Ep2016mar05

Mumtaz Qadri execution protests

Masses hold rallies, attack media houses

UN warns of ‘Pandora’s Box’ in FBI Apple case GENEVA—An FBI demand that Apple unlock an iPhone risks setting a dangerous precedent that could have a chilling effect on human rights, the United Nations rights chief warned Friday.

Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein’s intervention came after Apple’s largest rivals backed the tech giant’s bid to resist the US government demand seeking to access the iPhone used by one of the attackers in a deadly rampage in San Bernardino, California in December.

“In order to address a security-related issue related to encryption in one case, the authorities risk unlocking a Pandora’s Box that could have extremely damaging implications for the human rights of many millions of people, including their physical and financial security,” Zeid said in a Continued on Page 7

India denies visas to US religious freedom body WASHINGTON—India has denied visas for a delegation from the US government agency charged with monitoring international religious freedom, the agency said on Thursday.

The delegation from the US Commission on International Religious Freedom had been scheduled to leave for India on Friday for a longplanned visit with the suport of the US State Department and the US embassy in New Delhi, but India had failed to issue the necessary visas, the commission said.

“We are deeply disappointed by the Indian government’s denial, in effect, of these visas,” USCIRF chairman Robert George said in a statement.

“As a pluralistic, nonsectarian, and democratic state, and a close partner of the United States, India should have the confidence to allow our visit,” he said.

George said USCIRF had been able to travel to many

Nawaz, Pervaiz condemn attacks IRFAN ALIGI

BATTAGRAM: Activists of political, religious parties protesting against hanging of Mumtaz Qadri by blocking Shahra-e-Resham.

PM orders security review before Pak World T20 visit BCCI official Shukla assures full security STAFF REPORTER ISLAMABAD/NEW DELHI—Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday ordered Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali to ‘send a team to India’ to assess measures adopted for Pakistan cricketers’ security for the World T20.

A decision on Pakistan’s participation in the World T20, being hosted by India from March 8 to April 3, hinges on a clearance report by the security team, read a statement released from the premier’s office.

A final decision on whether Pakistan’s cricket team will fly to India will be made after a report is submitted by the ‘security team’, said the statement. In a meeting with Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar, Nawaz Sharif directed to ensure “fool proof security measures for the team in coordination with the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi”.

The development came after the chief minister of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, Virbhadra Singh, called for the India-Pakistan World T20 tie to be moved to another venue ‘out

of respect for those killed in the assault by militants on an Indian air force base in Pathankot’.

He threatened to not provide security for Pakistan’s players at the Himachal Pradesh cricket ground in the Himalayan town of Dharamsala where the clash is due to take place on March 19.

The statement issued by the prime minister office also sought a report from the Pakistan Cricket Board on the team’s dismal performance in the Asia Cup T20.

Meanwhile, senior official of the Board of Cricket Control in India Rajiv Shukla has assured that Pakistan cricket team would be provided foolproof security in the Pak-India clash in World Twenty20 in Dharamshala.

Speaking to local media on Friday, Rajiv Shukla said, “Match between Pakistan and India will be played as per schedule on March 19 in Dharamshala.”

He added that Pakistan cricket team would be provided foolproof security and in this regard, they have talked to Chief Minister Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.

Jhagra takes oath as KP Governor TARIQ SAEED

Continued on Page 7

Consolation win for Pakistan DHAKA—Umar Akmal hit 48 off 37 balls as Pakistan ended its Asia Cup with a six-wicket

PESHAWAR: Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel administering oath to the newly-appointed KP Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra at Governor House.

Senate rejects PIA sell-off bill STAFF REPORTER win over Sri Lanka on Friday.

Pakistan reached 151-4 in 19.2 overs after Sri Lanka posted 150-4 with opener Tillakaratne Dilshan undefeated on 75 off 56 balls.

Sarfraz Ahmed scored 38 for Pakistan while opener Sharjeel Khan made 31.—AP

Details on Sports Page

Most sensational disclosure of Altaf’s RAW link

................................................

Expanding world of nuclear power plants ................................................

Pakistan needs to increase agriculture production

See Page 04

ISLAMABAD—A Senate session on Friday rejected a bill moved by the government to convert the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Corporation into a public limited company.

The bill was rejected by the Senate panel on the basis that opposition was not taken into confidence before the sell-off plan was drafted.

The PIA Corporation (Conversion) Bill, 2015 was presented in the Senate on February 18 by State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab during the session chaired by Raza Rabbani. The National Assembly has already passed the bill.

PPP lawmaker Saeed Ghani said the bill should be

sent to the Senate Standing Committee on PIA. The treasury benches did not object to the senator’s demand, after which the chairman referred the bill to standing committee.

The Senate panel was directed to present its report in the house within 12 days.

MQM’s Tahir Hussain Mashhadi, meanwhile, called for action against the authorities for sacking daily-wage earners over their protest against the proposed privatisation of PIA. He said until the Senate approves or disapproves the bill, the PIA employees should not be fired.

Taking notice of the sackings, the Senate chairman referred the matter to the relevant standing committee as well.

PESHAWAR—Veteran politician and a senior leader of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-N Iqbal Zafar Jhagra was sworn as the Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa here Friday afternoon.

Jhagra, who had tendered his resignation from the Upper House of Parliament a few days back to facilitate his new assignment, has replaced Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan who had resigned from the coveted slot a couple of weeks back apparently due to “health reasons”.

Chief Justice of Peshawar High Court Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel administered the oath of Governor to Iqbal Zafar Jhagra at a simple ceremony at the Governor House.

Besides Chief Minister Pervez Khattak and Federal Minister Akram Khan Durrani, the oath-taking ceremony was attended by Governor Punjab, Rafique Rajwana, Federal Minister for SAFRON, Lt-Gen (Retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch, Leader of the House, Senator Raja Muhammad Zafar-ulHaq, former Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan, Lt-Gen. (Retd) Iftikhar Hussain Shah, Commander Khalil ur Rehman, Advisor to Prime Minister Engineer Amir Muqam, PML-N KP President Pir Sabir Shah and PML-N Balochistan President, Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan Nasar, the provincial ministers, members of parliament, top civil and military officials, political leadership of various political parties, tribal elders, Ulema, journalists, elite of the city and wellwishers and relatives of the Governor of the province.

Women Protection Bill challenged in Sharia court STAFF REPORTER I SLAMABAD —A prominent Pakistani lawyer has filed a petition in the top Sharia court seeking that it strike down a new law that gives unprecedented protection to female victims of violence.

The Women’s Protection Act, passed by province of Punjab last week, gives legal protection to women from domestic, psychological and sexual violence. It also calls for the creation of a toll-free abuse reporting hot line, women’s shelters and district-level panels to investigate reports of abuse and mandates the use of GPS bracelets to keep track of offenders.

Domestic abuse, economic discrimination and acid attacks made Pakistan the world’s third most dangerous country in the world for women, a 2011 Thomson Reuters Foundation expert poll showed. But since the law’s passage in the Punjab assembly, many conservative clerics and religious leaders have denounced it as being in conflict with the Quran and the constitution. The latest opponent is Supreme Court lawyer and professor of Islamic law, Mohammad Aslam Khaki, who petitioned the Federal Shariat Court to strike down the law for being un-Islamic and not providing adequate protection for men.

KARACHI—Unidentified protestors, who rallied in support of Mumtaz Qadri, who was executed for murdering former Punjab Governor Salman Taseer over views of the later against the law of blasphemy, attacked media houses in Karachi and Hyderabad, Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Mardan and Kasur.

Angry protestors attacked Aaj TV offices in Karachi and in Lahore, pelted stones and a few vehicles were damaged.

Hundreds of activists of a religious party had gathered after Friday prayer to protest, They damaged a number of vehicles and AAJ News TV office. They also beat up the staff.

The protestors also attacked a DSNG van of another private TV channel and also broke a camera in Karachi.

They burned old tyres and forced shopkeepers to shut their business in Saddar, Jama Cloth Market area, and other parts of the city. Jamaat-e Islami and Pakistan Sunni Tehreek had also produced large rallies in condemning the execution of Mumtaz Qadri.

Meanwhile, the PFUJ President Rana M. Azeem and Secretary General Amin Yousuf have strongly condemned the manhandling and attack on journalists on Friday.

President Rana Azeem also sustained serious injuries. . PFUJ leadership demanded that the Government should take notice and provide security to media persons and Press Clubs. A mob also attacked Hyderabad Press Club. Many media persons saved their lives by jumping walls. Cameraman Qasim received a fracture in leg while reporter Niaz Vighio also received injuries.

Before arrival of processions, a number of telephones were made to district and divisional authorizes and police but no one

attended the calls. .

Later, SSP Hyderabad reached Hyderabad Press Club along with heavy contingent deployed the forces at different spots. Fire tenders were called to control the fire.

Pakistan Broadcaster Association (PBA) condemned the attacks on media organization and journalists, calling on the government to provide security to journalists.

In a statement the PBA expressed complete solidarity with its member channels AAJ News against this act of violence.

“PBA terms this act as an attempt to curb freedom of expression and to discourage media from performing its constitutional responsibilities,” it said.

The PBA demanded of the government to initiate an immediate action to apprehend the attackers. “PBA has continuously been drawing attention of the Govt. towards the attacks on media houses, but so far there has been no action taken to either curb this violence or to provide security to media.

PBA reiterates and urges the government to immediately take proper and effective measures in this respect,” the statement said.

Editors for Safety (EFS) called on the federal and provincial governments to ensure security of journalists and media houses.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage (IB&NH) Senator Pervaiz Rashid, have strongly condemned the attack on Aaj TV head office Karachi and Lahore Bureau office . In a statement, the minister said attack on any media house tantamounts to curbing freedom of expression.

He said that the provincial governments must take cognizance of the matter and ensure safety and security of media houses and workers.

MQM holds ‘Solidarity with Altaf’ rallies across Karachi IRFAN ALIGI KARACHI—Thousands of workers and officebearers of all wings of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) including labour wing, medical wing, legal wing, communication wing and others, Parliamentarians, MPAs, MNAs, Senators, supporters and sympathizers, men, women, children and students, minorities, lawyers, doctors, engineers, academicians and scholars gathered at more than 18 venues in Karachi to condemn former city Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal and former deputy convener

Anis Qaimkhani over their allegations and use of harsh language against their leader Altaf Hussain and to show complete solidarity with him.

The chain of protests at 18 different venues started at Imran Shaheed Park in Landhi, Korangi No 5, RCD Ground in Malir, Greenbelt in Shah Faisal Colony, Jauhar Morr, Maskan Chowrangi, Gulshan-e Iqbal, Hassan Square, Old Numaish, Lines Area, Bahadurabad, Tariq Road, Mehmoodabad, Clifton, Burns Road, Pak Colony, Nazimabad, North Nazimabad,

Continued on Page 7

Depoliticizing police NOWSHERA— President of Awami National Party (ANP) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and former Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti, Friday rejected claims of Pakistan Tehrik e Insaf of making the police depoliticised and said it was being massively used against the opponents for personal gains. Talking to media here, the ANP leader said that police were working under extreme political pressure by the ruling party and interfering in matters that did not fall in their ambit. He said this important state entity was being used to harass political opponents for changing loyalties which is condemnable.—APP

Monetary support on cards, 10 forests to be raised by 2018 Wildlife, Syed Muhammad Ishtiaq Urmar has said that the KP Government was mulling to provide financial support to protectors of forests in order to safeguard the green gold keeping in view its paramount importance and role in the socio-economic prosperity of people.

In order to sustain the present forests and achieving the Billion Trees Tsunami Afforstration Campaigns’ objectives, he said a comprehensive plan was being made to provide financial support to forest protectors to counter the adverse effects of climatic changes and global warming besides curbing the menace of illegal cutting of trees.

“Those village conservations communities and people who conserve and look after the trees on their respective lands would be provided

sources,” he told APP. He said the idea of benefiting the forest protectors was conceived from the success of trophy hunting program of Khyber Pakthunkhwa Wildlife Department under which local communities of Chitral and Kohistan were being provided monetary benefits from the income generated from the permitted hunting of Markhor and Ibex.

The Advisor said provision of monetary incentives to forests protectors would give a sense of ownership to the community and will immensely help discourage the menace of timber smuggling besides increasing forestry cover in the province.

He said that ten forests on the pattern of Changa Manga would be raised in Khyber Pakthunkhwa by 2018, adding three forests have al-

grown at Ghari Chandan Peshawar over 9000 kanals so far against 46000 kanals land reserved for the forest.

The advisor said that 10 million saplings would be planted in southern districts that would help bring the temperature down. “By march this year, 250 million saplings under PTI’s Billion Trees Tsunami Afforstration Program would be planted in KP,” he said and claimed that 700,000 saplings were being planted per day in the 25 districts of the province.

Meanwhile, the Forest Department has set a target of 123.279 million saplings for plantation during spring that would be sown with the help of different stakeholders and departments to counter balance the growing effects of global warming and climate change posed the environment of the region.—APP

PESHAWAR—Provincial Minister for Elementary and Secondary Education, Muhammad Atif Khan Friday said the provincial government has accorded high priority to education sector by spending 28 percent of the total budget on uplift of education in order to prepare children for the modern’s days’ challenges ahead. He was addressing the stone-laying ceremony of a private school in Nowshera.The function was attended by district Nazim Liauqat Khattak, senior officers of education department and elites of the area. The Minister planted a sapling of tree in the school’s premises by inaugurating spring tree plantation campaign in Nowshera.—APP

PESHAWAR— Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Senior Minister for Local Government and Rural Development (LG&RD), Inayatullah Khan has expressed satisfaction over performance of Water and Sanitation Services Peshawar (WSSP) and asked it for devising Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for sustainability. He was presiding over a meeting in which the performance of WSSP was reviewed. Members Board of Directors (BoD) WSSP District Nazim Peshawar, Muhammad Asim Khan, Dr Muhammad Iqbal Khalil, Haji Muhammad Javed, Shumail Butt Advocate, Usman Marwat and other officials attended the meeting.—APP

FAISAL KHAWER BUTT

S I A L K O T —While Punjab P E S H AWA R —Advisor to the Chief monetary benefits from the income to ready raised in Southern Districts of Government imposed ban Minister on Environment, Forests and be generated from these forests re- KP while the fourth one was being

Education budget

KPIs for sustainability

Five-year-old girl forced to work at brick kiln

on child labour at bricks kiln, violations of child labour at bricks kiln were still going on.

PS Headmirala on Friday registered a case against child labour at bricks kiln of its jurisdiction.

According to an FIR, an owner of Bricks Kiln of Bhadarpur, Imran Akbar involved in bounded a fiveyear-old girl, Hijaab, for labour at his workplace.

She belongs to a poor family. She has to work for her younger brother and sister.

It was a tragic incident that innocent girl was forced to work at bricks kiln whereas the government strictly ordered to send the children school rather at workplace.

In other incident, same police station registered another FIR against Arshad, an owner of Bricks Kiln at Dryabud who forced Fazal, a 13-year-old boy for labour at his workplace. Police have registered cases against them under Child Labour Act and started investigation.

Heavy rain, hailstorm lash Balochistan

QUETTA: A boy on his way home with his jacket pulled over his head to avoid getting wet in the heavy rain.

Secy Environment for implementation of dengue prevention SOPs STAFF REPORTER R AWA L P I N D I —Secretary Environment Punjab Iqbal Muhammad Chohan has said that Educational Intuitions and hospitals should ensure implementation of SOPs of anti-dengue measures. He added that in residential and commercial areas environment around the buildings and localities be maintained neat and clean to prevent spread of dengue along with giving special attention on eradication of dengue larvae.

He said that the security of education institutions and eradication of dengue is included in top priorities of the government and all related departments have been instructed to work in this respect with pro-active approach.

He said this while expressing his

views during his inspection visit of various educational institu-tions, hospitals and construction sites in Rawalpindi. EDO Community Development Aqeel Ahamed Khan, DO Environment and other concerned officers accompanied him.

The Secretary Environment Punjab had an inspection of Govt.

Islamia High School No. 4, Liaqat BAGH Rawalpindi, Govt. Gordon College Rawalpindi , DHQ Hospital clinical lab, different departments of Banazir Bhutto Hospital and an under construction site in Raja Bazar.

The Secretary Environment Punjab said that administration of educational institutions should pay special attention on ensuring security measures in the light of directions of the home and education de-

partments.

Similarly, anti-dengue steps in the light of SOPs be ensured in consolidated manner, specially focusing larvae cidal activity and cleanliness, he added.

Iqbal Muhammad Chohan further said that if we successfully ensure implementation of SOPs in spring season, we will be able to effectively control dengue in the moderate and peak autumn seasons in months of September, October and November and there will be no chances of any breading of mosquitos.

He said that combatting terrorism and dengue is collective responsibility of all departments, institutions and citizens and as are alive nation we have been successful to control and overcome these problems to an encouraging extent.

Q UETTA —Heavy rain coupled with hailstorm lashed major parts of Balochistan including Quetta valley on Friday which turned weather very cold.

According to Met office, Balochistan’s districts including Kalat, Mastung, Sibi, Nasirabad, Chaghi, Turbat, Gawdar, Awaran, Washuk, Khuzdar, Pishin, Qilla Abdullah & Saifullah, Harnai, Ziarat, Barkhan, Zhob, Sherani, Musakhel, Loralai, Kholu, Dera Bugti, Bolan, Nasirabad, Jhal Magsi, Quetta and Jaffrabad districts received heavy rains.

According to report, several mud houses were damaged due to rain in Dalbandin area of Chaghi district. The rain and filthy water accumulated on roads in Quetta city including Double Raod, Imadad Road, Jinnah Road, Prince Road and other road causing difficulties for pedestrians while vehicles were stuck on the road. In some areas, electricity supply was suspended in rain.

Some residents of Quetta moved to different parks of the capital to enjoy the rainy weather.—APP

DDAC approves development projects DIR LOWER—A meeting of the District Development Advisory Committee (DDAC) with Deputy Commissioner Irfanullah Wazir in the chair Friday approved eighteen uplift schemes of district ADP 2015-16 costing millions of rupees. The meeting was attended by the district heads of various departments including District Officer Agriculture Murad Khan, XEN C&W Samiullah Khan Kundi, District Planning Officer Shaukat Ali Khan and TMO Timergara.

The meeting approved the schemes worth Rs 9 million for increasing agriculture production, Rs 5.7 million for construction of protection walls around agri lands, Rs 6 million for provision of sewing machines for women, Rs 2.8 million for provision of wheel chairs to disabled persons, Rs 3.4 million for provi-

sion of gadgets for deaf and dumb children, Rs 2.5 million for promoting sports activities in the district, Rs 3 million for the welfare of youth, Rs 4 million for construction of two additional rooms in District Female Centre, Rs 1.7 million for welfare of minorities, Rs 8.8 million for construction of various inter district roads, Rs 8 million for two electric schemes and Rs 32 million for construction of twenty additional rooms in the schools.

Similarly, 64 schemes were also approved under CM Special Package for Development Initiative Project and District Development Initiative Program under which Rs 45 million would be spent on construction of electric schemes, roads and drinking water supply. The meeting accorded approval to 63 projects for PK-96 constituency costing Rs 45 million.—APP

Hafizabad to have new look soon BASHIR AHMAD REHMANI in a phased programme.

Replying to a question

HAFIZABAD—Several steps on the delay of making the are being taken to give “New Look” to the city and to improve service delivery to the people to resolve their problems promptly, District Coordination Officer Muhammad Ahmad Rajwana declared here.

Addressing first meet the press at the Press Club, the newly posted DCO Muhammad Ahmad Rajwana said that he has set service delivery, provision of better healthcare and promotion of education as his priorities. He said that he, with the consultations and priorities of the members of national and provincial assemblies, has advised the heads of all departments to improve service delivery.

All government institutions are meant to serve the masses and to mitigate their sufferings and it was imperative for all government employees to be responsible and work above self to take positive steps to resolve their problems.

He said that everyone should work above self for the betterment of humanity as there is nothing impossible and added “where there is will there is way”. Referring to haphazard encroachments in the city, he said that old Sabzi Mandi on Alipur Road is being converted into a Model Bazar and all rehries will be shifted in it.

He further said that all encroachment from the city thoroughfares would be removed

Trauma Centre functional despite the fact its building has been completed over a two years ago and precious equipments are rusting, he said that he has already started efforts to make the centre functional within a month and fix responsibility for non-installation of equipments in the centre.

He said that the DHQ Hospital and its emergency, Outdoor Patients Department would be made a model and to improve the provision of adequate medicines to the patients. All filteration plants and tube wells would be made functional and they would be monitored by the special committees of the citizens for their proper functioning.

He further said that DPO has already making efforts to ensure smooth flow of traffic on the city roads and added he and Heads of all departments would work in unison to remove the menace of encroachments. Referring to the pitiable conditions of different roads in the city, he assured that these would be properly repaired as an earliest. He assured that there would be visible change in the city within a month.

He said that he would welcome positive criticism of media and called upon them to pin point any loop hole and proposals for improving civic services, provision of better healthcare and to improve standard of education.

Illegal gateway exchange raided in Phalia ISLAMABAD—Pakistan

MULTAN: Director-General TDAP Punjab Shahzad Hussain Rana visiting different stalls during Blue Fair 2016.

Germany provides Pakistan 125.7m Euros in energy, health sectors I S L A M A B A D —Germany agreed on Friday to provide assistance of Euro 125.7 million in various sectors including health, energy, technical and vocational training. A singing ceremony was held in this regard here at ministry of finance in which Tariq Bajwa, Secretary Economic Affairs Division (EAD) signed the four agreements from Pakistan side while Ambassador of Germany to Pakistan Ina Lepal signed the agreements form the other side.

Minister for Finance, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar witnessed the signing of the agreements. Speaking on the occasion Ishaq Dar said out

of total assistance, an amount of Euros 98.7 million was a grant while the remaining Euros 27 million would be in shape of soft loan.

Acknowledging the role of Germany in helping Pakistan government in achieving sustainable socio-economic objectives, Ishaq Dar stated that Pakistan values PakGerman partnership dating back to 1961. He emphasized the need to not only enhance bilateral cooperation in trade, energy and social sectors as well as promoting bilateral trade and investment and more people to people contacts.

Both sides expressed the resolve

to continue working together to enhance bilateral ties in areas of mutual interest. The German Ambassador highlighted 56 years of successful German-Pakistani cooperation with the affirmation to continue the same for mutual benefit of the two countries.

She also stressed Germany’s lasting support to Pakistan in health, energy, technical and vocational training, sustainable development , support to TDPs and Refugees. She also informed that Germany would soon start new commitment with Pakistan to provide further Euro 94 million in various sectors.—APP

Australian agriculture research team visits UVAS Ravi Campus

P ESHAWA R —A three-day international conference jointly organized by Khyber Medical University and Association for Excellence in Medical Education (AEME) started here at KMU. The theme of the conference is Standardizing Medical Education in Pakistan: A National Agenda. The first day of the international moot was fixed for workshops and in this connection, in the morning and evening sessions were held in which experts and researchers presented their research papers on different topics.

According to details, experts from abroad as well as Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad namely Prof. Dr. Phillip Evans, Prof. David A. Rogers, Prof. Clauvdio Violato, Prof. Syeda Kausar Ali, Prof. Farooq Azam Rathore, Prof.

Nasir Mansoor, Prof. Alam Sher Malak, Prof. Rukhsana Hussain Malak, Prof. Rehan Ahmed, addressed the participants of the workshops on various topics.—APP

the collaboration of private sector has also developed a modern intensive fish culture system unit for reL AHORE —An Australian delegation search and training of students. Ausfrom the Commission for International tralian-funded Agriculture Sector Agricultural Research visited the UniLinkages Programme Project Manversity of Veterinary and Animal Sciager Dr Hasan Warraich briefed the ences Lahore’s Ravi Campus Pattoki delegation on the extension models on Friday. The delegation comprisof its dairy project being run in ing Commission Chairman Don Punjab and Sindh.

Heatley, commissioners Mr John The delegation also visited the Cook, Ms Lucinda Corrigan, Dr Tony Compost Unit, Veterinary Clinic and Gregson, Ms Catherine Marriot, AusASLP-supported community cattle farm tralian Centre for International Agriat Block-A, Dairy Demonstration and culture Research Chief Executive OfResearch Farm housing US-imported ficer Dr Nick Austinand others held a STAFF REPORTER Holstein cows and sheep and cattle meeting with Vice-Chancellor Meritofarms at Block-Band Intensive Fish rious Professor Dr Talat Naseer PaCulture Unit at Block-C and appreciated I SLAMABAD —Chief of the sha and took a round of various National Party (NP) Senator the modern facilities available there. farms, clinics and research centers.

Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo on Friday said, our society is going through a tough time, which needs immediate attention for the sake of proper transformation.

He said that successive P E S H AWA R —The district incapable leaders have administration of Swat on transformed Pakistan into an Friday finalised arrangeintolerant country where terments for successful holdror rules while there is no ing of four days anti-polio respect of law. Mir Hasil campaign, which would Bizenjo said, our streets are commence from March 14filled with people who are 17 in the district. perfectly capable of working The arrangements were but want to beg to make a finalised during a highliving as it is easier while dilevel meeting of Polio vide between rich and poor Eradication Committee continue to increase.

(PEC) presided over by Speaking to a ceremony Additional Deputy Comto honour famous progresmissioner Swat, Ghulam sive poet Khalid Alig’s Saeed Khan at his book, “Guftugo Awam Sai office.The Additional Hai,” he said that how can a Deputy Commissioner dicountry progress when porected the authorities conets like Faiz, Jalib and Sipra cerned to utilize all their are considered villains. energies so that no child could be left of the facility. QUETTA: Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Sikandar Hayat District Health Officer Khan Bosan called on Chief Minister of Balochistan Sardar Sanaullah Zehri on Friday.

Swat, Dr Said Ali Khan, District Police Officer, Akbar Ali Khan, District WAHEED PHULPOTO Officer Social Welfare S HIKARPUR —One villager Rahatullah Khan, District Dahand Bridge due to which most of the identified as Ali Sher Jaffari Expanded Programme for ABDULLAH MALIK students feelings fear” said Bismillah Jan. was murdered while two Immunization Coordinator, Rustam khan a 4th grade student told others received serious bulDr Jamal and other senior GHALANAI—Due to the risky location the officials of the district ad- only one Government Primary School for that our school is located between the two let injuries in the firing by Boys Dahand Pandiali is an alarm for the mountains drains when there is raining we two unidentified armed men ministration attended.

The meeting was in- locals students therefore most of the area cannot come to school due to flood. He near railway cross of Lodra formed about the past and students are saying goodbye to educa- said that there is no proper way to the village within the jurisdiction future’s anti polio campaigns tion because the school building situated school from the main Peshawar Bajaur road of Sultan Kot Police Station besides provision of facilities under the Dahand bridge and adjacent to therefore students as well as teachers fac- on Friday.

According to reports, deing problems to coming down to the school. to the vaccinators. The Ad- the main Peshawar Bajaur road.

Dahand is the most backward area of Another student of the school told that ceased Ali Sher Jaffari accomditional Deputy Commissioner directed the authori- lower Pandiali tehsil with a low literacy rate. he wants to play cricket but there is no panied by his two relatives ties concerned to utilize all Zar Wali khan a local resident of the area play ground in the school and he plays was riding in a motor rickshaw their energies so that no child said that the only primary school for boys cricket on the road. Although the said from Sultankot to Dargah was constructed in 1977 while there is nei- school was without a main Gate and also Bhudhal when two unidenticould be left of the facility.

He said polio was a crip- ther girls’ primary nor middle schools for there was no security guard for the pro- fied armed men riding on their pling disease that could only boys in the area, due to which most of the tection of students which is also an alarm- motorcycle opened fires on motor rickshaw. ing situation for the students. be eradicated by administer- students say good bye to the school.

