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, May 25, 2024 , 17 Dhu'l-Qi'dah 1445

WorldcourtstunsIsraelwithunlikelyrebuke

THE HAGUE: The top UN court on Friday ordered Israel to immediately halt its military operations in Rafah, a landmark ruling likely to increase mounting international pressure on Israel more than seven months into its invasion of the Gaza Strip.

The International Court of Justice, whose orders are legally binding but lack direct enforcement mechanisms, also ordered Israel to keep open the crossing between Egypt and Gaza, which was closed earlierthis month at the start of its assault on Rafah. An earlier interim ruling by the court had stopped short of ordering a ceasefire in Gaza, but instructed Israel to do everything possible to prevent genocidal acts.

The ICJ is a general court for the settlement of disputes between states and can accept cases regarding any question of international law, concerned with state responsibility rather than individual culpability. In the keenly awaited order issued on Friday, the ICJ said Israel must `immediately halt its military offensive, and any other action in the Rafah governorate which may inflict on the Palestinian group in Gaza conditions of life that could bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part`.

Israel must `maintain open the Rafah crossing for unhindered provision at scale of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance`, the UN court added.The court also ordered the release of prisoners still held in Gaza and called for their immediate and unconditional release. The order emphasised that the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip has deteriorated since March. `The military ground offensive in Rafah, which Israel started on May 7, is still ongoing and has led to new evacuation orders,' it said, adding that at least 0.8 million people had been displaced from the area as of last week.

The court was also `not convinced that the evacuation efforts and related measures that Israel affirms to have undertaken... are sufficient to alleviate the immense risk to which the Palestinian population is exposed as a result of the military offensive in Rafah`.

`The Court is also of the view that the provisional measures indicated in its Order of March 28, 2024, as well as those reaffirmed therein, do not fully address the con-sequences arising from the change in the situation, thus justifying the modification of these measures. The Court further considers that, on the basis of the information before it, the immense risks associated with a military offensive in Rafah have started to materialise and will intensify even further if the operation continues,` the ruling said.

Ruling hailed The Palestinian Authority welcomed the ICJ order, saying it represents an international consensus to end the war in Gaza.

Hamas also issued a statement welcoming the decision, but said the ruling fell short of recognising that other parts of the enclave are under attack.`What is happening in Jabalia and other parts of this (northern) sector is no less criminal and dangerous than what`s happening in Rafah,` it said.`We believe it is not enough since the occupation`s aggression across the Gaza Strip, especially in northern Gaza, is just as brutal and dangerous,` Reuters quoted senior Hamas official Basem Naim as saying.

Hamas also called on the United Nations Security Council to implement the decision, adding that the group welcomed the court`s request to allow investigation committees to reach the Gaza Strip to probe allegations of genocide against the Palestinian people, and pledged to cooperate with the committees.

Palestinian ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour told reporters at UN headquarters in New York they expected the resolutions of the ICJ be implemented without hesitation as they were mandatory, and Israel was party to the convention. South Africa, which brought a genocide case against Israel before the world court, welcomed the order and urged other UN member states to back it.

Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor said South Africa was `really pleased` that the court had heeded its call and argued that its case `is getting stronger and stronger by the day, that a genocide is underway` But she warned that Israel is unlikely to heed the order, arguing it was time for UN members and the Security Council to step up and enforce international law.`Israel has had impunity for so long that they don`t care what the global community says,` she said. `So I think the responsibility goes to us a member states of the United Nations and most particularly to the Security Council,` she said.

Israel`s reaction Insisting its military operations in Rafah were in line with international law, Israel said on Friday that its actions in Rafah do not `risk the destruction of the Palestinian civilian population

National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi and the foreign ministry spokesperson said Israel would continue to keep the Rafah crossing open for humanitarian assistance from Egypt `and will prevent terror groups from controlling the passage`.

Meanwhile, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu`s office said he would consult senior ministers after the UN`s top court ordered Israel to immediately halt its military operation in the Gaza city of Rafah. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said:

`Those who demand that statethe Israelofstop the Wewar... will not agree to that.'

Opposition leader Yair Lapid rejected the comparison between the leaders of Israel and Hamas, while cabinet minister Benny Gantz said the country would `continue operating in accordance with international law wherever we might operate.'

Punjab cabinet okays more cases against Imran, other PTI

LAHORE: The Punjab cabinet of Maryam Nawaz on Friday approved a `fresh legal action` (new cases) against Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) founding chairman Imran Khan and other party leaders for their alleged involvement in manufacturing a `narrative of hate` against state institutions, especially the army.

`The Punjab cabinet has approved a legal action against former prime minister

Rehman by doing so.Those who meet him in (Adiala) jail follow suit. Therefore, the Punjab cabinet has decided to take action against them,` she explained. The minister said the Punjab home department would soon take steps in this regard.

Asked about whether new FIRs against Mr Khan and others would be lodged for their alleged `anti-state narrative`, she said: `The home department will take measures.The cabinet`s decision has come in the wake of a fresh tension between the government and the PTI. A day before the authorities in Islamabad demolished a part of the PTI central office.

Sources privy to the development told Dawn that the Maryam administration had authorised an SP-rank officer to register an FIR against incarcerated Khan for his tirade against the military for the 1971 episode. He is also being accused of launching a tirade against state institutions and their heads.

`This is the first time that the Punjab government has decided to take permission from the full cabinet presided over CM Maryam to lodge a fresh FIR against Mr Khan.

Earlier, the permission to launch FIRs in May 9 violence incidents were granted by the cabinet committee on law and order,` sources said. a complaint against Mr Khan was filed by an Islamabad based journalist who had presented different clips, audios, interviews and newspaper cuttings to support his claim regarding Khan`s anti`The journalist, whose name is currently being kept secret, has levelled allegations that the PTI founder chairman had also launched a tirade against state institutions as well as their heads.

Mr Khan had written and sent an anti-Pakistan article from jail to a British newspaper according to the journalist`s complaint,` they said. Defamation bill At the news conference, Ms Bokhari also criticised Punjab Governor Saleem Haider Khan for `not reading` the Defamation Bill 2024 before declaring to return it to the provincial assembly. `If the governor has not read the bill, allow me to

The Punjab Assembly had passed the Defamation Bill, 2024, rejecting all amendments proposed by the opposition amid protests by the PTI-backed Sunni Ittehad Council and journalists.

The governor had taken exception to the bill and proposed that all stakeholders should be taken on board before its enactment. The draft law proposes a special tribunal to try those involved in drafting, publishing and/or airing . The tribunal shall decide cases within six months, while in cases against individuals holding constitutional posts, high court will hear the cases.

KPdraws Centre`s ire by pre-empting federal budget

PESHAWAR:

In an unprecedented move that drew the Centre`s ire, the PTI-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Friday unveiled its first budget of Rs1.7 trillion for the upcoming fiscal year (FY25) with a development outlay of Rs416 billion mainly focusing on social protection, law and order and economic development.

It is extremely rare for a provincial government to present its budget before the federal government lays out its financial plan, scheduled to be unveiled on June 7 this year. The budget, presented by KP Finance

Minister Aftab Alam Afridi in a provincial assembly session presided over by Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, envisages a surplus of Rs100bn. The budgeted expenditure of Rs1.65tr is 21 per cent higher than Rs1.3tr incurred during the current fiscal year (FY24).

Mr Afridi said an amount of Rs28bn has been allocated for the provincial government`s flagship Sehat Card Plus programme. Similarly, he said Rs29bn has been allocated for wheat subsidy and Rs12bn for three youth employment programmes. He said Ehsaas Rozgar, Ehsaas Youth and Ehsaas Hunar programmes will generate 100,000 employment opportunities for the youth, and the provincial government has allocated Rs3bn for Ehsaas Apna Ghar scheme under which 5,000 houses would be constructed.

In a major development, the KP government has also allocated Rs10bn for the muchdelayed Chashma Right Bank Canal lift-cum-gravity project in Dera Ismail Khan district,

the hometown of KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur.

This project is said to resolve the food security issue of the province

He said the government has earmarked Rs3bn in subsidy for the Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT).

ruin Pakistan`s economy He said the KP budget was based on assumptions and hoped that the KP government would `review its behaviour`. He also expressed the hope that Chief Minister Gandapur would cooperate with the federal government and the finance minister.

