, Safdar Shaheed, Sanghgoi, Nathwala, Major Riaz Shaheed, Col. Muhammad Akram, Pakhwal, F-9 Chak Daulat, Bhagwal, Madhu Kals, Gujjar Khan, Kachhari Sohawa, Baba Shaheed , Dhadial City, Mulhal Mughals, Chakral, Dandot, Toba, PD Khan, Abdullahpur, Blixar, Dharnka, Madina Town N, Dhalar, Mughal, Timon, Athal, Bhara Kahu, T&T, Golf City, Treat, Khayaban-e-Sir Syed, Mohammadi Chowk, Holy Family, Amin Town, I-10/4, Dhok Najo, Raja Sultan, Eid Gah, Bagh Sardar, Pindi Gheeb City, Malwali, Sunni, Karpa, Jhangi, EME Complex, T & Wani, Azharabad, TB Hospital, Gulshanabad, Farash Town, Alipur, AIOU, International School, H- 8/2, I-8/2, Lohi Bhair, Coral, Chakri, Aslan Poultry Farm, SPD, Padial, Gagan, Chahan, Mohota Feeders, From 09:00 AM to 04:00 PM, G-14/4, G- 14/3, Nust Road, G-13/4 Extension feeders, From 11:00 AM TO 01:00 PM, Officer Colony, HPT, I-16/3, FOECHS, I-16 Markaz, I-16/1 Feeders, From 09:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Kalar Kahar, Mayani, Khairpur Feeders From 08:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Chrohi feeder, From 08:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Beirut Gala, Darbar Mahi Toti, Khoi Ratta City, Dhania Bell, Charhoi Dhangi, City, Kariala, Jandroot, Dabsi, Dudot, Majan, Nomanpura Feeders and surroundings will remain off. pr

MD SNGPL Ali J. Hamdani Issues directives on Consumers’ Complaints

Sui Northern Gas organized an e-Kachehri at its Head Office through Skype. Managing Director SNGPL Ali J. Hamdani listened to the complaints of customers and directed relevant officials for immediate resolution of complaints. Senior Management of the Company along with Regional Managers attended E-Kachehri through video conference. Consumers belonging to different areas of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa lodged their complaints related to gas pressure, new gas connections and billing issues etc. MD SNGPL Ali J. Hamdani issued directives to the relevant regional managers and assured customers of quick resolution of their issues. It is pertinent to mention that under the directives of Prime Minister’s Performance Delivery Unit (PMDU), SNGPL has been organizing E-Kachehri at Regional as well as Head Office level for more than a year, wherein a large number of customers have benefitted from it. pr

WoMeN PoSSeSS PIvotAL roLe IN ProMotING PeACe: MAuLANA tAHIr ASHrAfI ISLAMABAD pr

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PECIAL Assistant to the Prime Minister for Religious Harmony Maulana Tahir Ashrafi has said that women possess a pivotal role in promoting peace, tolerance and harmony in society. He expressed these views while addressing a seminar on "Role of Islamic Women Scholars for Creating Peace in Society" organized by the Shariah Academy of International Islamic University (IIUI) at Faisal Masjid Campus on Tuesday.

Maulana Tahir Ashrafi said that there are campaigns such as Islamophobia that are designed to hurt the image of Islam, women can help ending such lethal and fake campaigns by disseminating true message of Islam to the world. She added they must convey that Islam is a staunch supporter of women rights as it has provided many prerogative to women including the inheritance and their participation in the

society. He added that the role of mother, sister and daughter in society creates a balance. Referring to the challenges of the hour, he said the solution to social problems lies in strengthening the relationship with Allah. He furthered that promoting tolerance in society is the solution to many problems.

Discussing the Paigham e Pakistan narrative, Premier’s Special Assistant said that the message of Paigham-e-Pak-

istan is based on discouraging violence, oppression, terrorism and bigotry and at the same time it teaches interfaith harmony. He also shed light on the rights of minorities.

Speaking on the occasion, former ambassador Naila Chauhan said that women have been given the right to play their role in the society by both Islam and the constitution of Pakistan.

She urged the students to focus on their

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Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal (PBM) offers winter kits and food boxes for the earthquake affected families in Gilgit-Baltistan. In a ceremony held here in head office of the organization, Managing Director PBM, Malik Zaheer Abbas Khokhar handed over 500 winter kits and 200 food boxes to Governor Gilgit-Baltistan, Raja Jalal Hussain Maqpoon for the families in Juglot who suffered as a result of recent earthquake. The winter kits include warm shawls, socks, caps and sweaters; each box covers dry food stuff needs of a family for one month. Minister for Information, Planning and Development Gilgit-Baltistan Fateh Ullah Khan and

destination, consider the obstacles along the way as temporary and have their faith in Allah. On the occasion, the organizer of the seminar and Director General Shariah Academy, Prof. Dr. Farkhanda Zia thanked the distinguished guests for attending the seminar. She also shed light on the activities held under the banner of the Daughters of Pakistan narrative. She also highlighted the aims and objectives of the program, as well as the role of women in promoting peace in society.

Dr. Amna Mahmood, from the Politics and IR Department of the Female Campus of the University also expressed her views during the seminar on the significant role of women in the society.

In the seminar, Dr. Shagufta Omar, former head of Dawa Center for Women, IIUI, apprised the participants about the important steps taken by the Center for peace and harmony in the society. Dr. Fia Paracha, Dr. Maimona Ismail Lona, Dr. Noorin Sehar, Dr. Farhana Asim and Dr. Asiya Tahir also spoke on the occasion.