Bismillah Jan school teacher told that As a result of firing, one The school also lacks the basic faciliing anti polio vaccine to kids under five years of age. we have enrolled 90 students due to the ties like bath rooms, furniture and drink- Ali Sher Jaffari was killed on Later, final shape was given risky environment parents doesn’t allow ing facilities. Locals residents of the area the spot while two his relanamed Ghulam to the arrangements made for their children to the school. “On the above demanded of the education department to tives the proposed polio cam- the main Peshawar Bajaur road passes while shift the said school building to another Mustafa and Sajjan Jaffari in front mountainous Nallah and also the suitable place so that to provide. were seriously injured. paign.—APP

MUZAFFAR ALI

The Vice-Chancellor briefed the delegation on the academic, research, extension and community services of the university. He said that the university with close liaison and collaboration with the industry is playing a key role in solution of the farming community problems through its applied research, training, extension and community services.

He said that the UVAS with the support of the USDA has developed a modern Dairy Demonstration and Research Farm housing elite genetics Holstein pregnant heifers from Southern USA to catalyze the transformation of dairy sector from traditional to modern dairy production methods.

He said that the university with

Int’l conference on medical education begins

Extremism a major challenge: Bizenjo

Anti-polio campaign

Villager killed

No school for girls in Dahand locality

Telecommunication Authority (PTA), in its ongoing efforts to control grey traffick, has conducted a raid and unearthed an illegal gateway exchange in Phalia District Mandi Bahauddin.

According to details, the successful raid against grey operator was carried out along with team of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

An illegal VOIP exchange comprising 02 gateways of 16 ports each and 01 gateway of 08 ports along with other equipment like switches, SIMs, laptop and modem were confiscated. One person was arrested from the spot.

The successful raids against the grey operators were made possible because of continuous monitoring, commitment and persistent efforts by PTA in curbing the menace of grey traffic, thus curtailing the loss to national exchequer.—APP

Khattak orders Afghan refugees listing P E S H A W A R — K h y b e r ghanistan, Pakistan hosts Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak on Friday directed the concerned departments to ensure registration of unregistered Afghan refugees in coordination with the Afghan consulate.

The Afghan Ambassador Dr. Hazrat Umar Zakhelwal has called on KPK Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak at CM house Peshawar and during the meeting the Chief Minister said that seats have been reserved in educational institutions for Afghan students.

They assured close coordination between police of the two countries. Later week, a senior U.N. official urged Pakistan to resolve the status of more than 2.5 million Afghan refugees living in Pakistan whose registration cards have expired or who remain unregistered.

While Europe has grappled with the exodus of people from Syria, Iraq and Af-

the world’s largest longterm refugee population, according to the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR), most of whom are Afghans who have fled more than three decades of war.

In December, registration cards providing temporary legal stay to more than 1.5 million Afghan refugees expired, and were granted a six-month extension by the government.

But Afghans say they are hassled by police for carrying the expired cards, and members of the estimated one million Afghans who are still unregistered also face difficulties with the authorities, aid workers say.

UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner George Okoth-Obbo said his agency was engaged in “continuing discussions” with the Pakistani government to resolve the population’s uncertain situation.—INP

Chances of light rain in various parts of country ISLAMABAD—Meterological lated places in KP (Malakand, Bannu, D.I Khan divisions) department of Pakistan on Friday said chances of light rain are expected. An official Muhammad Imran said westerly wave is prevailing over Balochistan and likely to persist till Friday. This weather system is likely to grip upper parts of the country on Friday night and Saturday.

Widespread rain-thundershower is expected in north Balochistan with chances of scattered heavy falls in Kalat, Naseerabad, Sibbi and Quetta divisions.

Rain-thundershower is also expected at iso-

Hazara, Peshawar, Kohat, Mardan, Bannu, D.I Khan di-

visions), Sukkur, Larkana, Faisalabad, Multan, Bahawalpur, D.G. Khan divisions, FATA and Kashmir.

Rain-thundershower is expected at scattered places in KP (Malakand, Hazara, Peshawar, Kohat, Mardan,

Punjab (Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Sahiwal, Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Bahawalpur, D.G. Khan divisions), Zhob division, FATA, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Rain-thundershower occurred in scattered places in Balochistan, while at isolated places in Peshawar, Bahawalpur, D.G Khan, Multan divisions, Hyderabad, Sukkur and Larkana division.

Barkhan 20, Kalat 16, Quetta (Sumngli) 15,Zhob 13, Quetta (Sheikh Manda) 10, Parachinar 09.—APP

Most sensational disclosure of Altaf’s RAW link

MEDIA WATCH

Syria’s calm before the peace

T

HOUGH MQM Rabita Committee and its leader Dr. Faroq Sattar has denied charges levelled by Mustafa Kamal, one of the closest aides of Altaf Hussain, but the fact remains that during his news conference Kamal dropped bombshell by revealing details of Altaf’s long and deep links with Indian intelligence agency RAW. Earlier too, there have been reports of MQM receiving financial assistance, equipment and training from India but disclosures of Kamal have made a big difference as these come from a leader who worked closely with Altaf and has intimate knowledge of what has been happening within the party.

The long narration of Mustafa Kamal at the press conference transmitted a clear and unambiguous impression that what he said was not artificiality but genuine concerns of a person who is fed up with the policies of the party and its leadership and wants things to improve in Karachi. Kamal’s dramatic entry and his announcement to form a new party may prove to be a turning point in the politics of Karachi. His revelations and the decision to distance with the party openly would surely cause a major dent to the credibility of MQM. Already MQM has a tattering image and eroding credibility with an effective ban on speeches and statements of its leader who was in the habit of delivering telephonic speeches every now and then and made calls for frequent shut down and wheel-jams in the city. The across the board Karachi operation, targeting all sorts of criminals without caring about their political affiliation, has forced many in MQM to re-think and review their role and association with the party and the courage demonstrated by Mustafa Kamal and Anis Qaimkhani to call a spade a spade would help them make a clear decision. As for the allegations, it is unfortunate that Pakistan is, perhaps, the only country where even leaders are accused of having links with the enemy and its intelligence agencies.

Apart from MQM, there are other parties and groups against whom similar charges are repeated off and on but no lessons are learnt. It is also ironical that even Interior Minister of the time, who was supposed to be custodian of internal security of the country, did not react and take any action when learnt about links of MQM with India and the RAW. Anyhow, we hope that saner elements within MQM would come forward and join hands in efforts to project a moderate and soft image of the party.

Expanding world of nuclear power plants A

CCORDING to President of China National Nuclear Corp, his coun try has set an ambitious target of building around 30 nuclear power plants in countries along the One Belt and One Road initiative by 2030.

Around 70 countries in total are already planning or developing their own nuclear power projects and it is estimated 130 more nuclear power units will have been built by 2020.

The world will need greatly increased energy supply in the next 15 years, especially cleanly-generated electricity. Electricity demand is increasing much more rapidly than overall energy use and is likely to almost double by 2030.

Though there is also focus on solar and wind power but at the existing technological level exploitation of these resources at the optimal level is not possible. Oil prices are currently down but the phenomenon is not going to persist for long and it is understood many countries cannot sustain oil-based power plants because of higher costs involved in their operation. It is because of this and also due to environmental consideration that many countries of the world are now focusing more on nuclear power plants and these also include even oil producing countries and that the countries like Russia, South Korea, Japan and the United States are all exploring the global nuclear market aggressively. Presently, there are 437 operative nuclear power plants in ten countries of the world whereas 70 reactors are under construction, 183 are planned and 311 are proposed in different states. In this backdrop, it is encouraging that in Pakistan too there is realization to take advantage of this clean and dependable source of energy. Apart from plants at Chashma and KANUPP, two major power plants K-2 and K-3 are being constructed in Karachi and in all the PAEC has proposed to add over eight thousand megawatts of nuclear energy to the national grid by 2030. We hope the PAEC would look into a proposal once given by famous nuclear scientist Dr.A Q Khan to have small and independent nuclear power plants for every district or population centre.

Pakistan needs to increase agriculture production A

senior official of the US department of agriculture has opined that Pakistan would need to increase agriculture production from its existing land resources but with lesser water to feed its additional 20 million people by 2050. Speaking at a function in Islamabad Jocelyn G. Brown emphasized the need for greater collaboration to achieve the goal of food security.

Pakistan is, no doubt, a pre-dominantly agricultural country as sixty to seventy percent of its population is directly or indirectly linked to farming.

Significant progress has been made in development of the agricultural sector in Pakistan since the time of independence in 1947. It is contributing hugely to the GDP and feeding the ever increasing population of the country but unfortunately the focus seems to be shifting entirely towards industrialization. No doubt, industrialization has its own importance and advantages and it helps accelerate the pace of socio-economic progress but the fact remains that increase in agriculture production and value addition can help achieve the goal of prosperity at a fast pace. There is dire need to increase the area under cultivation as Pakistan has an area of about 79.6 million hectares, out of which only 23.7 million hectares (28%) area is used for agricultural purposes. Similarly, there are serious issues of water logging and salinity, slow growth of allied products, low per hectare yield; inadequate infrastructure especially farms to market roads, uneconomical land-holdings, old methods of production, lack of irrigation facilities and inadequate agricultural research. We hope the policy-makers would pay attention to the advice of the US expert and resolve problems of the sector on priority basis.

HURMAT GROUP OF PUBLICATIONS Zahid Malik President & Editor-in-Chief Ph: 051-2256006 Faisal Zahid Malik Gauhar Zahid Malik Editor Ph: 021-35308445

Executive Editor Ph: 051-2853818

Islamabad Ph Exchange: 051-2852027 Reporting Desk: 051-2852028, News Desk: 051-5879329 Marketing: 051-2262254, 2852029 Fax: 051-2262258 Email: observer@pakobserver.net Website: www.pakobserver.net

Lahore

Karachi

Dr Waqar Chaudhary

Faisal Zahid Malik Editor Ph: 021-35308446-49 Fax: 021-35308447 Email: obskhi@pakobserver.net

Resident Editor Ph: 042-36306666, 36303333 Marketing Ph: 042-37424089 Fax: 042-36300043 Email: obslhr@pakobserver.net

Peshawar Tariq Saeed Resident Editor Mobile: 0321-9001476 E-mail:obspwr@pakobserver.net

Sadia Zahid Malik Editor Weekly Magazine

Ph: 2852027-8, Ext: 116 Email: magazinesocialdiary@hotmail.com

P

Afghanistan, no peace in sight Afghan people. It was signed only after the new government President Ghani had Ali Ashraf Khan under been heaved into position.

Email:balti1551@gmail.com Adding fuel to fire another hurdle appears to have been created by a recent move reHE so-called ‘peace talks’ ported on the front page of Pakistan that are being organised by Observer. It said that US and India the Quadrilateral Coordina- had agreed during their meeting on tion Group comprising besides the Feb 10, 2016 in Washington to deAfghan government Pakistan, US ploy about thirty thousand Indian and China just finished their fourth troops in Afghanistan to protect US meeting in Kabul. As a result of the interest there. This decision prior to deliberations that have been held US Secretary of State’s forthcoming until now four times without partici- visit to Pakistan is certainly going pation of the Taliban or other fight- to make things more difficult for his ing groups it has been announced that Pakistani counterpart. Reports are Pakistan is ready to host the first that the Pakistan government has alround of direct peace talks between ready conveyed to Ashraf Ghani the Afghan government and Taliban government that if Indian troops land factions and other insurgents likely in Afghanistan, it will be tantamount to be held during the first week of to crossing the red-line by the connext month. A definite date for the cerned quarters. News is that Mr. planned negotiations have not been Abdullah Abdullah is trying his best announced because so far it is not at for quick deployment of Indian all clear if they can take place at all: troops in Afghanistan, which goes so far none of the groups involved in to prove that the biggest hurdle in the fighting has agreed to take part peace talks is not Taliban but the and the inviting party – the Afghan vested interest groups in Afghanigovernment and the hosts – the Pa- stan. So Pakistan has to first ensure kistani government might meet em- its own national security and solibarrassment in their endeavour. darity before jumping in this gimIt seems all of the parties in- mick under US pressure to do more volved are closing their eyes on the and cross all hurdles to make Afghan ground realties, namely that there is peace talks successful. civil war in Afghanistan and that the Now from all that can be heard ongoing war is one fought by Taliban from the US the purpose of negotiaand other Afghans against the pres- tions with the Taliban, as far as the US’ ence of foreign military in Afghani- position is concerned, is to bring the stan and the government that has Taliban to the point of accepting some been put in power by them represent- sort of US military presence in Afing their interests. One of the targets ghanistan including also their politiof the fighting groups is also the so- cal representative the Ghani governcalled bilateral security pact that ment. Officials engaged in these newould allow US military presence in gotiations at various levels have been Afghanistan. We remember well that reporting the US officials’ insistence President Karzai refused to sign it on retaining some military bases in Afgiven the resistance against it among ghanistan. The central question that

T

has to be asked in this connection is how big the probability of such an agreement is?

The Taliban and other groups have been fighting against foreign occupation since 2001 quite successfully. Even the famous troop surge of the American forces raising their numbers up to 150.000 could not change this fact. Thousands have sacrificed their lives in the process.

Since the partial withdrawal of the foreign troops the Taliban are gaining territory and are immensely suc-

It is between the Afghans that the matter has to be decided. For that foreign troops have to leave first that is what the Afghani Taliban are demanding hence those thinking of sharing territory on some split formula like East Timor or Sudan are not aware of the history of Afghans. cessful in fighting against the Afghan army and its allies like General Dostum and the local militias.

The fighting commitment of the Afghan army is weak because many of the Afghan soldiers are there because of the money they receive while doubting the rightfulness of their fight. Each and every month or even weekly dozens of soldiers leave together with their weapons and join the Taliban.So how come there is a quadrilateral group dominated by

foreign interests that is trying hard to change the result of the military defeat of 2001-2014 into a negotiated victory? Afghanistan has suffered immensely over the decades for no fault of its own. It is time for the Afghans to be left alone to sort things out. Foreign interference will not bring peace to the war-torn country. Pakistan which was forced to adopt this proxy war of US and has already suffered immensely and now when Pakistan army is involved heavily in its operation Zarb-e-Azb in North Waziristan, further involving our skin in any such misadventure will be a blunder of our time.

What is Pakistan’s national interest in the whole peace talk affair?

Pakistan wants peace in Afghanistan and only that. We have no interest in US bases there. And peace can only be negotiated between the Afghans themselves without any foreign interference. It is between the Afghans that the matter has to be decided. For that foreign troops have to leave first that is what the Afghani Taliban are demanding hence those thinking of sharing territory on some split formula like East Timor or Sudan are not aware of the history of Afghans.

Even after that peace would not be immediate but it would become a farfetched possibility provided the ongoing financial and political turmoil guarantees sovereignty and dignity of mankind. Pakistan has to work on its own requirements for reaching consensus on domestic issues within the parameters of Constitution to strengthen national solidarity, for peace and progress. GOD gives serenity and courage to our leaders to take bold decisions with wisdom. God bless Pakistan.

—The writer is a senior columnist based in Karachi.

Pakistan — a key GCC ally? brotherly countries for having stood by Pakistan in testing times. However, Pakistan has also reciprocated in equal and considered Mohammad Jamil measure, integrity and sovereignty Email: mjamil1938@hotmail.com of Saudi Arabia and UAE as cornerstone of its foreign policy.

N Gulf newspapers, articles and Pakistan’s friends should understand editorials have appeared in fa Pakistan’s position and compulsions vor and against Pakistan, espe- in view of composition of its populacially after Pakistan’s stance on tion mix and also situation on eastYemen crisis. On 15th January 2016, ern and western fronts; hence they an article was published in “Arab should not drag it into the conflict, as News” captioned ‘Pakistan – a key Pakistan cannot afford have tense reGCC ally’, authored by lations with Iran.

The fact of the matter is that PaAbdulrahman Al-Rashed. He stated that three million Pakistanis work in kistan was intertwined with Iran and the Gulf countries, and receive Turkey in Baghdad Pact, later rearound $4 billion as salaries, mak- named as Central Treaty Organizaing the region’s relations with Paki- tion after revolution in Iraq. During war with India in 1965, Iran as well stan strategic.

He observed: “Pakistan’s military Arab countries had stood by Pakistan. capabilities qualify it to play a bal- The relations between Iran and Pakiancing role in the region, whereby it stan had become tense after revoluis a deterrent against Iranian expan- tion in Iran, and efforts are being sionism, which has increased follow- made to mend the fences. Some Gulf ing the nuclear deal.” It is true that countries were indeed unhappy over Pakistan being a nuclear state and Pakistan’s decision not to become a having one of the best armies in the part of coalition vis-à-vis situation in world plays not only a balancing role Yemen. Minister of State of the UAE in the region, but also beyond. How- and an official in another Gulf state ever, Pakistan would not subscribe to, had criticized Pakistan. A front page what the author stated it ‘as a deter- editorial in Kuwaiti paper Al rent against Iranian expansionism.” Seyassah had criticised Pakistan for It should be kept in mind that taking a neutral stance in the Yemen Pakistan can play the role of a me- crisis. “The Gulf Cooperation Coundiator and help resolve differences cil (GCC) countries do not need Pabetween the Muslim countries only kistan. In fact, Pakistan needs them by maintaining neutrality. The author in various areas,” the editor-in-chief reminded that Saudi Arabia and the of the paper Ahmad al Jarallah wrote.

In the past, the US and the West United Arab Emirates (UAE) had supported Pakistan even when continued with their policy of regime United States pressure on Pakistan change, and had overthrown Saddam intensified following the September Hussein, whose government was ear11 attacks. Of course, Pakistan has lier strengthened by the US, the West always expressed its gratitude to the and Arab countries to counter Iran’s

News & Views

I

rising power. They also stirred violence in Libya by supporting the rebels with funds and arms; yet they utterly failed to bring order or stability in Libya. It was then Syria’s turn; and they played the sectarian card and provided arms to the Syrian rebels.

Having realized that the Al Qaeda militants have joined the ranks of the rebels, and Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi had proclaimed himself as caliph on 29th June 2014, the US started distancing itself and refused to provide air support to the rebels. Having all said, Pakistan should not become a part of any great game in future, as it has suffered enough already, and should tread carefully.

Anyhow, Advisor on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz had stated that Pakistan would be sharing intelligence with Saudi Arabia to counter terrorism. The announcement had come just a day after Saudi Defence Minister and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman had visited Pakistan and held meetings with army chief General Raheel Sharif and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif along with Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif had visited Saudi Arabia and Iran to help defuse tension between the two brotherly Islamic states. The decision was taken after in-depth consultations by the prime minister keeping in view the cordial relations of Islamabad with both Tehran and Riyadh. There was lot of pressure on the government from Saudi Arabia and also from political and religious parties in Pakistan to come up with some clear-cut policy. Of course, rationality demands to maintain good relations with both the countries.

Unfortunately, the contradictions or differences between Arab and Ajm date back to 1400 years, and both sides believe in the righteousness of

their cause. In 1990, after Saddam Hussian invaded Kuwait, the US, the western countries and Arab countries were united against him. Earlier, they had fuelled the sectarian fracas by supporting Iraq in its war against Iran and, in the process, had strengthened Iraq with Arab countries’ funding. The US and the West were looking for an opportunity to weaken Iraq, and they did it by attacking Iraq. Their next target was Syria where they played the sectarian card and provided arms to Syrian Sunni rebels; and Arab countries actively supported the rebels to overthrow Bashar al-Assad government.

They should understand the machinations of those who wish to divide Muslim Ummah and use their contradictions to weaken them.

The US and the West have been instrumental in the regime changes to advance their interests. Afghanistan and Iraq were their victims in the last two and half decades. The US and the West wanted to have their way in Syria also, but they were constrained to do so due to various factors. But Russia chastened by the Libyan saga was not prepared to sign on a UN Security Council decree authorizing outside military assault on its ally Syria. Now the US and Russia have agreed for peaceful resolution of the conflict; and already there is ceasefire for the last three days.

President Bashar al-Assad is still in place to a large part for this Russian helping hand, even as some countries are actively propping up his opponents with military supplies and cash. Secondly, the compulsive adventurists have been held back due to the fanatical extremists (ISIS), who pose palpable threat to both Iran and Saudi Arabia.

—The writer is a senior journalist based in Lahore.

EACE is more than the ab sence of war, and to prove that old axiom, just look at how Syrians are using a fragile cease-fire that began Feb. 27, the first sort of calm since Syria’s civil war began in 2011. Some people have resumed pro-democracy protests against the Assad regime.

Others are locating lost loved ones and reconnecting with scattered communities. Aid agencies are rushing water, food, and other supplies to some 1.7 million people besieged by the conflict. Fewer people are fleeing. The temporary peace, while fragile, is bringing some stability, hope, and social rebonding. These are the necessary realities to end the false presumption of endless war.

Most of all, if the Assad regime and the non-terrorist rebel groups live up to their agreement on a “cessation of hostilities,” it will signal their seriousness about striking a peace deal at negotiations scheduled in Switzerland in coming days. Suspicions on both sides remain high. And the agreement, which was brokered by Russia and the United States, does not include the ISIS group and the Al Qaeda franchise Jabhat al-Nusra. They are still targets for airstrikes. Yet the temporary truce is at least a recognition that no side is winning.

With half of Syria’s prewar population displaced by fighting, the idea of total victory over a vanquished foe seems illusive. A key next step is a full truce that can be monitored. Even though that means the conflict is simply “frozen,” it provides the peace that will provide the opportunity for Syrians to decide if they want to keep their country whole or split it up. The hardest decision is whether President Bashar al-Assad will accept a transition process that ends his rule. Outside powers can do only so much to define a solution. Like many other countries that have had to make difficult transitions, the path to reconciliation requires the right balance between justice and peace. For a few days already, the peace part is in place.

— The Christian Science Monitor

*****

Vehicles on the wrong side

T

RAFFIC rules are one of the most fundamental guide lines of any modern civilisation, which if not followed will cause much of the city life to go awry, endangering lives, as is happening in Dhaka. In fact in this city, it seems that traffic rules are more honoured in the breach. The death of Joseph Barman, a 28-yearold school teacher, on Wednesday when the rickshaw he was riding was hit by a bus driving on the wrong side of the road, points to this dangerous habit. The bus was hired by the jute ministry and its driver thought nothing of zooming along the wrong side to avoid the traffic. On February 22, Riazuddin Topu, a university student, was similarly killed when a police-requisitioned van driving on the wrong side of the road, collided with Topu’s motorbike.

For long, we have been highlighting the dangers of this illegal practice. To start with there were only a few flag cars of ministers, but soon other VIPs followed suit.

And now any one remotely connected with high ups do not have qualms in breaching the rule of driving on the proper side, like the two above mentioned cases. And accidents are bound to happen and people will get killed or suffer grievous injury if vehicles suddenly go on the wrong side. The deaths of Joseph, Topu and many others, because some individuals think they are entitled to break the rules with impunity, should move the relevant quarters take action to stop this behaviour. If this horrendous practice has to stop it should happen from the top. Not doing so means putting more precious lives at risk.

— The Daily Star (Bangladesh)

What is conservatism? Is it not adherence to the old and tried, against the new and untried.

— Abraham Lincoln US statesman

Moderates gain in Iran’s polls ing and 76-year-old supreme leader of Iran.

Since Islamic revolution of Dr Musarat Amin 1979, majority of the factions in Email:drmusarat@fjwu.edu.pk Iranian politics has been dominated by hardliners. Iran has been under tremendous challenges of AST Friday Feb 26, 2016 Ira survival to its theocratic regime. Presinians went to ballots and three dent Ahmadinejad who ruled Iran from main camps— moderates, 2005 to 2013 was determined to make moderate-conservatives and hardliners nuclear weapons.US diplomatic camare expected to win majority in 290- paign to reach nuclear deal with him seat assembly respectively. This elec- went futile whereas on the contrary, tion is crucial for the people of Iran Rouhani is a moderate in his approach and regional geopolitics as after reach- and draws a bead on betterment of reing nuclear deal with Washington, po- lations with United States and other tential reformist leaders like Hassan developed countries of Europe. RevivRouhani would be steering Iranian ing economy and boosting private sececonomy, foreign policy to prosper- tor to attract foreign investors is his ous tomorrow for its masses. Voters’ uppermost priority. Being moderate he turnout has been quite an impressive would be taking sufficient measures because of people’s hope for a free and to ease media censorship and loose press controls which would eventually moderate Iran.

This election has got more atten- pave way for blooming democratic tion because of the assembly of ex- norms in society.

Since 1979, Iran has been under perts which will choose the next supreme leader of Iran after Ayatollah stiff sanctions from US and these sancAli Khamenei. According to current tions got further tighter after passage constitution of Iran the real powers lie of UN Security Council Resolution with the supreme leader not the presi- 1696 which had disastrous effects on dent. Historically the election to the Iran’s petrochemical exports and also assembly has been lackluster because crippled banking sector. Doors of Inof the dominance of hardliners but has ternational trade and commerce were caught huge attention because of ail- totally closed for Iran even Iran faced

L

cold shoulder from regional actors as well. Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline fell into abeyance because of US diplomatic pressures not to materialize this project. The wonderment is that despite such crippling sanctions, Iran as a theocratic state survived and it didn’t go bankrupt.

Arab Spring(2011) that toppled & shook regimes could not derail Iran’s stable political system. Current zestfulness in Iranian nation to go to ballot is apparent from high turnout which likely exceeded 70%. The electoral defeat of Yazdi in Tehran and also Ayatollah Mohammad Taqi MesbahYazdi really concerned cleric circles but NBC News quoted supreme leader of Iran Khamenei saying “I thank Iran’s wise and determined nation ... and I hope next Parliament will act responsibly towards people and God, ”.It also indicates even if moderates assume power, Ayatollah Khamenei as a supreme leader would extend his support on domestic, regional and global issues. Fixing most daunting domestic challenges of Iran about jobs, inflation, housing and water management would be comparatively easy to address because of Iran’s recent openness to International market.

Iran is bigger than Iraq, Turkey and Syria combined and according to

UNICEF Iran’s youth is 98.8% literate which means Iran has got huge potential to excel in human resource and eventually would attract multinational companies to invest in. The outcome of post-deal bonanza is rapid pouring in of foreign investment from Italy, France and China while other industrialized nations are eager to enter Iran with mega projects. European countries need energy and Iran has the fourth largest oil and second largest gas reserves in the world. After President Xi’s visit, China vowed to increase trade volume to $600billion in the next ten years which certainly would prove a fate changer for Iranian populace. Revivification of Russia as great player in world politics would also benefit Iran as the latter has been playing integral role for both China and Russia’s regional interests. ISIS is enormously grievous for regional peace and decisive action against ISIS is quite possible with proactive support from Tehran. Emergence of moderate Iran would have far reaching effects for regional peace and stability.

— The writer is Assistant Professor, Department of Defence and Diplomatic Studies, Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi.

Indian missiles: Indicator of distress enced test failures in the 2011 missile test-launch, while the used in this recent test Beenish Altaf missile also did not hit its intended tarEmail:beenishaltaf7@gmail.com get even though it reached its intended distance and altitude. The fact the Indian military has had HE growing asymmetric rela even mixed success in firing an aptionship in nuclear South Asia parently randomly selected Prithvi-II is once again distressed by the from a mobile launcher suggests that recent launch of Indian nuclear capable the country really has developed a ballistic missile. On Feb 15, 2016, semi-reliable nuclear delivery system India’s military had fired an indigenous that it can indigenously produce.

It is believed by the Indian lobby Prithvi-II missile from a mobile launcher. Fundamentally just to remain that Prithvi II has given India the abilin a state of conflict and tense envi- ity to make its own mobile nuclearronment India continues to exercise its capable ballistic missiles with a farproactive strategy of pre-emption in enough range to hit major city in Paor the other way. The recent test al- kistan from inside Indian territory. though reported to be a failed one, was There is also an international distress just an adding factor to it rather being a and apprehensions over Indian denew modification in its ballistic mis- velopment of Prithvi class of missile factory. Assertively the missile was siles. The US discouraged India rejust a randomly chosen missile from the portedly, many times, against the production stockpile of Indian missiles. mounting aspirations of Prithvi misParadoxically narrating, this is not sile build up, throughout the 1990s. the first test of the Prithvi-II missile Washington is understandably nerthat has a range of over 200 miles ac- vous about the appearance of encourcording to Economic Times and over aging strategic weapons proliferation, 150 miles according to the Arms Con- and one of the rationales of the 2008 trol Association. Contrarily, the mis- nuclear treaty was to give the US sile entered service in the Indian mili- additional leverage over the developtary in 2003 whose was first test- ment of India’s program.