Salaries, pensions The KP finance minister announced a 10pc hike in salary and pension for government employees and pension-ers, besides increasing the minimum wage from Rs32,000 to Rs36,000 per month.

• Budgetary estimates have pitched the province`s receipts at Rs1.7tr, with the federal receipts totaling over Rs1.2tr.

• Province`s share of federal tax assignment has been pitched at Rs902.5bn, 1pc of federal divisible pool in lieu of war on terror at Rs108.4bn, straight transfers at Rs42.9bn, windfall levy on oil at Rs46.3bn, net hydelprofit (NHP) at Rs33.1bn, and NHP arrears at Rs78.21bn.

• Province`s own revenue estimates have been projected to be Rs93.5bn, including Rs63.1bn tax and Rs30.2bn non-tax receipts.

• The ways and means advance facility from the federal government has been proposed at Rs31.3bn.

• Rs259.9bn has been earmarked for federal receipts for the merged districts. This includes current budget allocation of Rs72.6bn, additional demand for current budget at Rs55.3bn, annual development programme (ADP) of Rs36bn, Accelerated Implementation Programme (AIP) of Rs40bn, unfunded Rs39.2bn, 3pc share (Rs17bn) for merged areas and rehabilitation of temporary-displaced persons.

• Foreign project assistance has been estimated at Rs130bn, including Rs122.7bn foreign loans and Rs7.8bn donors` grants.

• Development and non-development grants under the federal Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) have been pitched at Rs26.4bn.

• Expenditures have been estimated at Rs1.23tr, including Rs1.093tr for settled districts and Rs144.5bn for the merged districts.

• Settled areas` provincial salary has been pitched at Rs246bn, medical teaching institutions` (MTIs) salary at Rs26.9bn, tehsils` salary at Rs263bn, pension at Rs162.4bn, nonsalary expenditures at Rs264.7bn, MTI`s non-salary budget at Rs28.68bn, tehsils` non-salary at Rs29.5bn, capital expenditure at Rs40.3bn and repayment of ways and means advance at Rs31.3bn.

Finance Ali Pervez Malik came down hard on the PTI-led KP government for announcing the provincial budget before the federal budget for FY25, calling it `irresponsible`.

At a press conference in Islamabad, Mr Malik accused the PTI of `bringing the country to the brink of bank-ruptcy` `The KP government should have waited for the federal budget announcement, he said, alleging that Imran Khan`s party is determined to

Merged districts`provincial salary has been estimated at Rs52.1bn, tehsils` salary at Rs42.6bn, pension at Rs4.4bn, nonsalary expenditure at Rs418.5bn, temporary-displaced persons` allocation at Rs17bn and tehsils`non-salary expenditure at Rs9.8bn.

Development expenditure An amount of Rs416.3bn has been earmarked for development expendi-ture for the next fiscal year, including Rs120bn provincial ADP, Rs24bn for districts, Rs36bn for merged districts, Rs79.2bn for the Accelerated Implementation Programme, Rs130.5bn for foreign-assisted projects and Rs416bn for federal PSDP projects.

Finance minister Afridi said the provincial government has proposed a drop in sales tax on services in various categories. He said sales tax on hotels has been cut to 6pc from 8pe, but at the same time, restaurant invoice management system has been made mandatory for all hotels.

Similarly, the budget proposes a fixed tax on wedding halls. Mr Afridi said the government also decided to reduce per kanal property tax to Rs10,000 from Rs13,600.

Commercial tax rate on rentals has been reduced to 10pc of the rent from the existing 16pe, while tax on the private hospitals, medical stores and other health related businesses has been reduced to 5pc from 16pc.

IMFmissionsays`significant progress`made

ISLAMABAD: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Friday said it made `significant progress toward reaching a staff level agreement` with Pakistan on a comprehensive economic policy and reform programme for the next bailout under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF).

In its `end-of-mission` statement, the IMF also made it clear that the two sides `will continue policy discussions virtually over the coming days aiming to finalise discussions, including the financial support needed to underpin the authorities` reform efforts from the IMF and Pakistan`s bilateral and multilateral partners`.

The statement came following conclusion of 11-day talks May 13 to 23 between the two sides over $7-8bn 24th bailout under a 36-39 months EFF. The mission led by Nathan Porter was in town to discuss Pakistan`s plans for `a home-grown economic programme`, building on the economic stabilisation achieved through the successful completion of 9-month Standby Arrangement (SBA) that provided $3bn to the country along with overall umbrella for other multilaterals and bilateral lenders.

The fund said the reform programme aimed to move Pakistan from economic stabilisation to strong, inclusive, and resilient growth. To achieve this, the fund spelled out what Pakistan will have to deliver over the coming

`The authorities plan to continue to strengthen public finances to reduce vulnerabilities by improving domestic revenue mobilisation through scaling up spending for human capital, social protection, and climate resilience; secure energy sector viability, including reforms to reduce the high cost of energy; continue progress towards low and stable inflation by appropriate monetary and exchange rate policies; improve public service provision through state-owned enterprise (SOE) restructuring and privatisation; and promote private sector development, a levelplaying field for investment and stronger governance.

than subsidised rates`.

At present, gas price for fertiliser stands at Rs1,597 per million British thermal unit (mmBtu) although it was increased substantially in February this year but still contained about Rs217 per mmBtu subsidy. The government has now decided to immediately shift to Rs1,814 per mmBtu.

The cabinet consent came after Ministry of Industries and Production suggested direct provision of subsidies to farmers, claiming that `the benefits of subsidised gas tofertiliser plants had not trickled down to farmers, which was evident from the absence of any corresponding decrease in the price of urea and the distortion in the pricing of gas for fertiliser sector should be removed`.

The Ministry of Finance also did not support the provision of further subsidy on gas to meet the resultant price differential as the Ministry of Petroleum was of the view that in case of provision of gas to fertiliser plants at Ogra-notified price, the price differential would either have to be borne by the domestic consumers or must be subsidised by the Ministry of Finance.

Officials said the government will take a series of actions in the upcoming budget and on the sidelines in case of utility prices but not later than June 25 for securing the next bailout programme. Detailed deliberations have already taken place between the two sides on all critical sectors of economy, including major reforms in the power and gas sectors, state owned entities, pensions, revenues mobilisation and expansion and monetary policy horizon in line with inflationary expectations. The two sides have reached broad understanding along with action points, their timelines and backup plans that the government would comply with through parliamentary sanction of budgetary measures and related legislation in the Finance Bill 2024-25.

SLA expected latest by July On implementation of gas and electricity tariff adjustments and beginning of their reform actions besides approval of taxation and trade tariff-related policy meas-ures and amendments to tax laws, the IMF mission would review them and on satisfactory compliance, announce the SLA by end of June or early July.

Official record seen by Dawn suggested the federal cabinet has `reached the unanimous conclusion that gas to fertiliser plants should be supplied at full price, rather

Officials said that tax-related measures like reduction in the number of slabs for salaried persons and equaltaxation on allother income groups, treatment of agricultural income as normal income like any other sector, actions and punishments for non-filers and increase in their transaction costs would be given legal cover in the Finance Bill through amendments to income and sales tax laws. Likewise, it has been agreed to remove Rs60 per litre cap on petroleum development levy and keep it open-ended, besides inserting clauses so that carbon tax would also be part of the Finance Bill.

The two sides have agreed on upward revision of natural gas prices for domestic, fertiliser, CNG and cement sectors. There will be no change for special commercials like tandoors and some downward adjustments in gas rate for the power sector as part of the upcoming gas price review st arting with new fiscal year to reduce circular debt. Power division The power division exchanged at least three plans with the IMF, at times assisted by the World Bank, on how to address rising capacity payment and its declining horizon of debt repayments of CPECrelated projects.

`Judiciary does not want

confrontation with anyone`

LAHORE: As a culture of strikes prevalent in the lawyers community purportedly derails the judicial functions and brings bar associations in conflict with the judiciary, Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Malik Shahzad Khan on Friday said the bench did not want confrontation with anyone, but it took two hands to clap.

