Issuu

thursday, 3 february, 2022 I 1 rajab, 1443 I rs 15.00 I vol XII no 216 I 12 Pages I lahore edition

IMF board approves 6th tranche oF loan prograM For pakIstan

ISLAMABAD

Shahzad paracha

HE International Monetary Fund (IMF) board has approved the 6th tranche of their six billion dollar Extended Fund Facility program for Pakistan. Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Shaukat Tarin late Wednesday night took to social media site, Twitter, to make the announcement. “I am pleased to announce that the IMF Board has approved the 6th tranche of their programme for Pakistan”. The IMF will now transfer a one billion dollar amount to Pakistan under the EFF program, bringing the total disbursements to about US$3.02 billion. It is pertinent to note that the IMF had set two prior conditions, approval of the Finance supplementary bill, the State Bank Amendment bill, from parliament. After dragging feet for eight months, the government of Prime

Minister Imran Khan signed off all the conditions that it tried to resist first in June and then in October last year. The government agreed to take Rs800 billion measures through a combination of cut in expenditures and imposition of about Rs500 billion in taxes, including Rs20 per litre fuel tax, to revive the stalled $6 billion IMF programme. The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government managed to approve both bills from both houses of the parliament last week. Under the Finance supplementary bill, the government, withdrawing the Rs343 billion exemptions, has imposed 17 percent sales tax on around 144 items on the instruction of IMF. On the other hand, the government has also given complete autonomy to the State bank of Pakistan under the SBP Amendment Bill, 2021. The Federal government cannot borrow money from the Central bank However, the government now can borrow at a market rate from commercial banks, which will benefit pri-

coronavIrus In

pakIstan

CONFIRMED CASES:

1,436,413

LAST UPDATED AT 9:56 AM ON FEBRUARY 2, 2022

DAY'S DEATH TOLL:

NEW CASES:

6,047

RECOVERED:

DEATHS:

1,304,980 29,330 SINDH:

PUNJAB:

544,722

482,316

KPK:

BALOCHISTAN:

196,328

34,501

AJK/GB:

ISLAMABAD:

38,805/10,737

129,004

vate banks owned by business elites. Earlier, the government had decided to keep the Covid-19 expenditures audit report confidential in violation of the IMF agreement. The report has disclosed Rs40 billion irregularities in the PM’s Covid relief package. In November last year, Tarin had admitted that as a result of the IMF’s condition, “difficulties of the lower income groups will increase marginally but targeted subsidies will be given”. The inflation rate in January skyrocketed to 13% -the highest in two years. To qualify for the tranche, the Public Sector Development Programme was cut by Rs200 billion or 22% and the “contingency grants” were reduced by Rs50 billion, Tarin had said in November. The tax collection target of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has been increased to over Rs6.1 trillion – an addition of roughly Rs350 billion The revised petroleum development levy target is now Rs356 billion – down from Rs610 billion that the government had set in the budget. Pakistan will have to ensure a primary budget surplus after paying the cost of debt servicing against the budget target of Rs376 billion deficit, requiring strict fiscal discipline that would have severe implications for the economy. It is worth mentioning that the IMF and Pakistan on November 21, 2021, had reached a staff-level agreement on policies and reforms needed to complete the sixth review under the EFF but the agreement was subject to approval by the Executive Board, following the implementation of prior actions, notably on fiscal and institutional reforms.

PM Imran Khan set to embark upon historic China trip today ISLAMABAD Mian abrar

Prime Minister Imran Khan is all set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping with a list of measures aimed at seeking China’s support in stabilisation of Pakistan’s ailing economy. Economic agenda would be at top of Khan’s priorities as Khan would sit down with the political elite of China. Khan Wednesday chaired a preparatory meeting to give final touches to his upcoming visit to Beijing here at the Prime Minister’s House. ChInese CoMPanIes ready to Invest BIllIons of dollars: Sources privy to the details told Pakistan Today that two consortium and 17 companies have been identified who are interested to investing in ten sectors in Pakistan. “At least one investment has been identified as ready to execute with US$ 250 million while 6 MoUs are ready to be signed with a cost of US$ 10.4 billion,” the sources said. The source said a company has purchased 100 acres of additional land to establish a Special Economic Zone of world standard with investment of US$ 250. Meanwhile, a major fashion company has invited fellow textile companies to invest in Pakistan a cluster of textile companies. “They plan to have exports of US$ 400 million and employ 20,000 Pakistani youth within two years,” the sources said.

Bandial sworn in as chief justice

CONTINUED ON PAGE 03

more inside

Covid-19 spread remains under key threshold for second day

ISLAMABAD Staff report

Justice Umar Ata Bandial was sworn in as the nation’s 28th chief justice during a ceremony held at the presidency on Wednesday. President Dr Arif Alvi administered the oath to Justice Bandial. The event was attended by Prime Minister Imran Khan, Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani, National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry, judges of the Supreme Court and lawyers. Elevated to the top judicial office, Justice Bandial will now face a veritable mountain of 51,766 cases pending before the Supreme Court alone. The total backlog of cases in the national judiciary, including the superior courts as well as district courts, stands at a whopping 2.1 million. The judge will serve in the office until September 16, 2023, before being replaced by Justice Qazi Faez Isa who has recently been at the centre of criticism for failing to disclose information about his family’s foreign assets. Justice Bandial served as chief justice of the Lahore High

The sources said that expression of interest has been identified by 12 companies with US$ 21.52 billion. foreIgn dIreCt InvestMent: The source said that Pakistan is looking at integrating Pakistan into the Chinese industry and technology supply chains. The source added that Pakistan is offering regionally competitive incentives to foreign investors in SEZs and STZs seeking Chinese investment in textile, recycling, agriculture, technology, auto industry and infrastructure. The source added that Pakistan specifically needs Chinese support to establish Cotton Processing Free Zone in Balochistan. Khan, who is visiting Beijing after a twoyear-gap, is set to attend the opening ceremony of Winter Olympics being held in Beijing on February 4. The premier would also hold very important meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Prime Minister Li keqiang and other key officials of the CPC during the four-day visit. The premier may also ask his Chinese counterpart to roll over the loans taken by Pakistan for different projects including the energy sector under CPEC. The government of Pakistan has already settled its issues with the independent power producers (IPPs) by reducing the rate of return. Khan also may hold meetings with the Russian President Vladimir Putin and the heads of state of five central Asian states in Beijing.

STORY ON PAGE 02

Court (LHC) between 2012 and 2014. Out of the total strength of 17 justices, seven will have the opportunity to become the chief justice while the remaining 10 will retire as Supreme Court judges. As per the scheme of seniority, Justice Isa would retire on October 25, 2024, and be replaced by Justice Ijaz ul-Ahsan who would assume the office for 282 days. Then, on August 4, 2025, the post would go to Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah who would remain in office until November 27, 2027, before being succeeded by Justice Munib Akhtar. Justice Yahya Afridi would be the nation’s next top judge from December 14, 2028, until January 22, 2030.

The newly-elevated Justice Ayesha A. Malik will become Pakistan’s first female chief justice on January 23, 2030. She would keep the office until June 2, 2031. Who Is JUstICe BandIal?: Born on September 17, 1958, in Lahore, Justice Bandial received his elementary and secondary education in Lahore, Kohat, Rawalpindi and Peshawar. “He secured his B.A. (Economics) degree from Columbia University followed by a Law Tripos degree from Cambridge University and qualified as Barrister-at-Law from Lincoln’s Inn,” the Supreme Court’s website read. In 1983, Justice Bandial enrolled as an advocate of the LHC and later, as an advocate of the Supreme Court.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

Widespread rain wind-thunderstorm with snowfall over hills expected in country STORY ON PAGE 03

trade deficit decreases by 30pc in January: Muzammil STORY ON BACK PAGE

‘Hapless’ Nawaz Sharif wants to stay in London based on fake report: Sheikh Rasheed STORY ON BACK PAGE

Thursday, 3 February, 2022 | LAHORE

NEWS

Covid-19 spRead Remains undeR key thReshold FoR seCond day ISLAMABAD

STaff RePoRT

HE nation confirmed 6,047 new cases of coronavirus in the last 24 hours, keeping the contagion rate below the severity yardstick of 10 percent for a second consecutive day, the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) said on Wednesday. According to the statistics shared by the

NCOC, the daily caseload has seen a slight increase in the last 24 hours, going up from 5,327 a day earlier. The authorities conducted 61,190 diagnostic tests on February 1 to receive back a positivity rate of 9.88 percent. However, the daily infection rates increased in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where Malankand recorded the positivity ratio at 44 percent, Kohat 32 percent, Peshawar 25 percent, and Charsadda 22

Punjab government to oﬀer 130,000 jobs: CM Buzdar LAHORE STaff RePoRT

Chief Minister (CM) Usman Buzdar said that Punjab government will offer 130,000 jobs and candidate will be given relaxation of two years as stated in the notification issued. While addressing the public in Dera Ghazi Khan, CM said that in the first step, advertisement for these government jobs has been published and the

contestants will be granted a relaxation of two years in the upper age limit. Usman Buzdar also said that Pakistan had deviated from its track in the past because of the wrong decisions taken by the previous governments but now our country is back on the right track under the leadership of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan as we have done nothing else other than serving the nation in the past three and a half years.

percent. The rate in Lahore inched up to 13.9 percent. Meanwhile, the active cases dropped to 102,103 after 9,590 patients recovered on Tuesday. The count had been registering an uptick since January 8 when the number of active cases stood at 15,192. There are 1,559 patients in critical condition and being treated at intensive care units in different hospitals in the country, it added. The NCOC, a department leading the nation’s campaign against the pandemic, said

the number of confirmed cases increased to 1.4 million while 1.3 million out of them have recovered. According to the NCOC data, 29 people died due to Covid-19 on Tuesday, increasing the overall death toll to 29,330. Sindh is the most-affected province of the country in terms of the number of cases with 544,722 infections, followed by Punjab, which has reported 482,316 cases so far. NCOC SPEEDS UP VACCINATION DRIVE: Meanwhile, the NCOC announced

to speed up the process of vaccinating the public to avoid a further spread of the latest fifth wave of infections. The daily meeting of the federal forum was told that over 1.2 million people have been administered the vaccination in the last 24 hours. With this, the number of total doses administered since March 2021 has reached 174 million across the country. The government has fully vaccinated 80 million people and at least 104 million have had one dose of the vaccine.

Four accused of murder, terrorism and illegal land occupation held on IGP’s directives ISLAMABAD STaff RePoRT

On the directives of Inspector General Islamabad Muhammad Ahsan Younas, an extensive crackdown is underway against the land mafia in the limits of Bhara Kahu and Bani Gala police station and at least four members of a criminal gang involved in forty cases including murder, murder

attempt, terrorism and illegally occupying lands of the people has been arrested. As per details, IGP Islamabad Muhammad Ehsan Younas had issued stern directives regarding launching of a crackdown against land mafia and providing protection to the life and property of the masses. Acting promptly on the directives, a team led by SP City Kamran Amir Khan and including SDPO Hakim Khan, SHO Bhara

Punjab ombudsman provides Rs50mn relief to complainants LAHORE STaff RePoRT

On the direction of Punjab Ombudsman retired Major Azam Suleman Khan, plaintiffs from various provincial districts have been provided with legal relief valued at Rs49.43 million in several cases relating to the provincial government’s departments. Explaining the details in this regard, a spokesperson of the Office of the Ombudsman said the cases were related to complaints of non-payment of dues based on blood relationship, leave encashment, delay in the return of surety money and wrong deducted on the basis of late delivery. In this regard, the Workers Welfare Fund Punjab paid Rs1.1 million as talent scholarship and educational expenses to one

Laiba Chaand from Layyah after the involvement of the ombudsman’s office, the spokesman added. The spokesman further stated the ombudsman’s office moderated to get vacated state lands valuing over Rs22.5 million in Mianwali and Toba Tek Singh after five complainants approached the ombudsman’s office to retrieve the same from illegal squatters. The lands have been handed over to the concerned administration for official use. As a result of the action of Ombudsman Khan on a separate application, an 11-year-old dispute of one Irum Zafar from Islamabad has also been resolved amicably and ownership of a four marla plot belonging to her late husband, with a market value of Rs0.61 million in Taxila, has been transferred in her name.

Kahu launched a crackdown and arrested three criminals including Raja Muhammad Nazak, Raja Riaz and Butarab involved in 34 offences including murder, attempt murder and illegal occupation of people lands. Besides, the police also apprehended head of the land mafia numberdar Sabeel alias Pappu involved in illegal occupation piece of land in the jurisdiction of Banigala. He was reportedly involved in eight other offences.

FBR defers new property valuation till Feb-end ISLAMABAD TLTP

Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Wednesday postponed the implementation of new and revised valuation of immovable properties till February 28, 2022. The FBR said that new and revised valuation tables of immovable properties issued on December 01, 2021 would remain in abeyance till February 28, 2022 and those valuation tables would be re-notified on March 01, 2022. The FBR on December 01, 2021 issued fresh and updated valuation tables for around 40 major cities of the country. However, the FBR deferred the implementation of the new valuations of immovable properties till January 15, 2022 and further deferred till January 31, 2022. The FBR on December 01, 2021 issued fresh and upward revised valuation tables for immovable properties located in 40 major cities of the country. The revenue body decision to defer the implementation came after several complaints received by the FBR that were pertaining to high valuation in the new tables.

Nation urged to expose ‘ugly face’ of India to world on Kashmir Day ISLAMABAD STaff RePoRT

Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry on Wednesday said the nation would mark February 5 as Kashmir day in an impressive manner to express solidarity with the people of occupied Kashmir and expose the “ugly face” of New Delhi to the world. In a statement, he said: “We have been marking February 5 as Kashmir Day for the last three decades and [this time] the entire nation would be mobilised against Indian oppression in the light of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s vision and leadership.” Chaudhry said that our mothers and sisters in occupied Kashmir were rendering sacrifices and it was, therefore, our responsibility to take part in the public gatherings in connection with Kashmir Day. He said the workers and leaders of all the political parties of AJK would also participate in Kashmir Day public gatherings and rallies. The president further said that occupied Kashmir has become a military cantonment due to the presence of over one million troops and the people are facing a dire human rights

situation amid Indian oppression and barbarism. Therefore, there is a need to show solidarity with the people of occupied Kashmir by holding mass demonstrations and rallies, just as we do every year, he added. ‘UNFLINCHING SUPPORT’ Meanwhile, All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) leader Syed Mushtaq Gilani said the people of occupied Kashmir would always remember the unwavering support Pakistan and its people extended to the cause. “We will always remember the assistance Pakistan has been extending to the people of Kashmir at all forums. We acknowledge the way Pakistan highlighted the Kashmir issue, becoming the voice of the innocent and oppressed people of Kashmir,” he told the Associated Press of Pakistan. Every year on February 5, people residing across the Line of Control (LoC) and in all parts of the world express solidarity with the region, reminding the rights bodies of their lawful and moral obligation of ensuring the legitimate right to self-determination to the people of Kashmir, Gilani said. He said people would never forget the

unflnching support of Pakistan and its efforts in resolving the Kashmir dispute in line with the resolutions passed by the United Nations Security Council and as per the wishes of the people of Kashmir. Acknowledging the measures taken by Pakistan after India’s illegal actions of August 5, 2019, Gilani said the ugly face of India and its so-called claim of being a secular state had fully been exposed before the entire world. “Now, it is the prime responsibility of the international community, especially the influential nations, to come forward and play their due role in giving the people of Kashmir their legitimate right of self-determination which has been denied since 1947,” he said. He said the people of occupied Kashmir were facing the worst-ever suppression and atrocities at the hands of occupation forces and the fascist government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi which stripped the territory of its special status. The APHC leader thanked Pakistan, its people and the media for highlighting the plight of the people of Kashmir at the international level and keeping the issue alive, considering it their “top priority”.