The Prithvi II takes in the tensions launched was in 1996. It has experi-

T

of India’s nuclear weapons program.

On the one hand, Delhi seeks to a position of global leadership that a markedly irresponsible nuclear weapons program would arguably undermine.

At the same time, India needs to keep up its deterrent capability against its primary strategic opponents China and Pakistan, for which it remains in the state of enhancing and improving its nuclear capabilities all the time. Since India is diplomatically less isolated owing to fact that India’s nuclear program has been semi-recognized through its landmark 2008 nuclear treaty with the United States.

In the recent NCA meeting it has been said the world’s focus has been on Pakistan’s reaction instead of Indian provocations. Actually, “the developments exacerbate Pakistan’s security dilemma, compelling it to make desirable improvements to achieve a balance and minimal developments in its conventional and strategic force posture.” The NCA reiterated its policy of maintaining Full Spectrum Deterrence for covering the entire spectrum of threat, including Cold Start Doctrine and land-based standoff capability in Andaman and Nicobar Isles.

Pakistani nuclear establishment proclaims that the developing regional dynamics inflict Pakistan to convert

credible minimum deterrence into full spectrum credible minimum deterrence. While India is developing its short range ballistic missiles, inter-continental ballistic missiles and anti-missile program, Pakistan is focusing on its short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles with improved payloads, range, and reliability. The previous versions of Shaheen III could not reach India’s eastern front but latest launch test has ended this limitation and consequently, the launch of Shaheen III is of prominent significance because it consolidates Pakistan’s strategic deterrence in evolving regional scenario.

These Indian ballistic missile defense capabilities and its nuclear doctrinal transformations that are at its full pace of development, has indulged Pakistan in miniaturization of warheads. Lately the sea-based nuclear developments and evolving prospects of India building the top secret thermonuclear weapons, that could upgrade India as a nuclear power and unsettle Pakistan, will persuade Pakistan to maintain its full spectrum credible minimum deterrence capability to deter all forms of belligerence.

— The writer is associated with the Strategic Vision Institute.

View From Abroad

West has always been keen to divide Arabs Ramzy Baroud

W

HEN Arab streets exploded with fury, from Tunis to Sanaa, pan-Arabism seemed like a nominal notion. Neither did angry Egyptian youth raise a banner proclaiming Arab unity atop the high buildings adjacent to Tahrir Square. Thus, many in the West expected that the fall of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali of Tunisia, especially since it was followed by the abdication of Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, would lead to a domino effect. “Who’s next?” was a pretentious question that many asked, some with no understanding of the region and its complexity.

After initial hesitation, the US, along with its Western allies, moved quickly to influence the outcome in some Arab countries. Their mission was to ensure a smooth transition in countries whose fate had been decided by the impulsive revolts, to speed up the toppling of their enemies and to prop up their allies so that they would not suffer a similar fate. The outcome

was real devastation. Countries where the West and their allies were involved became infernos, not of revolutionary fervour but of militant chaos, terrorism and unabated wars. Libya, Syria and Yemen are the obvious examples.

The possibility of dividing Syria up was not a random warning, but situated in a large and growing edifice of intellectual and media text in the US and other Western countries.

It was articulated by Michael O’Hanlon of the Brookings Institute in an op-ed for Reuters last October.

He called for the US to find a “common purpose with Russia,” while keeping in mind the “Bosnia model.”

“In similar fashion, a future Syria could be a confederation of several sectors: one largely Alawite, another Kurdish, a third primarily Druze, a fourth largely made up of Sunni Muslims, and then a central zone of intermixed groups in the country’s main population belt from Damascus to Aleppo.”

It is no secret that the modern formation of Arab countries is largely the outcome of dividing the Arab region within the Ottoman Empire into ministates. That was the result of political

necessities and compromises that arose from the Sykes-Picot Agreement in 1916. The US back then was more consumed with its South American environs, and the rest of the world was largely a great game that was mastered

by Britain and France.

The British-French agreement, with the consent of Russia, was entirely motivated by sheer power, economic interests, political hegemony and little else. This explains why most of the borders of Arab countries were perfect straight lines. Indeed, they were charted by a pencil and ruler, not organic evolution of geography based on multiple factors and protracted history of conflict or concord. It has been almost 100 years since colonial powers divided the Arabs, although they are yet to respect the very boundaries that they have created. Moreover, they have invested much time, energy, resources and, at times, all-out wars to ensure that the arbitrary division never truly ends.

To ensure that Arabs are never to unite, the West invested in their further disunity. In 2006-2007, former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made it clear that the US would cease

its support for the Palestinian Authority should Fatah and Hamas unite.

Earlier, when resistance in Iraq reached a point that the American occupiers found unbearable, they invested in dividing Iraqis based on sectarian lines. Their intellectuals pondered the possibility of dividing Iraq into three autonomous states: Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish.

What is truly interesting is that, despite the lack of a pan-Arab vision in Arab countries that experienced popular revolts five years ago, few events in modern history has brought the Arabs together like the chants of freedom in Tunis, the cries of victories in Egypt and screams of pain in Yemen and Syria. It is that very collective identity, often unspoken but felt, that drives millions of Arabs to hold on to however faint a hope that their nations will survive the ongoing onslaught and prospective Western division. The author has been writing about the Middle East for over 20 years. He is an internationally syndicated columnist, a media consultant and author of several books.

— Courtesy: The Japan Times

Laughable laws..!

N

OTHING serious today folks! I thought we could spend some time together laughing at some amazing laws which our world offers us everyday: The first; the law of Mechanical Repair: This law says that after your hands become coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch!

Now I’ve found this true whenever my hands are full! I’ve held a book during a concert and felt my nose beginning to itch, knowing that it’s impossible to put the book down in

front of audience and have a good scratch! Law of the Workshop: Any tool, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner! Why tool? Invariably when I play ball with my dog, the ball rolls to a spot which is the most inaccessible spot under heavy furniture I can’t lift. I turn round and do I see my dog grinning at me?

Law of the Telephone: When you dial a wrong number, you never get a busy signal! Law of the Alibi: If you tell the boss you were late for work because you had a flat tire, the very next morning you will have a flat tire!

Variation Law: If you change lines, traffic lanes, the one you were in will start to move faster than the one you are in now! I’ve seen this happen all the time! Bath Theorem: When

the body is fully immersed in water, the telephone rings!

Law of Close Encounters: The probability of meeting someone you know increases when you are with someone you don’t want to be seen with! Law of the Result: When you try to prove to someone that a machine won’t work, it will! Believe you me, how often I’ve seen this happen to my computer, my printer and even my car when I go to the mechanic!

Law of Biomechanics: The severity of the itch is inversely proportional to the reach! Theatre Rule: At any event, the people whose seats are furthest from the aisle arrive last!

Law of Coffee: As soon as you sit down to a cup of hot coffee, your boss will ask you to do something which

will last until the coffee is cold!

Murphy’s Law of Lockers: If there are only two people in a locker room, they will have adjacent lockers!

Law of Dirty Rugs/Carpets: The chances of an open-faced jelly sandwich of landing face down on a floor covering are directly correlated to the newness and cost of the carpet/rug!

Law of Location: No matter where you go, there you are!

Law of Logical Argument: Anything is possible if you don’t know what you are talking about! Brown’s Law: If the shoe fits, it’s ugly!

Oliver’s Law: A closed mouth gathers no feet! I take back my words, these laws are no laughing matter; they happen..!

—Email: bobsbanter@gmail.com

Voice of the People Deplorable education in Sindh ANEES GILAL

I

have continuously been encountering an expression that the standard of education in Sindh is very low.

Until a couple of months back, I regarded this statement as foolish and based on abject biases and prejudices. All my friends, and me also, considered it a propaganda against Sindh and to make an ugly picture of the Province in front of the world around. But the real picture I experienced in a small span of my project time. The project started by Sukkur Institute of Business Administration (IBA), named as (SAT) project; Standard Achievement Test. It was started in 2013; this test comprised MCQs and written part. The motive of starting this project was to check the standard of primary and middle education. It was decided to be conducted every year in the month of February. In 2014 and 2015, I worked in one of the Tehsils of District Khai rpur Mirs - Sobhodero, under Taluka co-coordinator. It includes 8 union councils and my team conducted test by going through each union councils’ schools. The condition was that most of the students were not able to write their own name in their mother language. Most of the primary teachers were not able to write their name in English and their handwriting was illegible and could not be deciphered. The exceptions, among students and teachers, who knew a lit bit of English or could right or read Sindhi, was just negligible and could be counted on fingers. On February 8, 2016, the Phase IV of SAT was started and I was assigned to conduct the test in another Tehsil of District Khairpur – Mirwah – comprising of eight Union Councils; each Union Council has more than 70 primary and middle schools. In one of the schools, I came across the headmaster who himself was responsible for poor quality of education and did not allow the young NTS qualified teachers to teach the kids in the advanced and improved style and manner. My experience at a couple of schools in the biggest Union Council of Tehsil Hindiyari was rather more depressing. In each school we found that teachers were promoting the use of unfair means in examinations and cultivated the art of cheating in their students. The schools were over crowded with students, roughly 130 students per class room, but were short of teachers as well as classrooms. The teachers, the students, the parents and above all the lethargic and corrupt officers and officials of the education department, are all least bothered about quality education to the younger generation of the Sindh Province and if the awful trend continues, I foresee no future for the Sindhi youth as it would not be able to compete with the competitors from other parts of the country, what to talk of competing at the international level.

—Via email

Unacceptable US demand JAVAID BASHIR American Secretary of State John Kerry has said, “We stand by Islamabad in fight against terrorism. He appreciated the Pakistan’s efforts to facilitate conciliation in Afghanistan. Both the countries will have to work in the commerce and trade, investment, education, implementation of laws and regional stability sectors.

Kerry was addressing a meeting of Pak-American Strategic dialogue process revision held in Washington.

He said this dialogue affirms new resolve and strong partnership against terrorism based on mutual respect and interests. He also condemned the terrorist attack on Bacha Khan University. He termed it an attempt to halt the Journey towards future progress. He also appreciated the sacrifices of soldiers during the Operation Zarb-e-Azb. He demanded that Pakistan should limit its Nuclear capability and reduce nuclear arsenals. In simplistic terms it is an absurd demand and against our security and safety.

I think in view of the regional peace situation and consistent LOC violations by India, we cannot even think of even considering such a demand aimed at weakening our defence.

One the one hand America has soft corner for India and has entered into civil nuclear deal with it, despite our concerns. We have been strategic partner of American war on terrorism for over a decade but every now and then demands to do more have been the mantra of the US Administration.

This new demand is absolutely unreasonable and cannot be accepted. We must say big NO to such demands. We can never compromise on the matters of our national security and safety. Pakistan has always maintained minimum nuclear deterrence. Government’s meek response has always made things worse. We must stand firm on such matter of foreign and defence policy. We must reject this demand. It compromises our defence.

—Via email

Tiny tweaks to good health ZAINAB ALI Most of us try to eat right and exercise regularly, but we’re only human.

And if your diet isn’t as good as it should be, the idea of radically altering what you eat can be intimidating - even though it can be better for your health. But, according to new research out of the UK, making just small changes to your diet may have a significant impact on your health. Here’s what they discovered: Making small tweaks to diets could increase a person’s life expectancy by eight months and also reduce diet-related greenhouse gas emissions by 17 percent. Those tweaks included eating more of some things, and less of others.

Eat Less: Animal products (especially in the form of red meat), savoury snacks like chips. Eat More: fruits, vegetables, cereals (whole grains). Researchers discovered that those little tweaks could reduce the odds a person would develop heart disease, stroke and type-2 diabetes, helping them to live longer, healthier lives. Relatively small changes in our diets, say a bit less meat and dairy and a bit more fruit and vegetables, can have tremendous benefits for our health and for the health of our planet.

Small, productive changes are key to reap the big benefits.

For example, some people may think removing gluten is going to

make a big impact, but we know that’s not the case unless you have gluten intolerance. Moreover, a few more fruits and vegetables to our daily diet can definitely make a positive change in our overall health because they’re lower in calories, higher in nutrients and fibre and contain non-essential nutrients like antioxidants which can help prevent chronic diseases. Once you start to incorporate these changes into your daily routine, it gets easier and makes a big impact on your overall health.

—Karachi

Happiness KAJAL CHATTERJEE Shamsa Sajjad’s brilliant letter titled “Happiness”(March 1), reminds me the contents of a masterpiece Bengali movie which narrates the story of a lower middle class joint family whose members used to constantly quarrel with each other over petty trivial issues. The frustrated lot neither displayed any respect towards the elders nor love towards the kids. But the protagonist, a domestic worker, brought a drastic change in the mindset of the family.

He impressed upon the mentally fatigued home-makers to enjoy their daily chores as each and every job has significance of its own and one needs to be sincere with the work he/she is allocated to or capable of.

Moreover, by performing all the domestic chores himself, thereby landing the family members to supreme boredom due to absence of work; he made them discover the enjoyment attached with performance of one’s own duties. By encouraging the kids to rise early, exercise, pray and resume studies; the protagonist inspired the elders to start the day in a positive note. He also instilled a spirit of sacrifice in the family which saw to it that members, who were earlier hostile towards each other, are now going out of their way to lend a helping hand to all.

Also, by staging a mock theft, he taught the family to remain little indifferent to materialistic desires.

Thus if we lead a healthy and active life, remain honest and positive to our allotted duties, sacrifice a bit for larger interests of the family and society and hanker less after material possessions; the window of happiness will surely open up.

—Kolkata, India

My Islamabad HASHIM ABRO Once known as Islamabad - The Beautiful, has earned a new identity as a city of winding cobbled streets, tight corners, twisty trash-filled lanes, dead ends, overhead bridges, flyovers and traffic jams where pick-pockets, cheaters, purse and mobile snatchers, drug peddlers and all sort of street criminals are free to do their misdeeds.

It has become a seat of organized white collar crime, motor vehicle crime, intellectual property violations, environmental crime, piracy, forced child labour and child abuse, street corner and roadside prostitutes, counterfeit products, including pharmaceuticals and such like other ills and offenses; but who cares?

—Islamabad

Fake Pirs NASIR KHAN Apropos Miss Warda Agha’s letter, published in Pakistan Observer (0203-2016), under the same title. She has rightly exposed the truth of ‘fake pirs’ but this is not a single incident; as such ugly incidents occur in our society on daily basis and most of them are not reported even in media or Police. The matter of

sorrow is that not only these fake peers pervert the simple nature people but also instigate them for culpable homicides and ruin the chastity of women who visit them for some sort of Taweez etc.

The reason behind the scenario is that these fake Pirs take full advantage of the constraints and compulsions of the needy people and deprive them of their money, esteem and even honour but the matter of grave concern is that people in our society only and only trust these Pirs and they don’t look towards the Almighty Allah who is the Creator of the universe and has the power to do what He wants. Our weak doctrines take us away from Allah and re-direct us towards such fake Pirs and at the end we get nothing but the loss of money, self esteem, personal honour and even lives of our dear ones.

The electronic media through various live programmes and re-enacted shows exposes these unscrupulous Pirs, to highlight their mischievous misdeeds and spread awareness among the people but it is regretfully stated that we see these programmes just as amusement and don’t take any practical lesson from them. The government must play a pivotal role in this regard and deal such fake Pirs with iron hand.

—Haripur

Child labour SABEEN SOHAIL Child labour is very common in our society. We see many kids going to their schools in the morning in uniforms. They look very innocent. On the other side there are some kids who kill their dreams and go to labour work due to the poor financial condition of their families. They overlook all their aspirations and work hard under materialistic and psychological pressures. Child labour is taking place in many areas like industries, road side shops, auto workshops, tea stalls and domestic homes. The age of child labourers is usually between 5-10 years. It’s an abuse to our children.

This social evil should be eradicated from every society. Governments should try to invest more and more money in the education sector.

Most of the parents do not send their children to schools and put them on child labour just because they can’t afford the school fees. Free education should be given till primary level so that every kid can get primary education and is protected against child labour. People should not hire kids in their homes as servants because it’s the exploitation of their innocence and childhood. This social problem should be strictly prohibited. The laws of child labour should be implemented on strict basis.

Our youth is the future of our nation. If their childhood is ruined in this way then I am afraid the future of Pakistan is extremely in danger. Cottage industry can play an effective role in the extermination of child labour. Government should promote cottage industry in all cities. Children would be able to earn money and continue their education while staying safe from the hazards of society.

—Rawalpindi

DISCLAIMER THE articles, columns and letters are published on these pages in good faith. However, the contents of these writings may not necessarily match the views of the newspaper.

—Editor Email:editorial@pakobserver.net

UN lists 99 sex crime allegations against own staff UNITED NATIONS—There were 99 new allegations of sexual exploitation or sexual abuse against United Nations staff members across the U.N. system last year, a sharp increase from the 80 allegations in 2014, according to a new U.N. report Friday.

The majority of those allegations - 69 in all - involved personnel in 10 peacekeeping missions, the report said. The mili-

tary and police personnel accused of sexual crimes while serving for the United Nations involved some 21 countries, most of them African.

The report by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon does not identify the nationalities of the 30 U.N. staff members accused of sexual abuse or exploitation who were not working for peacekeeping missions.

Record 1.25 million asylum seekers arrive in EU

LOS ANGELESE—An Egyptian flight student is expected to appear in immigration court Friday to determine whether he should be deported after being investigated by federal agents for posting threatening comments on his Facebook page about Donald Trump.

The report, an advance copy of which was obtained by Reuters, came in response to a new U.N. “name and shame” policy for U.N. peacekeepers implemented after a series of allegations of rape and sexual abuse by international troops in Central African Republic (CAR). Most of the allegations involved peacekeepers from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, seven in all, serving in

CAR. There were also allegations against several European countries and Canada.

There were allegations against troops and police from Burundi, Germany, Ghana, Senegal, Madagascar, Rwanda, Congo Republic, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Tanzania, Slovakia, Niger, Moldova, Togo, South Africa, Morocco, Benin, Nigeria and Gabon.—Reuters

BRUSSELS—A record 1.25 million asylum seekers arrived in the European Union in 2015, more than double the figure from the previous year, official data showed on Friday as EU leaders prepared for a crucial summit with Turkey to curb the flow of migrants.

Syrians seeking asylum from the civil war were the single largest group at nearly 363,000 followed by 178,200 Af-

Kerry meets UN envoy for Libya, reiterates unity govt

ghans and 121,500 Iraqis, the Eurostat statistics agency said.

Some 159,000 or nearly half of all the Syrian applications were made in Germany while among the Afghans, 45,600 went to Hungary and another 41,200 sought refuge in Sweden.

Germany was the single largest recipient of asylum applications in 2015, at 441,800 or some 35 percent of the

China champions top conformity with Xi vision BEIJING—Party officials, law-

WASHINGTON—U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met on Friday with Martin Kobler, the U.N. secretary-general’s special representative for Libya, to discuss efforts to support a unified Libyan government, the State Department said.

Kerry said Washington would continue to support Prime Minister Fayez Seraj and the Government of National Accord ahead of a meeting in Tunis next week to discuss its establishment in the capital, Tripoli, the State Department said in a statement.

“He expressed his concern that, despite the efforts of a majority of Libyan leaders to seat this government, a small group of spoilers prevented a formal vote that would have endorsed the Cabinet,” the statement said.

Western diplomats have insisted the only option for uniting Libya and defeating militancy is a plan for a political transition negotiated by the United Nations and signed in December with limited Libyan support.

But they have looked on with growing exasperation as Libya’s eastern House of Representatives rejected one proposed unity government and repeatedly failed to vote on a revised lineup.

“The country needs to move ahead now, or risk division and collapse,” Kobler told the U.N. Security Council this week.—Reuters

GEORGE S. HISHMEH

T

IME is running out for a reasonable and fair PalestinianIsraeli settlement, which prompts many Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank to call for the one-state solution.

The right-wing Israeli government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been aggressively expanding its usurpation of the remaining 20 per cent of the original homeland of Arab Palestinians.

The Israeli land grab began in 1967, though its share of the 1948 UN Partition Plan disappointingly gave the Palestinians only 45 per cent of their homeland.

After the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, the Arab Palestinian population ended with only 18 per cent of its homeland and Israel in control of the entire Arab region called the West Bank.

Israel is still expanding its settlements in the West Bank and Arab East Jerusalem without any loud reprimand from key Western nations, especially the United States.

For example, Israel recently issued demolition orders for 20,000 Palestinian houses in occupied East Jerusalem.

“The Israeli demolition of Palestinian homes is an old-occupation policy, but the new thing is mainly targeting the homes of Palestinian martyrs,” said Ziad Al Hammouri, director of the Jerusalem Centre for Social and Economic Rights.

The Islamic Christian Commission in Support of Jerusalem and the Holy Sites reported that a primary school in East Jerusalem and a mosque in a Negev Desert village were demolished.

The estimate puts Israeli demolitions at 120 to 130 houses every year, done under the pretext of “demolishing everything illegal”. Human Rights Watch has recently revealed that there are 1,000 Israeli businesses, mainly manufacturing plants, in the West Bank, operating in violation of international law because they were built on occupied land. Most of these businesses are located in 16 industrial zones.

They produce about $600 million worth of goods annually — “a small portion of Israel’s $300 billion economy”.

In a move that caused a stir among US lawmakers and some lobby groups, reported The Hill, the US Customs and Border Protection agency issued a reminder that goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank or Gaza should not

Egyptian student faces deportation over Trump threat

makers and media have called for unwavering conformity with top leader Xi Jinping, ahead of the country’s major political meetings, known collectively as the “two sessions.”

Faithfulness to the core leadership of the Party is characterized by staunch loyalty to “the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, [its] General Secretary Xi Jinping as well as to Party theories, guidelines, principles and policies,” according to a recent commentary published by Qiushi Journal, the flagship magazine of the CPC Central Committee.

It underscored that the “consciousnesses of the ideology, the whole, the core and the line” must be promoted. This concept, dubbed “the four consciousnesses,” was raised earlier this year at a high-level meeting of the CPC Central Committee. “The fundamental principle of strengthening consciousness is to follow the ideology, political thinking and deeds of the CPC Central Committee, with Xi as general secretary,” Liu Yunshan, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said at the spring semester opening ceremony for the Party School of the CPC Central Committee.—Xinhua

total, with Hungary taking 174,400 or 14 percent and Sweden 156,100 or 12 percent.

Separate figures from the International Organization for Migration released this week showed that another 130,000 migrants have made it to the EU across the Mediterranean alone so far this year, on top of one million last year.

Most cross the Aegean Sea from

Turkey to Greece, or from North Africa to Italy. In terms of asylum applications, however, Greece received only 11,370 in 2015, less than one percent of the total, the EU figures showed.

EU leaders hold a summit Monday with Turkey as part of efforts to halt the flood of migrants which has exposed deep differences within the 28-nation bloc over how to tackle the problem.—AFP

Denmark to expand anti-IS military mission COPENHAGEN—Denmark’s government will draw up proposals to expand its mission against ISIS to Syria and Iraq, including air strikes, the prime minister’s office said on Friday.

As many as 400 military personal may take part in the campaign, it said. The statement came after politicians from the main political parties voiced support for the proposal in a cross-party committee meeting that included the defence and foreign ministers. Parliament is expected to vote on the proposals soon.

The 400 military personnel will include pilots, soldiers on the ground and support staff.

Denmark contributed seven F-16 in 2014 to the U.S.-led coalition’s air strikes against ISIS in Iraq but pulled them back for maintenance last year. The jets are expected to be back in service in the coming months.

Foreign Minister Kristian Jensen called for Danish air strikes in Syria following the multiple attacks in Paris on Nov. 13 that killed 130 people.—Reuters

Emadeldin Elsayed, a 23-year-old aspiring pilot from Cairo, has a hearing scheduled before Immigration Judge Kevin Riley in Los Angeles.

US Secret Service agents interviewed Elsayed about his post in early February, then returned to his Los Angeles-area flight school eight days later and told him federal prosecutors were not charging him with a crime but his visa had been revoked.

Immigration authorities then arrested Elsayed. He has been detained since Feb. 12 at an Orange County jail.—AP

Smugglers get prison terms for Aylan Kurdi’s death ANKARA—Turkey’s state-run news agency says a court has sentenced two Syrian smugglers to four years and two months each in prison over the death of 3-year-old migrant boy Aylan Kurdi and four other people.

Anadolu Agency said Fri-

China’s 13th 5-year plan deserves all attention BEIJING—China’s draft 13th Five-Year Plan, a strategic blueprint crucial for every Chinese and significant for the rest of the world, will be reviewed at the annual session of the national legislature, which will open Saturday. The roadmap will outline the policy framework, priorities and clear economic and social goals, serving as a fundamental guide to China’s development in the coming five years.

It is set to embody the ruling Communist Party of China’s (CPC) new concepts, with innovation foremost in strategies for a balanced, coordinated and sustainable growth pattern.

This is the first Five-Year Plan drafted under the current Chinese leadership, and also the first since China’s economy entered what policymakers refer to as the “new normal,” a phase of moderating growth based more on consumption than the previous mainstay of exports.

The plan’s significance also lies in the fact that the Chinese economy, the world’s second largest, is still facing downward pressure and undergoing structural reforms amid fragile global recovery, after its

2015 expansion of 6.9 percent, the slowest in a quarter of a century. And the strategic guideline marks the final countdown to the goal of building a moderately prosperous society by the centennial anniversary of the founding of the CPC in 2021. The ambitious target means doubling GDP and per capita income in 2020 from the levels of 2010. Seventy million people need to be lifted out of poverty.

Based on extensive research, seminars, public opinions and expertise, the program will unveil growth expectations in the vital 2016-2020 period for China’s 10-trillion-U.S.-dollar economy, and ways to meet them. Five-year plans play a navigating role in ensuring the huge Chinese vessel sails to the expected destination.

“In the past, the plans focused on microeconomic intervention. But now, they focus on formulating macroeconomic indices and also planning concerning people’s livelihoods and public affairs,” said Yan Yilong, assistant professor in public policy research at Tsinghua University.—Xinhua

New thinking about Palestine be labelled “Made in Israel”.

In rapid retaliation, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) proposed a bill to reverse that 20-year established labelling regulation, calling it “nonsensical” and “invidious”.

According to a World Bank study, reported Foreign Policy, 68 per cent of the resource-rich Area C of the West Bank has been reserved for illegal Israeli settlements, while less than 1 per cent has been allowed for Palestinian use.

It appears, the paper reported, that Cotton is taking his cue from senators Marco Rubio and Ron Wyden, who proposed a bill objecting to the guidelines issued by the European Union on Israeli settlement made products.

The Palestinians are prevented from living, building or farming there under the pretext that the land is either “state land”, “military zone” or a “nature reserve”.

An unbelievable column appeared last week in The Washington

day the court convicted the two of human trafficking but acquitted them of the charge of causing the deaths through deliberate negligence.

Aylan’s brother, Galip, and mother, Rihan, were also among the five victims who drowned last year when their boat went down in the ill-fated journey from Bodrum to the Greek island of Kos. The image of the boy’s lifeless body lying face down on a Turkish beach galvanized world attention on the refugee crisis, graphically illustrating the magnitude of the migrants’ suffering.—Reuters

Post, written by two senior fellows at the pro-Israel Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Dennis Ross and David Makovsky, the former president Bill Clinton’s Middle East peace negotiator and special assistant to President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2011, the latter a member of the negotiating team of Secretary of State John Kerry during the 2013-14 Israeli-Palestinian talks.

In their column headlined “A bargain with Israel on settlements”, they noted that the prevailing attitude is that the Palestinian-Israeli conflict “is not about to be resolved”.

Nevertheless, they said, “this is all the more reason to think about what can be done to preserve the possibility of a two-state outcome, particularly with Palestinians entering a period of uncertain succession”. They argued that “the most direct way to begin changing the climate between Israelis and Palestinians in the hope of affecting Israel’s settlement policy [is] by adopting a new approach on the contentious issue”.

A “differentiated” approach to the settlements, they wrote, “could alter the perception”, that “approximately 80 per cent of illegal settlers live in approximately 5 per cent of the West Bank, largely adjacent to the pre-1967 lines...”.