The remarks made by the top LHC judge at the closing ceremony of a preservice training course for newly appointed judges in the district judiciary came against the backdrop of a months-long strike in Lahore against the `unilateral` decision of the LHC CJ to shift courts from Lower Mall to Model Town. As a result of this strike, the case filing branch at the civil court remained shut for at least 73 days, causing problems for the litigants and lawyers. A recent protest against the CJ by lawyers resulted in clashes with the police, prompting a nationwide strike by the legal community.

According to the LHC CJ,

`We do not want to have conflicts

`If there is no respect for the courts, then do not expect it from us either. We would act according to the law and do nothing outside of it,`

The LHC chief justice said that pending in the district judiciary and one of the major causes of delays in cases was the culture of strikes

He noted that in the recent past, the courts in Lahore were shut down for 73 days and the law of the jungle was imposed in the provincial capital, denying the public their right of access to justice. He, however, acknowledged that over `90 per cent of the lawyers were professional`, and they supported the effort to end the strike culture.

He further said Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa and other SC judges played a significant role in ending the strike culture. He said despite strike calls, the CJP and other judges continued to hear cases. He said everyone must fulfil their constitutional responsibilities. However, he noted that the district judiciary was still short of 800 judges.

Addressing the judges, CJ Khan advised them not to become a `B team` of the government, any agency, or some other institution and adjudicate without any fear. `Administering justice is a divine attribute. A judge is chosen by Allah and a judge is fearless, free from greed, brave, and wise,` the chief justice said, adding that being a judge was not a job where `one fears losing it`. He said the judicial system was not made for the powerful but for the redressal of the oppressed. He said the powerful could get his `right` by force but the weak needed the justice

FO rejects Indian SC order on held Kashmir

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday rejected a fresh order by the Indian Supreme Court, which upheld its earlier ruling that endorsed the Modi government`s unilateral decision to revoke the special status of held Kashmir by abrogating Article 370 of the Constitution.

`We reject the fresh order of the Indian Supreme Court just as we had rejected the earlier order of December 11, 2023. Two verdicts fail to recognise the internationally recognised disputed nature of Jammu and Kashmir...Indian Supreme Court judgments

Special court judges` vacancies filled, AGP tells high court

PM`s security officer transferred to Lahore

Farmers` registration for Kisan Card from June 1

CM opens Ring Road Southern Loop-3

LAHORE: Advocate General of Punjab (AGP) Khalid Ishaq on Friday told the Lahore High Court that the vacancies of the judges in various special courts of the province had been filled.

He also presented the notifications for the appointment of 12 district & sessions judges (D&SJs) in six anti-terrorism courts, four anticorruption courts, a consumer court and others.

Chief Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan lauded the role of the AGP in filling the posts of the special courts lying vacant for months. `All are respectable for us. You have shown good conduct,` the chief justice said addressing the law officer.

AGP Ishaq stated that some posts of the judges were still vacant as they were under the purview of the federal government. A federal law officer said the judges` appointment would be approved in the next cabinet meeting. The chief justice noted that previously the provincial government had been seeking time and now the federal government came up with the same request. He gave 15 days to the federal government to fill the vacancies of the judges in the special courts of Punjab. Later, the LHC also notified the judges` appointments approved by the government.

As per a notification, the sessions judges include Mr Khalid Arshad appointed at ATC-I Lahore, Irfan Haider at ATC-II Lahore, Muhammad Abbas at ATC Sargodha, Muhammad Naeem Saleem at ATC Gujranwala, Raja Shahid Zamir at ATC Faisalabad, and Ziaullah Khan at ATC Sahiwal.

The CJ had taken notice of the vacancies in the special courts while hearing a Punjab government`s appeal seeking transfer of trial proceedings in various May 9 cases against the PTI leaders from a Rawalpindi ATC.

LAHORE: The Establishment Division has transferred SP Tassawar Iqbal, the security officer of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and put him at the disposal of the Punjab government to give him an `important` assignment in Lahore.

There are reports that he has been picked from the federal government to replace SSP Operations Lahore Ali Raza who is expected to be sent to the federal government for a posting in Islamabad.

If posted as per the plan, SP Tassawar would be the second police officer being sentto Lahore for having close links with top leadership of the PML-N.

SP Tasaswar`s notification of his transfer was issued thrice by the Establishment Division. First, the security officer of the PM was transferred by the division on May 17 and a notification was issued accordingly.

Later, another notification of cancellation of his transfer surfaced the same day when PM Shehbaz Sharif issued directions to retain Mr Tassawar in Islamabad. However, on May 23, another notification was issued by the Establishment Division wherein he was transferred to Punjab government. Earlier, the official source says, DIG Operations Lahore Faisal Kamran wasalso appointed in the same way.

The source says SSP Operations Lahore Ali Raza was conveyed about his new posting in Islamabad a couple of months back when Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi made efforts and requested the PM for the transfer of two officers -DIG Ali Nasir Rizvi and Ali Raza. Rizvi was to be posted as the Islamabad IG. Though the federal government had issued the transfer order for Mr Rizvi, the Punjab CM refused to relieve him and the issue was delayed for weeks. Rizvi was finally transferred and posted as Islamabad IG but the matter of Ali Raza was still pending. There were reports that Tassawar Iqbal is likely to replace Mr Raza in days to come.

LAHORE: Farmers` registration for Kisan Card will begin from June 1 as currently fertilisers and pesticide dealers are being registered for the scheme.

This was stated by Agriculture Secretary Iftikhar Ali Sahoo while chairing a meeting on the Kisan Card here on Friday.

He said that transparency would be ensured in the Rs300 billion Kisan Card scheme under which an interest-free easy loan of Rs150,000 would be offered to each qualifying farmer.

At least 0.5 million farmers holding one to 12.5 acres of land would be eligible for the scheme, and they would get fertilizers and seeds through their cards at fixed prices. An official said that for registration the farmers should send their computerised national identity card by sending an SMS on 8070.

The qualifying farmer should have land record with the Punjab Land Revenue Authority (PLRA), while the SIM of the phone number must be registered in the name of the farmer with the same CNIC number provided in the SMS.

Under this scheme, the farmer will be required to repay the loan within six months.

Special Secretary Shahenshah Faisal Azim, Additional Secretary Planning Waqas Rasheed, Additional Secretary Agriculture Task Force Shabbir Ahmad Khan and Agricultural Information Director Naveed Asmat Kahloon, besides representatives of the Bank of Punjab attended the meeting.

LAHORE: Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Friday formally inaugurated the Lahore Ring Road Southern Loop-3 and the country`s largest Multan Road Interchange.

The CM also directed the authorities concerned to take immediate steps for the construction of SL-4 project.

She inspected the road from Ada Plot to Multan Road Interchange, besides Multan Road Interchange on Lahore Ring Road. She was informed that SL-3 Multan Road Interchange was the biggest interchange in Punjab.

Traffic coming from south will be able to reach airport in a few minutes on 8kmlong Lahore Ring Road Southern Loop 3, the CM was told.

SL3 is said to be very important for traffic management in Lahore ans it will reduce rush at Thokar and Canal Road.

Meanwhile, the CM had a meeting with Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf, in which social services of Pakistan Navy were discussed.

`The veterans of Pakistan Navy who defend Pakistan`s maritime boundaries are commendable,` she said.

Rear Admiral Rizwan Ahmed, Rear Admiral Shahzad Hamid and Commodore Sajid also attended the meeting.

Formation of search committees for VCs being reconsidered

LAHORE: The Punjab government is reconsidering formation of search committees for appointment of 30 vice chancellors in public sector universities across the province due to reservations by concerned quarters with regard to selection of members of these bodies, according to wellplaced sources.

On April 30, the provincial cabinet

had formed three search committees for appointment of VCs of general, new and women universities. Former bureaucrat Ismail Qureshi will lead the committee for general category universities, with members including retired Lt-Gen Muhammad Asghar, FarkhandaWasim Afzal and Amjad Saqib.

The universities without VCs are University of the Punjab, Government College University of Lahore, Government College University of Faisalabad, Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, Islamia University of Bahawalpur, University of Gujrat, University of Education in Lahore, University of Narowal, Lahore UET, Taxila UET, Khawaja Fareed University of Information Technology in Rahim Yar Khan and Information Technology University, Lahore.