Mazari for eliminating practices of preferential treatment in prisons Paragon Constructors Pakistan chooses SAP as its digital partner ISLAMABAD pr

Federal Minister for Human Rights Dr. Shireen Mazari chaired a meeting of Implementation Commission on Prison Reforms today in Ministry of Human Rights. The meeting was attended

by Secretary Ministry of Human Rights, Director General (Human Rights), Joint Secretary Ministry of Interior, IG Prison KPK and Punjab, and other senior officers and representatives from provincial home departments, Ministry of Law and Justice and Ministry of NHSR&C. The Implementation Commission reviewed the grievance redressal mechanisms in prisons across Pakistan, the issues of overcrowding and discriminatory treatment of prisoners as well as the lack of sensitization of prison staff.

In the beginning, DG Human Rights briefed the participants on the grievance petition containing allegations of maltreatment of prisoners by jail authorities, corruption and breaches of jail manual and rules that was filed in the Islamabad High Court by a pris-

oner in District Jail Bhakkar.

The Federal Minister said that the provincial prison departments must review their grievance redressal mechanisms present in prisons across Pakistan to ensure that they are able to address all complaints of the prisoners. She also stressed that the oversight mechanism of prisons must be improved by devising an independent system where eminent members from civil society, social welfare institutions and media must be included in its committees. She said that an effective oversight system should be enough to halt the malpractices and curb the opportunities of corruption in the prisons.

The Implementation Commission also discussed the issue of overcrowded barracks. The provincial representatives apprised the Federal Minister that a major cause of overcrowding in prisons was the huge number of under trial prisoners. The IG Prison KP apprised the Minister that awarding parole was now mandatory in KP and this would greatly assist with reduction of prison population in the future.

Each provincial member also apprised the Commission of the

recently introduced prison reforms and facilities by the prison administrations in all four provinces.

They explained that due to security reasons some inmates are segregated and kept in isolation or even in solitary confinement whereas special prison rules are there for this purpose. The Federal Minister emphasized that the outdated and obsolete systems that justify preferential treatment of convicts must be amended and stated that all convicts must be meted out with same treatment.

While referring to an influential convict’s hospital stay in Karachi, she said that there must be non-discriminatory treatment of all prisoners. She praised the CM package that has recently been introduced in jails of Punjab and opined that the provinces may consider the KP model of eliminating all categories of prisoners.

The Federal Minister insisted that Prison IGs must share the reports of the oversight committees periodically for the Implementation Commission’s review and advised the prison authorities to ensure that transfers and postings of jail staff are happening on merit basis.

PBM offers winter kits, food boxes for earthquake-affected families in Gilgit-Baltistan ISLAMABAD

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CEO help in need organization also attended the ceremony.

On the occasion, Governor GB, Raja

Jalal Hussain Maqpoon acknowledged the PBM’s support expressing it an essential contribution to ease the earthquake victims

amid extreme cold weather conditions. He also reiterated the Government’s commitment for taking every practical initiative to rehabilitate the affected families. Addressing the ceremony, Managing Director PBM, Malik Zaheer Abbas expressed his determination for carrying out the relief activities for poor and distressed persons throughout the country. Emphasizing the significance of collaborative efforts to support the vulnerable community, the Managing Director expressed his gratitude to both the welfare organizations Muslim Aid and Help in need for their joint social services with PBM. On the occasion, Minister for Information, Planning and Development Gilgit-Baltistan Fateh Ullah Khan also applauded the services of PBM to reestablish the affected families in GB.

KARACHI: One of the largest construction groups of Pakistan, Paragon Constructors (Private) Limited, has chosen SAP, world’s leading digital solutions provider, as its strategic technology partner in pursuit of their end-to-end digital transformation journey. Paragon Constructors is the flagship company of Paragon Group of Companies and is behind some of Pakistan's landmark projects including Lucky one mall, Dolmen Mall, Habib University, EMAAR, UBL tower, Telenor, Ocean mall, Lucky cement plant. Through its 30 years of service in the industry, the Company has emerged as a premier construction brand, trusted nation-wide for its unmatched expertise, comprehensive range of services, and compliance with highest industry standards for safety and sustainability. To better accommodate the needs of their expanding portfolio of clients and bring renewed efficiency to their services, Paragon Constructors is now transforming and digitising their operations with the aid of SAP S/4 HANA Enterprise Management, Core HCM, and Payroll solutions.Being one of the most efficient and multidisciplinary enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, S/4 HANA will enable the Company to easily manage all operations and strategic dealings, create and manage plans and schedules swiftly, simplify financial management and easily analyse data and generate reports. The Core HR and Payroll solutions will help the Company manage global benefits and payroll, improve employee self-service, automate HR processes, and strengthen compliance. Apart from this, all day-to-day processes and other functions of an enterprise can be easily managed through SAP’s solutions resulting in improved speed and performance of business as well as better services for customers. Xx, xx Paragon Constructors Pakistan, while commenting on the successful implementation of the digital solutions, said, “Digitalisation has become the need of the hour, not just because it provides new and improved business solutions and revenue opportunities but also because it enables a business to better discern the needs of its customers and provide services accordingly. As one of the major stakeholders in the construction sector, the way we conduct our business and manage our clients and services is of utmost importance. We look forward to the promising and transforming results of SAP’s digital solutions.” Saquib Ahmed, Managing Director, SAP Pakistan also expressed his pleasure at serving the biggest construction company of Pakistan and said, “SAP is committed to aid businesses in improving their capabilities and simplifying their operations. As numerous organisations across various industries shift towards the digital realm, SAPensures that our solutions increase efficiency, resiliency and productivity of our customers’ businesses. We hope to see the fruitful results of this partnership in the form of our client’s success.” pr

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Thursday, 27 January, 2022 | LAHORE

10 FOREIGN NEWS

KAShmir rEElS UndEr SUpprESSion AS indiA obSErvES 73th ‘rEpUblic dAy’ iSLaMabaD

i

APP

NDIA on January 26, celebrated its 73th ‘Republic Day’ at a time when it has virtually usurped Kashmiris of all basic rights and transformed the whole state into a military garrison.