In other words, Israel has to accept the new approach in order “to stem the drift towards a binational state, blunt the international delegitimisation movement and “give us leverage to block future European sanctions against Israel. It would also — after decades — remove settlements as a constant irritant to US-Israel relations”.

On the other hand, a decision adopted on the sidelines of the Munich security conference on February 12 has been described by an Israeli author, Uri Savir, as “a landmark for the efforts of the international community to revitalise an IsraeliPalestinian two-state solution process”.

The Quartet (the United States, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia) reportedly decided to issue a report that will outline the obstacles that are today preventing a renewed peace process, as well as recommendations for restarting Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, thanks to the efforts of Federica Mogherini, the EU High Commissioner for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

—Courtesy: TJT [The writer is a Washington-based columnist]

33-year battle for truth in S. Africa for apartheid victim’s family B ETHAL

LAHORE: Brick-kiln workers and members of Labour Liberation Front stage a sit-in for acceptance at Faisal Chowk on Friday.

Tremendous development in primary, secondary healthcare STAFF REPORTER L AHORE —Advisor to Chief Minister on Health Kh. Salman Rafique has said that tremendous development has been observed in primary & secondary healthcare as a result of implementation of the Chief Minister’s Health Roadmap. He said that significant improvement has been recorded in routine immunization coverage under Extended Programme of Immunization (EPI) which has increased from 50 percent to 75 plus during the last one year. He said that routine immunization coverage would be enhanced upto 90 to 95 percent within a year which would also reduce maternal mortality rate.

He said this, while addressing a training workshop for master trainers regarding Vaccine Logistic Management Information System (vLMIS) arranged by USAID deliver programme at a local hotel today. Besides, Provincial Coordinator USAID Dr. Nisar Ahmed Cheema, Dr. Tanvir Ahmed, Dr. Zafar Ikram, officials of USAID Programme.

EDOs Health of different districts were also present in the workshop.

Dr. Nisar Cheema said that vLMIS is implemented in 13 districts of Punjab. It is a computerized reporting system of EPI in Punjab which has improved reporting by vaccinators and has reduced wastage of vaccine. He said that USAID deliver programme provided technical and financial support in launching of vLMIS. Dr. Cheema said that this programme is being scaled up in remaining 23 districts in two phases, 13 districts in phase-I and 10 districts in phase-II. Kh. Salman Rafique said that children are future of Pakistan and improved health of children leads to improve productivity. He urged upon the District Health Managers that they should play their active role as a master trainer in training the staff at lower formation level.

He disclosed that during the recent meeting of WHO EMRO region countries, WHO has declared Punjab’s Vector Control & Surveillance System as a Role Model and advised the EMRO region countries to replicate Punjab’s Vector Control Model in their countries which is a pride for Health Department Punjab.

Kh. Salman Rafique said that vLMIS will helpful to improve the vaccination coverage by improving data visibility and accountability of staff as well as the improvement of Cold Change Management System.

Israel demolishes West Bank homes JERUSALEM—Israeli forces demolished dozens of structures including a school in the northern West Bank this week, leaving 10 families homeless, the UN said on Friday.

The demolitions took place on Wednesday in the village of Khirbet Tana, south of Nablus in the northern West Bank.

In total, 41 structures were destroyed, displacing 36 Palestinians including 11 children, the UN’s humanitarian body said in a statement.

COGAT, the defence ministry body responsible for coordinating Israeli government activity in the Palestinian territories, put the number of structures at 20. It said demolition orders were issued in advance.

The army regularly destroys homes it says have been built without permission from the Is-

raeli authorities.

Palestinians and their supporters say it is extremely difficult for them to obtain permits in the part of the West Bank under full Israeli control, known as Area C, which accounts for about 60 per cent of the territory.

Last week the European Union hit out at Israeli authorities after they demolished a school funded by the French government.

Nickolay Mladenov, UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, said last month the number of such demolitions has tripled on average since the start of the year.

“Since the beginning of 2016, Israel has demolished, on average, 29 Palestinian-owned structures per week, three times the weekly average for 2015,” he said.—AFP

UN warns of ‘Pandora’s Box’... statement.

He warned that the FBI order would “set a precedent that may make it impossible for Apple or any other major international IT company to safeguard their clients’ privacy anywhere in the world”.

The FBI wants to unlocked the iPhone used by Syed Farook, who was behind the San Bernardino massacre along with his wife Tashfeen Malik that left 14 people dead.

The agency has argued that by introducing encryption that can lock data, making it accessible only to the user, Apple and other tech companies are essentially creating “warrant-proof zones” for criminals and others that will cripple law enforcement and jeopardise public security.

Apple has in return said

From Page 1

that the only way to unlock the handset would be to introduce a weakened operating system, which could potentially leak out and be exploited by hackers and foreign governments.

Zeid said the FBI “deserves everyone’s full support” in its investigation into what he described as an “abominable crime”.

But he added: “This case is not about a company — and its supporters — seeking to protect criminals and terrorists, it is about where a key red line necessary to safeguard all of us from criminals and repression should be set.

“There are many ways to investigate whether or not these killers had accomplices besides forcing Apple to create software to undermine the security features of their own phones.

“It is potentially a gift to authoritarian regimes, as well as to criminal hackers.“ Zeid said encryption tools were widely used around the world, including by human rights defenders, civil society, journalists, whistle-blowers and political dissidents facing STAFF REPORTER persecution and harassment.

“Encryption and anonymLAHORE—Pakistan’s defeat ity are needed as enablers of against Bangladesh in the Asia both freedom of expression and Cup Twenty20 on Wednesday, cost a fan his life.

Muhammad Shafiq, 50, committed suicide a day after the match, as he lost his entire salary in a bet on the match, his brother Muhammad Ramzan confirmed. The 50-year-old, a clerk in the Punjab Irrigation Department, hung himself in his office after losing Rs30,000 in the bet.

According to reports, Shafiq left his house on Wednesday night after his wife asked him for money which he was unable to provide. His wife went to his office the next morning as he did not return home all night and found his body hanging from the fan.

Man commits suicide after losing PakBD match bet

opinion, and the right to privacy. Without encryption tools, lives may be endangered.“ Three tech associations representing Apple’s main business rivals — including Google, Facebook, Microsoft and Yahoo — said Thursday they supported Apple’s efforts to challenge the order.

“If the government arguments prevail, the Internet ecosystem will be weakened, leaving Internet users more vulnerable to hackers and other bad actors,” said a statement from the Computer and Communications Industry Association, which announced the joint brief with the Internet Association and the i2Coalition of Internet infrastructure firms.

But relatives of some of the San Bernardino victims backed the FBI bid in a legal brief filed in the court where the case is being heard.They said Apple wanted to portray the debate as “one in which the privacy interests of millions of Americans are at stake in order to obtain sympathy for its cause.“ “What is implicated here is the United States’ ability to obtain and execute a valid warrant to search one phone used by a terrorist who committed mass atrocities,” the brief said.—AFP

MQM holds...

From Page 1 Liaquatabad, Federal B Area, Federal C Area, Nagan Chowrangi, Gulberg, Ayesha Manzil, Water Pump, Gharibabad, New Karachi, North Karachi, and many other areas.

The participants of the rallies held placards in their hands that carried inscriptions in support of MQM founder and leader Altaf Hussain and in condemnation of Kamal and Qaimkhani, who have rebelled from the MQM. They chanted slogans in support of MQM founder and leader Altaf Hussain.

Arif Khan Advocate, Iqbal Muqaddam, Zareen Majeed led the rallies in Korangi and Malir while Kamal Malik, Nasreen Jalil, Qasim Ali Raza, Aminul Haq and Rehana Nasreen led in district Central.

In District South Adil Khan, Dr Abdul Qadir Khanzada and Kunwar Naveed Jamil were leading.

Arshad Hussain, Zahid Mansoori and Mutiur Rehman in District East. In District West, Khawaja Izhar Ul Hassan, Muhammad Hussain and Abdul Haseeb Khan, designate Mayor of Karachi Waseem Akhtar, designate Deputy Mayor Arshad Vohra led the rallies.

The designate Mayor of Karachi Waseem Akhtar while addressing the participants of the rallies said the two (Kamal and Qaimkhani) are test-tube babies, who would die of their own in just three months.

India denies ...

From Page 1 countries, including those among the worst offenders of religious freedom.

“One would expect that the Indian government would allow for more transparency than have these nations, and would welcome the opportunity to convey its views directly to USCIRF.” The Indian embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.— AP

(South Africa)—Nokuthula Simelane’s university degree is still hanging on her mother’s living-room wall. But the young anti-apartheid activist disappeared just weeks before her graduation ceremony in 1983. Thirtythree years later, the trial against her alleged killers has finally begun. The body of Simelane, a pretty 23-year-old South African, has never been found. Her mother long hoped her daughter was living abroad in exile, like many activists at the time. It wasn’t until 1995—after the fall of the apartheid government—that she learned Simelane was abducted and killed by state police.

The family has been fighting for justice ever since. “We have heard from the TRC (Truth and Reconciliation Commission) how she was captured, where she was kidnapped, the extent of torture, but things did not end there,” said her sister Thembi Nkadimeng. “We want to know ultimately what happened to her.”

The TRC, which ran from 1996 to 1998, investigated political crimes committed in South Africa during apartheid, which officially ended when Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress came to power in 1994. The commission’s mandate was revolutionary: amnesty from prosecution for executioners and henchmen, in exchange for full disclosure. Three of Simelane’s alleged killers—all police officers—appeared before the TRC. Their amnesty applications for her murder, however, were denied when the commission decided they didn’t reveal the full truth behind her death. In total, the TRC recommended about 300 cases for prosecution after denying amnesty. But to date only “a handful” have been pursued, said TRC head Archbishop emeritus Desmond Tutu.

The decision to now prosecute four former apartheid police officers was “a most significant and historic decision”, the Nobel peace prize winner said.

“We hope the killers will help us find Nokuthula’s remains,” said Nkadimeng, now the mayor of the northern town of Polokwane and a member of the ruling ANC. The wait has been particularly hard on Simelane’s mother Ernestina, 75.

“If I can come to the truth and if they are prepared to come to the truth and maybe I get the remains, then I can forgive,” she told AFP, a photo of her missing child on a table just be-

hind her. She pulled bags from cupboards, rifling through photocopies and cutouts of newspaper articles until she found a piece from February 6, 1995.

There, on the front page of the local daily Sowetan, was a photo of her daughter, who worked for armed wing of the ANC, Umkhonto We Sizwe (MK). “Cops trapped and killed MK cadre”, the headline read.

A former police officer had come forward anonymously with the tale, ending all hopes Ernestina had that her daughter may be undercover somewhere abroad. But, it would take another two decades before South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority decided to pursue the murder case.

It was a “scandalous indictment” of the ANC-ruled post-apartheid government, said the Simelane family’s lawyer, Muzi Sikhakhane “It has been a painful process to persuade a postapartheid state to prosecute apartheid killers who killed a freedom fighter along whom they fought this battle,” he said. Former TRC commissioner Dumisa Ntsebeza took it even further.

“It’s a worrying thing that in the 22nd year of our democracy we come to no conclusion but the conclusion that there have been arrangements between the old order and the new order to keep things in abeyance,” he said.

When the four accused appeared in the Pretoria’s Magistrate’s Court late last month, MK veterans packed the benches before staging a short protest outside. The officers—three white and one black—were granted bail of 5,000 rand ($320, 290 euros) each.

Just behind them sat Ernestina and Nkadimeng, whose hair was wrapped in an ANC turban. Simelane’s case comes at a time when the conversation in South Africa is dominated by youth-led protests demanding the justice that was never delivered in the creation of Mandela’s “Rainbow Nation”.

“There’s been too little emphasis on the question of truth,” said Janet Love, of the South African Human Rights Commission. “If we don’t take responsibility as a country for what has gone on in our past for the crime, a crime against humanity, apartheid will linger.”

Simelane’s family agrees. “I am hopeful that this case will open a lead to everybody, to all those cases sitting in a box,” said her sister.— AFP

Rupert Murdoch 84, weds in London L ONDON — Media mogul Texas-born Hall, a former Saturday at St. Bride’s, the Rupert Murdoch and model-actress Jerry Hall married Friday at an aristocratic palace in London.

They were photographed emerging with smiles Friday from Spencer House, which was built in the 18th century by ancestors of the late Princess Diana. The 84-year-old groom wore a business suit; the bride, 59, was in a navy skirt and a trench coat.

Murdoch’s News U.K. confirmed Murdoch and Hall, who announced their engagement in January, had married.

Murdoch — a prolific tweeter on topics including British and American politics — tweeted: “No more tweets for ten days or ever! Feel like the luckiest AND happiest man in world.”

It is the fourth marriage for Murdoch, who owns Fox News Channel, movie studio TwentyFirst Century Fox, publisher HarperCollins and newspapers in Britain and the United States.

Murdoch has six children from his three previous marriages.

It is the first marriage for

supermodel and long-term partner of Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger. She and Jagger, who have four children together, had an unofficial private Hindu marriage cer-

“journalists’ church” in London’s Fleet Street.

Britain’s newspapers were based in Fleet Street until Murdoch moved his printing presses to east London in 1986

emony in Bali, Indonesia, in 1990. During divorce proceedings in 1999 a British court declared the marriage invalid.

Murdoch and Hall are due to hold a celebration ceremony

to escape the grip of the powerful printers’ unions. The rest of the print media soon followed, but the area remains the spiritual home of British journalism.—AP

Astronomers’ latest find pushes back clock on galaxy formation

PML-N Youth Wing President resigns Staff Reporter LAHORE— Mohsin Latif, President of Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) Youth Wing Lahore, on Friday resigned from his position after developing differences with the party. media, Latif, a nephew of first lady Begum Kulsoom Nawaz, said he is relinquishing office due to differences with the party. On the other hand, PML-N’s General Secretary of Youth Wing Shahid Chohan has also stepped down. Both the resignations have been sent to central President of Youth Wing Captain (retd) Safdar, son-in-law of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Romney calls Trump ‘phony’ WASHINGTON— Donald Trump’s nomination as the Republican presidential candidate would “greatly diminish” prospects for a safe and prosperous future for the United States, former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney said in a stinging speech on Thursday.

Romney said the other Republican candidates would be better alternatives to the billionaire businessman, whom he called “a phony, a fraud”.

The race for the Republican nomination, dominated by insults and name-calling, has seen Trump’s once-unlikely candidacy morph into an increasingly strong bid for his party’s nomination for the November election. “The only serious policy proposals that deal with the broad range of national challenges we confront today come from Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, and John Kasich,” Romney said of Trump’s rivals.

Abe suspends work on US base TOKYO — Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Friday he has decided to temporarily suspend preliminary work on moving a U.S. Marine Corps base on Okinawa and will resume talks on the contentious relocation plan.

The central government and Okinawa’s prefectural government have been locked in a legal battle over relocating the base, with both sides suing the other.

Abe said that his government is accepting a court proposal not to force the reclamation work over Okinawa’s objections. The court in February made the proposal as an interim step allowing talks. Details of the proposal were not made public.—AP

CAPE CANAVERAL, FLA—Astronomers said on Thursday they had discovered a galaxy that formed just 400 million years after the Big Bang explosion, the most distant galaxy found to date.

Located a record 13.4 billion light-years from Earth in the direction of the constellation Ursa Major, the galaxy, named GN-z11, was first spotted two years ago in a Hubble Space Telescope deep-sky visible light survey.

At the time, astronomers knew they were seeing something very far away, possibly as distant as 13.2 billion light-years from Earth.

Follow-up observations with an instrument on Hubble that splits light into its component wavelengths revealed that GNz11 was farther away than initially believed, setting back the galaxy-formation clock by another 200 million years. Being able to use Hubble to peg the galaxy’s distance was a surprise, said astronomers who will publish their research in next week’s issue of The Astrophysical Journal. “We’ve taken a major step

back in time, beyond what we’d ever expected to be able to do with Hubble,” Yale University astronomer Pascal Oesch said in a statement.

The key to the discovery was precisely measuring the shift of the galaxy’s light into longer, redder wavelengths, which directly corresponds to how far the pho-

tons had traveled before reaching Hubble’s eye. The phenomenon is similar to the sound of a train whistle shifting pitch as it recedes into the distance.

Though small by modern galaxy standards, GN-z11 is huge considering it formed at a time when the universe was only 3 percent of its present age, said astronomer Garth Illingworth with the University of California, Santa Cruz.“We’re seeing this galaxy in its infancy,” Illingworth said. “It’s amazing that a galaxy so massive existed only 200 million to 300 million years after the very first stars started to form.” GN-z11 contains about 1 billion times the mass of the sun.

The galaxy is about 25 times smaller than the Milky Way, though it is pumping out new stars 20 times faster than the present Milky Way. Astronomers said they expected the new distance record to stand until Hubble’s successor, the James Webb Space Telescope, is launched in 2018. —Reuters

Gunmen kill 16, including nuns, at Yemen care home ADEN—Gunmen attacked a care home run patient who had volunteered to fight along- shot dead Hussein al-Wuhayshi, a leader by missionaries in Yemen’s jihadistplagued southern city of Aden on Friday, killing 16 workers including four Indian nuns, officials said.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility but Aden has seen a surge in attacks by the Islamic State group and rival Al-Qaeda.

Four gunmen entered the refuge operated by Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity in Aden’s Sheikh Othman district, killing a guard before tying up and shooting employees, security officials told AFP. Screams of elderly residents echoed from the home during the shooting rampage, witnesses said.

They recounted seeing the bodies of slain workers with their arms tied behind their backs scattered on the blood-stained floor as the aged residents cried out in fear.

Apart from the four Indians, the rest of those killed were Yemenis working at the facility, officials said.

“I went out for Friday prayers. When I came back, I found all my friends dead,” one of the residents said.

It is not the first deadly attack on the Mother Teresa order in Yemen.

In 1998, three of its nuns were shot dead in western Yemen by a psychiatric

side Bosnian Muslims in 1992 before returning to the Arabian Peninsula country.

The latest attack comes with Yemen’s internationally recognised government grappling with an Iran-backed rebellion on one side and a growing jihadist presence on the other.

One official said the attackers were “extremists” and blamed the Islamic State group, which has been gaining ground in Aden in recent months.

President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi has declared Aden to be Yemen’s temporary capital as Sanaa remains in the hands of the Huthi rebels and their allies since they seized it in September 2014.

Further east, a suspected drone strike hit a vehicle carrying Al-Qaeda militants in Shabwa province, killing four, local government and tribal sources said Friday.

Only the United States is known to operate armed drones over Yemen.

Al-Qaeda and IS have stepped up attacks in Aden despite the efforts of the government and its backers in a Saudi-led coalition battling the Huthis to secure it.

However, most attacks have so far targeted coalition forces and pro-government Yemeni troops.

Late on Thursday, gunmen in Aden

of a local pro-government militia formed in the south in 2011 to fight Al-Qaeda, along with his brother, a security official said.

On Monday, a suicide car bombing in Sheikh Othman hit a gathering of loyalist forces, killing four people and wounding five others, according to a security official.

The Huthi rebels controlled Yemen’s main port city for months before government loyalists pushed them out in July.

Because of the unrest gripping Aden, Hadi and many senior officials in his government spend most of their time in Riyadh.

Al-Qaeda has been well-established for years in south Yemen, but now faces competition from IS, which has mounted a series of deadly attacks, particularly in Aden. In December, suspected jihadists blew up a small deserted Catholic church in the city dating from the 1950s when Aden was a British protectorate.

More than 6,000 people have been killed in the Yemeni conflict with more than 80 percent of the population in dire need of food, medicine or other basic necessities, according to the United Nations. —AFP

9-year-old girl rescued from wedding STAFF REPORTER LAHORE—Police rescued a nine-year-old girl from being married off to a 14-yearold boy to settle a family dispute on Friday and arrested four village elders who had ordered the “compensation wedding”.

Police arrested all four members of the village council who had decreed that the girl be given in vani, or compensation marriage, to settle a dispute between two

families in Rahim Yar Khan District.

“The girl’s brother’s wife had died due to some health problems a few weeks ago, and (the wife’s) relatives suspected foul play and accused her family of murder,” deputy superintendent of police Mamoonur Rasheed said.

“On March 3, the village council decided to give the little girl in vani to settle the suspected murder.” The council decided that the girl would be married to a

14-year-old cousin of her brother’s deceased wife, while the brother would pay 150,000 rupees to his dead wife’s family.

Three per cent of girls in Pakistan are married before they turn 15 and 21 per cent before the age of 18, according to UNICEF data. The parents of child brides are often poor and use marriage as a way to provide for their daughter’s future, especially in areas where there are few economic opportunities for women.

Faryal issueed notice for Rs12b embezzlement

Fazl: Mumtaz Qadri has united Deobandi, Bralvi sects ISLAMABAD—Chief of Jamiat country, he questioned.

Ulma-e-Islam (JUI-F) Maulana Fazalur Rehman has said on Friday that the hanging of Mumtaz Qadri has united the Deobandis and Bralvi sects and there is no sectarian rift between different school of thoughts.

Talking to media in Parliament House, JUI chief said that religious parties are also against torture on women but the recent bill of women protection was against the spirit of Islamic teachings and the constitution. The bill should have been sent to the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), he added.

We have foiled the efforts for changes in blasphemy law during PPP tenure, Fazl said adding that Pakistan is an independent, sovereign country.

Why other countries want to impose their laws on an Islamic

Pemra takes notice of Dar’s complaint ISLAMABAD–Pakistan Electronic Media Registration Au-

STAFF REPORTER KARACHI—The Sindh High Court has issued notices to Pakistan People’s Party leader MNA Faryal Talpur, Ayaz Soomro and district Larkana Deputy Commissioner on a petition filed in the SHC in which the petitioner has alleged that above-mentioned politicians and the bureaucrat on embezzlement of public money.

The petitioner has alleged these personalities have embezzled 12 billion rupees that were earmarked for the development schemes for Larkana in 2008. The SHC has through the notices directed the respondents to appear in the court for defending against the allegations.

Rangers take custody of MQM worker STAFF REPORTER

The provincial law is an effort to break the family system of Islamic society and against the constitution of the land. Responding to media quarry Maulana Fazalur Rehman said that religious parties have continued contacts to each other and consultative meeting has been summoned to chalk out future strategy.

Maulana has summoned the meeting of all religious parties’ chiefs today (Saturday) in federal capital city Islamabad to chalk out further strategy over the current situation of the country after the hanging of Mumtaz Qadri and passage of women protection bill in Punjab Assembly.

Fazl alleged that efforts were being made to push Ulema and religious seminaries to wall.—SABAH

thority (Pemra) has taken notice of a complaint filed by Federal Finance Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, through his Legal Counsel, against ARY News channel’s anchor Dr. Shahid Masood for airing defamatory program dated 19-2-2016 at 10.05 p.m.

In the complaint, it has

been alleged that Shahid Masood has conducted said programme with mala-fide and ulterior motive of attacking integrity and character with the knowledge and purpose that it made, the same would cause irreparable harm and damage to reputation of Finance Minister, Ishaq Dar domestically and internationally.

The statements of anchor have been claimed as utterly false and fabricated and present a totally fake and absolutely fictitious account of the facts, says the complaint.

Thus action against ARY channel and it’s host Shahid Masood was requested under Pemra laws and Code of Conduct.

Taking notice on this complaint according to the law, Pemra has referred the matter to its Council of Complaints for further action.—INP

PM approves postings of 3 bureaucrats

KARACHI—Pakistan Rangers

STAFF REPORTER

Sindh on Friday obtained 90day custody of an alleged worker of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) for his involvement in targeted killing.

An anti-terrorism court granted the custody of Danish, an alleged member of the MQM’s militant wing, said a law officer of the paramilitary force.

He said the suspect is facing more than 20 charges of targeted killings.

ISLAMABAD—Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Friday approved new postings of three bureaucrats serving in different ministries and divisions.

According to a PM House statement, the Prime Minister approved the posting of Bashir Memon, an officer of the Police Services of Pakistan, as Inspector General Azad Jammu and Kashmir,

putting him at the disposal of Ministry of Kashmir Affairs.

Earlier, he was serving as Joint Director Intelligence Bureau.

Memon would replace Malik Khuda Bakhsh as IGP who had been directed to report to Establishment Division.

The Prime Minister has also approved the posting of Iftikhar Babar as Director General Pakistan National Council of Arts.

North Korea nuclear arsenal on ‘standby’ SEOUL—Leader Kim Jong-Un nuclear warheads, experts are made his comments while and its South Korean ally, has ordered North Korea’s nuclear arsenal to be readied for pre-emptive use at any time, in an expected escalation of military rhetoric following the UN Security Council’s adoption of tough new sanctions on Pyongyang.

The North’s nuclear warheads must be deployed “on standby so as to be fired at any moment,” Kim was quoted as saying by the North’s official KCNA news agency on Friday.

He also warned that the situation on the divided Korean peninsula had become so dangerous that the North needed to shift its military strategy to one of “pre-emptive attack”.

Such bellicose rhetoric is almost routine for North Korea at times of elevated tensions.

While the North is known to have a small stockpile of

divided about its ability to mount them on a working missile delivery system.

Washington downplayed Kim’s threat as posturing.

“We have not seen North Korea test or demonstrate the ability to miniaturise a nuclear weapon and put it on an ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile),” a US defence official told AFP. Still, the official added, “our forces are ready to counter-eliminate strikes if necessary”.

In Seoul, President Park Geun-Hye promised South Korea would mete out “stern punishment” in the event of any North Korea provocation as she warned of a “fiercer” backlash than usual from Pyongyang over the latest UN sanctions.

According to KCNA, Kim

monitoring the test firing of a new, high-calibre multiple rocket launcher on Thursday, just hours after the UN Security Council unanimously adopted the US-drafted resolution penalising the North for its fourth nuclear test in January and long-range rocket launch last month.

South Korea’s defence ministry said the North had fired half a dozen rockets about 100-150 kilometres (60-90 miles) into the sea off its eastern coast on Thursday.

In a clear threat to the neighbouring South, Kim said the new rocket launcher should be “promptly deployed” along with other “recently developed” weaponry.

In the wake of the “gangster-like” UN resolution pushed by the United States

North Koreans are now “waiting for an order of combat to annihilate the enemy with their surging wrath”, he added.

The Security Council resolution adopted late Wednesday laid out the toughest sanctions imposed on Pyongyang to date over its nuclear weapons programme and will, if implemented effectively, apply significant economic pressure on Kim’s regime.

It breaks new ground by sanctioning specific sectors key to the North Korean economy and seeking to undermine the North’s use of, and access to, international transport systems.

Pyongyang on Friday rejected the sanctions as “unfair, illicit and immoral” and vowed to keep building its nuclear arsenal.—AFP

A new multiple-launch rocket system is test fired in this undated photo released by North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency in Pyongyang.

Published by: Zahid Malik, Printed by Gauhar Zahid Malik,33-Queens Road, Lahore at Barex Printers.

Could too much green tea be harmful to health?

F

OR centuries, green tea has been hailed for its numerous health benefits. But ac cording to a new study, the beverage could do more harm than good if consumed in large amounts. In a new study published in the Journal of Functional Foods, researchers reveal how exposure to excessive amounts of green tea impaired the reproductive function of fruit flies, as well as the development of their offspring.

While it is unclear whether the beverage has the same impact on humans, the team says their findings warrant caution against consuming large amounts of green tea and other nutraceuticals.

Green tea is made from fresh leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. Because green tea is one of the least processed forms of tea, it retains the majority of its antioxidants and polyphenols, which are known to be largely beneficial for health.

Previous research has suggested green tea can aid weight loss, reduce cholesterol and protect against numerous illnesses, including cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease.

However, some studies have reported negative health effects if the beverage is consumed in large doses; animal studies have linked excessive green tea consumption to dramatic weight loss and impaired embryonic development.

To reach their findings, lead investigator Mahtab Jafari, associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences at the University of Cali-

fornia-Irvine, and colleagues exposed embryos and larvae of fruit flies, or Drosophilae melanogaster, to varying doses of green tea.

Fruit flies are often used to study human disease because they share 75% of the same genes that cause disease in humans.

The team found that 10 milligrams (mg) of green tea led to slower development of larvae.

There was also a significant reduction in the number and size of offspring that emerged.