For the new category universities, the cabinet has appointed Zafar Iqbal Qureshi as head of the committee. Its members are Farkhanda Wasim Afzal, Ijaz Munir and Prof Nizamuddin. The universities include University of Kamalia, University of Layyah, University of Bhakkar, University of Okara, University of Jhang and Ghazi University, DGK.

The search committee for women`s universities will be headed by economist Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha with retired Capt Zahid Saeed, Dr Talat Naseer Pasha and Dr Rukhsana David as its members. They have been tasked with selecting VCs for Lahore College for Women University, Government College University for Women Sialkot, Government Sadiq College Women University Bahawalpur, Women University Multan, Fatima Jinnah Women University Rawalpindi, Government College Women University Faisalabad and University of Home Economics Lahore.

The cabinet also decided to issue a fresh advertisement for VCs` positions and slightly modified the appointment criteria. Candidates scoring 80 points are now eligible for interview, instead of previous 75 points, and those above the age of 65 years are deemed ineligible for the post.

The Higher Education Department (HED) has yet to issue the notification for the formation of the search committees despite passing of three weeks. HED Secretary Dr Farrukh Naveed, who is a member of all search committees, told Dawn that the committees were not notified as the department did not receive minutes of the cabinet meeting. He said the government was not changing the composition of the committees. However, sources claim that the notification for the formation of search committees has not been issued as the government is reconsidering the formation of committees.

The sources say the academic and administrative circles are questioning the appointment of some of the members of the committees as the government had included its favourite persons in these bodies. The government had denotified the previous search committees constituted by the caretaker Punjab government led by the then chief minister Mohsin Naqvi and formed new ones. `The de-notification of the previous committees has become a bone of contention and the government has been forced to reconsider the formation of new search committees,` a source says. The interim government could not appoint the VCs of the public sector universities as the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)

had rejected a request made in this regard.

REACTION: Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association(FAPUASA) PresidentAmjad Khan Magsi told Dawn that the point of concern is that the government was not giving any importance to the appointment of vice chancellors in the 30 universities of Punjab.

He said the cabinet had approved the formation of search committees three weeks ago but the process had not started yet. He said Punjab University, the oldest institution of higher education of the country, was working without a regular head for the last two years and all the universities were going bankrupt due to poor administration. The universities were facing financial crunch and academic problems were also gigantic.

Mr Magsi said the government had included bureaucrats as heads and members of the search committees constituted for appointment of vice chancellors in general universities.

`No academic was included in the committee of general universities and it would raise questions on the composition of the committees,` he said.

Polish envoy for more trade with Pakistan

CM’s likely visit to Mianwali paves the way

LAHORE: Ambassador of Poland Maciej Pisarski

has emphasized the need to further expand trade and economic relations between Pakistan and Poland.

`The total trade volume between the two countries is close to one billion dollars that needs to be doubled, at least And thanks to the GSP Plus status that enabled Pakistan to export goods worth $800m, while Poland`s exports to Pakistan last year were $128m,` Mr Pisarski said while speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry on Friday.

`I appreciate the LCCI for its commendable efforts and initiatives that facilitated the Polish delegation`s visit to Pakistan, he said. LCCI President Kashif Anwar appreciated the efforts of the Polish ambassador in promoting Pakistan`s image globally.

He noted that Poland had shown the world a side of Pakistan that was not usually visible to the international media. He expressed hope that this visit would mark the beginning of a new era of economic cooperation between Pakistan and Poland.

`Poland is one of Pakistan`s major trading partners and is currently the eighth largest export market for Pakistani products in Europe. The bilateral trade volume, which was approximately $423m in 2022-23 should be increased to at least $2bn,` Mr Anwar suggested.

The ambassador of Poland assured that the investors from his country would fully utilise the available opportunities and that the Polish Embassy was guiding Polish business people regarding the trade prospects in Pakistan. He pointed out that Poland`s economy, with a size of $1.4tr, was ranked 21st in the world and the sixth largest economy in the European Union.

Babar Khan Shaheed,

who was martyred in a clash with terrorists in Balochistan.

Ironically, many top officials, including President Asif Ali Zardari, the Balochistan governor, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, and several top ranked army officials, visited the residence of the martyred officer, negotiating the broken road to reach the site.

Yet, the Punjab government has seemingly prioritised impressing the chief minister over completing longpending development projects in Mianwali, which were initiated by the previous government. These incomplete projects include the model bus stand, roads in Mianwali city, and the dualisation of Mianwali-Sargodha Road.

Despite their importance, they await funds for completion.

The newly-constructed road in Muslim Colony, built at an estimated cost of over Rs5 million, raises questions about the government’s priorities

An inquiry may probe the status of incomplete projects and ensure the provision of funds to complete them as per law

MIANWALI: The Punjab government has constructed a nearly half-mile long carpeted road in Muslim Colony, Mianwali city, in just one day.

This remarkable feat was achieved on Thursday, ahead of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s

expected visit to condole the death of Major

Temperatures drop after windstorm

LAHORE: Parts of the city witnessed a windstorm and light rain on Friday.

Due to the windstorm, the temperatures fell considerably to 35°C, with a minimum of 29°C recorded.

The moisture in the wind was recorded at 36 per cent.

Meanwhile, the Regional Meteorological Centre forecast that continental air is prevailing over most parts of the country. A highpressure system prevailing in the upper atmosphere is likely to persist for the next two or three days.

The weather forecast for Friday stated that mainly very hot weather is expected in most districts of Punjab. Rain, windstorms, or thunderstorms may occur at isolated places in Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Attock, Mianwali, Kashmir, Murree, Galliyat, and surrounding areas. Windstorms, dust storms, or isolated rain is expected in Lahore, Kasur, Okara, Sahiwal, Bahawalnagar, Sialkot, Narowal, Gujranwala, DG Khan, Bhakkar, Noorpur Thal, Layyah, Multan, and Faisalabad.

The weather forecast for Saturday (today) includes mainly very hot weather expected in most districts of the province. Day temperatures are likely to remain 6-8°C above normal.

or thunderstorms may occur at isolated places in Kashmir, Murree, Galliyat, and surrounding areas.

Livid over office demolition, PTI predicts `system collapse`

ISLAMABAD: The top leadership of PTI on Friday accused the government of resorting to fascist tactics against the party, and predicted that `the system` was going to collapse soon.

The leaders expressed apprehensions over a perceived threat to former premier Imran Khan`s life in prison. They were speaking at a news conference held at the site of the party`s central secretariat, which was demolished by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) a day earlier for violating building by-laws. Talking to the media after a meeting of the PTI`s Core Committee,

Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan alleged that CDA had violated the sanctity of the party`s central secretariat by invading it.

`In a democracy, the central office of a party is sanctified,` he stated, adding, `The operation was aimed at creating obstacles for

meeting on the road.

us and as a result I had to hold the party`s Core Committee

He said that a newwaveofpersecutionofPTIwasaimedatdivertingtheattentionfrom`DubaiLeaks` the disclosure of purchase of properties in the UAE city worth billions of dollars by Pakistani citizens but this issue would not go down so easily and the culprits would have to present their money trail. Flanked by Opposition Leader in National Assembly Omar Ayub, Raoof Hassan, Shibli Faraz, Latif Khosa, Firdous Shamim Naqvi, and Ali Muhammad Khan, Barrister Gohar said the party has filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court against the CDA`s action and the case would be taken up on May 27.

Mr Ayub said that the action by the CDA and the government has led to the start of `intifada` for the restoration of true democracy.

`We will continue our struggle against the system till the goals are achieved,` he added.

Earlier, during a media talk at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House, Raoof Hassan said they had been enduring the `state tyranny` for the past two years but nothing could dampen the courage and spirit of PTI leaders and workers.He claimed that Imran Khan had expressed concerns about his life being in danger, and now it seems that is becoming a reality. He said that when the offices of a political party are shut, non-state actors get an opportunity.

During a media talk at the National Press Club, Mr Chaudhary alleged that PTI was telling lies and trying to fool the general public. He said the authority had decided to ban offices and business activities in residential areas. `CDA gave the PML-N a notice too to close our office and we vacated it. The party did not pressurise its government and shifted its offices,` the MNA added. No apology Separately, the PTI rejected the military spokesman`s demand for an apology over the May 9 violent incidents.