Thursday, 3 February, 2022 | LAHORE

NEWS

Govt says it is open to RevisitinG nsp ISLAMABAD

NewS DeSk

HE government hinted on Wednesday at the possibility of revisiting the National Security Policy (NSP) after opposition leaders called for a more focused policy that also addressed the underlying causes of political, economic, and social imbalance in the country. Participating in a dialogue hosted by the Islamabad Policy Institute on the recently unveiled NSP Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Andleeb Abbas said that the policy was a living document and the government was open to reviewing it. “Policies are revisited and reviewed and constructive criticism will be welcomed,” Abbas told the participants, adding that the NSP had been prepared on the basis of government’s viewpoint but valid ideas could still be incorporated.

Abbas also said that it was a comprehensive document, but there was room for improvement in it. She emphasised its implementation and pointed out that some of the initiatives that the government had already taken were in line with its objectives. The discussion was moderated by Iftikhar Shirazi. On the occasion, senior leaders of both the major opposition parties, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), criticised the policy for being “too wordy but containing little substance”. “NSP, a hollow document that lacks legitimacy and consent from elected representatives, is devoid of a clearly defined implementation framework, and contradicts directly the conduct of foreign and security policies by the hybrid regime since 2018,” said PML-N Vice President Khurram Dastgir Khan. In this regard, Khan noted that the NSP set out defence of the nation’s sovereignty as its principal aim,

Covid-19 positive malik put on ventilator: spokesperson ISLAMABAD STaff RePoRT

but the government compromised the country’s economic sovereignty by bulldozing the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Bill in parliament. He argued that if the NSP’s claim of being “citizencentric” was to be realised, then resource allocation must be rationalised by balancing defence spending and development. “If this does not happen, the policy is mere a paper,” he maintained. The former foreign minister felt that the Kashmir dispute was not adequately emphasised in the document and the ground situation in the occupied territory was not fully reflected. He said the document limited itself to just repeating the Foreign Office boilerplate and did not even demand a reversal of India’s actions on August 5, 2019. PPP Secretary General Farhatullah Babar, meanwhile, said the NSP lacked input from parliament, civil society, therefore, it was neither inclusive nor participatory – a basic condition for a true national policy. “It is an expression of pious hopes, vague

PM Imran Khan set to embark upon historic China trip today COntInuED fROM PAGE 01

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Rehman Malik was put on a mechanical ventilator after he struggled to breathe due to coronavirus-related complications, his spokesperson said Wednesday. The former interior minister had tested positive for the viral disease some two weeks ago and shifted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of a hospital in Islamabad after his condition deteriorated. He was put on a ventilator on Tuesday after his condition worsened, said Riaz Ahmad Turi who added the virus attacked his lungs. A mechanical ventilator is used to support patients with severe respiratory conditions that impact the lungs, including pneumonia. Before a patient is placed on a ventilator, medical staff — often anaesthetists — will perform a procedure called intubation. After a patient is sedated and given a muscle relaxant, a tube is placed through the mouth and into the windpipe.

tlp chief settles down LAHORE STaff RePoRT

The chief of the radical Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) party, Saad Hussain Rizvi, will walk down the aisle on Thursday. The walima ceremony will be held on Saturday either at the Punjab University Wedding Lawns or in the Sabzazar neighbourhood, his group’s home turf, in Lahore. Reports citing sources within the party said the venue for the event will be confirmed in a day or two, keeping in view the number of guests. Several religious and political figures have been invited to attend the wedding, they said.

Khan’s important visit to China would help take the strong bilateral relations between the two countries to new heights. The prime minister was given a detailed briefing on projects related to China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Special Economic Zones, trade, information technology and agriculture. The meeting was attended by federal ministers including Shaukat Tareen, Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, Asad Umar and Hammad Azhar, Commerce Adviser Abdul Razak Dawood, State Minister Farrukh Habib, National security Adviser Dr Moeed Yusuf, Special Assistants Shahbaz Gill and Khalid Mansoor. PM Imran Khan, on the special invitation of the Chinese leadership, is visiting China from February 3 to 6, the Foreign Office said on Wednesday. “Prime Minister Imran Khan will visit China from February 3-6 to attend the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games,” the FO said in a statement issued ahead of the visit. The prime minister will be accompanied by a high-level delegation including members of the cabinet and senior government officials. As a global event, the Olympic Games foster mutual understanding, inclusivity and friendship among the peoples of the world. Beijing will soon become the first city to host both summer and winter editions of the games. “It is highly admirable that the Chinese government has made meticulous arrangements for holding the Winter Olympic Games despite the Covid-19 pandemic,” according to the statement. “The leaders will review the entire gamut of

bilateral relations, with a particular focus on stronger trade and economic cooperation including CPEC,” it said. A number of memorandums of understanding and agreements will be concluded during the visit. In Beijing, the prime minister will also meet prominent business leaders of China and representatives of leading Chinese think-tanks, academia and the media. He will also have other bilateral interactions on the sidelines. The two sides will also hold a wideranging exchange of views on major regional and international issues. The prime minister’s visit will mark the culmination of celebrations commemorating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China, with more than 140 events organised to showcase the resilience of the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership amidst the Covid-19 pandemic and the unfolding international situation. “It would thus renew the bilateral commitment to taking the iron-clad partnership between Pakistan and China to new heights and add impetus to cooperation across multiple domains,” the FO statement said. In addition to these issues, PM Imran’s visit has also significant importance for Pakistan and China in the wake of instability in Afghanistan. Sources said that Pakistan would particularly seek support of China to ramp up investment in the energy space. It is comparatively easier for the government to discuss matters pertaining to the power sector as it has made considerable progress on the lingering issue of Rs230 billion withheld payments to the Chinese

Cement supply declines by 16.58pc in January GHuLAM ABBAS Cement supply continued declining in January with a 16.58 per cent decrease mainly due to cost of production and shortage of containers for exports. According to the data released by All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA), total cement despatches during January 2022 were 3.95 million tons against 4.73 million tons despatched during the same month of last fiscal year. The cement despatches are showing a declining trend for the past few months. The local cement despatches by the industry during the month of January 2022 were 3.4 million tons compared to 4.04 million tons in January 2021, showing a

reduction of 15.87per cent. Exports despatches suffered a massive decline by 20.71per cent as the volumes reduced from 694,934 tons in January 2021 to 551,006 tons in January 2022. In January 2022, north based cement mills despatched 2.707 million tons cement in domestic markets showing a reduction of 18.29per cent against 3.313 million tons despatches in January 2021. South based mills despatched 693,453 tons cement in local markets during January 2022 that was 4.82per cent less compared to the despatches of 728,568 tons during January 2021. Exports from north based mills massively declined by 94.12per cent as the quantities reduced from 233,404 tons in January 2021 to

13,727 tons in January 2022. Exports from the south, however, increased by 16.41per cent to 537,279 tons in January 2022 from 461,530 tons during the same month last year. During the first seven months of the current fiscal year, total cement despatches (domestic and exports) were 31.4 million tons, which calculates to 5.89per cent lower than 33.37 million tons despatched during the corresponding period of last fiscal year. Further analysis indicate that domestic uptake of the commodity reduced by 0.69per cent to 27.465 million tons from 27.657 million tons during July-January 2021 whereas exports during the same period declined by a massive 31.04per cent to 3.94 million tons from 5.71 million tons during July-January2021.

Widespread rain wind-thunderstorm with snowfall over hills expected in country ISLAMABAD STaff RePoRT

Rain-wind thunderstorm with snow over hills is expected in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, upper and central Punjab, Kashmir

promises, and resting on borrowed cliches,” he added. He regretted that much like the formulation of the NSP without taking parliament on board, the government had without any political consultations and debate drastically changed the National Action Plan (NAP) and rendered the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta) dysfunctional. The NSP, he contended, claimed “to leverage the symbiotic relationship between human security, economic security and military security,” but failed to recognise that human security also meant protecting and enhancing human freedoms that were the essence of life. He called for addressing the issues of institutional imbalance, inequitable resource distribution, non-state actors and deliberate undermining of the democratic institutions. He suggested that a new national policy that must make a clear admission of the failures of the past of the need to “put own house in order” and start with a Truth Commission to chalk out the future path.

and Gilgit Baltistan during the next 24 hours. Windstorm is expected in coastal areas of Sindh including Karachi, coastal belt & central parts of Balochistan and south Punjab. Fog is likely to prevail in upper Sindh and plain areas of Punjab during morning hours.

Temperature of some major cities recorded this morning. Islamabad and Gilgit five degree centigrade, Lahore eight, Peshawar and Quetta seven, Karachi twenty, Murree two and Muzaffarabad four degree centigrade.

power producers. So far, it has paid Rs50 billion while another Rs50 billion is expected to be paid next month. BILATERAL ENGAGEMENTS; The prime minister’s visit is taking place after nearly two years and will, therefore, provide an opportunity for both sides to have a look at the state of bilateral cooperation and discuss more projects. The Foreign Office said that during his visit, Khan would hold meetings with President Xi Jinping and prime minister Li Keqiang. “The leaders will review the entire gamut of bilateral relations, with a particular focus on stronger trade and economic cooperation, including CPEC,” it said. Around six memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and agreements are likely to be concluded during the visit. In Beijing, the prime minister will also meet prominent business leaders and representatives of leading think-tanks, academia and the media. He will also hold interactions on the sidelines of various events. Last week, Khan was updated on the ongoing talks with China on “concrete plans for enhancing cooperation in the fields of investment, trade, information technology and exports,” the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said. During the visit, the two nations are also expected to hold a wide-ranging exchange of views on major regional and international issues. “It would thus renew the bilateral commitment to taking the iron-clad partnership between Pakistan and China to new heights and add impetus to cooperation across multiple domains,” the statement concluded.

Thursday, 3 February, 2022 | LAHORe

04 News

LG eLections: ecP announces rePoLL in 221 KP PoLLinG stations PeSHAWAR

Staff RepoRt

HE Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has ordered re-election on local government slots in 221 polling stations of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on February 13. The ECP in its directives for the reelection identified 12 districts where the election process would be held again on February 13 and said that the decision was taken owing to incidents of arson, and other violent acts at the polling stations. Tuesday, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) disqualified Khyber

Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) minister Shah Muhammad for five years over disturbing law and order situation during the first phase of LG elections in the province. The verdict was passed by the ECP in a case related to disturbing law and order in Bannu’s Tehsil of Baka Khel during the recent first phase of the local bodies elections. The ECP disqualified Shah Muhammad and his son Mamoon Rasheed for five years for attacking polling stations in Baka Khel. Shah has been denotified by the ECP as MPA. The polling in the area was postponed due to the law and order situation. On the polling day the incident of abduc-

PDP leader Waheed Parra found unconscious in iioJK jail

tion of police personnel, polling staff and snatching of different polling bags/materials at different polling stations of Tehsil Baka Khel were reported. “The situation warrants the postponement of the polling process in Tehsil Baka Khel till the normalisation of law and order situation,” the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had said. The ECP has also constituted an inquiry committee comprising Special Secretary Zafar Iqbal Hussain, Additional Director General Law Khurram Shahzad and Director Elections Khushal Zada for fact-finding of the incidents.

PTI MNA Javaria survives gun attack allegedly planned by husband at Parliament Lodges ISLAMABAD

APP

INp

The illegally detained youth leader of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Waheed Parra on Wednesday was found unconscious in jail in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). According to Kashmir Media Service, Parra, currently detained under the black law, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), over various fake cases imposed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) regime, was found unconscious in Srinagar’s central jail. The jail authorities took him to the police hospital for a checkup. Owing to his deteriorating health, doctors recommended further treatment, such, as, Echo scan and follow-up checkups at the Super Specialty Hospital. Meanwhile, Parra’s family said that “his health is worsening day-by-day and we are in shock to hear that he was found unconscious in a barrack by fellow detainees.” The family has demanded better medical facilities for PDP’s leader. Official sources told the media that Parra was taken to the hospital after his blood pressure suddenly dropped. After being provided medical aid, he was discharged from the hospital and was shifted back to the prison, the source added. It is pertinent to mention that Parra was arrested by the Indian National Investigation Agency (NIA) on November 25, 2020, just a day after he announced his candidacy for the District Development Council (DDC) elections and filed nomination papers.

PTI MNA and Parliamentary Secretary Overseas Pakistanis Javaria Zafar Aaheer on Wednesday survived a gun attack allegedly orchestrated by her husband at Parliament Lodges. According to details, the female member of the National Assembly Javeria Zafar remained unhurt in gunfire at Parliament Lodges. She alleged that her husband was behind this incident.

FIA says Turkish-local firms’ nexus led to last year’s sugar crisis ISLAMABAD INp

Some startling disclosures have been made in the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) inquiry, on Wednesday into the sugar crisis that had hit the country last year. It has emerged that a Turkish firm, in connivance with a local firm, had used fake documents to receive the tender for the supply of sugar, which ultimately resulted in its cancellation. Last year in April, the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) had issued tenders. The Turkish firm, Gemini Group, succeeded in receiving the tender by of-

fering the lowest bid ($447 per metric ton). The firm was to supply 50, 000 metric tonnes of sugar but the Bank of Punjab’s (BoP) documents submitted by the Group to the TCP as guarantee were fake. According to the FIA officials, when the TCP learnt about the fake documents, it cancelled the tender and floated it for the second time, which resulted in colossal loss to the national exchequer. Second time, the rate was fixed at $526 per metric ton. However, the Agency swung into action and arrested Muhammad Abbas, the local company representative, following the registration of a case against both the local as well as Turkish companies.

KP to bring construction industry under tax net

NAB, FIA barred from going after KDA boss KARACHI

Justice Qazi Faez isa imposes fine on Balochistan governor

Staff RepoRt

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

On his way back to the Supreme Court from the oath-taking ceremony at the President House Wednesday, Justice Qazi Faez Isa came across a car with black tinted door glass parked near the Judges Gate. The judge immediately ordered Rs600 fine be imposed on the vehicle, which belonged to the squad of Balochistan Governor Syed Zahoor Ahmad Agha. The traffic police deployed in the area removed the tinted covers from the door glass as well. Previously, Justice Isa had ordered advertisement board of PM Imran Khan’s Sehat Insaf Cards be removed from the streets of Islamabad as well. Earlier in the day, Justice Umar Ata Bandial was sworn in as the new Chief Justice of Pakistan. President Arif Alvi, Prime Minister Imran Khan and leaderships of all the institutions attended the ceremony.

The MNA lodged an FIR against her husband Haider Ali with the Islamabad women police station. According to the FIR, Ms Javeria Zafar contracted Nikah with Haider Baloch six months ago. The couple fought over a petty issue and Ms Zafar went to court for annulment of their marriage, seeking ‘Khula’. The FIR further stated that Mr Baloch threatened to kill Ms Zafar and her family. The MNA said that the attacker put the revolver on her head but she ran away and saved her life. The bullet missed her and hit the wall. The complainant requested legal action against the accused.

AzIz BuneRI The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has decided to bring the construction industry of the province under provincial tax net. The communication and works (C&W) department has sought guidance from the KP Revenue Authority (KPRA) on the registration and payment of taxes by the institutions and individuals associated with the construction industry. The KP government believes that the provincial exchequer will earn billions of rupees in revenue annually after the imposition of taxes on construction companies,

including importers and exporters associated with the construction sector. However, the official sources said the issue of registration with KPRA of all the construction companies and individuals associated with the sector is not yet clear. Therefore, guidance has been sought from KPRA regarding the registration of individuals and entities associated with the construction sector. The authority will provide guidance to C&W department in this regard, after which importers, institutions and individuals attached to the construction sector will be directed to follow the standard guidelines.