Female offspring exposed to 10 mg of the beverage showed a reduction in reproductive output, as well as a 17% reduction in lifespan. In addition, the researchers found 10 mg of green tea led to morphological abnormalities in reproductive organs of the fruit flies, including atrophy in the testicles and ovaries. Green tea was found to protect the flies against dehydration, but it also increased susceptibility to heat stress and starvation.

While the study did not assess the mechanisms by which green tea affected the development and reproduction of the fruit flies, they hypothesize that high doses of the beverage may trigger excessive apoptosis, or programmed cell death, to produce such effects. “While green tea could have health benefits at low doses, our study and others have shown that at high doses, it may have adverse effects. Further work is needed to make any definite recommendations, but we can suggest that green tea be consumed in moderation.” “These experiments will enable us to have a better understanding of toxic doses in humans,” notes Jafari.

President launches Spring Tree Planting Campaign

Islamabad’s first Mayor vows to ease residents’ lives

District and Sessions Judge Mrs. Justice Irum Niazi administering oath to newly elected Mayor Sheikh Ansar, deputy mayors Zeeshan Ali, Chaudhry Riffat Javed and Mohammad Azam during a ceremony.

Minister for CADD Dr. Tariq departments would be transferred According to the Local Gov- ing the water wing, sanitation, ZUBAIR QURESHI Fazal Chaudhry, Special Assistant to Metropolitan Corporation for ernment Act, the mayor is the ex- health directorate, district muISLAMABAD—The first ever to Prime Minister Asif Kirmani, smooth working of IMC. Accord- ecutive head of the Islamabad nicipal authority, enforcement, Mayor of Islamabad Metropoli- MNA Malik Ibrar, MD Pakistan ing to an official of the CDA, the Metropolitan Corporation (IMC) environment, parks, sports and tan Corporation (IMC), Sheikh Baitul Mall Abid Waheed Sheikh Mayor will get the benefits equal who will provide a leadership vi- culture etc. Some departments Anser Aziz and three deputy May- and Chairman of UCs joined the to the grad-20 official while the sion to the IMC in consultation such as the building control deputy Mayors at par with grade and coordination with other gov- section, revenue, administraors Chaudhry Reffat Javed, oath taking.

Elections of the Mayor and 19 officials. ernment agencies. tion, road and market mainteZeeshan Shah and Muhammad While talking to media after “I’m well aware of thee re- nance and environment protecAzam Khan took oath of their of- three deputy mayors were held on fice Friday at Convention Centre. February 15. Representatives of the oath-taking ceremony, Sh straints but at the same time I tion wing will be partially deJudge of the Special Court various departments of CDA in- Ansar Aziz said his top three pri- know my responsibilities very volved.

In addition, the services of Iram Niazi administered oath to cluding the staff attended the oath- orities would be: Construction of will and will play my due role the elected Mayor and deputies. taking ceremony. More than 19 roads, resolution of the sanitation in fixing the problems being nearly 10,000 CDA and ICT issues; and addressing the water faced by the residents,” he said. administration employees, curshortage.

A number of departments of the rently working in 49 wings and Federal capital has been fac- CDA and the Islamabad Capi- directorates of CDA and ICT, ing a number of problems such tal Territory (ICT) will be fully will be surrendered to the local as the shortage water, housing, il- devolved to the IMC, includ- government. legal and unplanned buildings in zone four and five, lack of garbage collection and dumping system in the rural areas and the ever growing encroachments on state land and the newly-administered mayor vowed to address them on priority basis. When his attention ISLAMABAD —Special Assiswas drawn to the fact that baboos tant to Prime Minister on Forin the Capital Development Aueign Affairs (SAPM) Syed thority (CDA) have been using Tariq Fatemi Friday said that delaying tactics in implementing Pakistan attached highest imthe building by-laws in zone four portance to its relations with Sri and five, he said since the people Lanka. of Islamabad have elected them He was talking to the newly to address the burning issues of arrived High Commissioner of Islamabad, he would try his utSri Lanka, Major Gen (Retd) most to come up to their expectaJayanath Lokuketagodage, who tions. The implementation of the paid a courtesy call on him here by-laws will be a test case for the at the Ministry of Foreign Afnew mayor, say the analysts. fairs.—APP

Pakistan attaches importance to ties with Sri Lanka

STAFF REPORTER ISLAMABAD—President Mamnoon Hussain on Friday said trees play an important role in strengthening of national economy and help check the ill effects of the climate change. The President, who kicked off the annual Spring Tree Plantation Campaign by planting a sapling of Araucaria Excelsa here at the lawns of the Aiwan-e-Sadr, stressed the need for creating awareness in public about the importance of trees.

The President said climate change was a topic of concern for the world and the countries were focusing on taking relevant measures for building a sustainable and climate-resilient future.

He mentioned that each year March 21 is marked as the International Day of Forests, worldwide including Pakistan. He emphasized to include in the national educational curriculum the content related to climate change and the significance of plantation. He suggested the Ministry of Education to take steps in this regard so as to apprise the young generation importance of trees. The President said the federal and provincial governments were making efforts to control cutting of trees. He urged upon the nation to contribute towards tree plantation campaign considering it their moral obligation. First Lady Mehmooda Mamnoon Hussain also planted a sapling of Arucaria. Minister for Climate Change Zahid Hamid also attended the event.

Sh Ansar to receive grade-20, deputies grade-19 benefits

President Mamnoon Hussain planting a sapling at lawns of Aiwan-e-Sadr.

Bulgaria celebrates national day

Outstands in IT, manufacturing industries ASHRAF ANSARI ISLAMABAD—Ambassador and Mrs. Aneta Antonova of Bulgaria hosted reception at their residence in the Diplomatic Enclave in the federal capital to celebrate national day of their country. A large number of guests graced the celebrative event. They included diplomats of foreign missions, officials and prominent people from various segments of the society. Federal minister Khurram Dastgir was the Chief Guest who cut the ceremonial cake along with the hosts.

Khurram Dastgir and the ambassador during their chat, touched on possibilities of expanding cooperation between Pakistan and Bulgaria. Bulgaria is a European country in the Balkan. Though it has a small population around eight million, it has made its mark as an emerging economy.

Bulgaria is among leading countries of Europe in the fields of information technology and manufacturing. Bulgaria holds third place in Europe and tenth position worldwide with respect to absolute number of certified IT professionals, third place world-wide according to certificates per capita.

One important factor for progress

in Bulgaria is its focus on education.

Both secondary and higher education are highly developed. According to a World Bank report Bulgarian secondary education is among the best in the world. This country ranks fifth in the world in sciences. Bulgarians represent second largest foreign student community in Germany after the Chinese. Pakistan can learn many lessons from Bulgaria in its quest for rapid progress and prosperity of its people.

Bulgaria is rich in landscape and

Korean Ambassador Song Jonghwan, Ambassador of Germany Ina Lepel and Ambassador of Netherlands Jeannette Sepper

Ambassador of Brazil Claudio Lins and wife of Ambassador of Bulgaria Mrs. Aneta Antonova

natural fauna and flora. Its Black Sea coast offers pleasant temperatures and many sunny days from May till October. Its mountains offer attractive ski opportunities in winter. Bulgaria has also reputation of being a country enjoying social and cultural harmony. Bulgarian capital Sofia is among the oldest cities in Europe and the only city besides Jerusalem with an Orthodox church, a Catholic cathedral, a mosque and a synagogue within a square kilometer. Many countries in the world are incapable of making social and economic progress because of religious and sectarian divides.

Ambassador of France Martine Dorance with her husband

Ambassador of Bulgaria Roumen Pirontchev, Chief Guest Federal Minister for Commerce Khurram Dastgir Khan, Ambassador of Turkey Babur Girgin, Ambassador of Romania Emilion ION and others, cutting the cake during a ceremony to celebrate the National Day of Bulgaria.—PO photo by Sultan Bashir

Representative of Sri Lankan embassy Wijayanthi Edirisinghe with her husband Lakmal De Silva

$ 830m support being provided for Pakistani children Fajar Zohr Asr

05:50 01:30 04:20

Meghrab at Sunset Isha 08:00 Brothers in Islam establish regular prayers & charity

March 7

SMC Course The 19th Senior Management Course (SMC) will commence here at National Institute of Management (NIM) on March 7. The Establishment Division has asked the nominees to report at N1M on March 5-6 for registration.

March 8

Shura Hamdard THE Monthly Ijlas of Shura Hamdard Rawalpindi/Islamabad which was postpone due to the uncertain circumstances of city on 1st of March is now going to held on 8th of March 2016 at 04:30 PST, in Hamdard Markaz Murree Road Rawalpindi.

Matrimony March 19 Valima ceremony of Peer Mohammad Hasan Haseeb-ur-Rehman, son of Peer Naqib-ur-Rehman is to be held on March 19 at 07:30 pm at Darbar-e-Alia, Eidgah Sharif, Rawalpindi.

A Mehfal-e-Milad has been arranged on March 20 at 12 noon at Darbar-e-Alia to celebrate the marriage.

5th batch completes counter terrorism course R AWALPINDI —Fifth batch of 500 personnel from various Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) of the country on Friday successfully completed National Integrated Counter Terrorism Course (NICTC) conducted by Pakistan Army. The personnel who attended the training were drawn from Pakistan Air Force, Pakistan Navy, Frontier Corps from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Anti-Narcotics Force, Strategic Plans Division, Army Strategic Forces Command, Defence Services Guard, Pakistan Rangers (Sindh / Punjab) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir Police, an ISPR news release stated.

It was fifth batch which completed the NICTC, totaling the number of trained personnel to 2300. The course is being organized at Pabbi. Lieutenant General Umar Farooq Durrani, Corps Commander Mangla witnessed the closing ceremony and awarded medals to the students who excelled during the course. —APP

STAFF REPORTER I SLAMABAD —Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization Anuradha Guptaat called on Minister for National Health Services Saira Afzal Tarar here Friday to discuss collaboration in strengthening Pakistan’s child immunization program. The minister while welcoming the delegation said the government accords top most priority to health sector programs and initiatives aimed at protecting and safeguarding health and well being of women and children.

“We recognize that investment into protection of health of women and children is an investment into the future of our country.”

The Ministry has developed a ten point mother and new born child health Plan of Action in unison with the provincial governments to address major challenges in provision of services and their uptake by the communities. The ten point vision aims to address all issues related to mother and child in Pakistan especially priority areas of stillbirth, breast-feeding, immunization and improving access and quality of reproductive, maternal, new-

born, child and adolescent health and nutrition primary care community based service, informed the Minister.

She said a National Immunization Support Program has been developed in partnership with all stakeholders to sustain vaccination services in the country.

Anuradha Gupta congratulated the Minister for Health on developing a plan of action for improving mother and child health and on strengthening immunization services.

Immunization is critical to achieving Sustainable Development Goals, she said.

Immunization was the most cost-effective intervention which does not require brick and mortar, she added. She said US$ 835 million worth of support was being provided by GAVI to Pakistan for strengthening routine immunization for children and mothers. The support was likely to be enhanced to one billion US dollars by the year 2020, she said.

Anuradha informed that her organization was paying special attention to supporting Pakistan’s immunization program.

She pointed out that special attention needs to be given to provision of cold chain Deputy Global Chief global alliance for vaccine and immunization Anuradha Gupta meeting with minister for national for vaccines in underserved areas for improving vaccination coverage. health services Saira Afzal Tarar.

CJP directs redrafting comprehensive FJA Service Rules STAFF REPORTER ISLAMABAD—Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, also Chairman of the Board of Governors (BoG), Federal Judicial Academy, chaired the 40th meeting of the BoG of the Federal Judicial Academy (FJA) here on Friday.

The meeting was attended by Mr. Pervaiz Rashid, Federal Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs/Vice Chairman, BoG, FJA members: Mr. Justice Muhammad Anwar Khan Kasi, Chief Justice, Islamabad High Court, Mr. Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel, Chief Justice, Peshawar High Court, Mr. Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan, Chief Justice, Lahore High Court, Mr. Justice (R) Muhammad Raza Khan, Secretary, Ministry of Law, Justice and Human Rights, and Mr. Fakhar Hayat, Director General, Federal Judicial Academy.

Three honourable judges of Apex Court: Mr. Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, Mr. Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa, Mr. Justice Umar Ata Bandial, and Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman, Higher Education Commission, also attended the meeting on special invitation.

Regarding Draft Federal Judicial Academy Service Rules, 2007, Chief Justice of Pakistan

Anwar Zaheer Jamali has directed that standardized and comprehensive employees service rules for the Federal Judicial Academy should be redrafted at the earliest.

“Any time more than two months is a sheer wastage of time because already too much time has been wasted on one pretext or another, yet FJA employee’s service rules are not framed.

DG, FJA, will redraft the rules and seek guidance and guidelines from the Registrar, Supreme Court of Pakistan or one senior officer who has recently framed the rules of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.”

The establishment of Federal University of Law and Judicial Administration also came under an extensive deliberation in the meeting.

The s honorable CJP remarked, “Our top most priority should be to impart quality judicial training to the judicial officers. FJA should produce quality judicial officers. A four member committee headed by Mr. Justice Umar Ata Bandial, comprising a representative of Ministry of law, Chairman, Higher Education Commission and DG of the Academy was constituted to explore into various prospects and possibilities of the matter, including the utilization of newly erected building for the purpose and other allied matters and report at the earliest.”

Kite flying ban openly violated as ‘Basant’ celebrated RAWALPINDI—The ban on kite flying and metallic strings and aerial firing was openly violated here in cantonment areas on Thursday night and Friday as ‘Basant’ was celebrated.

According to details, the residents expressed concerns over Kite flying and use of metallic strings, banned by the city administration, adding that such violation was a question mark on the performance of the authorities concerned.

They alleged that administration had failed to implement the ban, adding Tench Bhatta, Peoples Colony, Kiani road, Bakra Mandi, Dhoke Syedan, Tahli Mori, Dhari Hasanabad, Lalkurti and many other areas were noticed where the activity was openly done especially on Friday. There was also aerial firing with the kite flying.

Locals claimed that the metallic strings used for flying kites injured many persons during last week, adding that it could have taken their lives.

The citizens was of the view that kite flying could lead to traffic accidents. They demanded to strictly implement the ban of kite flying which might take lives of innocent citizens. Owing to easy availability, children purchased kites

and violated the ban not only on rooftops but even on roads. The local social, political and religious circles have demanded the government to take notice of the sheer violation of kite-flying ban and order a stern action against the violators to save public life.

Earlier City Police Officer (CPO) had said that Station House Officer (SHO) concerned would be held accountable for the violation of the ban on kite flying. Meanwhile, police claimed to have arrested 20 kite flying ban violators and recovered over 620 kites and 26 kite flying string rolls.

Gungmandi police held Tahir for having seven kites and two string rolls. Pirwadhai police netted Arshad with 245 kites. Sadiqabad police also recovered 156 kites from Danial, a kite seller.

Westridge police rounded up Sartaj for carrying 11 kites and two string rolls.

R.A.Bazar police seized 190 kites and eight string rolls from Raheel. Saddar Baroni police arrested Talha, a kite flyer. Civil Line police also booked a kite flyer namely Sajjad. Airport police nabbed Etasham and others and recovered nine kites. Other ban violators were also sent behind the bars.—APP

Rs2.5b approved for filtration plants R AWALPINDI—The Punjab Government has approved an amount of Rs 2.5 billion for provision of clean drinking water in Tehsil Gujar Khan,said parliamentary secretary for CADD Raja Javaid Ikhlas here on Friday.

Chairing a meeting here, he said that water filtration plants would be installed in 36 union councils of Tehsil Gujar Khan to provide clean drinking water to the residents.

He said that Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif was taking keen interest for provision of clean drinking water to the residents across the province and the approval of the huge amount for Gujar Khan shows his comLabourers fixing barbwires on the boundary walls of Federal Urdu University in conmitment.

He said that work on the nection with security measures. project would start soon and the citizens of the area would get safe drinking water.—APP

Secretary asked RTA to ensure fare decrease RAWALPINDI—The Provincial Parliamentary Secretary for Youth Affairs and Tourism Punjab Ch. Sarfraz Afzal Friday directed to Secretary RTA to ensure the immediate fare reduction and give relief to the commuters.

He said that after the price reduction of petroleum products, it was necessary to carry forward its relief among the commuters.

He directed that all sorts Roads in front of Parliament House were blocked with containers to avoid any unpleasof public transport plying from ant situation on Friday.

Rawalpindi to Islamabad including Bus, Taxi, Wagon and Suzuki, adding owners and drivers should be made to follow strictly the orders and ensure fare reduction.

Sarfraz said that those people who come from Murree, Kalar Saidan, Texela Kahota, Azad Kashmir and suburban of Islamabad for earning their livelihood should be given special relief in this regard.

He said they were the main component of economic activity in the cities and play vital role in economic growth. He said the government of Muslim League-N has the objective to serve the people in all spheres of life and change their living standard by bring prosperity adding the government had started numerous public welfare projects in this regard.—APP Position holder students of Singing Competition as part of intercollegiate Competitions at IMCG F-7/2.

Four inspectors transferred

RAWALPINDI—Regional Police Officer (RPO) Rawalpindi Muhammad Wisal Fakhar Sultan Raja on Friday transferred four inspectors working in the range to different districts. According to RPO Office spokesman, Inspector Mirza Yousaf Raza, who recently returned from (Police Training School) has been posted in Rawalpindi district.

Inspector Muhammad Asghar Chandio has been transferred to Rawalpindi from Jhelum. Inspector Raja Mushtaq Ahmed and Inspector Malik Asif Nawaz have been transferred to Director General Brig (R) Amir Hamza along with Dr Abdur Rehman (DEO) Rescue 1122 monitoring Urban Search Jhelum from Rawalpindi with and Rescue Course activities. immediate effect.—APP

French development agency’s director assures support to a ‘low-Carbon Pakistan’ ZUBAIR QURESHI ISLAMABAD—Mr. Pascal Pacaut, Director for the Asia Region at the French Agency for Development (AFD) called on Minister for Climate Change Zahid Hamid and discussed issues relating with AFD projects in Pakistan and reviewed Pakistan’s commitment and follow up on the Paris climate summit held last year in December.

Pascal Pacaut who is on a three-day mission also had the opportunity to meet representatives of the Ministry of Planning, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Water and Power and the Economic Affairs Division.

He mainly discussed future AFD assistance strategy for Pakistan and issues related to the implementation of the ongoing portfolio of projects. He also met with funding partners to

explore new opportunities of joint financing in Pakistan.

The French Agency for Development, a public development bank owned by the French government, finances projects in more than 90 countries on four continents. AFD started operating in Pakistan in 2006 and has since committed more than 370M•, mainly for investments in green energy, especially hydro electricity generation. AFD is, among others, funding the rehabilitation of hydro power plants in Warsak, Dargaï, Chitral and the construction of Jaggran II and Harpo power plants.

Two months after the Paris Climate Conference 2015 (COP21), France continues to stress its support for a green and low-carbon development in Pakistan and extends its help to address both the challenges posed by energy supply and climate change.

UNO responsible for bloodshed in Kashmir: Geelani SRINAGAR—Chairman Hurriyat Conference (G), Syed Ali Geelani, on Friday said the

United Nations Organisation (UNO) is responsible for “all the miseries and genocide which India is carrying out in Kashmir”.

“This world institution is responsible for all the miseries and genocide which India is carrying out in Kashmir because the Jammu and Kashmir issue is one of the oldest pending disputes in the UN charter.

It is due to the silence of this institute that encourages India to behave so arrogantly and rudely with the innocent human lives in this troubled region,” Geelani said in a statement issued here.—KR

Not Guru, Rohit is my icon: Kanhaiya S RINAGAR —JNU student leader Kanhaiya Kumar, facing sedition charges has said Friday that Parliament attack convict not Afzal Guru but Dalit student Rohit Vemula was his icon.

Rohit committed suicide in

Hyderabad recently.

“Afzal Guru is not an icon for me, Rohit Vemula is my icon,” said Kanhaiya at a press conference after his fiery speech last night.

He made his stand clear on his support for the cause of Rohit Vemula who committed suicide in Hyderabad University after alleged persecution by the varsity authority.—RK

Kids suffering rare disorder, crave cure ministers and made them understand that the treatment for these diseases costs lakhs of rupees. “They gave assurances but did nothing,” he said.

Mandeep also claimed to have met

nor the government is supporting us.

Scheme meant for these children has proved a failure,” they said.

Dr Kaiser Ahmad, a well know Pediatrician and Principal Govern-

couple of patients. The medicines for the diseases are costly. We cannot ask the authorities in AIIMS to give us the stock in bulk.”

Dr Kaiser said, “We have written to the NHM authorities that we need

former union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and briefed him about the rare diseases. “He too gave assurances and did nothing,” he said.

The parents of many LSD patients, who attended the function at GB Pant hospital lamented that they cannot arrange the money for the treatment of their children. “They have to live with this disability all

ment Medical College, Srinagar said, “We don’t have data available as how many patients are suffering from LSD but as a pediatrician I know we see a sizable number of them.”

“Three of our patients are registered with Lysosomal Storage Disorder Support Society (LSDSS) and we are getting a few Enzyme Replacement Therapies from AIIMS for a

funding for some of the diseases related to children. And now we are planning to ask them for funds for patients suffering from rare diseases.”

Dr Neerja Gupta, an assistant professor of genetics at the AIIMS said, “We need the support of government of India for financial assistance. And if they don’t provide us, LSD patients will continue to suffer.”—KR

SRINAGAR—While the children suf- zation have approached many health their lives because neither any NGO fering from a rare disorder are craving proper medical care due to lack of funds, National Health Mission (NHM) is returning an unspent amount of Rs 1.62 crore to the Indian government. A schemeRashtriya Bal Swashtya Karyakaram (RBSK)-meant for the children suffering from rare diseases has failed to take off in Kashmir, thus making the patients and their parents suffer.

On the 7th International Rare Disease Day, which was observed at the GB Pant Hospital, Srinagar, the Lysosomal Storage Disorder (LSD) patients and the Lysosomal Storage Disorders Support Society (LSDS) expressed their anger against the government for failing to make RBSK functional in Kashmir.

RBSK scheme of the NHM aims at early detection and intervention of four problems associated with children in the age group of 0-18 years.

These include defects at birth, deficiencies, and development delays including disabilities.

Manjeet Singh, a member of the LSDS society said, “No early screening of children is done. We could have controlled the diseases if children were properly screened. But diseases are detected at the final stage.”

“NHM is returning an unspent amount of Rs 1.62 crore to Indian government. They could have easily spent this amount on these children,” he said.

Mandeep claimed that his organi-

NC jerks, ready to drop autonomy demand SRINAGAR—The National Conference (NC) on Friday announced to embrace any other solution to Kashmir issue instead of restoration of internal autonomy that is the basic plank of its politics over the years. “We see the solution of Kashmir can be achieved through internal autonomy but we never said it is the ultimate solution”, former Chief Minister and Working President of the party Omar Abdullah said here. “We never said that any other idea for resolution of Kashmir dispute won’t work. If anyone has alternative through which maximum can be achieved, National conference will have no objections,” Abdullah said while addressing NC youth workers at the party’s Nawai Subh headquarters.

Omar said the dispute of the state was not the issue of money and unemployment but the political one that can be resolved only by political means. Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the party function, Omar said that he was not concerned about encounters between militant and Indian forces as much as he was about the situation which arises after the encounters. “I don’t worry about encounters, but the simultaneous law and order situation (protest) that emerges after encounters and then the use of force by the government, which becomes a self fulfilling prophecy that further aggravates. The situation which could be dealt politically is dealt administratively,” he said Omar also said that the absence of public elected government was detrimental to the state and it was tantamount to playing with danger. “I believe some sort of uncertainty in a state like Jammu and Kashmir is tantamount to playing with danger. Both (PDP and BJP) parties should rise above their self interests and think about the state,” Omar added.—KR

Respect our aspirations, else ‘sorry’ for everything: Mehbooba to BJP JAMMU — Breaking silence over the government formation, PDP President Mehbooba Mufti Friday said that they were ready to form government with BJP if it respects aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

On the sidelines of PDP’s launch of membership drive, she said, “If they (BJP) will not respect the aspirations of people then I will say ‘sorry’ to the option of forming government,” Mehbooba said.

Invoking her father late Mufti Sayeed; she said he had “not joined hands with BJP as a party but it was a coalition between the Central government and the people of Jammu and Kashmir”.—JKH

Pro-freedom camp pays tributes to slain Tral militants SRINAGAR—Pro-freedom camp and aspirations of its people. on Friday paid tributes to three slain militants who were killed in a gunfight with government forces started in Dadsara village of Tral late Monday evening.

The slain militants were identified as Asif Yousuf (Dadsara), Muhammad Ishaq Parray (Laribal), and Muhammad Ashiq Hussain (Charsoo).

Paying tributes to slain militants, Chairman Hurriyat Conference (G), Syed Ali Geelani, in a statement issued here, said “our brave-hearts are sacrificing their precious lives to end our slavery and miseries”. “ They have put a heavy responsibility upon us to carry forward their mission at any cost.

The prevailing political uncertainty and instability in Jammu and Kashmir is taking heavy toll over the precious human lives for which India is responsible as it is using military power to continue its illegal occupation here,” Geelani said.

On Geelani’s directions, Tehreek-e-Hurriyat district president Pulwama, Syed Mohi-uddin Andrabi, Bashir Ahmad Qurashi and others visited Dadsara and participated in funeral prayers of the slain militants.

The delegation also extended Geelani’s condolence message to the bereaved families.

Chairman Hurriyat Conference (M), Mirwaiz Umar Farooq while paying tributes said the sacrifices given by Kashmiris for their “just” struggle demand that a permanent solution of this vexed issue was found as per the wishes

“Without the resolution of this issue, real peace, stability and economic progress of the entire region would remain a distant dream,” he said in a statement issued here.

“Time has come that while realising the sensitivity and importance of the resolution of Kashmir issue, concrete steps be taken for its permanent resolution.

The leadership of India and Pakistan are duty-bound to find a just and honorable solution of Kashmir issue,” he said.

A spokesperson of Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), in a statement issued here, paid tributes to slain militants. He said a party delegation led by Javaid Ahmad and Manzoor Ahmad Tantray participated in the funeral prayers of militants.

Paying tributes, JKLF (R) patron, Barrister Abdul Majid Trumboo said, “Martyrs deserve our salute and we are indebted to their revered sacrifices.”

A spokesperson of Muslim League Jammu Kashmir while paying tributes to slain militants expressed solidarity with the bereaved families. Senior Hurriyat Conference (G) leaders including Mohammad Yousuf Naqash, Hakeem Rashid and Saleem Zargar participated in the funeral prayers of slain militants. According to a joint statement issued here, the Hurriyat (G) leaders also addressed the people on the occasion. “Through suppression, youths are forced to pick up gun.

Their sacrifices are valuable assets for our movement.—KR

JNU students hold victory march N EW D ELHI —To express solidarity with Kanhaiya Kumar and celebrate his return from jail, JNU students Friday took out a victory march at the university campus last night.

Carrying posters of B R Ambedkar and shouting slogans like ‘Jail ka Tala Toota hai, comrade Kanhaiya chhoota hai’, the students first gathered at Ganga Dhaba and then moved towards the admin block where Kumar was to address them.

Despite his return coming with riders and the bail being interim, supporters described it as a triumph for truth and the cause for saving democracy and the university, a message their posters conveyed as well.

One of the interesting messages carried on a poster read, “If you have been to jail for justice, then you are my friend.”

The crowd was almost unequivocal in its criticism of the

sedition case but general secretary Rama Naga cautioned against saying anything which could be misinterpreted later.—RK

Views from Srinagar

Of Kashmir’s renewed support to militancy SHUJAAT BUKHARI

F

OR the first time in last over 25 years of conflict in Kashmir, the Jammu and Kashmir Police on February 18 issued an advisory in which they asked people to stay away from the encounter sites. A police spokesperson said about the advisory: “They (people) should not venture out as stray bullets can hit and cause damage (to the people).” The spokesperson added, “The elders, chowkidars and village elders are requested to advise people to stay away from encounter sites.”