According to reports coming from Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) curfew-like restrictions were imposed all across the state whereas additional forces were deployed on the occasion. In addition to physical restrictions, the occupation authorities had suspended internet service on mobile devices, daily Greater Kashmir reported Wednesday.

According to Kashmir Media Service, Srinagar and Jammu cities have been turned into fortresses with troops deployed in large numbers around the main venues of the January 26 functions in Srinagar and Jammu and roads leading towards these venues had been sealed with barbed wire and barricades.

Strict measures were also taken in other towns of IIOJK whereas new bunkers and barricades had been set up in various parts of the territory to prevent people from holding anti-India demonstrations.

Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control and across the world observed the Indian ‘Republic Day’as Black Day to remind the world that India’s continued denial of right to self-determination to the Kashmiri people was contrary to its claim of being a democratic republic. The day in IIOJK was marked by a civil curfew by the people while Kashmiris and their sympathizers held antiIndia demonstrations and rallies in world capitals to draw the attention of the international community towards the Indian state terrorism in IIOJK. “The fascist country that has usurped the fundamental rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir has no justification whatsoever to celebrate republic day,” said spokesperson of an APHC constituent party, Jammu and Kashmir National Front, adding that since

West links humanitarian aid to Afghanistan to improvement in human rights OSLO AFP

the past several decades, Indian occupational forces have been grossly involved in trampling down the fundamental political and democratic rights of the Kashmiri people.”

For many, the Indian Republic Day brings miseries for Kashmiris as they have to face many hardships and adversaries by the occupation forces in the name of security.

“Indian Republic Day brings only miseries for people in IIOJK, more curbs, and more repression in Kashmir. It is a day of mourning and sadness for Kashmiris,” tweeted Altaf Hussain, Chairman, Kahsmir Institute of International Relations (KIIR).

On the occasion, Mushaal Hussein Mullick, a Rights Activist and wife of Senior Hurriyat Leader Yaseen Malik said that 26 January was actually a Black Day for Kashmiris, who have been facing worst kind of Indian state terrorism for decades. She said, India was hell-bent to change demography of the state and urged world community not to become a silent spectator.

Russia adds Kremlin critic Navalny to ‘terrorists’ list MOSCOW AFP

Western diplomats Tuesday linked humanitarian aid to Afghanistan to an improvement in human rights after meeting a Taliban delegation on a landmark visit to Europe. On the final day of the Taliban’s first official trip to Europe since returning to power in August, the fundamentalists held talks behind closed doors with several Western diplomats. The Taliban are seeking international recognition and financial aid. Afghanistan’s humanitarian situation has rapidly deteriorated since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, when international aid came to a sudden halt, worsening the plight of millions of people already suffering from hunger after several severe droughts. Western diplomats laid out what they expected from the Taliban during the talks.

The European Union’s special envoy to Afghanistan, Tomas Niklasson, wrote on Twitter that he had “underlined the need for primary and secondary schools to be accessible for boys and girls throughout the country when the school year starts in March”. He was responding to a tweet from a spokesman for the Afghan foreign ministry hailing the EU’s commitment to “continue its humanitarian aid to Afghanistan”. The Taliban delegation, led by Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, met senior French foreign ministry official Bertrand Lotholary, Britain’s special envoy Nigel Casey, and members of the Norwegian foreign ministry.

‘GIRLS BACK IN SCHOOL’ At the United Nations in New York, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said the talks appeared to have been “serious” and “genuine”. “We made clear we want to see girls back in school in March, also those above 12. We want to see humanitarian access,” he said. The Taliban have hailed this week’s talks — held in a hotel near Oslo — as a step toward international recognition.

US approves $2.56bn in military sales to Egypt WaSHinGTOn AFP

The US State Department approved Tuesday two major military equipment sales to Egypt of transport aircraft and radar systems, despite ongoing concerns in Washington over Cairo’s rights record. The sale of 12 C-130J Super Hercules transports and accompanying equipment is worth $2.2 billion. The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency said the sale, still not finalised, “will improve Egypt’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing airlift support for its forces by moving supplies, equipment, and people.” The aircraft can also be used for maritime patrol and rescue missions, it added. In a second deal, Egypt can buy ground-based air defense systems worth $355 million to help it fend off air threats. The deals come despite ongoing unease in Washington over Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s tough treatment of political opponents, with rights groups estimating that Egypt holds about 60,000 political prisoners. In September, the State Department put a hold on $130 million in military aid already budgeted for Egypt because of a lack of improvement in the human rights situation in the country. And in early November, Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Egypt in bilateral talks to make “tangible and lasting improvements” on human rights.

Russia on Tuesday added jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny and a number of his allies to a list of “terrorists and extremists”, as authorities further clamp down on the opposition.

Navalny and several allies, including key aide Lyubov Sobol, appeared Tuesday in a database of banned individuals compiled by the Federal Service for Financial Monitoring (Rosfinmonitoring).

The past year has seen an unprecedented crackdown on dissent in Russia, including the jailing of President Vladimir Putin’s top critic Navalny last January and the outlawing of his political organisations.

Almost all of his top allies, including Sobol, have since fled the country.

According to Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation — which was declared extremist and shut down last year — a dozen Navalny allies were added to the list on Tuesday.

They include anti-corruption investigator Georgy Alburov, lawyer Vyach-

eslav Gimadi and several former coordinators of Navalny’s regional offices that were also branded extremist last year.

The decision puts them on a par with right-wing nationalist groups and foreign “terrorist” organisations, including the Taliban and the so-called Islamic State group. Sobol, 34, was a lawyer for Navalny’s anti-corruption foundation and producer of the opposition politician’s YouTube channel. She has been wanted by Russian police since October.

“Participated in elections and was fighting corruption? Extremist,” Sobol tweeted.

Earlier this month, two other key Navlny aides — Ivan Zhdanov and Leonid Volkov — were added to the list.