CMYK

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday restrained the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and police from taking coercive action against Karachi Development Authority (KDA) Director General Asif Ali Memon. A bench of the high court directed the official respondents to submit the record of inquiries and cases pending against Memon on the next hearing. It also instructed them to furnish their comments on the petition filed by the official. Memon nominated the NAB, FIA, the provincial government’s anti-corruption establishment (ACE) and police as respondents. Fearing his arrest in some “secret inquiry”, he alleged the aforementioned institutions were “harassing” him and requested the court to restrain them from coming after him. It merits a mention here Memon was arrested by the anti-corruption office on charges of abuse of power in December but was released by an Additional District and Sessions Court on furnishing personal bonds.

Thursday, 3 February, 2022 | LAHORE

NEWS Bandial sworn in as chief justice continued from page 01 As a lawyer at the high court, he dealt mostly with commercial, banking, tax and property matters. He also handled international commercial disputes and appeared in arbitration matters before the Supreme Court of Pakistan and international arbitral tribunals in London and Paris. Bandial was elevated as a judge of the LHC on December 4, 2004. He is one of the judges who refused to take oath under the Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO), issued by thenpresident Pervez Musharraf in November 2007. He was reinstated as a judge of the LHC after the lawyers succeeded in their movement for the restoration of the judiciary and Constitution against the Musharraf government. Justice Bandial served as the chief justice of the LHC for two years until his elevation as a judge of the Supreme Court in June 2014. During his stint as a judge of the high court and the apex court, Justice Bandial has issued judgments on a number of civil and commercial disputes, and in constitutional rights and public interest cases.

PaKiSTan, JaPan idEnTify arEaS To ExPand Economic cooPEraTion: Tarin iSLamaBad

He was talking to Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, Wada Mitsuhiro, who called on him on Wednesday. Both reviewed the spectrum of business and investment relations and identified areas for further strengthening and expanding economic cooperation. He congratulated the Finance Minister on achieving important economic reforms. The finance minister appreci-

Staff CoRReSpondent

INANCE Minister Shaukat Tarin has stated that Pakistan and Japan have enjoyed cordial and friendly relations over the years and this relationship will continue to become even stronger with every passing day.

ated the support extended by the government of Japan for infrastructural and institutional development in Pakistan and said Japan is a major development partner of Pakistan. He also highlighted the initiatives taken by the Government for economic progress and social uplift of the masses. Wada Mitsuhiro, Ambassador of Japan, said Japan greatly values its bi-

lateral relations with Pakistan. He highlighted operations of the Japanese entities in Pakistan and expressed confidence that business and economic linkages would further strengthen between the two countries. The finance minister thanked Wada Mitsuhiro for his sentiments and hoped the bilateral collaboration between the two countries would further grow during his tenure.

FrieslandCampina Engro Pakistan joins hands with UVAS to Establish “Pakistan– Netherlands Dairy Development Center KaracHi pR

Workshop held on Shoulder Surgery The Department of Medical Education of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University arranged a workshop on Shoulder Surgery on 1st February 2022. Renowned trauma and Orthopedic Surgeon from United Kingdom Dr. Mohammad Waseem facilitated the workshop. Postgraduate trainees of the Emergency Medicine Foundation Program and Orthopedic participated in the workshop. Dr. Waseem has a keen interest in teaching the next generation of healthcare professionals and possesses a visiting Associate Professor role at SZAB Medical University. Participants benefitted from the experience of Dr. Waseem. Prof. Amjad Chaudhry Director of Postgraduate studies PIMS and Prof. Farman UllahWazir Registrar SZABMU were also present on the occasion. pR

Pakistan, US hold virtual meeting to discuss matters related to logistics, transportation

FrieslandCampina Engro Pakistan Limited (FCEPL), subsidiary of the Dutch multinational corporative Royal FrieslandCampina in the Netherlands, is establishing the novel Pakistan–Netherlands Dairy Development Center (PNDDC). The PNDDC is set to be a premier precompetitive platform with the signature ‘grass to glass’ philosophy underlying FCEPL’s corporate vision - collaboration and integration between industry, experts, academia, and the government. The agreement Memo was signed between the founding partners; FCEPL and University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) in a ceremony held in Islamabad in attendance of Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, global leadership of FrieslandCampina and Dutch Ambassador. Syed Fakhar Imam, the Federal Minister for Food Security & Research witnessed the ceremony and appreciated the approach and initiatives of FCEPL, “I am impressed

President Sundas foundation visits Town Hall Ealing London with the work of FrieslandCampina towards dairy development in Pakistan, which is helping to improve food security and livelihood especially in rural settings.” “Pakistan is a key player in the global dairy market, and it is with initiatives such as the PNDDC, we intend to unleash the tremendous dairy potential in Pakistan and to elevate its role even further in the years to come.” Said Mr Ali Ahmed Khan, Managing Director, FrieslandCampina Engro Pakistan Ltd “The beginning of this center together with UVAS will pave the way to smoothly implement many of upcoming development programs that are in store. We are in

discussion with Dutch Universities and companies to become part of this center through in-kind and/or in-cash support to achieve the objective of transforming dairy landscape of Pakistan at-par with the Dutch Dairy Sector” The company aims to build a bridge with their global tier research, illustrative of their 150 years of experience in the dairy industry in The Netherlands and Pakistan; providing a prime platform that will revolutionize the concept of dairy in the world’s 4th largest milk producing country; unlocking dairy development expertise for all core stakeholders through the sharing of rich Dutch dairy expertise.

SC rejects Rao Anwar’s plea requesting removal of name from ECL Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Syed Ali Haider Zaidi held a virtual conference with the US Secretary of Transport Mr. Pete Buttigieg to discuss the matters of mutual interests. The Federal Minister and the US Secretary of Transport initiated a dialogue between the two nations on transportation and logistics cooperation & challenges. Direct talks between them will result in enhancing opportunities for the country's maritime sector. Federal Minister apprised the US Secretary on the many initiatives taken by the Government of Pakistan through Ministry of Maritime Affairs along with Cabinet Committee on Transport & Logistics (CCoTL). pR

The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected a review petition filed by former SSP Rao Anwar requesting the court for removal of name from the Exit Control List (ECL). It is pertinent to note that in January last year, Naqeebullah was murdered in a fake encounter carried out by a police team headed by then SSP Malir Rao Anwar in Karachi. The incident ignited nationwide protests against extrajudicial killings across the country. A three-member bench led by Justice Ijazul Ahsan told Anwar, who is facing judicial proceedings for alleged involvement in at least 444 extrajudicial murders, to approach a relevant forum for removal of his name from the no-fly list. The top court further asked the former police officer to file a new application if he wanted relief from

the courts. The counsel representing the former Karachi cop said that the trial against Anwar was underway in a trial court in the metropolis and his client was appearing before the court at every hearing. It merits mention that Anwar was placed on the ECL till further order on the orders of the court, Justice Ijaz stated, adding that it was not a bail application that the SC could accept. In January 2021, the Sindh High Court (SHC) had dismissed former SSP Malir Rao Anwar’s plea seeking exemption from attendance in the Naqeebullah murder case. Justice Sheikh had remarked that “would it not be discrimination against others if Rao Anwar is excused from attending court proceedings?” newS deSk

Industrialists stage protest for gas supply restoration KaracHi Staff RepoRt

Industrialists of Karachi have warned to continue staging protests until gas supply to all the industrial units is fully restored and normalised. Hundreds of demonstrators including the leadership of Businessmen Group and Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry along with presidents and representatives of all industrial town associations and sector-specific trade associations on Wednesday gathered outside the head office of Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) and demanded immediate restoration of gas supply to all industrial zones. Chairman BMG Zubair Motiwala, Vice Chairman BMG Jawed Bilwani and President KCCI Muhammad Idrees expressed deep concerns over the government’s inat-

tentive attitude towards resolving the most pressing issue being suffered by the business and industrial community of Karachi where the industrialists are suffering huge losses due to no gas or low pressure. They said that losses of up to Rs45 billion are being suffered each day due to unavailability of gas to Karachi, which despite facing so many challenges at almost all the fronts, continues to contribute more than 68 percent revenue to the national exchequer, 54 percent to national exports while 52 percent of textile exports also take place from Karachi. While referring to erroneous allocation of 211 mmcfd gas from Sindh’s resources to SNGPL, BMG and KCCI Leadership demanded that in order to revive the industrial activities in Karachi, Sindh’s gas has to be returned to the province as it was highly unfair to keep

the industries of Karachi deprived of Sindh’s own gas resources. They said that the rising demand for gas in Balochistan during winter season was being fulfilled by SSGCL alone which receives 125mmcfd gas from Sui whereas SNGPL, which takes away 180mmcfd from Sui, stands completely spared from sharing the burden of rising gas demand in Balochistan which was beyond anyone’s understanding. They stressed that the rising demand for gas in Balochistan has to be meted out by SSGCL and SNGPL as per ratio of gas being received by them which means that the extra demand of 160mmcfd in Balochistan during winter should be rationally divided with 41 percent (65mmcfd) burden on SSGCL and the remaining 59 percent (95mmcfd) must be borne by SNGPL. They were of the opinion that gas has

cmYK

to be supplied without any differentiation to all the industries including General, SMEs and export-oriented industries as they all go hand-in-hand. The government has to realize that the general industries were an integral part of the value chain for exports which drive the economy. In the national interest, BMG and KCCI Leadership appealed Prime Minister Imran Khan to take immediate cognizance of the situation and urgently respond to the Constitutional Right of the business community of Karachi to save the investment of industrialists and protect the soft and positive image of Pakistan globally, otherwise, if such alarming situation prevails, the country may face unrest and uncertainty due to closure of industries in Karachi, massive layoffs and drastic decline in the national exchequer further leading to chaos.

President Sundas Foundation Muhammad Yaseen Khan at the special invitation of the Mayor of Ealing, visited Town Hall Ealing, London, where he was warmly welcomed by the Mayor of Ealing Mr. Munir Ahmed and his team. Muhammad Yaseen Khan President Sundas Foundation Pakistan was presented a Shield and a certificate of Merit by the Mayor of Ealing, London in recognition of the services rendered by the Sundas Foundation. On the occasion, Muhammad Yaseen Khan briefed the participants on the purpose of his visit and also briefed about the social services rendered by Sundas Foundation. He said that during the last 25 years, the Sundas Foundation has established 8 centers in different cities of Pakistan. All the 8 centers are extending quality and state-of-the-art treatment facilities to the children suffering from thalassemia, Hemophilia and other blood diseases. The mayor appreciated Yaseen khan and his team for providing the best treatment facilities to the deserving patients in Pakistan. On this occasion, Sundas Foundation President invited the delegation to visit Sundas Foundation centers at their next visit to Pakistan the Mayor assured the President that whenever he visits Pakistan he will love to visit Sundas Foundation centers. The President Sundas Foundation Muhammad Yaseen Khan was very delighted that the services of the Sundas Foundation had been recognized by the dignitaries at the international level. pR

Knitwear exports witness 35.21% increase ISLAMABAD: Knitwear exports during the first six months of fiscal year of 202122 grew by 35.21 % as compared to exports of the commodity during the corresponding period of last year. During the period from July-Dec 2021, Knitwear worth US$2,500,461 exported, as compared to exports of $1,849,596 during the same period of last year. According to the data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, the exports of Ready-made garments increased by 22.93 %, of US $1,831,856 as compared to the exports of US $1,490,157 of the same period of last year. Meanwhile, Bed wear exports also increased by 19.04% as the exports during current fiscal year recorded worth US$1,659,646 as compared to the exports during the same period of last year which recorded US$1,394,182. During the period under review, Towels exports increased by 17.54 %, worth US$ 523,868 in current fiscal year, as compared to the exports of valuing US$ 445,697 of the same period of last year. Staff RepoRt

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Thursday, 3 February, 2022

06 COMMENT

Need for the Presidential System?

The medical report Let the court determine its veracity

HE medical report, authored by Dr Fayaz Shawal and signed by David Lawrence, consultant cardiothoracic surgeon in London, has been submitted to Lahore High Court by nawaz Sharif’s counsel. The report bars the patient from traveling home without undergoing ‘definitive medical treatment.’ It warns that otherwise the stress of living again in a solitary confinement as well as loss of a partner can further compromise his cardiac status.”His co-morbidities make him a ‘high risk’ candidate for health, respiratory failure, etc. should he contract Covid-19 infection.” The report recommends that mr Sharif should remain on medical treatment in London under the care of doctors with multiple specialties. according to the report, these facilities have provided him the best of care so far without further acute coronary syndromes which he had sustained before his arrival to London. The report also clarifies some of the points raised by mr Sharif’s opponents like why he had not been hospitalized so far. This was not possible, it is suggested, on account of his co-morbidities which make him especially vulnerable to covid-19. Once the covid-19 pandemic is over, he has been advised to proceed with his coronary angiography and possible angioplasty or redo CaBGS if intervention is not feasible. The former premier was placed on lifestyle changes to aid his recovery and was advised to have healthy diet and exercise regularly. Similarly, he was strongly advised to manage his stress to the maximum. This explains his presence in Hyde Park and other places. The medical report will come under discussion in Lahore High Court which is the right forum for the government to contest it. Let the court take the final decision after listening to both sides as well as seeking media specialists’ advice. While dealing with its political opponents over the last four years the government has generally concentrated more on media trial than on preparing strong cases, with the result that it had to face humiliation in the courts, the latest examples being the acquittal of 16 persons including two PmL(n) who were accused in the Saaf Paani reference, and the release of Jang-Geo Editor-in-Chief mir Shakil-ur-rahman in a naB case. meanwhile the government would do well to rein in those in its ranks who indulge in hitting below the belt, for it encourages the other side to pay back in the same coin.