In an interview with Dawn News` Nadir Guramani, senior PTI leader Asad Qaiser termed the demand for an apology `unconstitutional`. there was no question of tendering an apology. In a news conference earlier this month, ISPR chief Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry had asserted that PTI leadership should apologise over the incidents of May 9.

The MNA said his party should not have formed a `weak` government in the wake of 2018 elections. He also said his party should not have dissolved assemblies. Mr Qaiser said that PTI would challenge the defamation law passed by the Punjab Assembly recently.

Rain, windstorms,

Panel probing Bilawal`s NA-127 defeat meets

LAHORE: The fact-finding committee formed to probe the defeat of PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in the National Assembly constituency NA-127 met here on Friday.

The panel comprising PPP central Punjab executive member Khan Asif Khan, former state minister Imtiaz Safdar Warraich and ex-Punjab health minister Rana Ikram Rabbani held a consultative meeting to frame the terms of reference of the panel.

PIA to bring back 348 more students from Bishkek

RAWALPINDI: While 1,368 Pakistani students have been brought back from Bishkek during the past four days, two more flights being operated from Islamabad and Lahore on Friday midnight and Saturday morning will facilitate repatriation of 348 more students stranded in Kyrgyzstan.

A spokesman for Pakistan International Airlines said the national flag carrier had operated eight special flights during the last four days and about 1,368 students reached their homeland safely through these flights.

He said that PIA`s operation also included two more special flights to Bishkek. One of the flights would depart from Lahore on Friday midnight and the other flight would depart from Islamabad for Bishkek at 8am on Saturday.

He said that 348 more students are reaching home through these two flights, which were being operated from Lahore and Islamabad.

PIA is operating these special flights to bring back Pakistani students to different cities of the country including Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta.

IHC restrains Pemra from taking action over court reporting

ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: While the Islamabad High Court on Friday restrained the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) from taking any adverse action against private television channels for court reporting, the Lahore High Court issued notices to the federal government the regulator on petitions challenging the ban on live coverage of judicial proceedings.

IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq issued the order while taking up a petition filed by the Islamabad High Court Journalists Association (IHCBA) and Press Association of Supreme Court against a Pemra notification barring court reporting and broadcasting programmes on sub judice matters. According to the notification issued by Pemra on Tuesday, TV channels were directed to `refrain from airing tickers/ headlines with regard to court proceedings and shall only report the written orders of court`.

The counsel of the petitioner, Barrister Umar Ijaz Gillani, contended before the court that the electronic media regulator misinterpreted the relevant rules and judgement of the Supreme Court to impose a blanket ban on the coverage of pending cases. He termed the notification an attack on the access to information and democratic rights of the citizens. The counsel contended that the notification was contradictory to the Pemra Ordinance and constitutional provisions and requested the court to set aside the same.

After preliminary hearing, Justice Farooq issued notices to Pemra authorities. Though the counsel requested the court to suspend the notification, the chief justice gave some protection to the television channels in the interim order, which stated: `No coercive measure shall be taken against any TV channel, provided the notification is adhered to and followed in letter and spirit. The court adjourned the hearing till May 28.

LHC issues notices While issuing notices to the federal government and Pemra, Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh

of the LHC observed that the questions raised in the two petitions were important, requiring determination by interpreting various articles of the Constitution and provisions of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority Ordinance 2002 and the code of conduct of regulator.

Earlier, Pemra`s counsel Imran Arif Ranjha questioned the maintainability of the petitions and argued that against the impugned directive, a remedy of appeal under Section 30-A of the 2002 ordinance was available in the relevant high court.

He contended that sinceIHChad alreadyissuednotices,thepetitionsinhandwere notmaintainableasperthesettledlaw. He said directives/guidelines, including the impugned directive to the licensees/channels, could be issued under regulation 18 of the Television, Broadcast, Station Operation Regulation 2012 framed under section 39 of the 2002 ordinance.

An assistant attorney general also reiterated the arguments of Pemra`s counsel and said the impugned directive was reasonable and imperative to ensure fair adjudication of pending matters in courts. Advocate Azhar Siddique, the counsel for one of the petitioners,

responded to the government`s objections, saying there were no proceedings initiated, which culminated into the impugned ban and, therefore, an appealunder the ordinance was neither available nor an adequate alternative remedy. He said Pemra was a federal agency and, therefore, the LHC also had a concurrent jurisdiction to adjudicate the matter. Justice Sheikh issued notices to the respondents, asking them to submit replies by May 29. The judge also asked the attorney general for Pakistan to assist the court in the matter.

The petitioners pleaded that Pemra had been acting under political pressure of the government, which was already hostile to media`s rights as guaranteed under articles 19 & 19A of the Constitution. They said Pemra committed gross illegality by not investigating and thoroughly examining the issue in accordance with the touchstone of the relevant laws.

Princess Zahra assures GB govt of support in health, education

PM calls for making efforts to protect markhor

GILGIT: Princess Zahra Aga Khan, who arrived at Gilgit-Baltistan on Thursday, has assured the government of support and cooperation for development in the education and health sectors.

GB Governor Syed Mehdi Shah, Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan and his cabinet members met Princess Zahra during her visit to the region.

On the occasion, the chief minister lauded the services of the Aga Khan Development Network in the health, education, infrastructure, and social development.

GB Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan welcomed her in GB on behalf of the government and the people of Gilgit-Baltistan. He said that it was their wish that the health and education programmes under the AKDN should be extended to all the districts of GB, especially remote areas.

He requested the cooperation of AKDN to add-ress the shortage of doctors, specialists, paramedical staff, and biomedical equipment in health facilities in Gilgit- Baltistan. He also highlighted the need for training of teachers and sought the cooperation of Aga Khan Education Service to improve access to and the quality of education in the area.

While talking to her, the chief minister also conveyed his best wishes to His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan and extended an invitation to visit GB.

Princess Zahra assured the CM that health and education projects would be reviewed.

She also discussed AKDN`s interventions in Gilgit-Baltistan and other areas of mutual interest in a meeting with Governor Syed Mehdi Shah held at Governor House.

The governor appreciated AKDN`s role in GB and requested the support of the institutions for the development of the region.

HBL Chairman Sultan Ali Allana and other officials were also present at the meeting.

ISLAMABAD: Observing the first International Day of Markhor on Friday (May 24), Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for making efforts to protect the national animal of Pakistan and other species which enrich the planet`s biodiversity.

In his message to the nation, the prime minister said: `Let us work together to protect not only Markhor but all species that enrich our planet`s biodiversity. By doing so, we secure a sustainable future for generations to come.

He called upon the people and the international community to reaffirm their commitment to environmental conservation.`Today, as we celebrate the first International Day of the Markhor, the national animal of Pakistan, we take pride inthe majestic creature that symbolises our rich natural heritage,` he said.

Mr Sharif said the markhor, with its unique corkscrew- shaped representedhorns,Pakistan`s commitment to preserving biodiversity and maint aining e cological balance.

He said the day, proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly on May 2 this year, acknowledged the nation`s efforts and successes in the conservation of wildlife.

The prime minister said that the significant increase in the markhor population over the past decade was a testament to the country`s dedication to protect its environment.natural

`Pakistan, as a committed signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), proudly announced its significant elevation to CITES Category-I. This elevation is a testament to the nation`s unwavering dedication to wildlife conservation and the sustainable management of our natural resources,` the prime minister said.

He said the country`s exclusive legislation,the Pakistan Trade Control of Wild Fauna and Flora Act, 2012, underscored its commitment to responsible trade practices and wellbeing of endangered species.

Markhor hunting In March, a US national Brian Douglas Williams hunted an Astore markhor (Capra falconeri) in Doyan, with a trophy size of 40-inch horns. The hunter paid a $181,000 trophy hunting permit fee to the GB Wildlife Department (GBWD) for the hunt.

Media reports said that in October 2023, the GB Forest,Parks and Wildlife Department auctioned four licences for the hunting of the prized Astore markhor, one of which fetched a record $186,000.

The highest permit for the Astore markhor was sold for $186,000, the second for $181,000, the third for $177,000, and the fourth for $171,000.

The base rate fees for blue sheep and Himalayan ibex permits were $9,000 and $5,500, respectively.