The advisory was issued after Police said that two young students were killed by stray bullets during an encounter between militants and armed forces in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on February 14. The residents near the encounter site however refuted the police claim. In Pulwama authorities found a different situation to handle. Unlike past incidents when at the sound of first bullet fired people used to run for cover, this time people, mostly youth, were seen marching towards the encounter site. Such an unusual development has not been witnessed in over two-decades-long standoff between forces and militants.

The events that unfolded at Pampore soon after EDI encounter ended on February 24 raise many questions on the changing dynamics of political situation in the restive state. Nine people including two captains of Indian Army were killed in the 48-hour long battle. The situation corresponds to those existing in early 90s when armed rebellion with popular support broke out in Kashmir. Women were seen singing tra-

ditional songs eulogizing militants and public address systems of mosques were used for pro-freedom and pro-Pakistan slogans to boost the fighting spirit of carrying forward the “struggle for freedom”. “Aiye Mard e Mujahid Jaag Zara – Ab Waqta-e-Shahadat HeyAaya” (Oh the warrior wake up, it is the time for sacrifice) was aired for a long time.

What may appear as a temporary phase to those handling the recent turn around in the government, defines a change in the ground situation. This has not come overnight but after a long lull that was marked with the breakdown of all sorts of approaches by the government promising any urge or desire to deal with Kashmir politically.

Participation and support of people: In last over two years the outlook of militancy has changed. After receiving setbacks in mid-1990s, mainly because of rebellion within militant ranks and birth of pro-Army Ikhwan who were dismissed as “renegades” by the separatists, the militant set-up went into the hands of foreigners. Foreign militants being mostly Pakistanis, the set-up was based on an 80-20 ratio.

The arrangement continued for a long time and the reconciliatory process that developed between India and Pakistan as also between some sections in Srinagar and Delhi helped consolidate the “peace”.

After peace talks got derailed in the wake of Mumbai

attack in 2008, a vacuum was created.

The hanging of Afzal Guru in 2013 degenerated the situation which further led to progressive despondency and frustration. Also a narrative build up on the lines perceived as anti-Kash-

mir, by a section of media in India and practiced by the BJP government contributed significantly to the escalation of situation when swords seemed to be out on issues such as Masarat Alam’s release, beef controversy, hoisting two flags, etc.

Analysts also do not rule out the joining of hands

by PDP with the right-wing party BJP as a factor, since PDP was always seen playing middle role between National Conference and the Hurriyat. The party sought votes to keep BJP

away, and in south Kashmir the youth mobilized in that spirit but ultimately PDP allied with BJP to form the government.

There has been confirmation from officials that some of the youth who actively supported PDP as election agents joined the militant ranks after the “unholy alliance” was stitched.

With no sign of intent on the part of New Delhi to approach Kashmir politically, a new window towards militancy and violence has been opened, precisely to the local youth.

In recent past a 21-yearold handsome guy, Burhan Wani, from south Kashmir’s Tral area was among the most popular on social media with his video.

He became an icon for many of his fans. Official figures suggest that the trend among Kashmiri youth including some University pass outs to join militancy had set in long before. Figures say that 28 locals joined the militant ranks in 2013, 60 in 2014, 66 in 2015 and 12 in the first two months of 2016, thus modifying the ratio of 80-20 to 7030. The period has also seen an indigenous militant group, Hizbul Mujahideen, making a comeback. Earlier the scene was dominated by Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Muhammad.

Large attendance at funerals: As militants stepped up their strikes, it led to their killings. But the most significant change observed was large participation of locals in their funerals. Two months ago when a com-

mander of LeT, Abu Qasim, was killed in Kulgam district, his funeral was attended by over 30,000 strong gathering of people. Not only did the number swarm up in a short time but two villages fought to get the militant’s body for a “decent burial”.

And Qasim was a Pakistani national. Same was repeated at other funeral, which is why Police quietly removed the bodies of three Pakistani militants killed in the encounter at Pampore and buried them far away in Uri near Line of Control. People in the area had been aggressively asking for the bodies. This is the reason people have been comparing the two funerals of the militant Qasim and that of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed who died in office on January 7 and had far lesser number of people at his funeral.

How did the militants become heroes again in Kashmir while the place has been riddled with the violence and people have repeatedly talked about the fatigue and remorse over the loss of life and property? With a status quo maintained on political front, the entry of local youth seems to have attracted the people towards this “used method”. Not only has the involvement at social level made them “heroes” but many believe that the new breed of Kashmiri militants is “harmless”.

This is viewed in the context that unlike 90s, today’s militant does not make the lives of a commoner uncomfortable. They don’t indulge in local disputes, don’t interfere in government functioning nor do they resort to extortion. This might be a factor playing a reverse game but the larger problem lies in the continuous denial of New Delhi to recognize Kashmir as a political dispute and addressing it politically, thus leaving a free space for extremist tendencies in which even common people get involved.

—Courtesy: Rising Kashmir [Writer is veteran journalist based in Srinagar: Feedback at bukhari@risingkashmir.com]

IT Ministry’s PSDP proposals approved Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD—The National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication, Friday, approved PSDP proposals of Ministry of Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication for next three financial years. NA Committee met here Capt. (Retd) Muhammad Safdar in the chair and discuss the proposed PSDP 2015-16, 2016-17 & 2017-18 of Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication with permission of the Chair, Farhana Qamar, one of the Convener of SubCommittee of Information Technology and Telecommunication tabled her SubCommittee’s report successfully, which was accepted by the Committee jointly.

CPEC is a unique project for Pakistani people

Shehbaz urges Malaysian PM attaches due importance to development of GB: Dar investors to invest in Punjab MIAN ARSHAD

STAFF REPORTER L AHORE—A delegation of investors led by Malaysian Deputy Minister for Transport Datuk Ab Aziz Kaprawi met Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, here today. Matters of mutual interest, Pak-Malaysia relations and promotion of cooperation in trade, economic and other sectors were discussed in the meeting. It was agreed on the occasion that besides strengthening of trade and economic relations, cooperation in different sectors especially livestock and Halal food would also be increased. The Chief Minister congratulated Malaysian Minister and members of the delegation on the launching of flight operation of Malindo Airline to Pakistan.

Speaking on the occasion, Shehbaz Sharif said that there are strong friendly relations between Pakistan and Malaysia and the launching of flight operation of Malindo Airline to Pakistan will further promote trade and economic relations as well as tourism. He said that Pakistan especially Punjab is an important province with regard to investment and provincial government is extending maximum facilities to foreign investors on priority basis due to which foreign investment is increasing.

He said that Malaysian investors should benefit from investment opportunities in Punjab and assured that they will be provided all necessary facilities.

The Chief Minister said that there are vast investment opportunities in livestock and Halal food sector in the province and the provincial government wants to

promote cooperation with Malaysia in this regard. He said that a modern slaughter house has been set up in Lahore where entire slaughtering process is carried out according to international standards of hygiene. Shehbaz Sharif said that Malaysia has made tremendous progress in research and development sectors and Punjab government wants to benefit from its experiences. He said that time has come to promote relations between and Pakistan and Malaysia on sound foundations in research and development, Halal food, tourism and livestock sectors. He stressed the need for maximum exchange of business delegations between the two countries for strengthening of economic and trade relations.

Malaysian Minister Datuk Ab Aziz Kaprawi said that Malaysia wants to promote trade and economic relations with Pakistan especially Punjab and the flight operation of Malindo Airline will strengthen trade, economic and tourist relations. He said that Pakistan and Malaysia can work together in different sectors. The Malaysian Minister also invited Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif to visit Kuala Lumpur. Provincial Minister for Industry Ch. Muhammad Shafiq, Pakistani High Commissioner to Malaysia, Secretary Transport, Secretary Industry, Chairman Punjab Investment Board besides Malaysian High Commissioner to Pakistan Dr. Hasrul Sani Bin Mujtabar, Honorary Consul General of Malaysia to Pakistan Datuk Abdul Rafiq Abdul Karim, Chief Executive Officer Malindo Airline and other senior officials were also present on the occasion.

Staff Reporter LAHORE—Leading businessman and Chairman MCB Mian Muhammad Mansha said that the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is beneficial for Pakistani nation and both China and Pakistan would get benefit from this project. “CPEC is a development mega project which aims at contacting Gwadar Port in South Western Pakistan to China’s North Western autonomous region of Xinjiang, via a network of highways, railways and pipelines to transport oil and gas,” Mansha said this while speaking at a seminar organized by the Institute of Architects Pakistan Lahore Chapter at Alhamra Hall.

Shipping activity remains active at Port Qasim KARACHI—Shipping activity remained active at the Port where three ships C.V MSC Beijing, C.V Maipo and M.T Al-Dasma carrying containers and Diesel oil were berthed at Qasim International container Terminal and FOTCO Oil Terminal respectively on Thursday, (March 3). Meanwhile three more ships carrying Containers, 12,000 tonnes Palm oil and 65,390 tonnes Diesel oil also arrived at the outer anchorage of Port during last 24 hours.

Berth occupancy was maintained at the Port at 73% on Thursday where a total of eleven ships namely C.V MSC Beijing, C.V Maipo C.V Maersk Karachi, M.V Meli Mass, M.V Alam Mutiaro, M.V Pabur, M.T Agiri, M.T AlDasma, M.T Fong Hai-6.

M.T Al-Gattara and M.T White Puri were occupied PQA berths to load/offload respectively during last 24 hours. A cargo volume of 155,788 tonnes comprising 93,921 tonnes imports and 61,867 tonnes exports, inclusive of containerized cargo carried in 4,306.— APP

Xerox’s innovative technology and service offerings delivered through an expanding distribution system with a lean and flexible business model - continue to solidify our market leadership, driving consistently strong earnings performance.

—Anne M. Mulcahy

ISLAMABAD: Governor of Gilgit-Baltistan Mir Ghazanfar Ali Khan and Mrs Rania Attiqa Ghazanfar, MLA, GB, meeting with Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar.

KSE-100 keeps up positive posture AMANULLAH KHAN K A R A C H I —KSE-100 Index closed in green on 8th trading session in a row above 32, 416 levels indicating restored confidence of the investors on the back

of sound corporate results, improved international oil prices and a come back of foreign institutional investors. It may be noted that international oil prices rose to

US$35.28/bbl on Thursday after the US Energy Information Administration released a report showing a drop in US oil production.

The sixth straight weekly drop in US production has led to some speculation that the market may have bottomed. Additionally, HSBC said in a report that it expected this year to post negative supply growth by non-OPEC members.

On home front, the market volume looked improved 150 million shares where Jahangir Siddiqi was the volume leader of the day with a trade of 18 million shares while TRG Pakistan and NIB Bank were the second and third volume leaders with respective trade of 14.9e million and 6.87 million shares accordingly.

I SLAMABAD —Minister for Finance Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar said on Friday that Prime Minister Mohammad Nawaz Sharif attached due importance to development of Gilgit- Baltistan (G-B). He said all possible cooperation would be extended to G-B for its economic development and welfare of its people. He said undoubtedly G-B has great tourism potential which should be fully exploited for good of the people.

Ishaq Dar stated this at a meeting with the Governor of G-B Mir Ghazanfar Ali Khan. The Governor G-B was accompanied

by Mrs Rania Attiqa Ghazanfar, member legislative assembly, G-B on the occasion. The Governor apprised the Finance Minister about the economic profile of G-B and briefed him about some problems being faced by people of the area, especially in the wake of the Attabad lake disaster. He

said this sad incident badly affected tourism which was the main attraction in the area and major source of income for the people.

Mir Ghazanfar emphasized smooth supply of electricity, facilitation to the local hotel industry and increasing the number of PIA flights to G-B during the peak tourist season to revive tourism to the optimum level. The Governor G-B especially requested support of the federal government for implementation of small power projects to cater to energy requirements of the G-B. Mir Ghazanfar Ali added that people of G-B highly valued and appreciated the attention that the PML-N government had accorded to them and hoped they would receive continued support and assistance from it for solving their problems. Ishaq Dar on the occasion also mentioned about the Diamer Basha Dam project which he said would greatly benefit G-B in terms of economic development.

PTCL, ZTE announce alliance for setting up Joint Innovation Centre STAFF REPORTER ISLAMABAD—Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) has signed a strategic memorandum of understanding with ZTE Corporation for setting up a Joint Innovation Center (JIC) on Big Video in Pakistan.

The JIC is a key initiative of PTCL and ZTE for Smart TV development, empowering PTCL to provide high quality video services to customers on TV and mobile devices. The Joint Innovation Center, first of its kind in big video services in Pakistan, will allow both PTCL and ZTE to share resources, exchange knowledge and tap into the potential of the latest available technologies. Now PTCL will be able to further enhance its Smart TV offering, bring in more value and provide new, value-added services to customers.

The MOU was signed by Adnan Shahid, Chief Commercial Officer PTCL and Frank Fang, Vice President Multimedia Product & Services ZTE. The PTCL-ZTE agreement will also serve to strengthen the PTCL digital ecosystem based on video Solutions and will support the convergence of the PTCL ICT infrastructure to counter emerging OTT technologies and improving competence and innovation levels with an eye on future planning. This partnership shall also establish a process of research and development which would lay down an operation model for PTCL to create the best experience for customers in terms of Smart TV usage in addition to offering superior services such as 4K Ultra High Definition TV.

Commenting on the establishment of JIC, Mr. Adnan Shahid, Chief Commercial Officer PTCL, said: “PTCL has been a leader in providing digital entertainment. Big video JIC in Pakistan will enable us to provide new and innovative video services for people in Pakistan with local research and development to meet our local, cultural and digital requirements” PTCL offers state of the art digital TV with time-shift and video on demand services. PTCL Smart TV app using ZTE platform was nominated for the Best Mobile App in the Media, Film, TV/Video category of GSMA Global Mobile Awards (GLOMO) 2016 recently at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

Zhu Jinyun, Senior Vice President Cloud Computing & IT ZTE, said on the occasion: “ZTE is a market leader in Video OTT in the world. We are pleased to see PTCL using our platform to offer live TV and videos to its customers. We feel excited to further collaborate with PTCL in various domains including PTCL Smart TV offering for creating superior user experience for customers in Pakistan.” Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) is the largest ICT services provider in Pakistan, encompassing fixed line voice telephony, Wireline and Wireless broadband internet, Broadband and multimedia services, digital television and a wide array of corporate solutions for businesses and enterprises. ZTE Corporation is a leading provider of telecommunications equipment and network solutions around the globe, with operations in 160 countries.

SCB improves financial results AMANULLAH KHAN KARACHI—The revenue of Standard Chartered Bank increased 4 per cent year on year to PKR 29.4 billion, on account of improved mix and volume growth. Profit (before tax) has grown by 1 per cent to PKR 15.4 billion in 2015, with earnings per share at PKR 2.40 per share. Administrative costs continue to be well managed through operational efficiencies and disciplined spending, thereby leading to a 1 per cent decrease year on year. On the liabilities side, the bank’s total deposits increased by 7% in 2015 whereas CASA deposits increased by 8%.

ISLAMABAD: Adnan Shahid, Chief Commercial Officer PTCL and Frank Fang, Vice President Multimedia Product and Services ZTE exchange documents after signing the MoU.

Demand for textiles, meat and dairy products increasing in Iran SALIM AHMED LAHORE—Iran is in high demand of textiles, meat and dairy and livestock based products therefore Pakistani dealing in these sectors must avail this unmatched business opportunity. This was revealed by the LCCI Senior Vice President Almas Hyder on his return from a six-day Iran visit. He took a 26-member delegation to Iran who visited Tehran, Sheraz, Mashhad Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Qom Free Zone and Industries located in TUS Industrial Estate, Mashhad apart from having B-2-B meetings with their Iranian counterparts and high government officials.

The delegation received very warm reception in Iran. On the arrival of Tehran Airport, the delegation was received by the Staff of Commercial Section of Pakistan Embassy. Almas Hyder said that Iran has a higher requirement of our textile products including T-Shirts, Denim Jeans and Home Textiles. There is a need to form a textile delegation comprising leading companies, as soon as possible. He said that there is also a great demand for meat therefore Pakistani meat exporters should avail this opportunity. “The Iranian side wanted that the agreed gas pipelines between Pakistan and Iran should be connected soon. The Iranian power companies can provide 5000 mega-

watt electricity to Pakistan which roughly cost US$ 1.5 billion to connect electricity to eliminate load shedding from Pakistan”, the LCCI Senior Vice President added.

He said that at the moment, we have very limited air connection with Iran.

There is a dire need of more flights between Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi and Tehran, Shiraz, Mashhad and Isfahan. We need assistance from the airlines of both the countries to build the air connection and their frequency to enable businessmen to travel. He said that road and rail Links are also needed to be improved with the neighbouring countries. He said that direct shipping between Iran and Pakistan will also help boost the mutual trade. He said that as announced by the President, Islamic Republic of Iran that they wanted to enhance their trade with Pakistan upto US$ 5 billion. In this regard, necessary steps should be taken by the Pakistani side.

He informed the Iranian counterparts that Punjab Government had offered scholarships to Iranian students to study in engineering and medical in Pakistan. He said that these scholarships should be increased upto 100 and students of business management should also be included.

Almas Hyder said that banking channels between Pakistan and Iran should be started immediately

to overcome the smuggling issues faced by both the countries. He said that Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between two countries should be signed and Industrial cities on Pakistan-Iran borders may be set up to stop the smuggling. He said that long term multiple entry visas should be issued to businessmen of both the countries for the promotion of bilateral trade.

He also urged the government to arrange a high-powered delegation for Iran Almas Hyder said that it is a proven fact that the economic prosperity lies in integration with neighbouring countries. Pakistan is eagerly looking forward to expanding trade relations with Iran as there is a vast scope for trade boosting between the two countries. Iranian businessmen are keen to work hand in hand with their Pakistani counterparts therefore Pakistani businessmen should avail this opportunity to the maximum. Joint ventures between Pakistani and Iranian businessmen are the only way to explore the huge opportunities generated after lifting of sanctions from Iran.

“I have urged the Iranian trade planners to show the same foresight, as being shown by the Pakistan, to ensure greater role to be played by Iran particularly in regional trade”, Almas Hyder said. He said that Pakistan and Iran not only have common border but also share a glorious history.

Pakistan and Iran have close cultural affiliations and both have remained steady trading partners as well but in recent years, the momentum of trade has been seriously affected. Almas Hyder said that both countries need to find ways to increase the volume of two way trade. We are already exporting meat to Iran. Dairy sector can be another area to be explored for this purpose. The potential of two way trade between Pakistan and Iran is estimated to be over US$ 2 billion but it can only be materialized by making all out efforts. Governments and respective private sectors of the both countries should collaborate with each other on regular basis.

It is pertinent to mention here that the LCCI Senior Vice President Almas Hyder was leading the delegation while other members were Kamal Mahmood Amjad Mian, Tariq Mahmood, Muhammad Ibrahim, Hasnain Reza Mirza, Ariful Islam, Khurram Hussain, Mushtaq Ali Khan, Shahid Mahmood, Fazal-ur-Rehman, Tanveer Karamat, Muhammad Usman Sheikh, Shafiq Ahmad Abbasi, Muhammad Tahir Iqbal, Mohammed Idrees, Moazzam Rasheed, Muhammad Akram Sheikh, Mujahid Ali Sheikh, Ahsan Tariq, Jahanzeb Aziz Khan Sherwani, Naveed Hussain, Rana Muhammad Shakil, Ghulam Nabi and Hassan Raza.

Currency

Selling

Buying

USA

104.40

104.20

UK

147.80

147.52

Euro

114.27

114.05

Canada

77.78

77.63

Switzerland

105.10

104.90

Australia

76.88

76.73

Sweden

12.23

12.21

Japan

0.9187

0.9170

Norway

12.16

12.14

Singapore

75.44

75.29

Denmark

15.32

15.29

Saudi Arabia 27.84

27.78

Hong Kong

13.44

13.41

China

16.02

15.99

Kuwait

347.02

346.35

Malaysia

25.27

25.22

Newzealand

70.46

70.32

Qatar

28.68

28.62

UAE

28.42

28.37

Kr Won

0.0864

0.0863

Thailand

2.948

2.943

Atlas Honda to increase production capacity STAFF REPORTER LAHORE—he first motorcycle of Atlas Honda Limited new line is expected to roll off by the beginning of October this year under the company’s expansion project. ‘The expansion would lead to the generation of 1,800 direct jobs and a further 5,000 jobs at its associate companies and part manufacturing partners,’ said representatives of Atlas Honda while talking to media at Pakistan Auto Show being held in Lahore. It is to be noted that the company has recently announced an investment plan of $100 million for the expansion of its motorcycle operations in Pakistan.

‘A three-year expansion plan has already been implemented to double the installed capacity of its Sheikhupura factory, near Lahore, from the existing 0.6 million to over 1.2 million units per annum,’ they said. ‘In this regard, an investment of around $50 million would be made directly by Atlas Honda, whereas $30 million would be invested by Atlas Honda’s associated companies and a further $20 million by the company’s parts suppliers to expand their own respective facilities,’ said spokesman.

Nestlé launches Docello Range LAHORE —Nestlé Professional is in the process of launching Docello range to cater to the trend of desserts becoming menu stars. The first product offering, Docello Chocolate Mousse, will help chefs outperform consumer expectations.

This will be followed by DESSERT MAGIC (soft serve) and Whipping Cream.

With over 50 years of experience in creating original desserts both dairy and chocolate, Nestlé Professional knows how great chefs like to work. The flexibility and versatility of Nestlé Docello range allows them to create their own sweet signature in just four quick and easy steps.

Docello is a magical product range which means “Inspiration from Heaven.” Right now the Mousse is being launched in the top six metropolitan cities of Pakistan for now.

It is being imported from Thailand and has been certified as Halal by IFANCA. Nauman Khan, Country Business Manager Nestlé Professional said, “We know for a fact that a complete menu including dessert has the power to gain consumer satisfaction. And Docello chocolate Mousse is an exciting opportunity for purists to presenters, all types of chefs to impart their flair and creativity in dessert menus to demonstrate and celebrate their talent.” Previously the product trial was done on Valentine’s Day through promotional offers at various cafes, restaurants and hotels and was very well received.—PR

Rs41.226b collected under Neelum Jhelum surcharge head: Khaqan ISLAMABAD—The Senate on Friday was informed that an amount of Rs 41.226 billion has been collected from the electricity consumers under head of Neelum Jhelum surcharge upto January, 2016. Replying to a question during Question Hour, Minister for Petroleum Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on behalf of the Minister for Water and Power, he said that the PC-1 of Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project was approved on February 28, 2002 but work was commenced on January 1, 2008. To another question the minister told that at total of 134,714 employees were working in power distribution companies (DISCOs), generation companies (GENCOs), National Transmission Company (NTDC), Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA) and Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO). Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) has also 17,320 employees, he added. To a question, Shahid Khaqan said there were two circuits/Lines between Haripur and Abbottabad having voltage Capacity/ Rating 132-KV. After commissioning of the newly proposed 220 KV Mansehra Grid Station (NTDC), the issue of load management being implemented due to over loading of the transmission line would be settled once for all, he said.

The minister said there were three new run of rivers and water reservoirs projects for FATA including Kurram Tangi (18.9 MW), Mohmand (800 MW) and Bara (5.8 MW) dams. These projects were at different stages, he added.

He said some 16 employees of WAPDA were terminated during last one year. As many as 216 employees were recruited in WAPDA during the said period, he added. The minister said 425 MW Combined Cycle Power Plant,

Nandipur has achieved its Commercial Operation Date (COD) on July 23, 2015. Since COD, the average daily generation from the Nandipur Power Plant is 3.48 MkWh which is based on the actual operational requirements of the power plant, he said.

He said National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has determined the levelized Reference Tariff of Nandipur Power Plant as Rs. 11.63611kWh. However, as the price of fuel, being pass through item, has been reduced considerably the current generation cost is Rs. 6.66 per kWh, he said. He said the scheme for the conversion of Nandipur Gas Turbines to gas fuel was the part of Revised PC-I (approved in July 2013). This included the installation of gas conversion equipment on Gas Turbines by the OEM (M/S General Electric) and laying of pipeline and other related equipment inside the power plant, he said.

The minister said regarding the first part, work order on M/S General Electric has already been placed for the installation of the gas conversion equipment on three Gas Turbines and the material has been partially supplied. Whereas, for the laying of in-house pipeline, installation of gas pressure booster station and other balance work of gas conversion system in the power plant was under the process of procurement, he added. Abbasi said apart from the above, for laying of dedicated gas pipeline from Qila Sattar Shah (Sheikhupura) to Nandipur Power Plant, an upfront amount of Rs. 2 billion has been paid to SNGPL for getting the work done on deposit work basis. It is expected that the gas conversion work would be completed by 2016, he said.—APP

Record growth in domestic cement demand during Feb 2016 SALIM AHMED L AHORE—Rebounded Pakistani economy has accelerated construction and infrastructure activities boosting local cement consumption. During the first eight months of current fiscal year, domestic consumption increased by 17.49 percent to 20.89 Million Tons from 17.78 Million Tons during same period last year. Contrary to this, exports registered a massive y.o.y. decline of 22.54 percent as the volumes reduced from 5 Million Tons during July 14 ~ Feb 15 to 3.8 Million Tons during July 15 ~ Feb 16. Overall, the cement industry has posted a growth of 8.71 percent during the first eight months of current fiscal year compared with same period during last fiscal year.

Total despatches during this period were 24.76 million Tons against 22.78 million Tons during last fiscal year. During the month of February 16, local sales of cement posted an encouraging growth of 29.79% percent while exports for the first time since Dec 14, showed a slight growth of 1.47% during February 16 compared to exports during February 15, resulting in an overall growth of 25.06 percent compared to same month of last fiscal year. The overall do-

mestic and exports volumes were 2,981,904 Tons and 467,287 Tons respectively during February 16 compared to 2,297,568 Tons and 460,510 Tons during February 15.

The domestic sales in north during February 16 were 2,428,597 Tons compared to the domestic sales of 1,885,982 Tons during same month last year showing growth of 28.77 percent. The local sales in South during February 16 were 553,307 Tons compared to the local sales of 411,586 Tons during same month last year showing growth of 34.43 percent. Exports from southern units during February 16 declined by 18.9% to 169,809 Tons against 209,461 Tons done during February 15. Exports from north increased from 251,049 Tons during February 15 to 297,478 Tons during February 16 i.e. by 18.5 percent.

Total despatches increased from 2.758 Million Tons during February 15 to 3.449 Million Tons during February 16 showing increase of 25.06 percent that has been the highest overall increase in a month during the first eight months of current fiscal. A spokesman of All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association said that the buoyancy in cement demand has kept the wheel of the industry moving.

ICCI signs MoU with Chinese company for Silk Road Belt and CPEC construction ISLAMABAD—Islamabad Chamber of Com- promote connectivity between private secmerce and Industry has signed a Memorandum of Understanding of Strategic Cooperation Framework with Xinjiang Construction Corporation of Hami, China to actively promote investment and joint ventures for the construction of Silk Road Belt and ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor projects on the basis of mutual benefits and win-win situation. Atif Ikram Sheikh, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Mr. Liang Bangguo, Party Committee Member & Discipline Secretary of Xinjiang Construction Corporation signed the MoU.Chinese delegation visited ICCI along with Riaz Khattak, Vice President FPCCI. Both sides agreed to deepen mutual cooperation and work jointly for encouraging the investment and JVs for the construction of these vital projects in order further enhance bilateral trade and economic relations between Pakistan and China. They also agreed to enhance cooperation for establishing the logistics platforms that would greatly facilitate promoting trade and commerce between the two countries. They underscored the need of exchanging visits to

Visitors throng Pakistan auto parts show

tors of both countries and sharing business related research, trade and investment information in order to identify new areas of potential cooperation.