Dr FariD a Malik

T is alleged that Zulfiqar ali Bhutto (ZaB) the chief architect of the 1973 constitution desired to enact a Presidential System of government. Only when he failed in getting consensus, he opted for the current parliamentary dispensation. With our past experience of instability, widespread powers were given to the Prime minister (Pm). His/her removal was made difficult. During the 1977 political crisis a deadlock was reached. The opposition was demanding re-election for which the Pm had to either resign or dissolve the elected assembly. Sardar Shaukat Hayat a stalwart of the Pakistan movement who had been elected on the PPP ticket tried for in-house change to diffuse the anti-Bhutto campaign but he did not succeed. Then a vote of no-confidence was moved against Benazir Bhutto by nawaz Sharif led opposition in 1989 which failed. as Pm only ZaB voluntarily dissolved the assembly ahead of its time hoping to take the disjointed opposition by surprise but in the end, he was surprised by the nine-party alliance that was waiting in the wings for a direct one-on-one contest. Despite parliamentary form of government, the Parliament has not been able to exercise its potential in either removing a Pm who has crossed the line or protecting the democratic order in case of his dismissal from outside. Only the 1970 legislature which came through a credible ballot played its innings well, and the rest have been a waste of time and resources. The Constitution is a sacred document that must be respected and followed. all amendments should be made through the due process of law. Unfortunately, the performance of the current House leaves a lot to be desired. The ‘ moral awakening ‘ of the legislators remains very un-predictable. Perhaps their past conduct comes in the way of their principled

ECP takes action The unseating of a KP minister shows it is no longer toothless

JubeDa ChowDhury

yanmar began its path to democracy in 2011, ending more than half a century of military rule. But after only 10 years had passed, the army overthrew the democratic government through a coup and regained power. myanmar now has been under this latest military rule for almost a year. The incidence of human rights violations is constantly increasing in the country. With that, the economy has slowed. In this situation, one foreign business after another is leaving the Southeast asian country. Following this trend, TotalEnergies and Chevron have announced they are wrapping up their business in myanmar. Obviously, myanmar’s economy could be affected by the shutdown of investment by foreign companies. although myanmar had been isolated for decades, the democratic flow a decade ago opened the door for it to get connected with the world. But the path was not easy, and the blossoming of democratic values was nipped in the bud, culminating in the coup in February 2021. But even before that, the rohingya refugee crisis in 2017 was another example of the atrocities committed by the myanmar army, known as the Tatmadaw. military rule undermines the rule of law and facilitates widespread corruption and serious humanrights violations, increasing the risk of providing financial services to foreign businesses or local businesses operating in myanmar. In such a situation, those who continue to do business in myanmar are at extreme risk on the one hand and on the other hand are abetting the human-rights violators. Hundreds of billions of dollars of foreign investment are said to be at risk as a result of the coup. However, there has been some good news. according to media reports on Wednesday, US President Joe Biden’s administration warned businesses of the risks of doing business in myanmar. When rule of law and political stability are undermined, the environment for doing business in a country becomes un-

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(Exit Control List) to save the federation. The parliament has lost its efficacy. Even now the country is being run in quasi-Presidential mode as power is not being devolved as mandated by the constitution. The Pm seldom comes to the legislature, where he is usually hounded. The situation in the provinces is the same, the Chief ministers operate in a similar manner. after the 18th amendment, while Islamabad has been cut to size the four Cms continue to defy the Constitution. as the ruling party in Punjab, the PTI (Pakistan Tehreek Insaf) has decided to hold direct elections for the mayors or nazims. The PPP (Pakistan People’s Party), despite its democratic credentials, is unwilling to let go large cities like Karachi and Hyderabad. With directly elected mayors the Cms will be cut to size as mandated by the Constitution. The Jamaat-eIslami dharna in Karachi is meaningful, the dye has been cast, devolution is on the cards together with containment of corruption at all costs. The Jamaat will gets its piece of pie in the process. The options are limited. The seating arrangements have to change to save the Parliament front rows have to dealt with. If the courts fail to contain the menace of corruption to cleanse the house, then zamir will come into play. The backbenchers will gladly vote for the Presidential System to save their own skin. as Leader of the House ZaB sought consensus in formulating the 1973 Constitution, he approached maulana abul ala maududi to seek his support. This time the files will get the job done within Parliament as the courts have not been able to conclude the trials of the corrupt. Interesting times lay ahead. I wish and pray that Pakistan will come first as it did in 1973 when the house performed its duties to the best of its abilities but never after that. This ‘rogue Democracy’ has ruined the country, this ‘Political Circus’ of the corrupt front benchers in Parliament has to end.

Interesting times lay ahead. I wish and pray that Pakistan will come first as it did in 1973 when the house performed its duties to the best of its abilities but never after that. This ‘Rogue Democracy’ has ruined the country, this ‘Political Circus’ of the corrupt front benchers in Parliament has to end.

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

Pullout of foreign companies jeopardizes Myanmar economy

HE Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has shown that it will not take interference in elections, and certainly not the kind of blatant interference that KP Transport minister Shah mohammad Khan was supposed to have committed in the recent first phase of the province’s local body elections. The ECP investigations and recording of evidence showed that the attacking of polling stations, kidnapping of polling staff, snatching of election material, harassing and threatening polling staff and other investigation agencies and had committed corrupt practices. It seems he thought his status would allow him to get away with anything .Indeed; it seems that if the ECP had taken the action it did, it would have been left without any credibility as an independent and powerful body that could hold elections that were free and fair. It has only now started building that credibility, which was seriously dented after the electronic failure during the general election, which led to results being held up. Its credibility was further enhanced with its prompt action in the Daska by-election, where it ordered re-polling after irregularities came to light. now that it has ordered a minister unseated, over a local body election at that, it should start developing that fear of the consequences that should stop anyone from trying to rig an election, even by more gentle methods than those apparently used by mr Khan, apparently in favour of his son, who was a candidate. The ECP is moving to a stage where it is not going to be possible for the Prime minister to ignore it, as he did when it wrote to him asking that it not violate the code of conduct by a rally. The Prime minister should not fear, so much the ECP, as the consequences of not abiding by the regulations it administers. and that is as is supposed to be, if elections are to truly represent the will of the people.

Editor Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

conduct. Their zamir (conscience) awakes at very crucial times otherwise it remains in slumber. Over the years the agencies have collected a lot of data that is carefully stored to be used at appropriate time as and when required. Today the Islamic republic of Pakistan suffers from a ‘rogue democracy ‘. Despite the best efforts of the current regime the accountability process remains very sluggish. There is lack of seriousness both from the prosecution and the bench, there is no push to bring the process to a close; deadlock exists, neither conviction nor exoneration is achieved, it is just a big circus . Under the circumstances the thugs can make a comeback despite their evident loot and plunder. massive corruption has taken place in the last 40 years which the system has failed to check. The current parliamentary system has become hostage to the corrupt, the ball is in their court. Corruption has to be contained as it is no longer affordable. all individuals accused of corruption have to come clean to remain in the political arena. Stalling the legal process due to loopholes cannot save them, they must come clean or face extinction together with the nonperforming system. The debate for the Presidential System should be taken as a wake-up call by all political players if they desire to save the current dispensation. With amenable legislators, the House can very well pass a constitutional amendment allowing Presidential rule for a limited or extended period of time. It is the corruption which has to be contained, all leakages have to be plugged. revenue shortages and budget deficits have to be corrected. Corruption now threatens the security apparatus of the country. Due to massive loot, plunder and uncontrolled expenses, Pakistan faces an economic emergency. The state is almost at the brink of collapse. While individual wealth has grown manifold, the institutional framework is bankrupt and nonfunctional. The Pm is right in highlighting the menace of corruption and so is his disgruntled mna from KPK, who said on the floor of the House that the names of the front row occupants should be put on the ECL

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favourable. While it is true that the Tatmadaw has its own business empire, myanmar also needs to do business with international companies. Energy giants TotalEnergies, a French company, and Chevron of the USa have decided to suspend their operations in the country, citing continuing human-rights abuses by myanmar’s military government. The two organizations made this announcement on January 21. Total and Chevron were involved in joint ventures with several other companies in the yadana gas project in the southwest of the country. “Since the military coup in February 2021, the situation in myanmar, including human rights and the rule of law, has been deteriorating, forcing us to reevaluate the situation,” Total said in a statement. “We, the operators and investors of the yadana gas field in myanmar and mGTC, have decided to withdraw from the agreement without any compensation from TotalEnergies.” a Chevron spokesman said: “Considering the situation in myanmar, we have decided to leave the country by transferring our operations from the yadana natural gas project.” Total owned the highest stake in the project with 31.24%, while Chevron owned 27%. The rest is owned by a unit of Thailand’s PPT and a state-owned company in myanmar. The country’s pro-democracy activists have been urging various companies to cut off the main sources of revenue for the junta. British newspaper The Guardian described this as a big win for them. Since the coup last February, ordinary people have taken up arms and formed a defense force against the junta. after the return to democracy, foreign companies had started to invest gradually in myanmar. But the rohingya refugee crisis in 2017 damaged the country’s international image again, and international pressure ramped up. Then last year’s coup made the situation even worse. royal Dutch Shell also confirmed the closure of its operations in myanmar on January 21. not only these oil companies but almost all the big foreign companies have announced to withdraw

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their investments from myanmar. The country’s economy is suffering. according to Human rights Watch, Total and Chevron alone paid the government more than $1 billion a year in revenue and fees from the yadana gas project, the single largest source of foreign-exchange earnings in the country. Électricité de France (EDF), France’s largest energy company, was involved in a $1.5 billion joint venture for hydropower projects in the country, but it has withdrawn. The French renewable-energy company Voltalia has also left myanmar. norway’s Telenor owns the largest telecom service provider in myanmar. It also announced last year that it would sell its business in the country. British american Tobacco closed its business last October. according to a media report, Japanese automotive giant Toyota was set to open a factory in myanmar last year but has since postponed it. Suzuki, an arabJapanese carmaker, shut down two factories shortly after the military government took power. The garment industry had also been booming for the past few years but because of the coup, such brands as Benetton have stopped buying clothes from myanmar. Kirin, a Japanese beverage manufacturer, has been trying to sever business ties with myanmar’s military for months. The Danish multinational company Carlsberg has about 450 employees in the country, but has announced it will limit its activities there. While foreign companies are leaving myanmar one by one, it is uncertain how myanmar will deal with its economic stagflation. The covid-19 pandemic and internal political instability have worsened the situation. allegations of human-rights violations against various ethnic groups including the rohingya and those who protest peacefully in favour of democracy can endanger the economy of myanmar. Can only Chinese and Singaporean economic assistance and investment recover myanmar’s economy? Time will tell. But myanmar’s economy could achieve tremendous growth if the flow of Western investments could be ensured. The writer is a freelance columnist

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Thursday, 3 February, 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

Mental health matters THIS needs to be understood that mental health holds equal importance as physical health does. There is a close relationship between physical and mental health. mental disturbance surely leads to physical disturbance. For instance, people suffering from depression are at a high risk of blood pressure and cardiac issues. mental health is a topic that calls for special attention because it is affecting our youth. according to the reports, suicide is the second leading cause of death among the youth. The most important reason behind the suicide commission is mental illness. academic, peer, family, or financial pressure results in poor mental health and this incites thoughts of committing suicide. another point to be taken into consideration is, being mentally unwell doesn’t always mean that one is having a mental disorder. It can be a temporary disturbance that can be overcome by proper counselling. The issue is that mentally disturbed people usually don’t share their problems with others. So parents should play their role in this regard. They should give their child the comfort and ease to share anything with them without the fear of being judged or punished. Unfortunately, mental health isn’t given much importance in our country. This is the responsibility of the government to organise mental health awareness campaigns and to lay the foundation of mental health care centres where such people are given proper care and treatment. These centres should offer courses that include activities to cope with mental disturbances. a proper consultation can also be beneficial for this purpose. I hope that the government will give ear to this issue. SYEDA RUMESAA LAHORE

Some questions about the food subsidy How to get buy-in from retailers? bilal Gilani

InCE the PTI government took charge in 2018, Pakistan’s economy has been struggling– to say the least. no, it didn’t all start with covid-19. Well before that, the PTI government was carrying out demand compression measures rather akin to shock therapy In 2018, immediately after taking charge, the government halved PSDP spending. The State Bank of Pakistan, on the other hand, increased the policy rate from 6.5 percent to 12.25 percent, one of the sharpest jumps in our recorded history. Despite these measures (or perhaps because of them) inflation remained uncontrolled, while growth crumbled. In 2019, the GDP growth rate had already fallen from the earlier 5.8 percent to 1 percent. Suffice it to say that Pakistan’s economy was already in dire straits when covid-19 hit in march 2020, Covid-19 further exacerbated the situation. In one quarter of 2021, we experienced an actual contraction of GDP, a calamity which has not afflicted us since 1952. The purchasing power of the Pakistani population in 2020-2021 dwindled by an estimated 30 percent in real terms. These are not just numbers. This roughly means people on the street having two meals instead of three. It is in this backdrop that Prime minister Imran Khan recently announced a rs 120 billion subsidy under the umbrella of the Ehsas programme. The details that have been shared so far suggest that the subsidy would be given on three food items: sugar, pulses and flour. The subsidy would be provided to around 20 million families who would be identified through their poverty score card based on the poverty survey conducted back in 20102011. The distribution would happen through around 700,000 karyana merchants across the country. The food subsidy programme is a welcome measure because it seeks to help those whom the government’s economic policies have hurt the most. However, a few questions arise about the programme, which are raised in the sincere hope that perhaps the government might be able to answer them. Firstly, how does the government propose to get buy-in from the karyana stores? Bear in mind that most businesses are simply not registered with the government at all – especially the small, sole proprietors like karyana merchants who

are closest to the life of ordinary citizens. These numbers will give you some idea. Out of an estimated total of over five million non-agriculture businesses in Pakistan, less than 100,000 private businesses have been registered with the SECP. While the active taxpayer list has grown fast in recent times, it still has less than 500,000 businesses on it. This reluctance to get registered is probably a result of the long-term adversarial relationship which the state has maintained with businesses, especially the small fish. How does the government propose to change that relationship now? Without such changes, the government may not be able to get buyin from the karyana stores who are supposed to deliver the subsidy. The simple prospect of getting government discounts and getting an added footfall appears may not be enough to counter the threat of added tax-visibility and fleecing by state officials. Second is the issue of accountability in the process. How would the registered businesses be vetted both for their financial viability to deliver such large amounts of subsidy? Thirdly, would the stores have the capacity and infrastructure to verify the credentials of the recipients? In this regard we are told that a simple mobile application would be developed. But little planning seems to have been done otherwise. Onboarding of businesses and making them financially and technologically capable is an uphill task. The closest approximation we have is that of the likes of Easypaisa agents which currently number around 300,000. It has taken telecom companies almost a decade of efforts to develop this delivery network; yet they are still finding it hard to retain businesses in the delivery system. and last but not the least, would the government be able to actually implement it? Un-

Covid-19 further exacerbated the situation. In one quarter of 2021, we experienced an actual contraction of GDP, a calamity which has not afflicted us since 1952. The purchasing power of the Pakistani population in 2020-2021 dwindled by an estimated 30 percent in real terms. These are not just numbers. This roughly means people on the street having two meals instead of three.

fortunately, the PTI’s track record of delivering large-scale projects is dismal. One is reminded here of the grand plan launched three years ago for construction of 5 million or more houses. Only 20,000 appear to have been built so far. another failure seems to be the Kamyab Jawan project which was recently slashed to a quarter due to low interest. There is a significant capacity problem within the government machinery in Pakistan, which is a challenge not unique to the PTI government. How do they propose to address that? While the food subsidy project is a welcome step, it is important to emphasize that it does not address the root cause of rising economic deprivation in the country. In another country, a rs 120 billion food subsidy spread out over 6 months, might be large. But in the world’s 6th largest country, that’s not the case. Here’s some figures for context. The average household in Pakistan spends around rs 40,000 a month and 40 percent of it goes to food. This means around rs 600 billion being spent by households on food purchases every month. In a year, it comes to rs 7.2 trillion. The subsidy therefore covers only about 5 percent of the food budget of the people. moreover, the amount is to be spent on just three items of sugar, pulses and flour. If you look at the HIES 2018, these items account for only 5 percent of the total food consumption in a particular household. Subsidizing 30 percent, a 5 percent budget item means less than 1 percent reduction in the household monthly food bill. In all, the food subsidy will lead to about 1 percent reduction in the food budget of the average household. That’s assuming all the rs 120 billion is disbursed and reaches the beneficiaries without any leakage. Far too little. a drop only. To sum it up, the food subsidy initiative by the government is a good start, as it reflects a belated realization about the pain of those who have been hurt most by inflation. But it’s too small to address the issue in any major way. What then is the solution to the issue? no administrative step by this government, or any other, offers a real solution. In a country of Pakistan’s size, meaningful subsidies cannot be provided. The only thing which can help ease the pain of inflation is economic growth. It is economic growth which has lifted hundreds of millions of people out of poverty in China, India, Bangladesh and many other countries. nothing else can work. Unfortunately, the government has gotten it all wrong and wants to treat the symptoms and not the disease. The sooner it realizes this, the better.

No administrative step by this government, or any other, offers a real solution. In a country of Pakistan’s size, meaningful subsidies cannot be provided. The only thing which can help ease the pain of inflation is economic growth. It is economic growth which has lifted hundreds of millions of people out of poverty in China, India, Bangladesh and many other countries. Nothing else can work.