State must establish child friendly courts, rules SC

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has asked the state to fulfil its obligation of setting up child friendly courts under specially trained professional judges, since welfare and interest of the minor should be the foundational principle in deciding custody disputes.

`It is the duty of the courts to assess and determine a course that would have served the best interest of the minors,` observed Justice Athar Minallah

in a judgement issued the other day. Any decision regarding the custody of a child without assessment and determination of the child`s welfare and best interests by taking into consideration relevant factors and variables cannot be sustainable, nor can the exercise of discretion be lawful.

The decision came on a family dispute instituted by Shaista Habib, who challenged the Lahore High Court`s (LHC)

Sept 21, 2022 decision which had upheld the handing over of the custody of her child to her ex-husband Muhammad Arif Habib. While setting aside the LHC order, Justice Minallah in his ten-page judgement observed that the court cannot turn a blind eye to the apparent failure of the state in fulfilling its constitutional obligations of safeguarding the rights of the children embroiled in litigation between their parents. He said children are vulnerable and traumatic experiences early in life can leave lifelong scars which may profoundly affect the quality of their lives.

Exposure of a child to the environment generally prevalent in ordinary courts could profoundly affect their impressionable minds, he observed. Moreover, insensitivity or lack of special expertise on part of presiding judges in such matters can gravely affect the children`s rights and thus impact their lives adversely. Special expertise the litigation involving the rights of children, such as custody disputes, requires specialexpertise, training and professional aptitude on part of the presiding judges.

The environment of a court dealing with the rights of the children must also cater to their emotional and psychological needs, the judgement said. The courts must also be adequately equipped and enabled to professionally assess and determine the welfare of a child in each case. They must have access to professional consultation and advice of qualified experts such as psychologists.

The parents and courts must also have access to child welfare and social assistance services to protect and fulfil the rights of each child, the judgement emphasised, adding that Article 35 of the Constitution hasexplicitly made it an obligation of the state to protect the marriage, the family, and the mother and the child.

It is the constitutional duty under Article 29(3)of the president or the governor of the province, to prepare and lay before the respective legislatures areport in respect of each year regarding observance and implementation of the obligation relating to children under Article 37 of the Constitution. Likewise, it is an obligation of the state to ensure that the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution are protected and fulfilled in the case of children. It is, therefore, implicit in the obligation of the state towards protecting the rights of the children to provide child friendly courts presided by specially trained professional judges.

It is also the duty of the state to enable the child friendly courts to assess the welfare of the child in family matters, such as custody disputes, by providing access to professional consultation and opinions of experts e.g. psychologists etc, the judgement said.

The state is also responsible for providing affective child care and socialservices to protect and facilitate the fulfilling of the rights of those children who get entangled in custody disputes between feuding parents.

According to UN convention It is an obligation of the state under the United Nations Convention of Rights of the Child to ensure their protection and to take all necessary steps for child welfare.

The apex court ordered the registrar of the Supreme Court to send copies of this order to the president and the governors of the provinces to ensure compliance with their respective obligations under Article 29(3) of the Constitution in the context of Article 35. Copies of the order will also be sent to the director generals offederal and provincial judicial academies to include special training courses for judges and staff of family courts, relating to dealing with child custody cases and to develop their capacity to assess and determine the criterion of welfare of the child, the judgement observed.

Almost 200 inquiries against officials pending in CDA

ISLAMABAD: A significant number of officials have been working at their posts without any repercussions as the Capital Development Authority has failed to wrap up more than 200 inquiries, with some pending for almost three years.

The issue of the delay in the probe also raises a major question mark on the efficiency of the anti-corruption mechanism of the civic agency, which is imperative for good governance and building deterrence against suchpractices.

Sources told Dawn that as many as 200 inquiries related to various directorates the estate wing, land, engineering, environment, planning, and building control among others have been pending, with the land directorate and the estate wing atop the list. These departments deal with residential and commercial plots. Likewise, there are a number of inquiries regarding the allotment of plots on the basis of `bogus documents`, causing loss to the national exchequer.

CDA officials told Dawn that there was a need to expedite the ongoing inquiries so that action could be taken against the `guilty officials`, arguing that without strict measures, the governance at the civic body could not be improved. He said that in some cases, preliminary inquiries were conducted, but formal inquiries were not initiated to hold the accused officials accountable.

According to officials, there was also a need to ascertain if there was any stay order granted by the courts against these inquiries, whereas the concept of `de-novo`inquiries (repeat of inquiries) also needed to be looked at.

In some cases, such inquiries were also conducted, which caused yearslong delays in the completion. However, sources said some inquiries had been pending for years, with the majority of them from the past three years.`There are very few old cases as we have completed inquiries in most of the old cases. Currently, pending inquiries are from 2021 to 2024,` he said, adding that it was not necessary that all inquiries were related to corruption as some pertained to disciplinary grounds.

According to another official, the incumbent CDA chairman, Muhammad Ali Randhawa,

seemed `very active` in improving the performance of the authority through routine inspections of development sites.

He said the chairman should also take note of the pending inquiries and pass orders for their immediate completion. The official said that completion of inquiries was not a big deal as all of them could be completed within three months.

When contacted, CDA`s spokesperson Abeera Dilawar said that efforts were a foot to wrap up the pending inquiries.

She told Dawn that over the past few months, `we completed about 70 inquiries which indicates that we are very serious` about this matter. However, 50 new inquiries were also initiated over the past few months, adding up to the tally of the pending investigations. She said that all pending inquiries would be completed

To a query about the delay, she said that in some cases, the inquiry officers who were serving on a deputation basis were repatriated and in some cases, other investigation agencies, such as the NAB

and the FIA,

were conducting the inquiries for which they had been provided the record by the CDA so they could finish the probe.

According to the spokesperson, the management was seriously pursuing the matter of pending inquiries and would be completed as soon as possible.She said that recently CDA`s inquiry officers were strictly directed to complete inquiries.

26 PTI workers booked for resisting encroachment drive

Initiative to train overseas employment promoters launched

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Amir Masood Mughal

and 25 other persons were booked under separate charges, including terrorism, police said.

The Karachi Company police registered the case under section 7 of Anti Terrorism Act along withsections 353, 186, 148, 149 and 337-Hii of Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) in response to a complaint lodged by area magistrate Mohammad Sajjad.

According to the FIR, the magistrate along with police and CDA staff went to PTI Secretariat at G-8/4 at around 11:55pm in connection with an anti encroachment drive. In the meantime, Mr Mughal carrying an iron rod along with 20 to 25 unidentified PTI workers armed with batons and iron rods resorted to firing.

It said Mr Mughal intercepted the CDA machinery demolishing the encroachments. When the police tried to stop him, he and the charged mob attacked the police and CDA staff besides resorting to firing. The police overpowered Mr Mughal while the others escaped.

The capital administration said the CDA conducted the operation to demolish encroachments made on a plot allotted to Sartaj Ali.

A number of other violations were made by the owner, it said, adding notices had been issued to the plot owner several times along with warnings, including on November 19, 2020, February 22, 2021, and June 14, 2022, to remove the violations.

A show-cause notice was also issued on September 4, 2023 for not removing the violations, the administration said. An order was issued on May 10 to seal the plotafter the violations were not removed.

The anti-encroachment operation has been launched to enforce the building rules and remove encroachments, they said, adding that the drive to remove encroachments and illegal construction will continue across the city.

ISLAMABAD: The International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD),through the Migrant Resource Centre (MRC), has partnered with the Pakistan Overseas Employment Promoters Association (POEPA) to conduct capacity-building training and consultative sessions for several Overseas Employment Promoters (OEPs).

This initiative aims to enhance the skills and knowledge of OEPs, equipping them to provide the best possible service to job seekers aspiring to work abroad and addressing the challenges faced by workers in Pakistan and abroad.

The training featured two sessions covering topics including fair recruitment practices, legal frameworks, ethical standards, monitoring and grievance mechanisms, the significance of predeparture orientation, and post-arrival information for intending, aspiring, and potential migrant workers from Pakistan.