Volkov, who used to oversee Navalny’s regional offices, tweeted that he was “proud to work in our team of ‘extremists and terrorists'”.

“It’s great that our super team of ‘terrorists’ is being joined by such great people,” Zhdanov, who headed the now-disbanded Anti-Corruption Foundation, said on Twitter.

The United States and European

Union both condemned the move, which comes amid high tensions over fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

“This latest designation represents a new low in Russia’s continuing crackdown on independent civil society,” US State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters in Washington.

“We urge Russia to cease the abuse of ‘extremism’ designations to target nonviolent organisations, to end its repression of Mr. Navalny and his supporters, and to honour its international obligations to respect and ensure human rights and fundamental freedoms,” Price said. Last month, investigators questioned several former regional Navalny coordinators, including Ksenia Fadeyeva, who is also a lawmaker in the Siberian city of Tomsk. She was also added to the “terrorists” list on Tuesday.

Separately, in an apparent attempt to put further pressure on the opposition, prison officials have asked a Moscow court to convert a suspended sentence handed to Navalny’s brother Oleg into real jail time.

On Monday, Moscow’s Lyublinsky

district court registered that request.

Last year, Oleg Navalny was handed a one-year suspended sentence for breaking anti-coronavirus restrictions during protests demanding his brother’s release.

Navalny was detained in January 2021 on arrival from Germany, where he was recovering from a nerve agent poisoning attack he and the West blame on the Kremlin.

In February, he was jailed for more than two years on old fraud charges.

His poisoning and arrest sparked widespread condemnation abroad as well as sanctions from Western capitals.

The European Parliament last year awarded Navalny the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought after he was nominated but passed over for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Investigators launched a new extremism probe against Navalny in 2021 that could see the opposition leader spend up to 10 more years in jail.

Authorities have designated dozens of rights groups, media outlets, journalists and anti-Kremlin figures “foreign agents”

China to work with Central Asia to build community with shared future: Xi Mian abrar This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the five Central Asian nations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

The leaders of the six countries held a virtual summit commemorating the 30th anniversary on Tuesday, further setting course for deeper China-Central Asia relations.

Chinese President Xi Jinping chaired the virtual summit in Beijing, saying China is ready to work with Central Asian countries in building a closer community with a shared future.

Xi has on various occasions called for closer cooperation between China and Central Asia, especially to boost economy and trade, maintain regional peace and security, and promote democracy in international relations.President Xi on Tuesday pointed out that the keys to the successful cooperation between China and the five Central Asian countries are mutual respect, good neighborliness and friendship, solidarity, and mutual benefit.

These principles are valuable experience and shared wealth for the countries, and serve as political guarantees for stable and lasting relations between China and the five countries as well as the source of strength for friendly exchanges in the future, he added.

China and the five Central Asian countries have achieved solid and fruitful results in the past three decades. China’s trade with the Central Asian nations has grown by more than 100 times in the period, said

the Ministry of Commerce on Monday.

Over the 30-year period, the stocks of China’s direct investment in the five countries have exceeded $14 billion, according to data released by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce in January.

The five Central Asian nations all signed on to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) proposed by China. The BRI has supported Central Asian countries in their postpandemic recovery, the World Bank noted in a report.

The Chinese president on Tuesday also reaffirmed China’s commitment to supporting the five Central Asian countries in following a development path that is suited to their own conditions.

No matter how the international situation changes, no matter how far China develops in the future, it will always be a good neighbor, good partner, good friend and good brother for Central Asian countries to trust

and rely on, Xi added.

He also said China firmly supports the five countries in safeguarding their national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, pursuing national revitalization and unity and self-reliance, and playing a greater role in the international arena.

Eyeing a brighter future for China-Central Asia ties, Xi on Tuesday also put forward a series of proposals on how the two sides should continue their friendship and cooperation to strive for the common welfare of their peoples. Xi voiced the necessity to magnify the exemplary role of good-neighborly friendship, urging the two sides to strengthen high-level exchanges and strategic communication and organize a series of dialogue and cooperation mechanisms such as the “China plus Central Asia” foreign ministers’ meeting.

“We firmly oppose attempts by external forces to foment color revolutions in Central Asia, firmly oppose interference in other countries’ internal affairs under the pretext of human rights, and firmly oppose any force that tries to disrupt the tranquil life of the peoples of our six countries,” said Xi. Xi also pledged to build a cooperation belt for highquality development with Central Asian countries, vowing to increase China’s trade with these countries to $70 billion by 2030.

For defending regional peace, Xi urged continuous efforts to crack down on the “three evil forces” of terrorism, extremism and separatism.

China will provide another 50 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Central Asian countries in 2022 and set up traditional medicine centers in countries with

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STar-STuddEd HBL PakISTan SuPEr LEaGuE SET TO rOLL IsLAMABAD

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the associateD Press

HE Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) says “robust” Covid-19 health and safety protocols are in place ahead of the month-long celebrated HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) competition in Karachi and Lahore, with several international cricketers participating in the six-team event.

“In the present-day environment, all international sport events are going ahead because there is more awareness and information about the pandemic,” PCB chairman Ramiz Raja told The Associated Press on the eve of PSL.

Karachi will host the first leg of the tournament beginning Thursday before the league moves to Lahore on February 10. Lahore will also host the playoffs and the final on February 27.

Last year the PSL was postponed in March after six players tested positive for Covid-19 in a bio-secure bubble, and the league was switched to Abu Dhabi in June.

The PCB has hired the same company for the seventh edition of its marquee event which successfully created the bio-secure arrangements in Abu Dhabi last year.

“The PCB, despite delivering 267 matches in 10 domestic events in 2021, is not taking anything for granted,” Raja said.

“We have designed and put in place robust

health and safety protocols for the wellbeing of all [PSL] participants.”

The virus has already caused concerns before the first game between defending champion Multan Sultans and Karachi Kings kicks off at National Stadium on Thursday.