Speaking at the occasion, AtifIkram Sheikh, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that the $46 billion CPEC was a game changer project for Pakistan as it would not only generate lot of business and investment activities in Pakistan, it would also send signals of stability and investment friendly messages to global investors about Pakistan’s economy. He said all stakeholders should join hands for timely completion of these vital projects to unlock the real potential of Pakistan’s economy. He hoped that MoU between ICCI and Xinjiang Construction Corporation of China would contribute positively towards attracting potential investors for the construction of Silk Road Belt and CPEC project. Liang Bangguo, Party Committee Member & Discipline Secretary of Xinjiang Construction Corporation of Hami, China said that apart from participating in the construction of CPEC projects, Chinese investors were interested in many.—INP

Malindo Air starts its operation in Pakistan

STAFF REPORTER

SALIM AHMED

L AHORE —The Pakistan Auto Parts Show (PAPS), a premier annual auto industry event, inaugurated in Lahore at Lahore International Expo Centre drew huge crowds on its first day. The exhibition brought together several local and international manufacturers, particularly from the Auto and Auto parts manufacturing sector to showcase their product range, potentials and capabilities. Indus Motor Company Limited, (IMC), the manufacturer and distributor of Toyota vehicles and a regular participant in the event, is the diamond sponsor of PAPS 2016.

‘Supporting PAPS is in line with IMC’s vision to support local allied industries. We recognize that our future growth and sustainability is reliant on having capable and dependable local parts manufacturers. Sourcing the components from domestic market reduces the exposure to exchange rate fluctuations.

L AHORE —The inaugural flight of Malindo Air from Kuala Lumpur reached Lahore airport on Thursday evening and the Rescue and Fire Services of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) gave it traditional welcome of the water cannon salute.

Deputy Minister of Transportation Malaysia Datuk ab Aziz Kaprawi was among the passengers of the said flight to Lahore along with CEO Malindo Airline, was officially received by Provincial Minister Chaudhry Shafiq and Mr Shakil Aftab Country Manager Malindo Air. Talking to media on the occasion, the Minister said Malaysia is honored to continue the spirit and tradition of the close ties between Malaysia and Pakistan. ‘We look forward to further strengthen our bilateral ties to fully harness the economic growth potential between our countries,’ he added. ‘We are happy to have tourist connectivity

between Malaysia and Pakistan. Congratulations to Malindo Air. The minister said airlines without any doubt contribute greatly to the accelerated growth of a country’s tourism. ‘The very positive trend in tourism outlook between Malaysia and Pakistan is another reflection of our increasingly closer cooperation and solidarity that has been fostered over the years,’ he added. He added that tourism is a huge sector of the Malaysian economy.

‘Total international tourist receipts for Malaysia increased by 3.9% to RM 60.6 billion ($19 billion) in 2014.

Last year Malaysia recorded 60,000 tourist arrivals from Pakistan. Better accessibility, promotions offered by airlines and the wide coverage of Visit Malaysia Year contributed to the increase of tourist arrivals from these markets,’ he added. On the occasion, CEO Malindo Air Chandran Rama Muthy said it gives him great pleasure to celebrate Malindo Air’s inaugural flight.

KARACHI: Qaiser Ahmed Shaikh Chairman National Standing Committee on Finance Revenue, Economic Affairs, Statistics and Privatization being briefed by State Bank officials and Bank Executives.

AFD director visits Pakistan ISLAMABAD—Pascal Pacaut, Director for the Asia Region at the French Agency for Development (AFD) visited Pakistan on a three-day mission. He had the opportunity to meet with the Minister for Climate Change and with representatives of the Ministry of Planning, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Water and Power and the Economic Affairs Division. He mainly discussed future AFD assistance strategy for Pakistan and issues related to the implementation of the ongoing portfolio of projects.

He also met with funding partners to explore new opportunities of joint financing in Pakistan. The French Agency for Development, a public development bank owned by the French government, finances projects in more than 90 countries on four continents. AFD started operating in Pakistan in 2006 and has since committed more than 370M•, mainly for investments in green energy, especially hydro electricity generation. AFD is, among others, funding the rehabilitation of hydro power plants in Warsak, Dargaï, Chitral and the construction of Jaggran II and Harpo power plants. Two months after the Paris Climate Conference 2015 (COP21), France continues to stress its support for a green and low-carbon development in Pakistan and extends.—PR

KARACHI: Zulfiqar Ali Shiekh (Vice President, FPCCI) is having a meeting with Chinese delegation from Macau Haojing Tobacco, Macau along with Javed Ilyas former Chairman, Pak China Business Council.

ISLAMABAD: Atif Ikram Shaikh President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry presenting a shield to Liang Bangguo discipline secretary of Chinese Construction Company after signing MoU of strategic cooperation.

EBM eyes expand global business KARACHI—EBM recently participated in the Gulfood Exhibition held in Dubai and is by far the most robust Pakistani company representing the country preeminently at all fronts. Gulfood Exhibition held at the Dubai World Trade Center attracted exhibitors from across all continents and housed over 90,000 buyers where key trends and topics driving the industry were discussed among industry leaders.

EBM as a result of its leadership role surfaced as the first Pakistani company to make its mark on key fronts thus enabling a strong recall and facilitating the company to be highlighted at the global arena.

Meanwhile, the exhibition served as a platform to support EBM’s quest for expansion at the international level given its already firm establishment and fame at local grounds. The company has already enhanced its operational capability to meet demand beyond local consumption, thereby exporting products to more than 25 countries around the world including USA, Europe, and GCC region.

“We have brought EBM at par with international quality standards and intend on making it a globally recognised brand that takes pride in being the largest exporter of biscuits from Pakistan as we holistically envision a brand name that translates into quality, trust, and nourishment for our consumers around the world,” said Dr. Zeelaf Munir, Managing Director & CEO, EBM.—PR

SIALKOT: Ambassador of Tajikistan Sherali S. Jononov during his visit to SCCI.

SECP holds roundtable on Employees Provident Fund

PTA-GSMA workshop on branchless banking on March 8

I SLAMABAD —The Securi- vestments in listed securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has conducted a consultative round-table meeting on Employees Provident Fund (Investment in Listed Securities) Rules. The conference aimed at to obtain feedback from market participants about the proposed rules, as a part to comply with legal requirements, said a statement issued by SECP on Friday. Office-bearers and members of the Pakistan Business Council, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan, Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Pakistan, attended the event.

Besides, eminent industry specialists, representatives of trade and professional bodies, and other capital markets were also participants of the meeting.

Owing to market dynamics and in order to encourage provident funds to make in-

ties in order to earn better returns, Employees Provident Fund (Investment in Listed Securities) Rules, 1996 were introduced in 1996. With continuous innovation in equity markets and development of new products introduced by non-banking finance companies for better returns, provident funds have better choice now available in market.

As risk and return go together, therefore, in order to protect savings of employees of the companies, the SECP has drafted new rules for the purpose like Employees Provident Fund (Investment in Listed Securities) Rules, 2016.

During the consultative process, the participants provided their valuable feedback, which shall be taken into consideration while finalizing the proposed rules.—APP

MIAN ARSHAD ISLAMABAD—Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) in collaboration with GSMA is organizing a workshop on Mobile Money (Branchless Banking) at PTA Headquarters on Tuesday (March 08 2016). Senior officials of the commercial banks, representatives from State Bank of Pakistan, cellular mobile operators, PTA and officials from telecom sector will attend the session.

The workshop would aim to bring global and local insights from the branchless banking industry. It will support the evolution of a policy and regulatory environment that fosters a dynamic industry that contributes to national policy objectives.

GSMA facilitators Sophia Hasnain (Senior Market Engagement Manager, Asia), Lara Gidvani (Regulatory Specialist, Asia).

Three matches decided in national polo SPORTS REPORTER LAHORE—Master Paints/Habib Metro, Dollar East/Master Paints and Diamond Paints notched up victories in the Bank Alfalah National Open Polo Championship 2016 for Quaid-e-Azam Gold Cup matches at the Lahore Polo Club ground here on Friday.

In the first match of the day, Hissam Ali Hyder helped Master Paints/Habib Metro edge out Sabiha Anees by 9-6. Hissam was hero of the day as he hammered four goals while he was ably assisted by Pedro Gutierrez who slammed three while Mumtaz Abbas Niazi and Sufi Amir contributed one goal apiece. For the losing side, Pedro Zacharias smashed four goals while Shah Qubilai Alam and Nafees Barry scored one goal each.

Pedro Zacharias continued his great form in the second chukker by slamming a field goal to give Sabiha Anees 2-1 lead which was soon leveled by Hissam through a field while Shah Qubilai further strengthened his team’s position scoring a field goal to finish the chukker at 3-2.

Master Paints/Habib Metro bounced back in the third chukker as they hammered two back-to-back goals – one each by Hissam and Pedro Guiterrez to get a 4-3 lead, which couldn’t stay long as Nafees Barry of Sabiha Anees smashed one to draw the blood at 4-4 before the end of the chukker.

Pedro Zacharias thrashed a field goal to

Women Netball Championship postponed ISLAMABAD—The 15th National Women Netball Championship has been postponed for the second time this year and now will be held in April here at the Pakistan Sports Complex.

The championship was scheduled to be held at Hamidi Hall from January 28 to 31 but was postponed due to the training camps for the preparation of South Asian Games. Then it was planned to be held from March 3 but now it is delayed due to the preparations for March 23 celebrations of 66th Pakistan Day. According to President, Pakistan Netball Federation (PNF), Mudassar Arain the championship will now be held from April 12 to 16. “National Men’s championship will also be held along with the women’s events,” he said.

He said that as many as 16 teams from all over the country including Pakistan Army, Pakistan Wapda, Pakistan Police, Pakistan Air Force, Pakistan Navy, Pakistan Railway, Higher Education Commission, Punjab, KPK, Balochistan, Sindh, Islamabad, Fata, AJK, Lahore, Grammars School, LUMS University, Gilgit Baltistan will participate in the event.—APP

Rescue 1122 sports festival begins KHANEWAL—A sports festival of the Rescue 1122 started here Friday.

District Emergency Officer Engineer Danish Khalil and Emergency Officer Nadeem Iqbal inaugurated the festival.

Various competitions, including cricket, tug of war and race, would be held among Rescue Khanewal, Kabirwala and Mian Channu teams.

The first cricket match was won by Kabirwala after defeating Khanewal.—APP

provide Sabiha Anees 5-4 lead but then Master Paints/Habib Metro players played superbly and hit twice to give their team 6-5 lead. Mumtaz Abbas Niazi and Pedro Guiterrez were the goal scorers.

The fifth and last chukker proved very fortunate for Master Paints/Habib Metro as they produced a tremendous hat-trick to take unbeatable 9-5 lead. Hissam, Pedro Guiterrez and Sufi Amir scored one goal apiece for the winners. Pedro Zacharias smashed a field goal in the dying moments of the match but his heroics couldn’t save his team from the loss.

Juan Cruz Losada blasted a match-winning goal in the sudden death chukker to guide Dollar East/Master Paints a thrilling 8-7 victory over spirited Learning Alliance in the second match of the day.

Losada was main warrior of Dollar East/ Master Paints as he developed five goals for the winners while rest of the three goals came from Hamza Mawaz Khan. For the losing side, Max Charlton slammed six goals and Ahmed Tiwana one but that weren’t enough to save their team’s blushes.

Losada scored the only goal of the first chukker while he hit and the team’s second in the start of the second chukker to make it 2-0. Hamza contributed one to further enhance their team’s lead to 3-0. Max then opened the account of Learning Alliance off 30-yard penalty hit to reduce the lead to 3-1 before the end of the second chukker.

Hamza enhanced Dollar East’s lead to 4-1 off 30-yard penalty hit. Learning Alliance then made a superb comeback as Max struck twice and Ahmed Tiwana once to end the chukker at 4-4 draw. Max continued his good form in the fourth chukker and added another one to provide Learning Alliance 54 lead which was soon leveled 5-5 by Dollar East through a field goal by Losada.

The fifth and last chukker saw both teams playing superb polo and scoring two goals each to finish the chukker at 7-7. Max struck twice for Learning Alliance while Hamza and Losada hit one goal apiece for Dollar East, which forced the match to be decided in the sudden death chukker where Losada produced a splendid goal to give Dollar East/ Master Paints well-deserving 8-7 triumph.

In the third and last match of the day, Santiago Cernadas steered Diamond Paints to 12-4 triumph over Army Remounts.

Santiago Cernadas was star of the day for Diamond Paints as he played superb polo and slammed sterling six goals in his team’s win while Saqib Khan Khakwani also displayed quality mallot and horse work to gather four goals and Raja Taimur Nadeem LAHORE: A view of match between Master Paints and Army Mount during Bank Alfalah National Open Polo Championship hit two to land their team home safely. For 2016 for Quaid-e-Azam Gold Cup. the losing side, Major Haseeb Minhas struck twice while George Meyrick and Major General Isfandiyar Pataudi hit once each. English umpires Howard Smith and Ben Turner supervised all the three matches of the day.

National Jr hockey championship in full swing LAHORE—Sui Southern Gas Company, Khyber Pakhtookhawa (white), WAPDA and National Bank of Pakistan registered victories against their respective in the ongoing 35th National Junior Hockey Championship at the National Hockey Stadium here on Friday.

SSGC humiliated Islamabad 14-0, KPK (w) beat Punjab (colour), 4-2, WAPDA beat Baluchistan 6-0 and NBP defeated Punjab (white) 10-0. Hat-tricks by Rana Sohail and Naved Alam guided SSGC to humble Islamabad in the opening match. Rana netted three beautiful in the 2nd, 3rd and 10th minutes respectively. Naved scored field goals in the 18th, 23rdand 44th minutes.

Hassan Anwar (11th & 42ndminutes) converted two penalty corners.

Asad Mehmood struck a penalty corner in the 53rd and netted a field goal in the 60th minute.

Ali Raza, Adeel Latif, Ghulam Moheyuddin and Usman Rafiq scored one goal each in the 6th, 8th, 14th and 2oth minutes respectively. Zahod Hameed and Irfan Ali were the field umpires.

Punjab (c) lost their grip on the match after scoring the first goal in the 5th minute through Ali Raza and conceded two goals in the first quart. Shahbaz of KPK (w) leveled the score through a field goal in the 8th minute. The KPK (w) forwards exerted pressure on their opponents

amid a series of aggressive attacks. They got a penalty corner in the 12th minute which their captain Zahidullah successfully converted. Another goal on penalty corner in the 20th minute

by Amjad consolidated their position. Punjab bounced back in the 24th minute when their forward Mudassar Ali netted a beautiful field goal.

KPK scored their fourth goal in the 40th minute through Khairullah. Msahmood Ali and Yasir Khursheed supervised the match.

Though Baluchistan lost their match against much superior WAPDA but they played extremely well. Their goalkeeper and defenders tackled their opponents bravely in the Circle and saved a couple of attempts. Their forwards also made some advanced but lack of experience and skill prevented them to finish. Junaid Manzoor scored two field goals in the 15th and 27th minutes. Sohail Anjum, Rana Abdul Waheed, Bilal Mahmood and Umar Hamidi struck one goal each in the 25th, 29th, 33rd and 51stminutes respectively. Faisal Ismail and Abdul Mannan supervised the match.

NBP got an easy win in the last match of the day against Punjab (w). It was a good practice session for the Bakers who netted the ball at will.

Atif Mushtaq scored two field goals in the 12th and 22nd minutes.—APP

PBCC to pick newlook team for SL series

Team should focus on upcoming T-20 WC: Zaheer

ISLAMABAD—Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC) has done ISLAMABAD—Former legendan operation clean-up in the team and will be playing a completely new-look side in the upcoming ODI-T20 series against the visiting visually-impaired cricketers from Sri Lanka.

Talking to APP, PBCC Chairman Syed Sultan Shah said they have also sacked Anees Javed from captaincy as his performance has not been up to the mark recently. “Hence a new captain would also be appointed for the series against Sri Lanka,” he said.

He said the new captain will be announced soon.

“We are planning to enter a whole new team in the series against Sri Lanka”, he said, adding it had been decided to play 10 new players in the series so as to prepare them for the Twenty20 World Cup of the Blind to be held in India in November,” he said.

The T20 matches against Sri Lanka will be played in Faisalabad on April 3, 4 and 5, while the ODIs will be held in Bahawalpur on April 7, 9 and 10.

Speaking about the Sri Lankan team’s tour to Pakistan, Sultan said all the arrangements were being made by PBCC itself. “The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has not given a single penny for the series,” he said.

Responding to a question, he said the sponsors for the series belonged to Faisalabad and Bahawalpur. Therefore none of the matches were to be conducted in other cities. “”We hardly found any sponsor from Rawalpindi, Islamabad and Lahore,” he said.—APP

ary batsman, Zaheer Abbas has said that team should work hard for the World Cup and forget the lost of Asia cup for now.

Talking to Private news channel, Zaheer Abbas said that performing well in upcoming T-20 world cup would give the strong sense of confidence to the players ahead of the big series against Australia and England.

To a question, he said that in a major tournament like the World Cup team needs to have a well balanced side with the combination of experience and fresh blood.

Zaheer, who was also chief consultant of the national team in the Asia Cup 2014 and ICC World T20 2014 in Bangladesh admitted Pakistan cricket faced some difficulties but said it was still capable of raising a strong side for the World Cup.—APP

113/163

PESHAWAR: Vice Chancellor Abdul Wali Khan University Prof Dr Ahsan Ali giving away Inter-District Women’s Games trophy to winning team captain.

Huawei Mate 8 cricket season offer

Cricket unites Pakistani nation: Rashid Latif

SPORTS REPORTER

I S L A M A B A D —Former captain and the occasion and hoped such healthy sporting LAHORE—A wave of excite- wicketkeeper Rashid Latif has said that the activities will benefit the young generation of ment has been raised by Huawei in this cricket season.

To raise the excitement and thrill of this cricket season, and to serve its loyal customers, Huawei presents a remarkable price reduction against the purchase of Huawei’s best flagship smart phones, Huawei Mate 8. Customers can visit the nearest Huawei brand outlet to avail the cricket season offer and grab their Huawei Mate 8 in Rs. 6000/- discount on total amount.

The new prices for Huawei Mate8 High and Standard version are Rs. 63,999 and Rs. 54,999, respectively.

Furthermore, this is a limited time offer that the customers actually cannot afford to miss in any case.

The Huawei brand lovers will be offered with this price reduction from 3rd March till 3rd April, 2016.

Huawei has been remarkably successful in capturing customer market around the world with the best of its high technology and superior quality products.

Huawei offers consumers most advanced smart phone features and it has a tradition of progressively enhancing the consumer experience with respect to the latest technological innovations. Only in the previous year, 2015, Huawei has witnessed incredible growth of 44% in smart phones shipments across the global markets.

game of cricket unites the Pakistani nation and also helps in making relations better with other countries.

Rashid said this while inaugurating the four-day tournament being organized by Rawalpindi Dawoodi Bohra community to celebrate 105th birthday of their spiritual leader late Dr. Syedna Mohammad Burhanuddin at the Ayub Park Cricket Ground.

He said cricket is one sport which unites our nation. “I am delighted to see that teams from my own city Karachi participating in this tournament,” Latif said.

Latif said it was an honour for him to grace

the community.

On the occasion, Janab Juzar Bhai Saheb, president of Dawoodi Bohra Jamaat Rawalpindi, thanked Latif for inaugurating the tournament and presented a customary shawl and a shield to the celebrated Pakistani cricketer.

In the tournament, top four teams will qualify for the semifinal and final which will be played on Sunday.

Cuurently AMB Avengers top the table with four points followed by Burhani Bionics (four points), Taheri Tigers (two points), Rawalpindi Royals (two points), Fakhri Falcons (two points) and Saleh Strikers (two points).—APP

LAHORE: Mian Javed Ali, Chief Selector Pakistan Deaf Cricket Association distributing shirts among cricketers on Friday.

Selectors, Waqar, Hafeez, Afridi must go home SALAHUDDIN HAIDER

G

RATIFYING to note the admis sion of failure of Pakistan cricket team in Asia Cup T-20 from chairman Sheharyar Khan and Najam Sethi, but that surely is not enough. Much more is needed to be done, which will mean sacking the selection committee, and team management. They are guilty of the humiliation at Dhaka and causing depondency among the cricketcrazy countrymen.

Almost everyone, young, old, males, females , alike was saddened by the team’s dismal performance, and rightly expecting bold and harsh decisions. Even the prime minister, himself a cricketer, can not remain unmoved , and had to take notice of what went wrong, and why?

Feeling threatened by the premier’s wrath, the Pakistan Cricket Board hurriedly announced a five-member enquiry committee to find out the reasons for the pathetic performance by a team, considered favourite in the tournament.

Atleast three of the investigating team members, Pakistan captain Misbahul Haq, batting hero Yunis Khan, and former Pakistan spinner Iqbal Qasim, are all genuine members. They have the public confidence for delivering at the time of crisis. MIsbah’s record as captain is tremendous in Test cricket. He led from the front, Yunis Khan is a batsman of class, with 30 centuries in Test matches, and Iqbal Qasim, as cricketer, and as managerial expert in National Bank, and even in PCB governing body, has left deep impressions.

Their expertise in scrutinizing the team performance in Bangla Desh, is bound to be carry weight. All of them are men of stature and have served the country honesty and determinedly in various capacities.

However the principal responsibilities lay with the cricket bosses. They will have to take bold decisions, and without any further delay. Haroon Rashid, and his colleagues in the selection committee completely failed to hunt talent. Their gravest mistake was to change the team, originally picked for the Asia T-20 Cup and the T-20 World Cup, which is about to follow in India.

The last minute changes announced by selectors to drop couple of players, and pick Sharjeel Khan, Mohammad Sami and left arm spinner Nawaz on the basis of performance in just one innings in the Super League of Dubai, raised instant eye brows. Dropping players, picked on the basis of 6 months performance in domestic and international cricket, was a bad a decision.

Selectors must pay for that now, and instead of holding meeting s in Lahore, should honourably quit. Action is also required now against Coach Waqar Yunus, T-20 Captain Shahid Afridi, and the so-called professor, or chatter Mohammad Hafeez. They all failed.

Waqar hardly dedicated time to correcting the players at nets. Afridi is surely over the hill. He has just 6 centuries in 300 limited over games. Living on past reputation would never carry conviction. His bowling too is no more penetrating. He just manages to pick a wicket or two but concedes far too many runs.

Same principle applies to Hafeez. He has been a disaster in the PSL and at

Dhaka, played 10 innings, but failed to score in any one of them. Nothing would be bigger a joke that Hafeez is considered indispensable. He opens or prefers to bat at number three position. Cricket is not his private property, that he should dictate terms to captain or tour management committee.

Now that a bowling ban is on for him, his inclusion in the team is open to question. Why is being preferred, the selectors or the PCB need to answer. The countrymen have a right to know. They need to be satisfied, for it is the prestige of their national flag, and country’s image that has been at stake.

If asked, my honest opinion will be to sack the cricket management, selectors, coach, captain, and also bring changes in the team. Ahmad Shehzad should be recalled and Emad Waseem preferred over Nawaz. Emad is a fine batsman and a lusty hitter. Nawaz lacks that quality. A couple of new players to strengthen batting should immediately be inducted, for there is hardly time for complete overhaul.

Here it is necessary to point out that Sheharyar Khan made a very irresponsible statement that he is committed to keep Afridi as captain till the T-20 World Cup. Cricket Is serious business, especially when some of the finest teams, like India, upcoming Bangla Desh, Newzealand, Australia, and England pose a grave threat to us—a team failing persistently to perform. Some drastic measures are needed now, but for that bold and imaginative people and not “babus” are required to managed the Pakistan Cricket Baord. Hope the prime minister will himself take charge of the situation. That alone can salvage our image in the game.

Shakil to head Special Committee Embattled Brunt to miss Euro 2016 with knee injury LONDON—West Bromwich Albion midfielder Chris Brunt’s miserable few weeks hit a n e w low on Friday when he discovered he w i l l m i s s Northe r n Ireland’s E u r o 2016 campaign with a knee injury. Brunt was carried off on Saturday after landing awkwardly in the first half of Albion’s 3-2 Premier League win over Crystal Palace and scans have shown the damage is serious enough to rule him out for six months. The 31-year-old has ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and he underwent surgery on Thursday, leaving him no chance of recovering in time for his country’s first ever appearance at the European Championships in France.—AFP

Phelps kicks off Orlando meet with 100m fly win MIAMI—Olympic superstar Michael Phelps kicked off the Orlando Pro Swim meet Thursday with a victory in the 100m butterfly in 52.28sec. Phelps, hoping to add to his stunning tally of 18 Olympic gold medals at the Rio Games in August, swam the first 50m in 24.62sec and held off fellow Americ a n T o m Shields for the victory.

Shields clocked 52.35, w i t h Brazilian Henrique Martins third in 52.59. Germany’s Aliena Schmidtke won the women’s 100m fly in 59.94. Yuliya Efimova of Russia produced a season’s best of 1:05.70 in winning the women’s 100m breaststroke. In the men’s 100m breaststroke, Brazil’s Joao Gomes edged American Josh Prenot at the wall, winning in 1:00.64 to Prenot’s 1:00.66. Brazil’s Felipe Lima was third in 1:00.73. Katie Ledecky won the 200m freestyle in a time of 1:55.73—second-fastest in the world this year behind the 1:54.43 she posted in Austin in January. “It felt pretty good,” Ledecky said. “I guess it was about where I thought I would be time-wise.I worked this morning and this afternoon on some of the details I’ve been working on around my turns. I was pleased with how I put it all together.”—AFP

Nishikori ready to avenge New York woe in Evans rematch B IRMINGHAM

(United Kingdom)—Kei Nishikori has vowed to avenge one of t h e worst defeats of his career when the Japan star faces Great Britain’s D a n Evans in the Davis Cup. Nishikori suffered a miserable straight sets loss to Evans in the pair’s only previous meeting in the US Open first round in 2013.

But the 26-year-old believes he is much improved since that painful day in New York and he expects to make amends in Friday’s second singles rubber as Japan eye a shock World Group victory over the defending Davis Cup champions in Birmingham. “We’ve both changed a lot. I’ve got better the last few years,” Nishikori said.—AFP

No dramatic decisions in PCB meeting SPORTS R EPORTER L A H O R E —Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday failed to take any dramatic decisions, as was being expected,

in the aftermath of Pakistan team’s unceremonious exit from the ongoing Asia Cup Twenty20 in Bangladesh.

Neither were any players replaced ahead of the World T20, starting in India from March 8, nor was there any word on the future of Head Coach Waqar Younis or Skipper Shahid Afridi.

Instead the governing body of

cricket in Pakistan constituted a “Special Committee” to inquire into greenshirts below-par performance in Bangladesh.

The committee was formed by the PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan, a PCB spokesperson said.

The committee will also examine the selection process for the World Twenty20.

The committee will be headed by Shakil Sheikh while the members include Subhan Ahmad (Chief Operating Officer PCB), Iqbal Qasim, Younus Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq. Younus and Misbah are made members on the condition of whenever they will be available.

The Terms of Reference (TOR) for the committee are being prepared and will include the selection criteria, the coaching preparation and the team performance.

It will monitor team’s performance in the World T20 and will make its recommendations thereafter, said the PCB Spokesperson.

The committee will be empowered to call any person involved in the team performance.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Shaharyar Khan has slammed the team’s performance at the Asia Cup but admitted it was too late to make

sweeping changes ahead of the World Twenty20 this month.

The 2009 World Twenty20 champions lost to arch-rivals India and hosts Bangladesh, and only managed to beat United Arab Emirates, raising serious doubts about their potential to challenge for the title in the March 8-April 3 tournament.

Shaharyar said everyone from the coach to those involved in the selection process would be held accountable but added there would not be no knee-jerk reaction.

“It wasn’t just a matter of disappointment but it was a painful experience to watch Pakistan play like that,” Shaharyar told reporters in Lahore.

“The performance was very poor, other then a few individuals’ performances, but I can assure that accountability is inevitable and whoever is responsible has to answer.

“Changes are important in the electoral process and leadership but we have to sit and think wisely.”

The PCB chairman, who has emphasized the importance of conditioning in the shortest format of the game, said at least three to four players in Shahid Afridi’s team appeared unfit.

The Chairman is already seeking the advice of his cricket advisors including Misbah and Younus, he added.

Asia Cup: Sarfraz, Akmal set up consolation Pakistan win D HAKA —Pakistan’s top-order finally Tillakaratne Dilshan, who hasn’t been tain Afridi are facing severe criticism performing lately, roared back to form

back home for their dismal performance in the tournament as they, along with today’s opponents, have already been ousted from the slot in the final. In-form India and Bangladesh will face each other in the final on Sunday.