Community Welfare Attaché (CWA), Embassy of Pakistan in Saudi Arabia Sohail Babar, Director Operations Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment (BEOE) Farrukh Jamal, Group President, POEPA Athar Iqbal Shah, and Professor at the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) Dr. Umm-e-Laila were the main speakers.

Saad ur Rehman Khan, project manager of the MRCs in Pakistan, highlighted in his opening remarks that `investing in the training of OEPs is crucial for creating a more transparent and responsible migration system that safeguards the rights and well-being of migrant workers. By equipping OEPs with the necessary skills and knowledge, we can contribute to a more ethical and sustainable labour migration process.

Rana Imran, MRC coordinator, Islamabad, highlighted `the vital role of training workshops in empowering OEPs, ensuring fair recruitment, legal compliance, and migrant welfare.

Farrukh Jamal, director operations at the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment (BEOE), highlighted the role of government departments in securing labour worker rights and ensuring fair and safe working conditions through legislation.

He focused on labour laws and ethical recruitment practices that protect workers from exploitation, discrimination, and unsafe environments, promoting a more just society.

Sohail Babar, a community welfare attaché (CWA), Embassy of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, explained the various channels available to workers for reporting any infringement of their rights, ensuring they can navigate potential challenges with confidence.

Athar Iqbal Shah, group president POEPA, shared his thoughts, stating that through this training session, MRC and POEPA are not only fostering the professional development of licensed OEPs but also ensuring that job seekers receive optimal support and guidance in their pursuit of opportunities abroad.-Staff Reporter

Driver handed over to Military Police after `Save Gaza` accident

GB assembly seeks due share in NFC Award

ISLAMABAD: A driver who crushed two people to death on Jinnah Avenue on Monday in the jurisdiction of the Kohsar police station has been handed over to the Military Police for legal proceedings as he turned out to be a lieutenant of the Pakistan Army, said police on Friday.

Four people, including a police inspector, were also injured as the vehicle ran over the participants of a protest being held just outside the Red Zone in solidarity with Gaza. Subsequently, a case was registered at the Kohsar police station under sections 322, 337-G, 427 and 279 of the Pakistan Penal Code against the driver.

Police spokesperson Taqi Jawad said the driver was a lieutenant in the army and the son of a brigadier. He was handed over to the MP for further legal action, the spokesperson said, adding that the senior army officer also resigned from the army after the incident.

Police said the car involved in the accident was registered in the name of his father, the police said, adding that after the arrest of the driver, his father also reached the police station and made attempts to influence the police for the release of his son. However, after the MP and other departments of the army learnt about the incident, they arrived at the police station and took custody of the lieutenant.

Accident on Jinnah Avenue At the time of the incident, the participants of the `Save Gaza` protest were sleeping on a portion of Jinnah Avenue between Express Chowk and the old Parade Ground, the police had said. The streetlights of the area were also switched off when the incident had occurred.

`At around 2:45am, a speeding car appeared on the road, ran over five participants and then crashed

into a police barricade, hitting the inspector [on duty].

The driver then sped away the car towards Ayub Chowk via Attaturk Avenue. Police deployed on special duty in connection with the protest alerted the control room. In response, a patrolling team intercepted the car and caught the driver and shifted him to the police station.

The police had said Mohammad Roman Sajid and an unidentified man, aged between 40 and 45 years, died on the spot while Mohammad Talha Ilyas, Hamad Hassan and Faisal Hayat along with Inspector Ijaz Ahmed were injured.

GILGIT: The Gilgit Baltistan Assembly on Friday passed a resolution demanding finalisation of region`s due share in NFC Award and allocation of resources to GB on the pattern of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Speaker Nazir Ahmed

chaired the assembly`s pre-budget session during which GB Finance Minister Muhammad Ismail and treasury member Amjad Hussain, along with opposition member Javed Ali Manwa presented a joint resolution.

The resolution stated that after detailed deliberation and discussion on the scarcity of financial resources and overcoming the financial crisis in Gilgit-Baltistan, the assembly unanimously resolved that the federal government should make an agreement for the allocation of resources to GB on the pattern of the financial agreement made with AJK and the federal government.

The resolution also demanded provision of a four per cent share in the grant-in-aid share of provinces from the federal divisible pool until the finalisation of GB`s due share from the NFC; continuation of the existing subsidy on the purchase of wheat and petroleum for GB; establishment of special economic and industrial zones; special initiatives for the region to attract private sectorinvestors; provision of water use charges and net hydel profit on power generation; protection and provision of an adequate share for GB under the PSDP.

All members from both sides of the aisle favoured the resolution, which was announced adopted unanimously by Speaker Nazir Ahmed.

Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan

called it a `discrimination` to not provide NFC Award share to GB. He said he had discussed the provision of NFC Award shares to GB and Diamer-Basha dam royalty with the prime minister. He said that GB had been provided with Rs25 billion worth of PSDP projects during the fiscal year 2022-23, but during the current fiscal year, GB had only been given Rs8 billion for projects which was an injustice to the people.

He informed the assembly that government rest houses had been leased out to a private company for revenue, rejecting the impression that the rest houses had been sold out to a private company.

Earlier, GB opposition leader Kazim Mesum criticised the GB government for leasing out 37 rest houses to a private company without open bidding. GB opposition members Javed Ali Manwa and Raja Zakaria Khan Magpoon said the opposition would resist leasing out public properties to a private company without open bidding.

Balochistan lawmakers condemn massive load-shedding

Two children among three killed in windstorm

QUETTA: Lawmakers of the Balochistan Assembly on Friday condemned massive loadshedding by Quetta Electric Supply Company (Qesco)across Balochistan, and demanded the government to reduce load-shedding hours.

They accused Qesco officials of being involved in power theft and demanded of the provincial government that officials who had been holding offices for several years should be transferred immediately.

They said the Uch Power Plant in Dera Murad Jamali was producing electricity from the gas supplied to the power plant from the Uch gas field, but the provincewas not getting power from it.

In a meeting with officials of Qesco, who were summoned by the Speaker Abdul Khalig Achakzai in assembly, the lawmakers aired their grievances about Qesco`s `wrongdoings`, including long load-shedding hours and power theft by some of its officials.

The lawmakers said that during the scorching heat when temperature is hitting around 50 degrees Celsius, load-shedding hours in Mekran, Naseerabad Division, Sibi, Kachhi and other areas should be reduced.

RAWALPINDI: At least three people, including two children, died while five other people were injured as a powerful storm ripped through the Rawalpindi district on Friday.

The storm caused the collapse of roofs besides uprooting several trees, and electricity poles in Rawalpindi and Gujar Khan.

Heavy rain was also reported from different parts of Rawalpindi;however, the weather calmed after a short while.

The first incident happened in Q azian village where two children Ali Hassan, 9, and eight-yearold Zila Hassan died while two other children identified as Aliza, 12, and Farhan, 4, were injured after the roof of their house caved in, police said.

Shortly after the incident, Rescue 1122 staff reached thespot and shifted the injured to the District Headquarters Hospital Rawalpindi, said a police official.

Another 55-year-old woman was injured critically in the same area after a wall of her house collapsed.

More pledges

THE administration`s campaign to bring Gulf investment to Pakistan continues apace, with the prime minister, wrapping up a one-day trip to the UAE on Thursday.

Shehbaz Sharif spent a busy day in the Emirates, meeting UAE ruler Mohamed bin Zayed, addressing a conference on tech collaboration, and exchanging notes with other Emirati officials and businessmen. The meeting with MBZ apparently went well, with Emirati state media saying $10bn had been allocated for investment in `promising economic sectors` in Pakistan. Mr Sharif has mentioned IT, renewable energy and tourism as fields that may attract UAE cooperation. The government has also been courting Saudi Arabia, with the prime minister making two trips to the kingdom over the past two months, while Saudi ministers and delegations have visited Pakistan to reiterate Riyadh`s commitment to invest here. The Saudis have reportedly promised investment worth $5bn.

The pledges from our friends in the Gulf are reassuring, but the multibillion-dollar question is: when will they materialise? Perhaps the Saudis and Emiratis are waiting for the IMF to greenlight the next loan to Pakistan before releasing their own funds.