At least three players, including Peshawar Zalmi’s wicket-keeper batsman Kamran Akmal, and five support staff members tested positive last Saturday when the teams began to assemble in Karachi.

The tournament’s technical committee has allowed Peshawar to include Imam ulHaq as a replacement for Akmal.

A spike in positive Covid-19 cases in Karachi forced authorities to impose lockdowns in high-risk areas. The government

had initially allowed full crowds in the PSL, but due to the spike in the positive cases, now only 25 percent of spectators will be allowed inside the stadium which means only 8,000 fans will be allowed to attend.

Pakistan has reported 1.38 million cases and 29,122 deaths from the coronavirus since the pandemic began in February 2020.

Unlike the last two seasons when the PSL was played over two legs, the PCB has no plans to either postpone or cancel the event this year in case there are Covid-19 outbreaks among the players.

It has been planned that the league will restart after a week’s break by resetting the bio-bubble from scratch.

While there are 20 players each in the six

teams, in the event of any outbreaks, matches will be allowed to go ahead if 13 players are available on each side.

Despite the threat of virus surrounding the PSL, Raja sees the presence of foreign players as a positive aspect for Pakistan which will be hosting four major countries this year, including Australia for the first time in Pakistan since 1998.

Johnson Charles of West Indies, New Zealand’s Colin Munro, Rilee Rossouw of South Africa and Chris Jordan and Alex Hales of England are some of the foreign cricketers who will be playing in the PSL. The PSL has seen several local cricketers emerge internationally over the years with bowlers like Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali and Shahnawaz Dahani among them. And Raja sees the level of close competition among the six franchises to grow.

“The PSL has strengthened its reputation and profile as one of the most competitive and challenging leagues, which makes it exciting to follow locally and internationally,” he said.

Martial completes loan switch from Man Utd to Sevilla MADRID News Desk

Faysal Islami's Shaheen Flies Even Higher kARACHI Press release

Shaheen Shah Afridi, the Brand Ambassador of Faysal Bank Limited has been awarded the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year for 2021. This is a proud moment for the entire nation and Faysal Bank Limited. The 21-year-old bowler is the youngest ever cricketer to receive the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy, and the only Pakistani to receive this honor. “Swing, seam, sheer pace and sizzling yorkers – Shaheen Shah Afridi gave an exhibition of it all in the year 2021," the ICC said in a statement, as it announced the 21-year-old as the winner of the award. Faysal Islami, the Best Emerging and fastest growing Islamic Bank of Pakistan is proud to have Shaheen Shah Afridi, as its corporate brand ambassador. Jaudat Hussain, Head Retail Banking Faysal Bank, said, “Faysal Islami & Shaheen Shah Afridi share common values of Excellence, Commitment to move forward and above all Belief in His Rehmat. Faysal Bank is proud of his achievement as much as we are proud of our own world’s largest conversion of a conventional bank to a full-fledged Islamic Bank” Faysal Bank Limited firmly believes that its conversion to an Islamic bank is a step that will have a positive impact on a vast segment of society who want to bank with a fully Islamic institution and have limited choices available due to limited size and reach of most existing Islamic players.

Manchester United striker Anthony Martial has completed a six-month loan move to Sevilla, the clubs announced on Tuesday, as the France international looks to revive his career in La Liga.

Martial will join Sevilla’s title charge in Spain, with the club in second place and trailing Real Madrid by four points.

The 26-year-old told United’s interim coach Ralf Rangnick that he wanted to leave in January after growing frustrated with a lack of playing opportunities.

Rangnick then accused Martial of refusing to travel to a game against Aston Villa earlier this month, a claim Martial refuted.

He made his first appearance under Rangnick as a sub-

stitute against West Ham last weekend and contributed to Marcus Rashford’s winning goal, after being jeered by some United fans when he came on.

“He’s a great player, one of the best strikers in the Premier League, but we have other players in his position.

It’s his wish that he wants to leave,” Rangnick said on Saturday. Martial was one of the brightest prospects in Europe when United signed him for a then world-record fee for a teenager in 2015.

After a promising first season under Louis van Gaal, the Frenchman struggled to impress Jose Mourinho during his two-year spell at Old Trafford.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s appointment rekindled Martial’s career in Manchester and he enjoyed his best goalscoring season in 2019/20, netting 23 goals.

But a long-term knee injury saw him miss the second half of last season and he fell down the pecking order after

the signings of Cristiano Ronaldo, Edinson Cavani and Jadon Sancho.

He has scored only one goal in 11 appearances this term but could be an astute signing for Sevilla if he can recover his goalscoring form under Julen Lopetegui in Spain. Sevilla have been hit by a number of injuries to key players, including their top scorer last season, Youssef EnNesyri.

They will also be among the favourites to win the Europa League, particularly as the final will be played at their own Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in May. Martial will hope the switch can also revive his hopes of playing for France at the World Cup in Qatar later this year.

A knee injury scuppered his chances of being included in the French squad at the European Championship last summer while his lack of form meant he was also left out of the last squad in November.

Australian players nervous about Pakistan tour: report sYDNeY reuters

Australian cricketers are on edge barely a month before their first tour of Pakistan in 24 years amid an uptick in militant attacks in the country, the Sydney Morning Herald reported on Wednesday.

“We’re all toey about it,” a source close to the team told the newspaper, using an informal Australian term for being anxious or worried.

Australia are scheduled to play three Tests, three One-Day Internationals and one T20 match in Pakistan starting March 3. Selector George Bailey told reporters on Wednesday that security arrangements would be “very, very robust and very, very thorough”. “I believe the boards are still working through some of the minor details around that tour, so once that gets the formal tick of approval then we’ll announce the squad post that, but we’re reasonably well down the track,” he added.