The writer is a freelance columnist

Preserving Cultural Heritage OVEr the years, Sikhism in Pakistan has reached greater heights and accomplished far greater achievements, yet the hue and cry regarding the oppression and persecution of Sikhs in Pakistan kept rolling on. The work of Sardar Vikash Singh, President of Gurdwara Sachkhand Sahib Paheli Patshai Shikarpur cannot go unnoticed as the renovation and reconstruction of the Gurdwara had been in full swing since quite a long time and akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh is expected to reach Sindh for the inaugration of reconstructed new building of Gurdwara Sachkhand Phelli Patshahi in Shikarpur. But the recent news of taking down of the statue of Hari Singh nalwa by the local administration in Haripur district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has hit the sentimental and religious values of the Sikh community all over. The statue was erected in 2017 on the square named after the most successful general of the Sikh ruler of Punjab, ranjit Singh. While installing the statue, tall claims were made that religious tourism and tolerance were being promoted. What has been promoted today by demolishing the statue is still incomprehensible to the Sangat. Those who make such decisions are forgetting that history can neither be changed nor reversed. Pakistan who has been taking major steps for the promotion of equity and inclusiveness of the Sikhs should remember that Sikhs all over have deep faith in their Gurus and their commandments. Same goes with Hari Singh nalwa who was the Commander-in-Chief of the Sikh Khalsa army. He played a major role in the establishment of ranjit Singh’s empire and its conquests. He has commanded or participated in at least twenty major and historic wars. The most important of these were the battles of Kasur, Sialkot, attock, multan, Kashmir, Peshawar and Jamrud in which Hari Singh nalwa commanded and won. There are very few instances in the Sikh era where the Sikh rulers have done any construction but Hari Singh nalwa had built at least 56 different buildings including forts, gurdwaras, gardens, mansions and inns. Thus, government of Pakistan should be careful in ensuring that their single step towards development of infrastructure could attract immense condemnation from the population, specially when they are in minority in the nation. religious and cultural sentiments of the citizens should be taken into account while revamping. DR KULWANT SINGH BERLIN

The Kashmir dispute THE Kashmir dispute is the oldest unresolved international conflict in the world today taking about more than six decades. In fact, this is the core circumstance between Pakistan and India that has bedeviled relations between the two countries since august 1947 while the State has majority of muslim population, and it not only enjoys geographical proximity with Pakistan but also has essential economic linkages with the territories constituting Pakistan. While Pakistan has also proclaimed 20 July as the black day to pay tribute to the victims of Kashmir and once again, Kashmir is on the boil and the routine life is badly affected in the IIOJK because of a shutdown by local demonstrators over the deaths of protesters in clashes with Indian security personnel. Sadly, it has been the triumph of the unbeatable human spirit of people to seek freedom and the right to determine their political and everyday fate and the aggressive torture and approach of the Indian government to the Kashmiri people and its disputed nature has greatly led to the deteriorating circumstances and can lead to catastrophic consequences for the whole region. There isn’t anybody more interested and willing than Kashmiris to permanently end this conflict and live in peace. It is for this right that over 100,000 Kashmiris have laid down their lives. The baton-charge of freedom has passed on to their fifth generation and it is a moment of great pride and great pain as they all witness their next generation joining the journey of freedom and sacrificing their lives. Which nation wouldn’t? It is a question to those who call the young idealists “terrorists” that in which terrorist’s funeral will you witness hundreds and thousands of men, women and children participating that too defying restrictions, drowning their lives in risk and ready to face bullets. It is really pathetic that the two regional powers which have linkages with everything, be it cultural, religious, and so forth are disputing without any long-term ceasefire. In my own conceit, dialogue is the best option to amicably resolve all issues whether minor or vast between India and Pakistan, including the dispute of Kashmir. HAMMAL ZAHID KOLAHOO

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Thursday, 3 February, 2022

08 WORLD VIEW

Mexico Must end killings of journalists ProgreSSive magazine MIRIAM DAVIDSON

N January 23, Mexican journalist Lourdes Maldonado López was shot dead in her car in front of her home in Tijuana. She was the third Mexican journalist to be murdered that month, after another Tijuana reporter, crime photographer Margarito Martínez, was shot and killed on January 17, and reporter José Luis Gamboa was stabbed to death in Veracruz on January 10. Not only is the Mexican government failing to protect journalists, it has been using spyware to monitor their activities, watchdog groups have determined. These deaths are only the latest in a long line of murders of journalists in Mexico, a line that’s unfortunately grown longer under President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. AMLO, as he is known, was elected in 2018 on a platform of reducing violence and rooting out corruption. But attacks on reporters have only gotten worse since then. In recent years, the country has consistently ranked among the most dangerous in the world for the press, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. In 2019, Maldonado confronted AMLO at a press briefing, expressing fears for her life. She said she’d

IN RECENT YEARS, THE COUNTRY HAS CONSISTENTLY RANKED AMONG THE MOST DANGEROUS IN THE WORLD FOR THE PRESS been threatened after suing her former employer, a media company owned by AMLO’s prominent political ally (and future governor of Baja California) Jaime Bonilla Valdez. AMLO asked an aide to look into it. The case dragged on until this year, when Maldonado finally won $20,000 in back pay. Four days later, she was killed. At a press conference soon after the murder, AMLO promised an investigation, but cautioned against assuming it was connected to the dispute with Bonilla (who has also denied involvement). AMLO called Maldonado’s death “regrettable.” Then he

turned philosophical, saying these murders will end only when “we all move forward to purify public life so that materialism doesn’t dominate, so ambition, ego and hate are set aside.” These are the same bogus excuses we’ve been hearing from Mexican presidents for decades. Attacks on journalists are not random coincidences, nor are they caused by “materialism.” They are perpetrated by people connected to politicians, business leaders, police chiefs and other members of Mexico’s ruling class. In one notorious case, the bodyguards of Jorge hank

Zionist power over Washington THE US GOVERNMENT PROMOTES AN INTERNATIONAL CONSPIRACY Unz.com PHILIP GIRALDI

here have appeared a couple of stories recently that illustrate how there is only one “red line” that no one dares cross in Washington and that is criticism of Israel and its associated supportive mythologies of increasing “holocaust denial” and “surging anti-Semitism.” The rule is ruthlessly enforced by the Israel Lobby, often by its redoubtable Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which is based in New York City but has a regional office in the capital, conveniently close to government offices, from which vantage point it can observe possible deviations and mete out instant punishment. If one wants to learn how hypersensitive (and vicious) defenders of Israel and/or Jewishness can be it is only necessary to read about the recent experience of strongly pro-Israel republican Senator Marco rubio. he denounced “upscale liberals who control the media” in a tweet and was immediately attacked for “the anti-Semitic trope that Jews control the media,” which of course they do, but rubio is too stupid and too fearful of Jewish influence to be suggesting that. So, one must conclude it is not even safe for a conservative friend of Israel to mention the “liberal media” for fear of being labeled as guilty of “coded anti-Semitism.” Likewise, any mention of the malign influence of George Soros by republicans is likely to bring down the wrath of the usual suspects, not because it is a fiction but solely because he is Jewish and it implies that Jews can interact conspiratorially, which is demonstrably true. Another interesting story concerns a government institution that I had never heard of before, the US Commission for the Preservation of America’s heritage Abroad (USCPAhA), and guess what? It is nearly all about Israel, Jews and the so-called holocaust! If you don’t believe that bold assertion on my part, go to the organization’s website which includes multiple pictures of people handing out holocaust related “Cultural Pluralism Awards” and smiling for the camera. The commission was created by Public Law 99-83 in 1985 and its ostensible purpose stated on the website is to “1. identify and report on cemeteries, monuments, and historic buildings in eastern and Central europe that are associated with the heritage of US citizens, particularly endangered properties, and 2. obtain, in cooperation with the Department of State, assurances from the governments of the region that the properties will be protected and preserved… The establishment of the Commission recognized that the population of the United States is mostly comprised of immigrants and their descendants. The United States has an interest in the preservation of sites in other countries related to the heritage of these Americans. The holocaust and 45 years of atheist Communist governments created a critical need that led to the Commis-

sion’s establishment.” The site also includes a list of “projects”, which are overwhelmingly Jewish/holocaust related and located in the parts of europe where Jews settled. Alison Weir’s “If Americans Knew” has reported how in the past congress there were 70 largely hidden bills that in some way benefited Israel, and the creation of America’s heritage Abroad has that smell to it, yet another gift that flies beneath the radar by being attached to a larger piece of legislation. America’s heritage Abroad only surfaced in the news due to a stink being raised by ADL over one of the organization’s 21 commissioners, all of whom appear to be Jewish judging from their names. he is Darren Beattie, who has been described as a “right-wing conspiracy theorist [who] continues to occupy a position in the federal government given to him by Donald Trump, almost a year since Joe Biden took office and gained the ability to fire him. Beattie was appointed by then-President Donald Trump in November 2020 to serve on the Commission for the Preservation of America’s heritage Abroad. Its main responsibilities are seeking to preserve monuments in eastern and central europe, many of which memorialize holocaust victims. he gained new prominence in recent weeks promoting conspiracy theories about the Capitol riot, earning public praise from Trump.” recently, the ADL criticized the appointment and said that Beattie, who describes himself as a “proud Jew” on Twitter, should not be continuing to serve on the commission. Spokesman Jake hyman complained that “Since Beattie’s appointment to the Commission in November 2020, he has continued to spread outrageous and deeply harmful falsehoods and misinformation, including about the January 6 insurrection, that are at odds with serving in such positions of official responsibility. We retain our view that Beattie, who once attended an event with white supremacists and participated in a panel discussion with white nationalist Peter Brimelow, should have no place on a commission that plays a special role preserving Jewish heritage sites from before the holocaust.” Beattie claims that he is still on the commission even though he no longer appears on its website. he states that “I’m proud to serve president Biden to honor the memory of the holocaust” before criticizing ADL CeO Jonathan Greenblatt as a “Democrat apparatchik” who has “destroyed the reputation of the ADL during his tenure.” So, the United States is now in the business of promoting holocaust remembrance on the taxpayer’s dime. Another fascinating news report that just surfaced also has a holocaust plus “surging” anti-Semitism back story. It is all about how numerous Biden nominees are stuck in the Senate waiting for approval, but it is really about Deborah Lipstadt who is described as a “renowned holocaust scholar.” Lipstadt is the Dorot professor of Modern Jewish history and holocaust studies at At-

lanta’s emory University, as well as founding director of emory’s Institute for Jewish Studies. She has also held senior positions at the United States holocaust Memorial Museum, another taxpayer supported enterprise that promotes the Israel narrative. Lipstadt has sharply criticized some progressives in the Democratic Party who have dared to criticize Israel, including representative Ilhan Omar, for describing pro-Israel Americans as a “political influence in this country that says it is OK for people to push for allegiance to a foreign country.” Such statements are “part of the textbook accusations against Jews,” Lipstadt countered, but Omar was, of course, right, though not allowed to get away with the truth when confronted by the Democratic Party establishment led by a foaming at the mouth Nancy Pelosi. The White house announced in late July that Lipstadt would lead an expansion of the activity of the State Department’s Office of the Special envoy to Monitor and Combat AntiSemitism, which is tasked with tracking and countering the alleged rise of anti-Semitism abroad. For the first time, the position will have the rank of ambassador, which makes necessary Senate confirmation. Bear in mind that these are all mechanisms set up specifically to promote the narratives favored by international Jewry. Apart from affirmative action for blacks and other set-asides to favor them, there exists nothing in the US government to enhance the status of any other european, Latino or Asian ethnic groups or religious persuasions that is in any way similar. These commissions, offices and special ambassadorships were established through the assiduous marketing of their brand by Jews using their methodically exploited financial power and the political access that it buys. To cite only one example of what all that networking produces, politically wired Jewish organizations already receive more than 90% of the discretionary grants for “security” issued by the Department of homeland Security. And the end result is that Washington is a helpless giant that is drawn into conflicts in the Middle east that it would best avoid while also funding the Jewish aggressors, most recently in response to a demand to rearm the Israeli military with $1 billion, conflicts which serve no US national interest. Finally, should the United States be so obsessed with a narrative that is certainly in many respects questionable and which relates to events that largely took place many years ago overseas? Should the American taxpayer continue to foot the bill for all these contrivances to bind the US government hand and foot to the “heritage” of a small minority of the population and to its favored foreign state? These are questions that are almost never asked though, as Voltaire allegedly put it, “If you want to know who controls you, look at who you are not allowed to criticize.” Philip M. Giraldi, Ph.D., is Executive Director of the Council for the National Interest.

rhon, scion of a prominent political family and businessman, were convicted in the 1988 murder of héctor “el Gato” Félix Miranda, co-founder of the Tijuana weekly newsmagazine Zeta. But hank himself was never charged with anything. The Mexican government has merely made a show of protecting press freedom. In 2006, after attacks on the Nuevo Laredo-based el Mañana, then-President Vicente Fox set up an agency to investigate and prosecute attacks, as well an emergency protection system called the “mechanismo” that is supposed to respond to imminent threats. But the investigative agency has proven ineffectual, with only a handful of low-level convictions in the intervening years. The “mechanismo” has also proven woefully inadequate, as journalists have continued to be killed while under its protection. Not only is the Mexican government failing to protect journalists, it has been using spyware to monitor their activities, watchdog groups have determined. Some of the surveilled reporters have later turned up dead. In response to this situation, some Mexican reporters have gone into exile in other countries. A few have applied for asylum in the U.S., though most are denied, even after receiving death threats. But there’s only so much they can do. In Mexico, as in the United States, politicians enjoy fomenting public distrust of the press. The media are a suspect class. Yet reporters in both countries perform an essential service in keeping the public informed. AMLO needs to do more. he must stand up for a free press by putting attention and resources toward actually protecting people, preventing attacks and combatting official corruption. With those words and deeds, he can help end the scourge of journalist murders. Miriam Davidson is author of The Beloved Border: Humanity and Hope in a Contested Land (University of Arizona Press, 2021).

Bitcoin is just a crappy tech stock now Slate JORDAN WEISSMANN

rIGINALLY, Bitcoin was supposed to be a currency. Then, it was supposed to be a hedge against inflation, a sort of digital gold. But as the great crypto market crash of the last three months has begun to unfold, it’s started to look like something much more mundane: a crappy tech stock. Digital currencies, on the whole, have been in freefall lately. Despite recovering ever-so-slightly on Monday, Bitcoin has lost about 45 percent of its value since November, while other crypto assets, such as ether, have shed even more. During this collapse, the wider crypto market has lost more than $1.3 trillion of value— roughly the worth of all outstanding federal student debt. This clattering, monthslong crash is a reminder of why Bitcoin has never really worked well as a regular currency despite the vast resources that have been spent trying to make it catch on. reliable currencies tend to have relatively stable values—it’s considered a big deal if the U.S. dollar moves up or down by 10 percent. Bitcoin, in contrast, can move that much in a day, thanks to the massive amount of speculative trading around it, which makes it a poor medium or exchange or store of value. Investors take this volatility for granted now. “Long downturns like this are normal with crypto,” the CeO of a crypto tech company that works with asset managers told CNBC. “Folks should know that going in.” That might be sound advice, but it makes a mockery of the idea that crypto will ever really be capable of replacing dollars or euros. But this crash hasn’t just undercut the case that Bitcoin might be a viable currency (which has seemed pretty unlikely for a while). It’s also shattering one of the big arguments in favor of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, as an investment asset class. Because the supply of Bitcoin is technically capped, and there’s no central bank to print more, it has long been hyped as a safe place where investors could put their money if they were worried about inflation—a form of gold without the inconvenience and cost of storing a load of shiny metal. That’s traditionally been a big part of its appeal to hard-money libertarians who distrust the Federal reserve. The theory that Bitcoin would

act like an inflation hedge seemed plausible for much of 2021, when consumer prices picked up and crypto values skyrocketed. But now? Not so much, since Bitcoin and its cousins are in retreat even though inflation is still very much with us. “You’d think with the inflation we’re seeing, you’d see the opposite,” Bob Fitzsimmons, the executive vice president for fixed income, commodities, and stock lending at Wedbush Securities, told the Washington Post recently. “That’s been one of the selling points for Bitcoin.” In contrast, the price of actual gold, the oldest inflation hedge of all, has stayed relatively stable in recent months, and is up a bit over the last 60 days. Instead of a currency, or an inflation hedge, Bitcoin seems to be acting like something else: a tech stock. Over time, its performance has become increasingly correlated with the NASDAQ index. (Its correlation with gold is practically nil.) Investors, in short, have been betting on Bitcoin as a gamble on tech froth, of which there’s been a lot in recent years. Lately, investors have been dumping stocks and other risky assets, in anticipation of the Federal reserve raising interest rates soon to try and control inflation. As a result, they’re dumping crypto too. (It doesn’t help matters that russia’s central bank has announced plans to ban crypto, much as China already has) There’s some dramatic irony here: Again, Bitcoin’s ideological roots lay partly in the desire to create a form of private money totally free from central bank meddling. But ultimately, like every other asset, its value is swinging to Jerome Powell’s tune. You can’t ever really escape the influence of the Fed. All of this also raises an important question about Bitcoin: What, exactly, is it supposed to be good for? Nobody really needs another way to bet on tech stocks. You can … just bet on tech stocks for that. Unlike some its brethren like ether, the token for the ethereum network, it doesn’t underpin payment on a blockchain capable of being a platform for advanced financial services. One potential answer is crime— crypto is the preferred payment method for hackers who perpetrate ransomware attacks—but that doesn’t exactly bode well for bitcoin’s longterm future. So if it isn’t a currency, isn’t a gold substitute, and isn’t even a very good way to diversify your portfolio, what exactly is its purpose? As far as I can tell, other than buying some drugs online, the answer is absolutely nothing.