Pakistan has been criticized for having weak openers, none of which have scored more than 11 runs in the tournament. However, bowler Muhammad Amir has delivered extraordinary performance.

Captain Shahid Afridi had been advised to get some rest by the team management and stay away from the match.

However, he decided against it and opted to play the game to shun the criticism hurled at him through some solid performance today.

Speaking at the toss, Afridi said: “We can’t change the past, a win here will be important before going home first, and then the World T20.”

Defending the fielding first decision on a batting Tillakaratne Dilshan goes back to cut during Asia Cup T20 match between Pakistan and pitch, he said, “There could be a bit of dew [later in the Sri Lanka at Mirpur, Bangladesh on Friday. evening].”

Khurram Manzoor, Mohammad Sami 6 wickets and four balls to spare in a dead scoring an unbeaten 75 runs off 56 balls rubber match of Asia Cup T20 here at to help his side post a challenging total and Anwar Ali have been left out, said the Pakistan skipper, adding that Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur of 150-4.

Dilshan showed full array of his abili- Mohammad Nawaz, Wahab Riaz and on Friday night.

Other than Hafeez, 14, everyone con- ties with the bat, smashing 10 fours and a Iftikhar Ahmed are replacing them.

Sri Lanka’s make-shift captain tributed in achieving the much-needed six and carried the bat. His opening partvictory before the commencement of ner and Sri Lanka’s skipper for the day Dinesh Chandimal said Angelo Mathews Dinesh Chandimal also made a half-cen- has been rested due to a calf strain.

World Twenty20 in India.

Opener Sharjeel made 31 off 24 balls, tury scoring a 49-ball 58 with 7 fours and Niroshan Dickwella comes in for today’s Sarfraz Ahmed 38 (27) and Shoaib Malik a six. The opening pair gave a solid plat- game, he added. form of 110 runs in first 14 overs.

Teams remained unbeaten on 13.

Other than Mohammad Irfan, who Pakistan: Sharjeel Khan, Mohammad However, the pick of them all was Umar Akmal who top-scored for Pakistan grabbed 2 wickets for 18 runs, no other Hafeez, Iftikhar Ahmed, Sarfraz Ahmed, with a 37-ball 48. He got out on the last Pakistani bowler could impress today. Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Shahid delivery of the penultimate over trying to Wahab Riaz and Shoaib Malik took one Afridi (c), Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad clear the boundary for his half-century wicket a piece.

Pakistan’s under-scrutiny skipper Nawaz and his side’s win when the cores were Sri Lanka: LD Chandimal (c), TM level. He was given the man of the match Shahid Afridi had won the toss and invited Sri Lanka to bat first in the two Dilshan, DSNFG Jayasuriya, N award.

Kulasekara, Jayasuriya, Dilshan and teams’ last encounter of the Asia Cup T20 Dickwella, CK Kapugedera, TAM Siriwardana took a wicket each for Sri here at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Siriwardana, MD Shanaka, NLTC Perera, Mirpur earlier in the evening.

KMDN Kulasekara, HMRKB Herath, Lanka.

Pakistan team management and cap- PVD Chameera.—AFP Earlier, Sri Lanka’s stylish opener clicked to convincingly beat Sri Lanka by

Jang, Lee lead as Ko slips back at HSBC Women’s Champions SINGAPORE—Top-ranked Lydia Ko carded an ugly 74 as she slipped nine shots off the pace set by South Koreans Jang Ha-Na and Lee Mi-Rim at the HSBC Women’s Champions on Friday.

The 18-year-old, seeking her first win at the tournament in Singapore, has much ground to make up at the par-72 Sentosa course after an unsatisfying first two rounds.

Defending champion Park In-Bee was also five shots back from Jang and Lee, who fired 66 and 67 respectively for matching aggregate scores of 136. Park, who didn’t card a single bogey as she romped to the title last year, struggled to a 73 on another windy day at the resort island course. Jang shot to the top of the leaderboard after shooting four birdies and an eagle on the par-five seventh, before Lee joined her at the top. “First round and second round, two eagles, so I feel very comfortable,” said Jang.

“Today I’m very comfortable on the front nine and I told myself, ‘Don’t do too much thinking, just be patient. There are two more days, so I have to concentrate more.” Like Jang, Lee had a flawless day and carded five birdies to move six places to the top.—AFP

Sri Lanka innings: Chandimal c Sharjeel Khan b Wahab Riaz ...................... 58 Dilshan not out ................ 75 Jayasuriya c Sharjeel b Shoaib ............................. 4 Kapugedera b Irfan ............ 2 Shanaka b Irfan .................. 0 Siriwardana not out ............ 4 Extras: (lb 6, w 1) .............. 7 Total: (4 wickets) ........... 150 Fall of wickets: 1-110, 2-117, 3-125, 4-125 Bowling: ............. O-M-R-W Mohammad Amir ... 4-0-31-0 Mohammad Irfan ... 4-0-18-2 Shahid Afridi ......... 4-0-24-0 Nawaz (3) .............. 3-0-38-0 Wahab Riaz ............ 4-0-30-1 Shoaib Malik ............ 1-0-3-1

Pakistan innings: Sharjeel b Dilshan ............ 31 Hafeez c & b Jayasuriya .. 14 Sarfraz lbw b Siriwardana 38 Umar b Kulasekara .......... 48 Shoaib Malik not out ....... 13 Iftikhar not out ................... 0 Extras: (b 4, lb 1, w 2) ....... 7 Total: (4 wickets) ........... 151 Fall of wickets: 1-23, 2-58, 394, 4-150 Bowling: ............. O-M-R-W Kulasekara ............. 4-0-20-1 Perera .................. 2.2-0-25-0 Jayasuriya .............. 1-0-13-1 Shanaka .................... 1-0-6-0 Chameera ............... 4-0-32-0 Herath .................... 4-0-28-0 Dilshan ..................... 1-0-2-1 Siriwardana ............ 2-0-20-1

Messi hat-trick steers Barca to unbeaten 35-game record MADRID—Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick as Barcelona took another step towards the La Liga title and set a new Spanish football record of 35 games unbeaten in the process with a 51 win at nine-man Rayo Vallecano on Thursday (Friday in Manila).

Two goals in as many minutes midway through the first-half killed the game as a con-

Chilean international flew to his right to turn away Adrian Embarba’s drive.

However, Rayo’s high defensive line was offering plenty of encouragement to the European champions and it seemed only a matter of time before Barca took advantage as Carlos made a good save at his near post to deny Messi.

Barcelona’s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi vies with Rayo Vallecano’s defender Diego Llorente during the Spanish league football match at the Vallecas stadium in Madrid. test as Ivan Rakitic and Messi netted before Diego Llorente saw a straight red card for a high challenge on Rakitic.

Messi completed his hat-trick either side of Manucho’s consolation for Rayo.

Luis Suarez also missed a penalty after Manuel Iturra was also sent-off for the hosts before Arda Turan rounded off the scoring with his first Barca goal.

Barca now lead Atletico Madrid by eight points with Real Madrid a further four points adrift in third with 11 games remaining.

“We played very well and when we are at this level in terms of attitude and intensity, it is very hard for the opponents,” said Barca boss Luis Enrique.

Rayo were unbeaten in their seven league games themselves and forced Barca ‘keeper Claudio Bravo into a smart early save as the

The opener arrived in unusual fashion for Barca, though, as an aimless ball punted into the box was dropped by Carlos and Rakitic was on hand to sweep into an empty net The visitors’ second two minutes later was straight out of the Barca textbook, though, as a brilliant one-two between Neymar and Messi freed the Argentine to slot home from close range. Llorente let Rayo’s frustration boil over three minutes before the break when he lunged in studs up on Rakitic and was rightly shown a straight red card.

Messi piled on further punishment for the hosts when he casually rolled the ball home after Suarez had smashed against the post soon after the restart.

Rayo showed some resistence as Manucho nodded home his fourth goal in three game from Bebe’s knockdown.—AFP

Injured Sharapova out of Indian Wells LOS ANGELES—World number seven Maria Sharapova has withdrawn from next week’s BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells after failing to recover from a troublesome forearm injury, it was confirmed Friday.

The Russian star said in a statement issued by tournament chiefs she had pulled out in an effort to return to full fitness.

“I am extremely disappointed that I am unable to compete in this year’s BNP Paribas Open,” said Sharapova.

“I have been focused on healing my left forearm injury and tried to get my body to be 100% ready to play this event, as it is one of my favorite events on the WTA and so close to my home in LA. “I know the tournament will be a great success this year and I will be anxious to return next year and hopefully many years after.”

Sharapova has not played since exiting the Australian Open in the quarter-finals in January.

Her withdrawal from Indian Wells is the third time this year she has withdrawn from a tournament because of her forearm injury, having also missed tournaments in Brisbane and Doha.

Mariana Duque-Marino moves into the main draw for Indian Wells following Sharapova’s absence.

This year’s tournament takes place from March 720.—AFP

Jeff Crowe to attend younger brother Martin’s funeral March 11 neral details and so have nothing more we can B IPIN D ANI add at this point”, the Rev’d Jayson Rhodes O BSERVER CORRESPONDENT Communications Advisor to the Anglican MOUNT ABU—Martin Crowe’s funeral will Church, Holy Trinity Cathedral, speaking exbe held on Friday, the 11th March at 1.00 PM, this was revealed by his manager Louise Henderson.

The 53-year-old cancer-affected former Kiwi skipper died on Thursday. He was surrounded by his family members.

Speaking exclusively over her mobile from New Zealand, she said, “Martin Crowe’s funeral will take place at Auckland’s Holy Trinity Cathedral on next Friday.

“Jeff Crowe will be present”, she added.

“There will be few other cricketing personalities who will remain present and pay salute to the departed soul”.

“The body of Crowe has been kept at the funeral home”.

“At this point we are still planning the fu-

clusively from Auckland added.

On the day of Martin’s death, his brother, Jeff Crowe, discharged his duty as an ICC match referee during the Asia Cup match between India and UAE in Bangladesh.

“There have been instances of Eknath Solkar and Atul Bedade playing matches on the day of their fathers death”, Sudhir Vaidya, the renowned cricket statistician says. “They continued to bat even after knowing the sad news”.

“Mohammad Azharuddin continued to bat even after coming to know about his grandmother’s death in Hyderabad”, Vaidya added.

Virat Kohli playing a match at junior level immediately after funeral is a known incident.

Could too much green tea be harmful to health?

F

OR centuries, green tea has been hailed for its numerous health benefits. But ac cording to a new study, the beverage could do more harm than good if consumed in large amounts. In a new study published in the Journal of Functional Foods, researchers reveal how exposure to excessive amounts of green tea impaired the reproductive function of fruit flies, as well as the development of their offspring.

While it is unclear whether the beverage has the same impact on humans, the team says their findings warrant caution against consuming large amounts of green tea and other nutraceuticals.

Green tea is made from fresh leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. Because green tea is one of the least processed forms of tea, it retains the majority of its antioxidants and polyphenols, which are known to be largely beneficial for health.

Previous research has suggested green tea can aid weight loss, reduce cholesterol and protect against numerous illnesses, including cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease.

However, some studies have reported negative health effects if the beverage is consumed in large doses; animal studies have linked excessive green tea consumption to dramatic weight loss and impaired embryonic development.

To reach their findings, lead investigator Mahtab Jafari, associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences at the University of Califor-

nia-Irvine, and colleagues exposed embryos and larvae of fruit flies, or Drosophilae melanogaster, to varying doses of green tea.

Fruit flies are often used to study human disease because they share 75% of the same genes that cause disease in humans.

The team found that 10 milligrams (mg) of green tea led to slower development of larvae.

There was also a significant reduction in the number and size of offspring that emerged.

Female offspring exposed to 10 mg of the beverage showed a reduction in reproductive output, as well as a 17% reduction in lifespan. In addition, the researchers found 10 mg of green tea led to morphological abnormalities in reproductive organs of the fruit flies, including atrophy in the testicles and ovaries. Green tea was found to protect the flies against dehydration, but it also increased susceptibility to heat stress and starvation.

While the study did not assess the mechanisms by which green tea affected the development and reproduction of the fruit flies, they hypothesize that high doses of the beverage may trigger excessive apoptosis, or programmed cell death, to produce such effects. “While green tea could have health benefits at low doses, our study and others have shown that at high doses, it may have adverse effects. Further work is needed to make any definite recommendations, but we can suggest that green tea be consumed in moderation.” “These experiments will enable us to have a better understanding of toxic doses in humans,” notes Jafari.

More than 200 commandos deployed to ensure peace in city KARACHI—More than 200 commandos of Special Security Unit of Sindh Police (SSU) were deployed in sensitive areas of city, to ensure maintenance of law and order situation.

The commandos were deployed on the directives of AIGP-SSU, Maqsood Ahmed, said a press release issued here Friday.

The commandos will assist the local police in maintaining peace in different areas.

AIGP, Maqsood Ahmed said that the commandos equipped with modern weapons, communication system and other accessories are capable to challenge any emergency situation if created by anti-social elements.

Maqsood Ahmed further added that under the supervision of senior officers, the

teams comprised of highly trained and well equipped commandos including lady commandos will be ready to foil any untoward incident.

Meanwhile, the SSU commandos of Special Security Unit of Sindh Police (SSU) conducted a flag march in the city to develop the confidence of citizens keeping in view the present situation.

According to a press release issued here Friday, the flag march was conducted on the directives of the Sindh Home Minister Sohail Anwar Siyal and AIGP-Security, Maqsood Ahmed. The commandos of SSU equipped with modern weapons led by senior officers patrolled in various areas of the metropolis.—APP

Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme, Marvi Memon addressing graduating students at Jinnah University for Women.

Water Supply from K-III to be suspended on March 7 STAFF REPORTER KARACHI—The water supply from K-III Pumping House and North-East Karachi will remain partly suspended on March 7, from 9 am to 5 pm due to repair work.

Karachi Water and Sewerage Board and K-Electric are executing repair work in Feeder of K-III Pumping House and North-East Karachi so as to improve the water supply in summer season, said a statement Friday.

K-Electric urged to avoid over billing STAFF REPORTER KARACHI—Advisor of Federal Ombudsman’s Regional Office, Muhammad Yameen has asked K-Electric to avoid over billing to citizens. Over billing causes financial burden.

He expressed these views while hearing complaints of citizens regarding over billing by KElectric, said a press release issued here Friday.

General Manager, K-Electric Maroof Solangi, Coordinator, Aqeel Muhmammad and

IRFAN ALIGI KARACHI—Pakistan People’s Party Sindh chapter General Secretary Senator Taj Haider while expressing his grave concern on interference of certain quarters of the country into the national politics and political parties and tactic to create new factions and maligning them with all negativity so as to push them away from the masses.

Such tactics are entirely dreadful and counter-productive for the democracy in the country and the country itself.

While speaking on the subject of a press conference by the

two former leaders of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) (Syed Mustafa Kamal and Anis Qaimkhani) at Karachi on this past Thursday at their residence in DHA, the PPP Senator termed this new development as counter-productive and said such tactic for giving a rise to certain elements

Get together of periodical publications STAFF REPORTER K ARACHI —“Dr. Waqar Yousuf Azeemi, Chairman, APNS Periodicals Committee has announced that a “Get-together” of periodical publications will be held on Saturday, March 05, 2016 at 2:30 p.m. at APNS House, Karachi. Syed Ali Azfar Rizvi, Chief Operating Officer of Interflow Communications (Pvt.) Ltd. will attend and address the event.

The Periodicals Committee has requested all periodical members to attend the event wherein the issues relating to the challenges faced by the periodical publications in wake of the changes in the media matrix will be discussed.

Snap checking ineffective to control crimes KARACHI—The snap checking in Karachi has become a nuisance for the Karachiites as different branches of police, including district police, traffic police and even the Special security Unit (SSU) commandos on motorcycles erect blockade on main avenues creating extreme impediment in smooth tidal flow of vehicular movement.

The snap checking is meant to trace the criminals and terrorists on wheels and bring then to police stations and then to courts but unfortunately, the police posses have been only focusing on young and teenage motorcyclists, search them physically and finally mint money from them for lacking to wear a helmet or riding

without a valid license. The process of snap checking that dates back to many past decades has been ineffective with regard to controlling the movement of criminals and terrorists on wheels.

The worst of the aspect of snap checking is that the victims are only the young and teenage motorcyclists and in this menace, the SSU commandos on motorcycles have also managed to create a room. The people of the city being scared of police and police stations do not register their complaints at any legal forum and they walk away from the victims on streets.

However, it is a surprising aspect of the entire exercise that police highup, civil administration, provincial government and command and control rooms that are busy in videotap-

K ARACHI —DMC Korangi has finalised all arrangements to cope with the situation likely to arise in case of rain which is forecast by the Met Office.

The Administration has also cancelled the leaves of staffers and directed to keep the control room and machinery stand by, said a statement Friday.

Administrator Korangi Ghulam Rasool along with officials concerned visited different areas of the Korangi and reviewed the rain arrangements.—APP

Taj Haider concerned over factions in parties

A view of traffic jam at Gulshan-e-Iqbal University Road.—INP

IRFAN ALIGI

PRO Regional Office of Federal Ombudsman, Behleem Builqees Jaan were also present on the occasion.

Muhammad Yameen said that the citizens are seriously facing issues due to the over billing by K-Electric, that is why the ombudsman have received several complaints.

The press release further added that some cases of over billing to the citizens were sent to the Ombudsman Court. The court after determination of facts ordered deductions in bills.

DMC Korangi finalises arrangements for expected rain

ing the movement in the city round the clock fail to catch any glimpse of police’s unlawful activities. The worst of all worst situations is that the SSU commandos that are believed to protect the city and the citizens from the criminals and terrorist have entered into the race for minting money from the motorcyclists.

On the other hand, the SSU is regularly releasing press releases that highlight super performance of the SSU commandos for whose training and yearlong onward salaries and perks are drawn from the taxes of the citizens that are their victims. In this regard, a fresh statement of the SSU said that more than 200 commandos have immediately been deployed Thursday morning to ensure law and order situation in sensitive areas

throughout the city of Karachi. This deployment of 200 SSU commandos is under the directives of AIGP Security SSU Sindh Police Ahmed and is aimed at placing the SSU commandos to the service of the city and the citizens. However, the negative activities of the SSU commandos or any cop from any section of police department is yet to be addressed through counter-monitoring and providing a facility to the citizens for reporting any unlawful activity of the cops and SSU commandos.

The statement further said that the commandos would assist the local police in maintaining peace and tranquility in different areas so that stern action could be taken against the miscreants if they would try to disturb the law and order.

as challenger to political party would have devastating impacts of the country.

He said that the masses are the real biggest court to decide as who is wrong or right but production of such elements in politics under use of force and

to malign established political parties, to pin them to wall, to create faction sin them and to put them on media trial and also to create rebellion inside a particular political party is not only dangerous for the country but is also equally tantamount

to paint the face of the country with negative aspects.

This practice should be stopped and instigating the sentiments of the masses should not be taken as joke because the country could not afford such adventurism.

Could too much green tea be harmful to health?

F

OR centuries, green tea has been hailed for its numerous health benefits. But ac cording to a new study, the beverage could do more harm than good if consumed in large amounts. In a new study published in the Journal of Functional Foods, researchers reveal how exposure to excessive amounts of green tea impaired the reproductive function of fruit flies, as well as the development of their offspring.

While it is unclear whether the beverage has the same impact on humans, the team says their findings warrant caution against consuming large amounts of green tea and other nutraceuticals.

Green tea is made from fresh leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. Because green tea is one of the least processed forms of tea, it retains the majority of its antioxidants and polyphenols, which are known to be largely beneficial for health.

Previous research has suggested green tea can aid weight loss, reduce cholesterol and protect against numerous illnesses, including cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease.

However, some studies have reported negative health effects if the beverage is consumed in large doses; animal studies have linked excessive green tea consumption to dramatic weight loss and impaired embryonic development.

To reach their findings, lead investigator Mahtab Jafari, associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences at the University of Califor-

nia-Irvine, and colleagues exposed embryos and larvae of fruit flies, or Drosophilae melanogaster, to varying doses of green tea.

Fruit flies are often used to study human disease because they share 75% of the same genes that cause disease in humans.

The team found that 10 milligrams (mg) of green tea led to slower development of larvae.

There was also a significant reduction in the number and size of offspring that emerged.

Female offspring exposed to 10 mg of the beverage showed a reduction in reproductive output, as well as a 17% reduction in lifespan. In addition, the researchers found 10 mg of green tea led to morphological abnormalities in reproductive organs of the fruit flies, including atrophy in the testicles and ovaries. Green tea was found to protect the flies against dehydration, but it also increased susceptibility to heat stress and starvation.

While the study did not assess the mechanisms by which green tea affected the development and reproduction of the fruit flies, they hypothesize that high doses of the beverage may trigger excessive apoptosis, or programmed cell death, to produce such effects. “While green tea could have health benefits at low doses, our study and others have shown that at high doses, it may have adverse effects. Further work is needed to make any definite recommendations, but we can suggest that green tea be consumed in moderation.” “These experiments will enable us to have a better understanding of toxic doses in humans,” notes Jafari.

Bollywood actress Zeenat Aman to visit Lahore MUZAFFAR A LI L AHORE—Renowned Bollywood actress Zeenat Aman will undertake a trip to Pakistan and be part of the Shaan-e-Pakistan event to be held on March 20-22nd.

Zeenat Aman will also partake in the Kya Dilli Kya Lahore event, which will commence from March 20 and end on March 22nd.

The three-day event will feature musical performances from Pakistani artists such as Asrar, Mai Dhai and Indian playback singer Rekha Bhardwaj.

“With the success of its first edition in New Delhi in September 2015 Shaan-e-Pakistan returns with its second edition Kya Dilli Kya Lahore scheduled to take place

in Lahore from March 20 – 22nd in Lahore.

The legendary Bollywood actress Zeenat Aman has joined hands with the Indo-Pak collaborative platform and will be coming to Lahore to grace the three days event.

In addition to that the platform’s second edition will be launched on 20th March via a festive musical night “Ek Shaam Dosti Kay Naam” where leading Bollywood playback singer Rekha Bhardwaj will be co-performing with Pakistani vocalists, Coke Studio sensation Asrar and the very talented Sindhi folk powerhouse Mai Dhai.

The evening will be hosted by the Channel V fame and Big Boss contestant VJ Andy Kumar and the famous Pakistani host Anoushey Ashraf.”

Workers of brick kilns and members of Labour Liberation Front stage a sit-in protest in favour of their demands at Faisal Chowk on Friday.—DNA

Tremendous development made in primary, secondary healthcare SALIM AHMED LAHORE—Advisor to Chief Minister on Health Kh. Salman Rafique has said that tremendous development has been observed in primary & secondary healthcare as a result of implementation of the Chief Minister’s Health Roadmap. He said that significant improvement has been recorded in routine immunization coverage under Extended Programme of Immunization (EPI) which has increased from 50 percent to 75 plus during the last one year. He said that routine immunization coverage would be enhanced upto 90 to 95 percent within a year which would also reduce maternal mortality rate.

He said this, while addressing a training workshop for master trainers regarding Vaccine Logistic Management Information System (vLMIS) arranged by USAID deliver programme at a local hotel today. Besides, Provincial Coordinator USAID Dr. Nisar Ahmed Cheema, Dr. Tanvir Ahmed, Dr. Zafar Ikram, officials of USAID Programme. EDOs Health of different districts were also present in the workshop.

Dr. Nisar Cheema said that vLMIS is implemented in 13 districts of Punjab. It is a computerized reporting system of EPI in Punjab which has improved reporting by vaccinators and has reduced wastage of vaccine.

He said that USAID deliver

SALIM AHMED LAHORE—The Punjab Education Foundation (PEF) has amended the financial support of private schools associated with its education voucher scheme from upcoming academic year. Now, vouchers’ funding is level wise divided into primary, elementary, secondary (arts) and secondary (science) categories.

PEF director (EVS) Samina Nawaz has issued a

MUZAFFAR ALI LAHORE—A woman has been set on fire allegedly by her husband and his two brothers in the Head blue area of Kasur, 53 kilometer away from Lahore, after she refused to

Significant improvement in immunization coverage STAFF REPORTER LAHORE—Advisor to Chief Minister on Health Kh. Salman Rafique has said that tremendous development has been observed in primary & secondary healthcare as a result of implementation of the Chief Minister’s Health Roadmap. He said that significant improvement has been recorded in routine immunization coverage under Extended Programme of Immunization (EPI) which has increased from 50 percent to 75 plus during the last one year. He said that routine immunization coverage would be enhanced upto 90 to 95 percent within a year which would also reduce maternal mortality rate.

He said this, while addressing a training workshop for master trainers regarding Vaccine Logistic Management Information System (vLMIS) arranged by USAID deliver programme at a local

hotel today. Besides, Provincial Coordinator USAID Dr. Nisar Ahmed Cheema, Dr. Tanvir Ahmed, Dr. Zafar Ikram, officials of USAID Programme. EDOs Health of different districts were also present in the workshop. Dr. Nisar Cheema said that vLMIS is implemented in 13 districts of Punjab. It is a computerized reporting system of EPI in Punjab which has improved reporting by vaccinators and has reduced wastage of vaccine. He said that USAID deliver programme provided technical and financial support in launching of vLMIS. Dr. Cheema said that this programme is being scaled up in remaining 23 districts in two phases, 13 districts in phase-I and 10 districts in phase-II. Kh. Salman Rafique said that children are future of Pakistan and improved health of children leads to improve productivity.

He urged upon the District Health Manag-

lance System as a Role Model and advised the EMRO region countries to replicate Punjab’s Vector Control Model in their countries which is a pride for Health Department Punjab.

Kh. Salman Rafique said that vLMIS will helpful to improve the vaccination coverage by improving data visibility and accountability of staff as well as the improvement of Cold Change Management System.

He further said that this system would leave very positive impact in improving the mother & child health and reducing the infant mortality rate.

He appreciated the effective cooperation of international development partners for improving healthcare delivery system in Punjab.

PEF amends financial support of private schools departmental circular in this regard here today. According to the circular, sample of revised vouchers reimbursement letter is uploaded at PEF official website for partners’ convenience. PEF has asked the EVS school partners to deposit finance copy of vouchers (April 2016 to March 2017) along-with amended letter, at their schools letter heads, to the foundation for further processing of the case.

Meanwhile, a two-mem-

Woman set on fire allegedly by husband

Garbage heaps seen outside Mayo hospital.—DNA

programme provided technical and financial support in launching of vLMIS. Dr. Cheema said that this programme is being scaled up in remaining 23 districts in two phases, 13 districts in phase-I and 10 districts in phase-II. Kh. Salman Rafique said that children are future of Pakistan and improved health of children leads to improve productivity. He urged upon the District Health Managers that they should play their active role as a master trainer in training the staff at lower formation level.

He disclosed that during the recent meeting of WHO EMRO region countries, WHO has declared Punjab’s Vector Control & Surveil-

ers that they should play their active role as a master trainer in training the staff at lower formation level. He disclosed that during the recent meeting of WHO EMRO region countries, WHO has declared Punjab’s Vector Control & Surveillance System as a Role Model and advised the EMRO region countries to replicate Punjab’s Vector Control Model in their countries which is a pride for Health Department Punjab.

Kh. Salman Rafique said that vLMIS will helpful to improve the vaccination coverage by improving data visibility and accountability of staff as well as the improvement of Cold Change Management System.

He further said that this system would leave very positive impact in improving the mother & child health and reducing the infant mortality rate. He appreciated the effective cooperation of international development partners for improving healthcare delivery system in Punjab.

have a bun in the oven.

Ashfaq, the brother of the victim, Wajida, lodged a complaint with the local police that Nasir along with his brothers Talib and Ghazala threw petrol on his sister and set her on fire after she refused to have a child.

The injured was shifted to the Jinnah Hospital Lahore, where doctors said that her condition was critical as the victim had sustained 80 per cent burn wounds to her body.

According to the police, Nasir and Wajida tied the knot four year ago.

ber delegation of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) includ-

ing senior disaster solutions associate Dr. Farah Ayub and assistant field officer Yasir

Ayaz khan visited the head office of Punjab Education Foundation today.