Australia has not toured Pakistan since 1998 due to security concerns, instead playing its away matches in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Though some international touring sides have returned to Pakistan in recent years, New Zealand abruptly halted a tour in September citing security issues and England shortly afterwards cancelled a planned tour. An increase in attacks since the Talibanregained control of neighbouring Afghanistan in August has not helped

Collins beats Cornet to make Australian Open semi-final MeLBOURNe

Golf: 48th Pakistan Open from Thursday 27th January kARACHI Press release

This year Pakistan’s top professional golfer will be decided in four rounds around 72 holes at the greens of Karachi Golf Club. National golfers have their eyes on country’s prime event that will start on 27th January till 30th.

Defending Champion Shabbir Iqbal who was recently titled leader of Sindh Open Golf 2022 is all set and looks in full form to complete with his rivals. Waheed Baloch of Karachi Golf Club will have benefits of home ground who edged Shabbir in 11th Rashid D Habib Golf and he may be a challenge for him. The most important National Golf Championship, Pakistan Open Golf is all set to tee off on its 48th edition with sponsorship by United Marine Agencies and is one of the most prominent golf events in PGF's calendar. Tournament Director- Lieutenant Colonel Zahid Iqbal (Retd) welcomed the management for their full cooperation in order to organize the event in a befitting manner.

to bolster confidence either.

Minister for Interior Sheikh Rashid said terrorist incidents had increased by more than a third since the United States withdrew from Afghanistan, media reported. A blast ripped through a crowded Anarkali market in Lahore on Thursday, killing three people and wounding over 20, police said.

A newly formed militant group claimed responsibility for the attack in a text message sent to a Reuters reporter.

PSL 2022: Who is the leading runscorer in PSL history?

aFP

News Desk

Danielle Collins swept into the last four of the Australian Open Wednesday to match her feat from 2019 and shatter French veteran Alize Cornet’s dream of making a first Grand Slam semifinal. The American 27th seed came through an intense clash 7-5, 6-1 in sweltering temperatures on Rod Laver Arena to continue her resurgence after surgery last year.

She will face either Polish seventh seed Iga Swiatek or Estonian veteran Kaia Kanepi for a place in the final.

The defeat was bitter-sweet for unseeded Cornet, who was in her first-ever Grand Slam quarter-final after 17 years of trying but was unable to take it a step further.

“It feels incredible, especially after some of the health challenges that I have had,” said Collins, 28.

“To be able to get back to this level and be able to compete the way I have and be as physical as I have has been so rewarding. “Especially playing against the girls I’ve been playing against the last couple of matches, really good competitors, really great athletes.”

Collins, a terrific college player who didn’t turn professional until the age of 22, has been in fine form since surgery to treat endometriosis in April last year then tearing her abdomen at Roland Garros.

She returned to win her maiden WTA titles at San Jose and Palermo and has now matched her 2019 run at Melbourne Park, the only other time she has made a Slam semi-final.

With temperatures hitting 34 Celsius (93 Fahrenheit), both players held their opening serve as they sized each other up in a first meeting of a pair renowned for their on-court intensity.

They probed for openings and the first break-point came on Cornet’s serve after Collins played a beautiful passing shot.

Pakistan Super League (PSL) is renowned for bowlers, but there are some batters who have managed to impress the crowd and are the top run-getters in the event’s history, with Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam being on the top of the list. In all the six editions of the league from 2016-2021, Pakistan’s modern-day great Babar, who plays for Karachi Kings, is the leading run-scorer in PSL’s history with 2,070 runs in 58 games at an average of 43.12. His highest score is 90 not-out and he has 21 fifties. The batter will be rearing to increase his run tally in the upcoming PSL 2022. The second on the list is Peshawar Zalmi’s opener and wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal, who has notched up 1,820 runs in 69 matches at a healthy strike rate of 136.84. He also has the most number of centuries having scored three centuries along with the highest score of 107 notout, along with 11 half-centuries. The third highest run-score is Shoaib Malik, who has amassed 1,481 runs in 61 matches at an average of 32.19 and a strike rate of 128.11, along with nine fifties. The fourth on the list of leading run-scorers is Australia’s Shane Watson, who retired from the domestic leagues as well in the 2020 edition, scored 1,361 runs in 46 games.

The Frenchwoman saved it and two more as the American pressed hard and she got her reward with a backhand volley to move 3-1 in front.

Cornet clung on but Collins was giving her few opportunities, until game 10 when nerves struck as she served for the set.

She netted a backhand to allow Cornet to break back for 45, but the American kept her cool to earn three set points at 65. Cornet saved two but then whipped a looping forehand long.

Collins kept up the pressure in set two and after holding the serve broke to go 2-0 clear with a blistering forehand.

Cornet was demoralised and her head went down, broken again to slump 4-0 behind and there was no way back.

Collins has never been ranked higher than 23rd in the world since debuting in 2011, but she could crack the top 10 if she reaches the Melbourne final.

Thursday, 27 January, 2022

prayer tiMings

NEWS

No dEcLiNE iN PricES for NExt thrEE MoNthS: ShauKat tariN ISLAMABAD

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Monitoring report

EDERAL Minister on Finance Shaukat Tarin on Wednesday hinted at no decline in the price hike for the next three months. While addressing a press conference here, Tarin said that the salaried class and urban lower middle class are most affected by the price hike.

He said that the prices have swelled all over the globe due to the coronavirus pandemic but Pakistan didn’t let its industries stop working.

“The prices hiked up to 90% in the international market. Trade deficit increased due to the rise in oil prices while the Afghan crisis weighed down Pakistan’s currency,” Tarin said.

Economic stability crucial to achieve foreign policy objectives: Qureshi ISLAMABAD staff report

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi Wednesday said that for Pakistan, to achieve its foreign policy objectives, getting its economic house in order was crucial.