Thursday, 3 February, 2022 | LAHORE

NEWS

corporate corner ufone contributes free high-speed internet devices ‘Blaze’ to KP Women civic internship Program ISLAMABAD: Pakistani telecom company, Ufone 4G has provided its flagship Wifi internet device; ‘Blaze’ to each participant of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Women Civic Internship Program, to support their pursuit for personal and professional growth and gratification. The first cohort of the Women Internship Program is a joint partnership between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Technology Board (KPITB), Code for Pakistan, The World Bank, and the Swiss development agency, Helvetas, spanning 6month active training and professional engagement. It has been designed to help equip fresh graduates with technological skills, practical job experience and prepare women graduates for exploring careers in Engineering, IT, and Software Development. Currently, women from different regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are enrolled in the program, during the course of which they will get an opportunity to work on citizen-facing digital services to improve citizen engagement, automate government processes, and create innovation in public service delivery. Besides creating immense social value, the engagement will also enhance their own skill set and help them emerge as better professionals by the end of the program. “The goals of the internship program align well with Ufone’s long term commitment of enabling and empowering the society, particularly the underprivileged section of society including the women from remote areas” spokesperson for PTCL & Ufone said while commenting on the development. “Ufone has been leveraging the power of the internet for growth and development at the individual as well as societal levels. Over the years, we have actively fostered connectivity across underserved and unserved regions and brought large swathes population into the fold of digital inclusion. Our efforts are motivated by our conviction that digitization can help unlock Pakistan’s full potential for equitable economic growth and sustainability, for which we will continue to actively strive and engage”, he further added. Dr. Ali Mahmud, Managing Director of KPITB, termed the initiative an important step towards empowering women, commended the role of Code for Pakistan as long standing partners and thanked Ufone for its support. He indicated that the initiative will be scaled up in the future to create a bigger impact leading towards a more equitable digital inclusion. "We are delighted to partner with Ufone 4G to deliver Blaze to women Interns from the KP Women Civic Internship Program," said Anam Zakaria, Code for Pakistan's Head of Fellowships. "Ufone's support will enable us to connect seamlessly with women from wherever they are, paving career pathways, enhancing civic engagement and unleashing professional development opportunities. We are excited about the partnership and, in collaboration with Ufone 4G and our partners from the KPITB, The World Bank and Helvetas Swiss Inter-cooperation, look forward to creating longterm impact for Women in Tech across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa." pr

FBR launches automated cuRRency declaRation system

CHIEVING yet another significant milestone towards automation and data integration in order to facilitate the taxpayers and the passengers flying in and out of the country, the FBR has launched ‘Automated Currency Declaration System’ this afternoon. Federal Minister for Finance & Revenue, Shaukat Fayaz Ahmed Tarin, presided over the launching ceremony at FBR (HQs), Islamabad as the Chief Guest. Chairman FBR/Secretary Revenue Division Dr. Muhammad Ashfaq Ahmed, Chairman NADRA Mr. Tariq Malik and DG FIA Mr. Sanaullah Abbasi were present on the occasion. Speaking to the august gathering comprising of all FBR Members, dignitaries, senior officers and media representatives, Finance Minister congratulated Chairman FBR and his team for making this long-awaited initiative possible in a short period of time. He stated that the government was focusing on the documentation of economy to broaden the tax base. “This aim can only be achieved through the use of technology and automation with review of existing procedures and processes,” he remarked. He further added that Inter-agency coordination and cooperation was sine qua non for the success of all efforts of business process re-engineering and adoption of new framework for implementation of rules & regulations. “To achieve the goal of documentation of economy and to bring more transparency in the economic transactions, documentation of

flow of foreign currency in and out of the country is pivotal,” he continued. Presently, Currency Declarations (CDs) are obtained randomly from the passengers coming to or going out the country through Airports. Currency Declarations are manually secured in shape of hard copies and are then entered into the System manually in batches. For millions of passengers coming in and going out from the country, it is an uphill task, especially, with very little resources in comparison with the challenges faced by Pakistan Customs and other Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs). Since the current Currency Declaration System (CDS) was not working to achieve the goal of complete documentation of foreign currency movement, a new system was envisaged by FBR. This digital system was developed with the assistance of NADRA and FIA and will now be deployed at all International Airports, starting from Islamabad International

Airport. “This new system will be a hassle free and time saving, one stop solution for all incoming and outgoing passengers,” Finance Minister remarked. FBR is also working on securing data from banks and State Bank of Pakistan along with integration of Currency Exchange Companies with POS. This will culminate into greater visibility and capturing information which could then be used for analysis or audit purposes. The data captured through POS and CDS will then be shared with all relevant agencies including SBP, FIA, Customs, IRS etc. for further necessary action as per law. This end-toend visibility of foreign currency market will bring a semblance of stability in the market and will also be instrumental in countering money laundering and currency smuggling. Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, later, formally launched the ‘Automated Currency Declaration System’ by pressing the button. He commended all three

ISLAMABAD pr

To compliment the lifestyle of the upscale suburb of Islamabad/Rawalpindi with highend hospitality, retail and residences, Mr. Shairyar Salim, COO, Pearl Real Estate Holdings Pvt. Ltd (PREH) - Hashoo Group, and Mr. Farooq Bashir, Chief Strategy and Development Officer, AAA Associates, had an agreement signing ceremony to provide project management and construction supervision services for the flagship project AAA Octa, hosting the Pearl Continental Hotel, Bahria Town, Rawalpindi, on

Review meeting on Privatisation Program Federal Minister for Privatisation Mohammedmian Soomro chaired a meeting to review the ongoing transactions in Islamabad today. Federal Minister was briefed about the current status of Heavy Electrical Complex (HEC), National Power Parks Management Company Limited (NPPMCL), Pak Re-insurance Company Limited (PRCL), DISCOs, Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM), HBFCL and others. It was discussed that the matter of issuance of National Security Clearance (NSC) for transfer of K-E’s shares to Shanghai Electric(SEP), China is held up, awaiting conclusion of Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) between K-E and Power Division. Federal Minister Mohammedmian Soomro also asked that for the urgent resolution of pending issues related to K-

government organizations -FBR, FIA and NADRA-for working in unison and kick starting this significant step. Earlier, Chairman FBR/Secretary Revenue Division welcomed the Honorable Finance Minister on this auspicious occasion. He explained the scope and significance of ‘Automated Currency Declaration System’. He further reiterated that FBR had been swiftly moving to automation and digitization to promote transparency and reliability. In his talk, he explained the salient features of ‘Automated Currency Declaration System’ and added that the system would save time and ensure credibility. He further added that this digital intervention would also capture Currency Declarations data not only at Airports but also at land border stations where immigration desks were available and IBMS (Integrated Border Management System) of FIA was working. He further reassured that the integration of IBMS and FBR’s WeBOC System for this new endeavour in active technical cooperation of NADRA was the start of a new phase of cooperation among key agencies of the government and would pave the way for more collaborative initiatives in future. He particularly commended NADRA and FIA for providing much needed support in materializing this digital intervention. These meaningful synergies and enduring collaborations will certainly contribute significantly to ensuring ease of doing business while, simultaneously, maximizing tax compliance, he concluded. pr

Pearl Real Estate Holdings (Pvt) Ltd Hashoo Group collaborates for Project Management and Construction Supervision Services of AAA Octa Tower

turkey, Pakistan explore Business development opportunities Turkey Alumni in Pakistan (TULIP) organized a program named "Business Development Opportunities Pakistan Turkey" at Islamabad Serena Hotel. The program was graced by Commercial Counselor of the Turkish Embassy in Islamabad Mr. Demir Ahmet Sahin, President of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) Mr. Muhammad Shakeel Munir, Chairman Kashmir Premier League and business community of Pakistan. During his address, Chairman of Turkish Alumni in Pakistan (TULIP) Mr. Saif-ul-Islam Khan explained about investment opportunities in Turkey and expressed that Turkey has vast market for Pakistani investors and Pakistani business community should focus on increasing the volume of export of Pakistani products to Turkey since both countries enjoy strong brotherly relations. They should play there role in further strengthening the relations of Turkey and Pakistan. Mr. Saif-ul- Islam also thanked all the coming guests and specially Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) for their support. During the program board member of Turkish Industry and Business Association (TÜMSIAD) Mr. Eyüp Topal also addressed the event online from Turkey. pr

E, PRCL, issuance of NoC to PSMC by SSGCL and receivables of NPPMCL, meeting(s) with stakeholders and line ministries be lined up on priority. It was briefed in the meeting that the process for the debt-recapitalization has been initiated and banks are in the process of forming consortium for the purpose of lending to replace the government’s excess equity. Regarding the privatisation of HBFCL through the sale of up to 100% shares along with the management control, Federal Minister was briefed that local and international investors/financial institutions are showing interest in HBFCL. Furthermore, the VDR for the due diligence of pre-qualified parties for the revival of PSMC will be opened soon. pr

Monday, 31st January 2022, at Islamabad Marriott Hotel. Mr. Shairyar Salim spoke about Pearl Real Estate Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, which represents the Property Development Division of Hashoo Group and provides consultancy services for project and construction management for National and International Projects. He further said that following the vision of Mr. Murtaza Hashwani, Deputy Chairman and CEO, Hashoo Group, PREH is looking further to expand and broaden its horizons by undertaking new and challenging flagship projects for its clients. Mr. Farooq Bashir explained that AAA Octa, will be a ground

+ 25 floor, high-standard multipurpose development in Islamabad which will not only be one of the tallest buildings in the city, but will also offer apartments, 5star Pearl-Continental Hotel & Luxury Suites, theme-based mall, office spaces and feature an Executive Club to cater to a host of leisure and business activities. He further added that with collaboration of PREH, this shall indeed become a state-of-the-art building and will be an expression of modern architecture and design, making it a one-of-a-kind mixed-use development in Pakistan with mesmerizing views further complimented by an infinity pool.

PBm joins hands with FJWu, icma to help deserving students In order to extend hope among the deserving students, Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal (PBM) has joined hands with Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU) and Institute of Cost and Management Accountant (ICMA). In a ceremony held here in PBM Head Office, Managing Director Malik Zaheer Abbas Khokhar signed the MoUs while Director FJWU, Dr. Shoaib Akhtar and Regional Director ICMA, Abdul Hafeez validated the MoUs with their signatures. The MoUs articulate the PBM’s yearly support to 100 postgraduate deserving and promising students of FJWU while 50 such students in ICMA. The MoUs also affirm the bonding of both the educational Institutes with PBM for carrying out the Impact Evaluation Studies, various social activities including celebration of the International Days and general public awareness campaigns about diseases and other social issues. PBM will also offer internships to the students for community work across the country. Addressing the event, Managing Director PBM, Malik Zaheer Abbas Khokhar reaffirmed the Government’s commitment for accommodating downtrodden segments of the society with a note that “we are determined to invest on youth taking all the possible measures to eliminate the financial barriers to their educational track.” He said, equipped with digital infrastructure and computerized network to district level, PBM is committed to accomplish the responsibility to support such students who are promising and also willing to complete their studies but unfortunately, unable to pay their tuition fee being part of poor family. Expressing their gratitude to PBM, both the directors appreciated the initiative for keeping the deserving students on their educational journey giving hope and pleasure to their parents as well. pr

Thursday, 3 February, 2022 | LAHORE

10 FOREIGN NEWS

US to Send warShip, fighter jetS to Uae after hoUthi attackS DUBAI AFP

The United States will deploy a guidedmissile destroyer and state-of-the-art fighter jets to help defend the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after a series of missile attacks by Yemeni rebels, a US statement said Wednesday. The deployment, to “assist the UAE against the current threat”, follows a phone call between Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the US embassy in the UAE said. The UAE, part of the Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen’s Iran-backed Huthi rebels, suffered its third missile attack in consecutive weeks on Monday. The guided-missile destroyer USS Cole will partner with the UAE Navy and make a port call in Abu Dhabi, the statement said, while the US will also deploy fifth-generation fighter planes.

Other actions include “continuing to provide early warning intelligence”, it added. The rebel attacks have opened a new front in Yemen’s seven-year war, which has killed hundreds of thousands directly or indirectly and displaced millions. Three foreign workers were killed in a drone-and-missile assault targeting Abu Dhabi’s oil facilities and airport on January 17, triggering a salvo of deadly air strikes in retaliation. On January 24, US forces stationed at Abu Dhabi’s Al Dhafra air base fired Patriot interceptors and scrambled to bunkers as two ballistic missiles were shot down over the city. And on Monday, a third missile attack was thwarted during the visit to the UAE of Israel President Isaac Herzog. The US, a supporter of the Saudi-led coalition, intends the deployment to be “a clear signal that the United States stands with the UAE as a long-standing strategic partner”, the statement said. The rebel attacks have raised Gulf ten-

sions further at a time when international talks over Iran’s nuclear programme are stumbling, and have helped push oil prices to seven-year highs. The Huthis began attacking UAE interests after a series of defeats on the ground in Yemen, inflicted by the UAE-trained Giants Brigades militia. In early January, the rebels seized a UAE-flagged ship in the Red Sea, saying it was carrying weapons — a claim denied by the Emirates. Yemen’s civil war began in 2014 when the Huthis seized Sana’a, prompting Saudiled forces to intervene to prop up the government the following year. The UAE, one of the world’s biggest arms buyers, announced a redeployment from Yemen in 2019 but remains an influential player. The grinding conflict has left millions on the brink of famine, according to the UN, which has called it the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.

Afghan universities reopen with trickle of women attending AFP

taliban reject reports of fueling unrest in kazakhstan AgeNcIes Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid on Wednesday rejected some media reports alleging that Taliban fighters carried out activities to further the unrest in Kazakhstan. “We strongly reject such allegations and reports,” Mujahid said. “We have reiterated many times that the Afghan soil wouldn’t be used against any country, and we believe in zero interference in the affairs of other countries,” the spokesperson claimed. He further said that the group was ready to address all grievances of any country in this regard. “We believe in and demand a peaceful solution to the unrest of Kazakhstan and assure that we will not pose any threat or danger to the peaceful environment of the neighbourhood,” Mujahid said. Earlier in January, Kazakhstan’s president imposed a state of emergency in the largest city Almaty and an oil-rich western region after unprecedented protests, that began over a regional energy price hike, engulfed other parts of the vast ex-Soviet country. The southeastern city of Almaty, Kazakhstan’s financial capital, was in chaos as police fired tear gas and stun grenades to quell unrest that began in the west of the country over a spike in local prices for Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG). President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed orders on states of emergency in Almaty and the hydrocarbon-rich western region of Mangystau effective from January 5 until January 19, the presidential website reported.

Some public universities opened in Afghanistan on Wednesday for the first time since the Taliban seized power in August, with a trickle of women attending classes that officials said would be segregated by sex. Most secondary schools for girls and all public universities were shuttered when the hardline group stormed back to power, sparking fears women would again be barred from education — as happened during the Taliban’s first rule, from 1996-2001. “It’s a moment of joy for us that our classes have started,” said Zarlashta Haqmal, who studies law and political science at Nangarhar University. “But we are still worried that the Taliban might stop them,” she told AFP. Khalil Ahmad Bihsudwal, the head of Nangarhar University, told Reuters male and female students at the institution would attend separate classes, a practice al-

ready in place in many provinces. Officials said universities in the warmer provinces of Laghman, Nangarhar, Kandahar, Nimroz, Farah and Helmand opened on Wednesday. Tertiary institutions in colder areas, including Kabul, are due to resume on February 26. An AFP correspondent saw just six women — wearing the all-covering burqa — enter Laghman University early on Wednesday. Taliban fighters guarded the entrance, a tripodmounted machine gun resting on a boom gate. One employee said classes would be segregated, with women taught in the mornings and men in the afternoon. The Taliban administration had not officially announced its plan for female university students, but education officials told Reuters women were permitted to attend classes on the proviso they were physically separated from male students. The United Nations late on Tuesday praised the inclusion of female students at the country’s public uni-

versities, appearing to indicate official confirmation. “[The] UN welcomes the announcement that public universities will begin reopening [on] February 2 to all female and male students. So crucial that every young person has equal access to education,” the UN’s mission to Afghanistan said in a tweet late on Tuesday while Special Representative Deborah Lyons called for supporting the students. Wednesday’s reopening of some universities comes a week after a Taliban delegation held talks with Western officials in Norway, where they were pressed on improving the rights of women to unlock billions of dollars in seized assets and frozen foreign aid. The halting of aid has triggered a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, which has already been devastated by decades of war. No country has yet recognised the new Taliban regime, which has promised a softer version of the harsh rule that characterised their first stint in power.

Landslides triggered by heavy flooding kill at least 24 in Ecuador QUITO AFP

The heaviest flooding to hit Ecuador in two decades has killed at least 24 people in Quito, inundating homes, swamping cars and sweeping away athletes and spectators on a sports field, officials said Tuesday. A dozen people are missing and 48 injured, Ecuador’s SNGRE emergency service said on Twitter. Video footage showed torrents of water carrying stones, mud and debris down streets in the Ecuadoran capital, as rescuers helped inhabitants wade through

the fast-running currents to safety. Many in the city of 2.7 million people were taken to shelters, as authorities declared three days of mourning starting Tuesday. Rain that drenched Quito for 17 straight hours caused a deluge that damaged roads, agricultural areas, clinics, schools, a police station and an electric power substation. Quito mayor Santiago Guarderas said a downpour had overwhelmed a hillside water catchment structure that had a capacity of 4,500 cubic meters but was inundated with more than four times that volume.

The resultant failure sent a kilometerlong (half-mile-long) deluge through a sports field where volleyball players were practicing with spectators on the sidelines. “People who were playing couldn’t get away. It grabbed them suddenly,” witness Freddy Barrios Gonzalez told AFP. “Those who managed to run were saved (but) a family got buried” under a river of mud, added Gonzalez, his own clothes still muddy from the ordeal. It was not immediately known how many of the players or spectators were among the total number of dead and injured. Soldiers with rescue dogs were scouring the area around the field for sur-

vivors. Quito police chief Cesar Zapata did not rule out finding more bodies under thousands of cubic meters (cubic feet) of mud and debris left behind by the flood. Rescuer Cristian Rivera said many people in Quito had to be treated for hypothermia. The municipality has mobilized heavy machinery to clear roads and fix the failed water catchment system. Resident Mauro Pinas said he heard “an explosion” when the structure burst, after which “rivers of mud” descended on the city — mainly in the northwest. Power was lost in some parts after electrical poles were brought down.

Erdogan seeks payoﬀ from Russia-US clash on Ukraine ANKARRA AFP

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will try to leverage his strategic position in NATO and his rapport with Russia’s Vladimir Putin when he visits Kyiv on Thursday in a bid to head off war in Ukraine. The veteran Turkish leader hopes mediation between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky can avert a Russian offensive that Washington warns could start by mid-February. His high-profile efforts — met with caution in Moscow — carry huge stakes and potentially rich rewards. Analysts believe a serious conflict in Ukraine could upend Turkey’s economy and imperil Erdogan’s chances of extending his rule into a third decade in elections due by mid-2023.

It could also force Ankara to pick sides between Putin — a leader who holds several economic and military trump cards over Turkey — and traditional Western allies that have grown impatient with Erdogan’s rule. Kyiv’s acquisition of battle-tested Turkish drones is a particular worry for Russianbacked separatist fighters in eastern Ukraine and for the Kremlin. But analysts think success in averting a Russian invasion could highlight Turkey’s importance to the Western defence alliance and warm Erdogan’s chilly relations with US President Joe Biden. “This is an opportunity for Turkey to elevate its status and come out of the doghouse, metaphorically speaking, in NATO,” Asli Aydintasbas of the European Council on Foreign Relations told AFP. “Ankara will also use this as an opportunity to improve ties with Washington,” she

added. “Erdogan has developed this unique personal relationship with Putin that is simultaneously competitive and consensual — allowing them to support different sides in Libya, the Caucasus and Syria.” Erdogan’s evolving relationship with Putin has been one of the defining features of diplomacy across southeastern Europe and the Middle East. Their relations imploded after Turkey shot down a Russian warplane near the Syrian border in 2015. They improved markedly after Putin became the first head of state to call Erdogan on the night he survived a Turkish coup attempt in 2016. Most Western leaders waited days before publicly supporting Erdogan — indecision that analysts say pushed Turkey closer to Russia in subsequent years. This bond has withstood repeated tests

since. Their support for opposing sides in Syria and Libya did not keep Turkey in 2019 from acquiring a Russian missile defence system at the heart of current tensions with Washington. Putin also appeared to take in stride Turkey’s game-changing supply of drones to Azerbaijan during its 2020 war with Moscow-backed ethnic Armenians in disputed Nagorno-Karabakh. “This is a person who keeps his word — a real man,” Putin said of Erdogan weeks after the Karabakh conflict wound down. Istanbul Medipol University scholar Abdurrahman Babacan said Erdogan and Putin share what “most leaders do not have in their bilateral relations: timely intervention and playing their cards face-up”.Ukraine represents one of the leaders’ points of friction. Erdogan vocally opposed Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea because of the historical presence of ethnically-Turkic

Tatars on the peninsula. He has backed Kyiv’s NATO ambitions and approved Ukraine’s acquisition of Turkey’s Bayraktar TB2 combat drones. Ukraine’s release of grainy footage of a TB2 destroying a separatist military target prompted Putin to raise the issue during a December 2021 call with Erdogan. Eastern separatist leader Denis Pushilin cited the drones as the main reason Russia should start openly arming Ukraine’s rebel fighters. “First and foremost, we need to counter the Bayraktars,” Pushilin said. Military analysts play down the drones’ importance in case of an all-out war. “Yes, in an asymmetric fight that pits the Ukrainian army against the forces in the Donbass, a few TB2s can tilt the balance of forces,” the Foreign Policy Research Institute’s Middle East Program director Aaron Stein told AFP.

Thursday, 3 February, 2022 | LAHORE

SPORTS 11

ChangE In PaKIStan CrICKEt tEaM’S attItudE dIdn’t CoME oVErnIght: ShahEEn aFrIdI kaRaCHI

news Desk

OLLOWING a remarkable show in 2021, fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi is hopeful of consistency in Pakistan team’s performance during the year 2022. Speaking to media, Lahore Qalandars’ skipper Afridi said that each member of the Pakistan team enters the ground with the mindset to make the country number one and while “we are on the field, everybody backs each other.” The 21-year-old, however, said that this change in attitude didn’t come overnight. “What you saw in 2021 was the result of the journey that started in the summers of 2020 when we were on a tour of England. “We all had aimed for one thing and that was to make Pakistan number one side, our

goals were mutual and we worked hard towards our goal and what you saw in 2021 was the result of that hard work that we had been doing,” Afridi added. Shedding light on the captaincy of Babar Azam, he said: “The way Babar is leading from the front and taking the team forward, everyone is standing behind him.” Afridi was announced ICC’s Player of the Year 2021 award and won the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for his brilliant performance throughout the year across all formats. He expressed his delight in receiving the award but said that he would’ve been equally happy if Mohammad Rizwan had gotten that award. “These awards reflect our performances in the year 2021, it was great to see Babar winning ODI and Rizwan getting the T201 award.

BankIslami Celebrates PSL Inauguration with Bike rally in Karachi BankIslami, Pakistan’s first scheduled and leading Islamic finance institution, celebrated the start of PSL 2022 and its Platinum Sponsorship for the Karachi Kings franchise with a bike rally titled ‘The Kings' March’ in Karachi. The event featured senior members of the management team from BankIslami, employees from the organization, and other individuals from the biking community in the country. It was a jubilant celebration in honor of the game that Pakistanis are extremely passionate about. The rally started at Dolmen Mall, Clifton, culminating at the city’s international airport. PSL 2022 began with enthusiasm on 27th of January at National Stadium, Karachi with an extravagant opening ceremony and the first match being played between Karachi Kings and Multan Sultan. The domestic T20 tournament draws not just international players but huge crowds from across the country in light of the passion that this nation holds for the game. BankIslami is the proud Platinum sponsor for Karachi Kings during this season of PSL with a vision of supporting not just cricket but the youth of the country in pursuing their dreams of playing professional cricket. The bike rally held by the organization in this regard also drew significant attention and crowd from across the city. Commenting on the development, Head of Marketing, BankIslami, Syed Fahad bin Tariq stated: “BankIslami has always been at the forefront of not just technological revolutions in the Shariacompliant finance segment but also in societal ventures. Our goal with sponsorship of Karachi Kings at PSL is that we unite on one platform under BankIslami’s banner and spread the message that no matter which team wins, cricket will ultimately be victorious as our slogan is ‘Jeetay Ga Pakistan’.” BankIslami has entered into a partnership with PSL for the first time and has presented a unique opportunity for the cricketing infrastructure in Pakistan.

PSL 2022: Six English players arrive in Karachi Staff RepORt Six more English cricketers reached Karachi on Wednesday to participate in the ongoing seventh edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). England T20 squad members James Vince, Jason Roy, Saqib Mahmood, Chris Jordan, Harry Brook and Phil Salt arrived today after the end of the West Indies series. Quetta Gladiators manager Azam Khan told media that James Vince has tested negative for COVID-19 and will join his squad in the practice session today at the Moin Khan Academy. Jason Roy — who is also a part of the Gladiators squad — will join the team after completing three-day isolation. Meanwhile, Karachi Kings will have an improved bowling attack in the upcoming matches as Chris Jordan has also landed, who will also complete three days isolation before joining his struggling team. Apart from that, Lahore Qalandars’ Phil Salt and Harry Brook will also be available to the team after completing the mandatory three-day quarantine. All of these players were part of England’s squad for the West Indies series, which the West Indies won by 3-2.

against India, Shaheen said that it was the first world cup match against India for most of the players and everyone was highly confident ahead of the game. “We were very confident about the game, we could feel from our body language even during training ahead of the game that we’ll take it home, we played according to the plan and thankfully won the game,” he recalled. Afridi said that he’s hopeful that the Pakistan team will continue with the same momentum in 2022 and do well in the series against Australia. “Australians are coming after a long time and the series is very important for us, we have prepared our minds on how to go on against them. We’ll surely enjoy playing against a strong opponent at our home ground and produce good results,” he aimed. “Not only against Australia, but also in

Pakistani squad leaves for China to participate in Beijing Winter Olympics ISLaMaBaD Mian abRaR

kaRaCHI PRess Release

“I am happy for my award and I would’ve been equally happy if Rizwan would’ve received the award because his performance during the year was outstanding,” Afridi said. Recalling his memorable performances in the year 2021, the star player mentioned his performance in the Test series against West Indies where he took 18 wickets and the T20 World Cup match against India as his memorable performances. Shaheen added that he enters the stadium every time with pride and full commitment to giving his 100% regardless of the opponent he’s facing. “I don’t think about who is weaker or stronger, I just want to give my best in every game so that at the end of the day, I don’t have any regrets in my heart,” he asserted. Talking about the T20 World Cup match

A five-member Pakistan squad has left for China to feature in the Beijing 2020 Winter Olympics to be held on February 4. The party comprises one athlete and four officials, said Secretary, Pakistan Olympic Association (POA), Muhammad Khalid Mahmood. Mahmood mentioned that the Pakistan Contingent has completed all the Covid-19 requirements before travelling to Beijing as per instructions of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China as well as the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games. The squad includes Syed Noman Ali, Chef de Mission, Nadeem Ajmal Khan, Team Leader and Official, Muhammad Karim, Athlete Muhammad Qamar Mirza, Covid Liaison Officer and Coach, Agha Hunain Abbas Khan, Olympic Attache, (From the Embassy of Pakistan in China). “POA has made the accreditation and travel arrangements of the contingent,” Mahmood maintained adding that Muhammad Karim, Alpine Skiing Athlete will compete in the Slalom event on 16 February. Prime Minister Imran Khan is set to be among the world leaders to attend the Opening Ceremony of the Winter Olympics as he looks to “express solidarity” with China. Ski player excited about Beijing Olympics Pakistani ski player Muhammad Karim voiced on his enthusiasm and excitement about his upcoming participation in

other events during the year, we’ll try to play with the same momentum,” the young player hoped. The left-hander was named Lahore Qalandars’ captain ahead of the seventh edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and under his leadership, Lahore has, so far, played two games. Afridi says he’s enjoying the captaincy and trying to bring better results for Lahore Qalandars. “We played very good cricket in both the games so far, unfortunately, the result didn’t come in our favour in the first game but it was a good game,” he said. “We did learn our lessons in the first two games and identified the areas where we need to improve, we will apply what we’ve learnt in our two games and play better cricket than previous games in matches to come,” the Qalandars’ skipper said. Afridi said that his advice to the team members is to play champions and give 100% on the field. He also hailed the flamboyant opening batter, Fakhar Zaman. “Fakhar is doing exactly what’s required by the team from him. We need someone to accelerate in the start and Fakhar is doing that job.

PSL vs IPL: Former England captain Michael Vaughan makes a comparison NewS DeSk

the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics scheduled from February 4 to 20. “I’m very excited and fully prepared to participate in the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. I heard that they used the very latest technologies on ski slopes and the world’s best sports facilities there. I can’t wait to see all these things,” the Pakistani giant slalom skier Muhammad Karim told media. Muhammad Karim, the only skier from Pakistan who is form Naltar, a village in Gilgit-Baltistan, said participating in the Winter Olympics is a great chance to put Pakistan on the map of international sports.