Addressing the launch of the report on “Leveraging Private Investment for Pakistan’s Sustainable Development” at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he said the government was working towards a more hospitable investment environment to help bolster the confidence of investors. The minister said Pakistan was committed to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the United Nations’ Agenda 2030 to ensure inclusive and sustainable growth.

He emphasised that Agenda 2030 and SDGs needed to become a global framework to encourage the private sector to capture the benefits and tradeoffs of sustainable development.

He observed Pakistan achieved an encouraging growth of 5.37 percent despite the fact that the macro-economic indicators pointed in the “opposite direction” in August 2018 when the incumbent government assumed power.

Qureshi said with a country like Pakistan still being in an International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, achieving the objectives of sustainable development was a challenge.

In this regard, he said, Pakistan needed to be innovative and think out-of-the-box solutions to spur growth.

He said the government’s priority had changed with the recent launch of a new national security policy focusing on economic policy that encompassed food and water security.

The foreign minister said linking sustainable growth to development was the goal of the government and expressed confidence that the report would set guiding principles for inclusive and sustainable development.

He said the Foreign Office had a lead role to play in this regard and encouraged the diplomats to get out of the concept of working in silos and rather focus on a coordinated approach.

UNDP Resident Representative in Pakistan Knut Ostby said the global development financing sector was at the crossroads with many countries struggling in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and climate change.

According to Tarin, the country has been facing a number of challenges due to the coronavirus outbreak and the government had to reach out to the International Monetary Fund for the betterment of the economy.

“Prime Minister Imran Khan made an unpopular but a good decision to impose the smart lockdowns,” Tarin said, adding that the relief packages were introduced to beat the effects of the pandemic in the country.

The minister said that the government has launched the Ehsaas Rashan programme to cater to 20 million households with essential items such as ghee, pulses and wheat flour at subsidised rates.

Tarin further stated that Rs10 billion have so far been earmarked for the Kamyab Pakistan Programme, under which interest-free loans will be provided on a monthly basis to the people to start their businesses or

build a house.

He assured the masses of a significant increase in the allocation of money in these programmes in the coming months. Tarin went on to say that the country’s economic growth rate remained 5.37% in 2021.

“No one was expecting this much economic growth rate,” Tarin said. Pakistan’s economic growth of the country is expected to touch 5% by the end of this fiscal year, he added.

The minister highlighted a “record revenue collection” amid increasing exports and remittances.

“The economy is moving in the right direction,” he said, adding that Pakistan’s exports have increased up to 25% to 29%.

He said that the remittances and IT exports also improved while foreign exchange reserves did not drop much.

PM launches universal healthcare scheme PM Imran Khan on Wednesday inaugurated the Naya Pakistan Qaumi Sehat Card scheme to provide health insurance to families across Pakistan.

Addressing the ceremony in Islamabad, PM Imran said private and government hospitals will no longer have to pay premium for universal health coverage and both private and public hospitals will offer treatment to the people.

“It is a very ambitious project,” Imran said, adding that the rich and the poor will both have free healthcare for the first time in the country.

The scheme will cost the government Rs450 billion and will provide free medical treatment to the people at government and private hospitals.

Each family can avail treatment worth Rs1 million annually.

Speaking about healthcare insurance, he said this was the “defining moment in the history of Pakistan” that would carve the country’s path to greatness and added that the state

owes its security to its people.

Imran also lauded Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, saying without the Punjab government’s cooperation, the federal government could not have launched the project. “Punjab is establishing five mother and child care hospitals to mitigate the high mortality rate of Pakistan,” he added.

“This is not just a health card but a healthcare system,” the premier said, adding the introduction of the health card scheme would put pressure on government hospitals to raise their standards. “If they fail to do so, then people would opt for private hospitals and the government hospitals will not be able to generate revenue,” Imran added.

The PM reiterated that the government health sector in Pakistan deteriorated over time as a result of ‘elite capture’.

“Doctors refused to go to remote hospitals either that deprived the peo-

ple of rural areas of basic health necessities,” he added. The health care system in Pakistan only catered to the rich, he said, adding that the divide between the poor and rich continued to increase since Pakistan’s creation.

The ruling elite of Pakistan never bothered to create a welfare state, Imran said while criticising previous governments.

The prime minister said the government will also facilitate private hospitals to venture into rural areas.

“We will provide land on cheap rates to private hospitals and also remove duties on medical equipment in a bid to facilitate them,” he said, adding that this is just the beginning and the next step will be education.

Chief Minister Usman Buzdar said 56 hospitals had been enlisted in the province to provide medical insurance facilities in 36 districts. He said the entire population of Punjab would get medical insurance by March 31. news desk

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Lahore police arrest prime suspect in journalist murder case Lahore police on Wednesday arrested the prime suspect involved in the murder of journalist Husnain Shah, who was shot dead outside the Lahore Press Club earlier this week. According to reports, the journalist was killed because of a financial dispute with a jeweller in the provincial capital. On Wednesday, the police conducted a raid at a car showroom on Jail Road and arrested Amir Butt, who is the proprietor of Gold Asia Jewelers. The police said the investigation is underway. Earlier, the police had arrested three suspects allegedly involved in the killing of the journalist. The police had revealed that the accused are being interrogated. Hasnain was sitting in his car outside the press club when the suspects, riding a motorcycle, had intercepted and shot at him, killing him on the spot. Hasnain was a crime reporter for a private news channel and also a member of Lahore’s press club. news desk

Several injured as police baton charge MQM-P workers in Karachi Several people were injured and many others were arrested in Karachi on Wednesday after the police fired tear gas and baton charged the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) workers, protesting against the Sindh Local Government (Amendment) Act, 2021, to disperse them outside the CM House.

According to reports, MQM-P MNA Kishwar Zahra and many other members of provincial and national assemblies got injured during the clash with police while 10 party workers were detained by the policemen from the protest venue. The shelling began after negotiations to persuade the protesters to leave the area failed. The workers broke through the police barriers and chanted slogans when police officials tried to stop them. Earlier, thousands of commuters were stuck on the city’s main road – Sharae Faisal – after the party workers blocked both sides of the road. However, the destination was later changed by party leaders and the protesters reached the CM House. Former Karachi mayor Wasim Akhtar said that the workers were there to record protest against the local government law, adding that a large number of workers participated in the protest. The party also announced to hold an emergency press conference soon.

Meanwhile, PTI’s Parliamentary Leader in Sindh Assembly Khurram Sher Zaman said that “prodemocratic forces” are being punished for protesting against the local government bill. news desk

NAB says ‘politicians are least corrupt as compared to bureaucrats & businessmen’ The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) told the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Wednesday that politicians are least corrupt when compared with bureaucrats and businessmen in the country.

As per the details, the NAB data pertaining to the recoveries made through voluntary return and plea bargain submitted to PAC revealed that the recoveries made from politicians were the lowest among bureaucrats, businessmen and others. The data states that the amount recovered by the anti-graft watchdog amounted to a total of Rs54.63 billion, out of which only Rs0.47 billion belonged to politicians. The bureau recovered Rs8.17 billion from bureaucrats, Rs24.31 billion from businessmen and Rs21.68 billion from others.

The total amount includes Rs19.12 billion recovered through voluntary return and Rs35.51 billion via plea bargain. Out of Rs0.47 billion, the politicians returned only Rs0.05 billion voluntarily and Rs0.42 as a plea bargain.

Additionally, bureaucrats returned Rs3.96 voluntarily while Rs4.21 was recovered from them through a plea bargain. Businessmen plea bargained the most with Rs17.16 billion and returned Rs7.15 voluntarily to NAB.

The NAB officials, while responding to a question by committee members, clarified that the only difference between voluntary return and a plea bargain was of conviction. “Plea bargain carries conviction,” they said. PPP’s Sherry Rehman wondered “who could be these angels who voluntarily returned the money to NAB”.

Meanwhile, NAB Chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal once again skipped the PAC hearing on account of being tested positive for Covid-19.

However, neither PAC chairman Rana Tanveer Hussain nor the committee members made any hue and cry over DG NAB Hasnain Ahmed giving a briefing.

It is pertinent to note that last time, PAC had refused to take briefing over chairman NAB’s absence and a letter from NAB stating that Prime Minister Imran Khan had barred the anti-graft chairman from appearing before parliamentary committees, including PAC. The committee had summoned chairman NAB on January 26 to quiz him on the appropriation of accounts as well total recoveries made by the anti-graft body from politicians, bureaucrats, businessmen and other entities including the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

The highest accountability forum of parliament had also directed him to bring details pertaining to book adjustments, cash recoveries and the total embezzled amount from government treasury and private entities, individuals and banks.

According to details, when the PAC meeting started on Wednesday, Tanveer informed the committee members that chairman NAB had contracted Covid-19, adding that he had asked the DG to come and let the committee decide if it wants to go ahead or not. The members did not raise any objection to this.

DG NAB informed the panel that NAB had approached the finance division and was told that the excess amount was taken as a grant and the supplementary grant would be approved in due course.

To an objection from PPP’s Naveed Qamar over the timeframe, Tanveer directed NAB to regularise the amount in the next session of the National Assembly.

To PML-N’s Sardar Ayaz Sadiq’s question what would happen if the amount was not regularized and got rejected, Tanveer said that in that case “the amount would be recovered; very simple.” news desk

Government allows PDM march to sail through to experience ‘humiliation’ LAHORE staff report

The government appeared to have made peace with the proposed long march on Islamabad of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) on March 23, saying it won’t create any hurdles as it expressed confidence that the protest against price hike would only bring “political humiliation” for the multiparty opposition alliance.

In December, a meeting of the PDM parties, which was also attended by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader Nawaz Sharif from London via video link, announced to hold the march on Pakistan Day.

It refused to entertain the requests of Minister for Interior Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed who urged the opposition to change the date as the nation would be celebrating the annual event with a high-profile military parade while foreign dignitaries would also be present for an Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit.

The PDM would move forward with the protest per the plan, Rehman announced. But he, despite repeated questions by reporters, refused to tell whether the march would be a one-day event or it would be converted into an indefinite sit-in.

Addressing a ceremony in Rawalpindi on Wednesday, Ahmed said the opposition has already faced defeat in the Parliament

and will now experience the same on the roads. He assured the government will not create any hurdle in the way of their protests provided they do not take the law into their hands.

“If you want to anger them [OIC representatives] for the sake of your personal politics then come on March 23 and do not [change the date]. Come on March 23, and God willing, you will face a political defeat and be humiliated,” he added.

He also questioned the purpose of the march, wondering if there was some “reason or agenda” behind it.

He also recalled asking the PDM to change the date of its march. “March 23 was a sensitive date,” he said, adding that main

roads in the capital would be closed for the parade and cellular services may also be suspended due to the arrival of foreign officials for the OIC meeting.

The opposition had failed to defeat the government on any motion or bill the latter introduced during its time in power, he added.

To a question, he said Prime Minister Imran Khan enjoyed cordial relations with the military establishment.

To another, he informed a swimming pool would be constructed at Liaquat Bagh Sports Complex at a cost of Rs100 million while Rs300 million will be spent to provide facilities, including accommodation, for athletes.

The minister said three universities and

60 colleges had been established in Rawalpindi to promote girls’ education.

All-out efforts were being made to start construction work on the Nullah Lai project which would be completed at an estimated cost of Rs120 billion, he said adding work on the Rawalpindi Ring Road project would also begin soon.

Nullah Lai project would change the fate of the people particularly those living near the drain, he said: “They would be allowed to construct commercial buildings. The rates of their properties would also increase considerably,” he added.

He said Khan’s trip to China to attend Beijing Olympics would yield “very good results” for Pakistan.

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