Michael Vaughan, the former captain of the England cricket team, is all praises for the Pakistan Super League (PSL), calling it one of the best T-20 leagues in the world. The former English player praised the standard of cricket during the ongoing seventh edition of PSL on Twitter. He also compared the Pakistan cricketing event to the Indian Premier League (IPL), saying that “it’s not far off the IPL either.” “Pakistan Super League is the 2nd best T20 Tournament in the World. It’s not far off the IPL either, outstanding standard of cricket,” Michael Vaughan tweeted. A total of 48 international players around the world have joined PSL 7, out of whom 24 belong to England. The English Cricket Board (ECB) is still under criticism for calling off Pakistan’s tour in October 2021, citing security reasons as more than two dozen English players have joined PSL 2022 just after three months.

Man United’s Greenwood released on bail after arrest LONDON ReuteRs

Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood has been released on bail pending further investigations, police said on Wednesday after the 20-year-old player was arrested on suspicion of rape and as-

sault of a woman. Greenwood was on Tuesday further arrested on suspicion of sexual assault and making threats to kill. The allegations against Greenwood were posted on Instagram on Sunday and later deleted. “A 20-year-old man arrested (on Sunday 30 January 2022) on suspicion of the

rape and assault of a woman has been released on bail pending further investigation,” Greater Manchester Police said in a statement on Wednesday. United have suspended Greenwood, saying he would not return to training or play for the Premier League club until further notice. The club reiterated its “strong

condemnation of violence of any kind” on Tuesday. Sportswear giant Nike said on Monday it had suspended its relationship with Greenwood as it was concerned by the allegations. The forward began his career at United’s academy and has played once for the England national team.

No surprise if some Australia cricketers skip Pakistan tour: Hazlewood CaNBeRRa ReuteRs

Australian pace bowler Josh Hazlewood said on Wednesday he would not be surprised if security fears prompt some players to opt-out of the upcoming Pakistan tour, as he eyes a comeback to the national team after recovering from injury. Australia are scheduled to play three Tests, three One-Day Internationals and one T20 starting on March 3 in their first trip to Pakistan in 24 years. A media report last week said some in the Australian camp were apprehensive about whether Pakistan would be safe. Hazlewood said Cricket Australia’s reassurances had eased his concern. “There’s a lot of things in place and there’s been a lot of work in the background […] so the trust is quite high there from the players,” Hazlewood told cricket.com.au. “But there’d certainly be some concerns from the players and I wouldn’t be surprised if some of them don’t make the tour. “And that’s very fair. People will dis-

cuss it with their families […] and come up with an answer and everyone respects that.” His comment comes days after the nation’s national selector dismissed the rumours of players indicating they want to opt-out of the tour. George Bailey said he believed security plans were “very, very robust and very, very thorough” after multiple briefings for what would be the first Australia tour of Pakistan since Mark Taylor’s men visited in 1998. “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,” cricket.com.au quoted Bailey as telling reporters. Hazlewood, 31, part of a 16-man Australian squad for the five-match T20 home series against Sri Lanka starting on February 11, is raring to go after missing all but the first Test in the recent Ashes series. Sidelined by a side strain after the first Test in Brisbane, he was forced to watch on as his team mates celebrated a 4-0 se-

ries shellacking. “I’ve certainly had a typical side strain, where you tear your oblique (muscle), you can’t bowl another ball and are out for at least six or seven weeks,” he said. “This one was different […] the strength came back really quickly, and I could do a lot of things in the gym. It was just bowling, that dynamic movement, that caused a bit of

grief. It was an unusual one.” Long part of Australia’s three-pronged pace attack with Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, Hazlewood has taken 215 Test wickets at an average of 25 runs per wicket. But he must now wrest his Test place back from Scott Boland, who took 18 wickets in three Tests, including an unlikely haul of six wickets for seven in the second innings of his debut.

Thursday, 3 February, 2022

prAyer timiNgs

NEWS

TrADE DEficiT DEcrEASES by 30Pc iN JANUAry: MUzAMMiL ISLAMABAD

stAff report

POKESMAN for the Finance Minister Muzammil Aslam has said that the trade deficit decreased by 30.19 percent on a month-on-month basis. Aslam addressing a press conference here on Wednesday said, “Our import bill which was recorded at US$7.6 billion last month (December 2021) had declined to $5.9 billion in January 2022, showing a decline of 22 percent.” He said the exports also declined by 8 percent during the period under review but overall the trade deficit showed a big decline. The imports also rose to $46 bil-

lion from $29.2 billion in July-Jan (202021) showing an increase of 58 percent. Whereas the trade deficit rose sharply to $28 billion during the period under review, thus showing an increase of 92 percent, he added. He said, on average, the exports during the first seven months (July-January) of fiscal year 2021-22 surged to $17.7 billion against $14.255 billion in the same period of previous year, showing an increase of 24 percent. Muzammil Aslam said during the previous few months, the unprecedented increase in the import bill was mainly due to imports of COVID vaccine, sugar, and wheat. He however said that since these commodities would not be im-

PM expresses solidarity with UAE after attempted Houthi attack PM Imran Khan on Wednesday spoke to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Deputy Supreme Commander and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and expressed solidarity after an attempted Houthi attack. According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, PM Imran Khan condemned the attempted missile attack by Houthis against the UAE on January 30, 2022. He further lauded the timely and effective air defence response of the UAE that saved precious lives. It is pertinent to note that the PM expressed abiding solidarity with the leadership, government and the people of the UAE. The PM further reaffirmed Pakistan’s abiding support for efforts to protect and promote regional peace and security through dialogue and diplomacy. He also expressed deep concern at the recent escalation in attacks that have seriously threatened regional peace and security. It merits mention that the two leaders also discussed bilateral ties and issues of mutual interest; while agreeing to continue regular and close consultations. News Desk

KP signs MoUs worth more than $8bn at Dubai Expo Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province has signed more than $8 billion MoUs at Dubai Expo; these mainly consist of investments in tourism, hydro power projects, economic zones, mines and minerals sector. In addition to attracting foreign investors the initiative will create jobs leading to economic progress in the province. Advisor to Chief Minister on Information & Public Relations, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, while briefing the media about 64th cabinet meeting said the Chief Minister has issued directives to the concerned departments to provide every possible facility to the foreign investors to attract more business entrepreneurs. The cabinet, he said, also has approved Rs.800 million supplementary grant for the uplift of newly merged districts. Aziz BuNeri

ported now so there would not be any sudden increase in the imports. He said at present the country had surplus stock of sugar and wheat, so there was no need for their import. He further said the inflation in the country had reached its peak now and it would decline in the months to come along with imports and trade deficit. The spokesman said such a situation was created in 2008 too when prices in the international market rose sharply but the then government did a major mistake by depleting the country’s foreign exchange reserves to maintain the currency value. On the other hand, he said that now due to a rational approach especially by

the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the country’s reserves did not go down which were on a historically higher side and the exchange rate too did not lose its value as much as it was expected. The spokesman said prices of perishable items in the country were on the declining trend, while unlike during the last year, wheat flour price was also stable this year. Similarly, prices of eggs, chicken, tomatoes, and fresh vegetables were also stable. He said despite the historical crisis the current government had to face in the shape of the coronavirus pandemic and then hike in global inflation, the government managed to stabilize the key macroeconomic indicators.

‘Hapless’ Nawaz Sharif wants to stay in London based on fake report: Sheikh Rasheed ISLAMABAD News Desk

Minister for Interior Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed once again took a swipe at PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and called him a “hapless person who wants to stay in London on the basis of a fake medical report”. The minister was referring to a fresh medical report submitted by the PML-N at the Lahore High Court (LHC), according to which a Washington-based doctor has advised him to not travel. “He [Sharif] wants to deceive people by asking them to march to Islamabad while the country is undergoing the threat of the coron-

avirus pandemic,” the minister said. Rasheed went on to say that the Opposition may fulfil its desire but it is unable to function anymore because its “ring pistons have become rusted”. While speaking about the reports of bringing a presidential system in the country, Rasheed said that these are just rumours. “Neither a presidential system nor an emergency is being enforced [in the country],” he said. “News related to Opposition’s sit-ins, no-confidence motion, or a deal — are all fake.” “If anyone is interested in bringing a no-confidence motion against the prime minister they may pursue it because it is them who have to

gather enough support for it,” Rasheed said, adding that the government has never faced defeat in passing a bill during the last threeand-a-half years. When asked about the banned TTP, Rasheed said that the group has increased terror activities. He said that two TTP terrorists have been killed in Islamabad. Rasheed reiterated that the banned outfit has been making demands that the government cannot accept. The minister further stated that all the four provincial chief secretaries and inspector generals of police have been alerted regarding the country’s security situation.

‘Leaked’ video shows ‘ailing’ Nawaz visiting industrial unit in faraway UK town LONDON stAff report

A day after he submitted a fresh medical report advising him against travel to Pakistan to the Lahore High Court (LHC), a video of deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif visiting a local industrial unit in a northwestern town of England went viral on social media, questioning the credibility of these reports and strengthening the legitimacy of government claims that he’s only faking his illness to escape the trial in corruption cases against him. The video, accessed and shared

by ARY News and not independently verified by Pakistan Today, shows the Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) supreme leader, accompanied by his two sons and former finance minister Ishaq Dar, visiting the different sections of the business — a factory — and apparently taking a briefing from the staff. According to ARY News, the business is located in Nelson, a town in the Borough of Pendle in Lancashire, some 245 miles (394 kilometres) away from Sharif’s notorious Avenfield House residence in Central London. After spending a year in prison, Sharif, 72, secured a

conditional one-month bail in November 2019 to travel to London on the pretext of medical treatment but has since refused to return. His party insists that despite being summoned by the courts, which declared him a proclaimed offender in separate graft trials, the former prime minister will only return after the completion of his medical treatment — the nature of which remains a mystery to date. INP adds: When contacted, a spokesperson for the family said Sharif visited the business at the invitation of a friend and also had lunch there.

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Security forces successfully repulse terrorist attacks at Panjgur, Naushki QUETTA stAff report

Security forces late Wednesday night successfully repulsed terrorist attacks at Panjgur and Naushki districts of Balochistan inflicting heavy casualties to terrorists. “Terrorists attempted to attack security forces camps at two locations, Panjgur and Naushki, in Balochistan late evening today. Both attacks have been successfully repulsed while inflicting heavy casualties to terrorists,” said a statement issued by the ISPR. In Panjgur, the terrorists tried to enter security forces’ camp from two locations. However, timely response by troops foiled terrorist attempt. During intense exchange of fire one soldier has been martyred. Terrorists have fled while their casualties are being ascertained. In Naushki, the terrorists attempted to enter an FC camp which was promptly responded. Four terrorists have been killed while one Officer has been injured during the shoot out. “Intermittent firing continuing. Further details to follow,” the statement added.

Sindh govt forms committee to discuss contentious LG laws with opposition The government of Sindh on Wednesday announced the formation of a committee to discuss the laws pertaining to the local government, with opposition parties across the province. The committee will include the minister for local government, minister for labour, minister for parliamentary affairs, minister for irrigation and a legal adviser. According to details, the decision was taken during a cabinet meeting, which was chaired by CM Sindh Murad Ali Shah. It is to note that CM Murad, a day earlier, had said that the provincial government would accept the order of the Supreme Court to devolve powers to the local bodies under Article 140-A of the Constitution. During today’s cabinet meeting, Local Government Minister Syed Nasir Shah apprised the cabinet of his talks with opposition parties regarding LG law. He stated that the committee would review the law and send a summary to CM Murad. The provincial chief executive further stated that the committee’s Terms of reference (TOR) would also be notified. The forum also decided to implement 100pc of the points agreed upon by Nasir Shah with the opposition parties. In the meeting, it was also decided to declare Bundle island as a protected forest area. Additionally, the provincial cabinet was apprised that the Matiari-Lahore 4000 MW high voltage line was 878 km long. The commercial operation of this line, which has been made under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), has also started. Pertaining to the the prison department, the cabinet was informed that there were 2,113 (1,355 for constable) vacancies in Grade 5 to Grade 15. The cabinet approved third party open bidding for recruitment. The SC, a day earlier, while ruling on a petition filed by the MQM-P, declared that the Sindh government was bound to establish empowered local governments and give them financial, administrative and political authority under the Constitution. The court also held that the provincial government could not start any new project under the local bodies system. News Desk

Shehbaz says ‘AGP’s letter seeking Nawaz’s health reports is unjustified, politically motivated’ Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif on Wednesday termed the attorney general of Pakistan’s letter to him seeking updated reports on the medical condition of Nawaz Sharif ‘driven by political motivation’. He further stated that the act of asking for such a letter is tantamount to “contempt of court” since the matter was already pending with the LHC. As per the details, the response, written by the personal secretary to the opposition leader, Murad Ali Khan, and addressed to the AGP’s secretary, Khalid Khan Niazi, stated that the letter from the AGP office had been issued for the purposes of “media trial” to support the “dying political rhetoric” of the federal cabinet. It is pertinent to note that Shehbaz’s response comes a day after submission of a recent report of Nawaz’s medical health to the

LHC by Advocate Amjad Pervez. According to the report, doctors have again advised the PML-N supremo against travelling to Pakistan. The last medical report of the former PM was submitted to the LHC on Aug 11, 2021. It is to note that the office of the AGP had on January 24 warned Shehbaz officially that he could face contempt of court proceedings if he failed to bring fresh reports regarding the medical condition of his elder brother, Nawaz Sharif. The letter had stated that it was evident from the observations of the board that the opposition leader had not fulfilled his obligation to provide periodical medical reports from Nawaz Sharif’s doctor, as per his solemn undertaking and the order of the LHC. The letter had recalled how the special medical board met on Jan 17, 2022, to examine the 29-page documents issued by Car-

diothoracic Surgeon David R Lawrence. The board concluded that the documents did not provide any information about the current clinical evaluation, including blood reports, imaging results and any interventional procedures carried out so far on Nawaz Sharif. “You are, therefore prime facie in violation of your undertaking and [the] order passed by the LHC on Nov 16, 2019,” the letter added. It is pertinent to note that the LHC had on Nov 16, 2019, allowed former premier Nawaz Sharif, who was serving jail terms for owning assets beyond means and corruption, to travel to the United Kingdom for a period of four weeks, extendable on the basis of medical reports. Nawaz hasn’t returned since then. Nawaz, who had been diagnosed with an immune system disorder, was recommended by doctors to go abroad as his condition continued to deteriorate despite treatment in

Pakistan. Before the departure of the ex-premier, Shehbaz had submitted an undertaking to the court, saying: “I do hereby undertake to ensure return of my brother Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, within four (4) weeks or as and when certified by doctors that he has regained his health and is fit to return to Pakistan. I further undertake to provide/send the periodical medical reports of the doctor duly notarised by the embassy to the registrar of this court. “I also undertake that if at any stage, the federal government has credible information that Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif is living abroad despite his fitness to travel, a representative from Pakistan’s High Commission would have a right to meet his physician(s) to verify or confirm about his health.” In his response to the AGP’s letter today, Shehbaz pointed out that the requisite reports were being submitted in the office of Regis-

trar LHC periodically. “I have never breached or violated the undertaking in any manner whatsoever.” “I am at a loss to understand as to how the officer acting under the directions of Attorney General for Pakistan could not comprehend and understand concluding part of the undertaking,” he said. Shehbaz, through his secretary, said he had his “reasons to believe that the issuance of the letter was prompted by political motivation and considerations extraneous to law, Constitution of Medical Board, proceedings by it and the demand raised on its basis through the letter ran counter to the mandate”. The PML-N leader further called the letter from the AGP office “unwarranted, unjustified and without lawful authority”. He added that the issuance of the letter was a “contrived attempt to cause prejudice and influence pending proceedings”. News Desk

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