Though the IMF loan has yet to be approved, Fund officials have described discussions with the government as `fruitful`, saying that `significant progress` has been made towards a staff-level agreement. Hopefully, once the loan is approved in the near future, the investment agreements signed with Gulf partners will start taking firmer shape. Unfortunately, due to our past financial profligacy and indiscipline, even traditional allies are wary about putting their money in this country, and await the nod of international financial institutions. On their part, IFIs also monitor our financial dealings with our foreign partners before writing us a cheque. The government must change this negative perception through better financial management, moving the state towards a sustainable economic model.

The prime minister, during his brief UAE trip, addressed these unpleasant issues when he announced that the `begging bowl` had been `broken`. Over 240m Pakistanis are hoping this is actually the case. To truly break free from the shackles of financial dependence, we must put the projected foreign investment to good use, tax the untaxed internally, and learn to live within our means. Decades of living large with the elite of this country primarily culpable has brought us to this sorry pass, and the current opportunity to set our house in order should not be wasted.

We must keep pursuing foreign investment, and give the investors a business-friendly climate free of bureaucratic obstacles. Profit repatriation should also be eased to attract foreign money. There needs to be continuity in economic policies, while development must be focused on bringing prosperity to the masses. Moreover, internal harmony, and undisturbed representative rule, are essential for real stability in Pakistan.

Enduring threat

THE death this week of journalist Nasrullah Gadani,

who succumbed to injuries after being attacked by gunmen, is yet another reminder of the perilous state of journalism in Pakistan. The country remains one of the world`s most dangerous places for journalists. Ranked 152 out of 180 countries by Reporters Without Borders and 11th on the Committee to Protect Journalists` Global Impunity Index, our record on press freedom and journalist safety is appalling. This month alone, three other journalists were murdered: Mehar Ashfaq Siyal was gunned down in Punjab, and Muhammad Siddique Mengal was killed by a bomb in Balochistan, while Kamran Dawar, a citizen journalist, was shot dead in KP.The impunity with which these crimes are committed reflects a persistent failure of the state to protect journalists. Sindh, where Gadani was attacked, is particularly hazardous. According to Freedom Network, Sindh accounted for 33pc of the total number of violations against media in Pakistan from May 2023 to March 2024. This includes murders, attacks, injuries, kidnappings, threats, and legal cases. The regional safety commission, established under the Sindh Protection of Journalists and Other Practitioners Act, 2021, remains ineffective due to lack of resources, office space, and staff.

The government`s inaction perpetuates a cycle of bloodshed and impunity. To break this cycle, it must take decisive steps.

This includes fully activating regional safety commissions with adequate resources, ensuring prompt and transparent investigations into attacks on journalists, and prosecuting those responsible. Capacity building for journalists, particularly in safety protocols, and fostering partnerships between journalists and lawyers for legal recourse are crucial. Until these measures are implemented, Pakistani journalists will continue to work under the shadow of fear, and the state will remain complicit in the erosion of press freedom. The protection of journalists is not simply a legal obligation; it is also a moral imperative. It is high time Pakistan took this responsibility seriously.

Enigmatic exchange rate

ہلدا�� �رس ہ��

IS our exchange rate `market-determined` nowadays? Its stability around Rs280 to one US dollar appears both amazing and perplexing in the current difficult balance-of-payments situation. This remarkable stability reportedly helped the State Bank of Pakistan purchase billions of dollars from the interbank foreign exchange market over the last few months. Earlier, in the first half of FY2024, the rupee first depreciated from Rs282 to Rs333 within two months, ie, JulyAugust 2023, and then appreciated in the open market back to around Rs280 during September October. This behaviour brought about by economic and non-economic forces, with few fluctuations since then, helped the SBP increase its dollar reserves through purchases.

During a period of high volatility in the open market, the interbank rate fluctuated much less (between Rs276 and Rs307.) Resultantly, the difference between the open market and interbank rate went up from around zero to about Rs27 in September 2023. The appreciating pressure both in the open and interbank market flooded the former with dollars, causing the open market premium to crash again close to zero. This muchneeded supply helped the SBP purchase dollars to shore up its reserves during the appreciating trend. This purchase is the opposite of the practice of keeping the exchange rate stable by selling from SBP reserves to the interbank dollar market.

Economists usually label a non-moving or littlemoving exchange rate as `fixed`, `pegged`, or a `de facto peg`, if the official position runs contrary to the apparent fixity. Economists also use the intelligent term`fear of floating` to indicate a failure to establish a truly market-determined exchange rate. So, what is the reality regarding our current exchange rate regime? Does it exhibit a fear of floating? If it does it would indicate that it is not truly market-determined.

The price of the dollar to the rupee is brought about by the complex interaction between market forces, the regulator of foreign exchange (the central bank), and the government (usually the finance ministry). Dollar demand is influenced through economic incentives given to importers (and outward remitters), and several regulations enshrined in the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1947. Dollar supply is determined by eco-nomic incentives to industry, especially export sectors and inward remitters. In terms of `wishes`, everyone consumers of imports (petrol and non-petrol), outward remitters, the government, smugglers, money launderers, etc would `like` the price of dollar to be extremely low. The only exceptions are exporters (who are not importers) and receivers of inward remittances.

However, reality does not function on wishes alone. Any price determination regarding demand and supply requires either purchasing power, or another kind of power to influence the price (in the short run). This determines the actual price. A persisting trend of supply being lower than demand will dictate the market regarding price flexibility, with the exchange rate ultimately overshooting. In our foreign exchange interbank market, those on the supply side are exporters, importers, and the treasury heads of banks who facilitate interbank transactions. The power of facilitators is limited by the supply of foreign exchange they receive daily from exporters and remitters, and partially on their marketmaking or intelligent price-quoting skills. Rarely,

big bankers may collude to dictate a higher price, but this behaviour is unlikely to be sustained as the biggest player is the central bank, which can check manipulative behaviour through regulations, penalties, or a surprise supply of dollars in the interbank market to reduce the dollar`s price.

So, what happened to the exchange rate at the beginning quarter of FY24? According to the SBP`s latest half yearly report, `During Jul-Aug 2023, the external sector was facing several challenges, such as increasing financing gap, high volatility in FX market, tightening of global financial conditions, and heightened domestic uncertainty. These adversely impacted forex reserves and increased pressures on exchange rate. However, crackdown on illegal currency activities like smuggling of foreign exchange, besides exchange company reforms introduced by the SBP in September 2023, reduced pressures on the exchange rate. This combined with sustained improvement in current account balance and reserve position following disbursements from other bilateral and multilateral sources, led to a gradual appreciation of PKR from 5th September 2023 onwards. Supportive regulatorymeasures, like the imposition of a processing fee on Afghan imports of transit commercial goods via Pakistan and the suspension of B-category exchange companies` authorisation, further alleviated the strains in the FX market.

The `crackdown` referred to here became both domestic and international news. Wikipedia now has a page about the 2023 crackdown. Last September, Dawn reported it as `The dollar galore in grey market` and `Crackdown restores confidence in rupee`. The `crackdown` on unscrupulous open-market elements rapidly brought down the value of the dollar. The mere news about the crackdown must have reverberated through banking circles deeply affecting the psyche of commercial bank presidents, and appearing to influence treasury officers` dollar price-quoting behaviour also. Now that the SBP is not supplying dollars in settling their daily trades determining the exchange rate, can we say that it is a marketdetermined exchange rate? One can say that it seems more like a `crackdown-determined` exchange rate. Have our authorities succeeded in inventing a new kind of exchange rate regime altogether?

According to a report on May 7, `A nationwide crackdown on elements involved in hundi and illegal currency exchange persists, as reported by the spokesperson of the Federal Investigation Agency. Over the past four months, 267 raids were conducted targeting individuals engaged in the illegal exchange of hawala, hundi, and illegal currency exchange businesses.

According to the assessment of the IMF staff published in their May 2024 report, `Gross debt service obligations remain substantial, and current account imbalances stemming from insufficient exchange rate flexibility and import restrictions may require additional policy adjustment to reach external equilibrium.` Are we about to see a move towards market-determined exchange rates in the near future as we negotiate a mediumterm programme with the IMF? If that is so, the future will reveal how long it lasts, given our fixed (and lower) exchange rate-loving authorities and people.

KP cutting expenses as centre not clearing dues: CM aide

PESHAWAR: Adviser to the chief minister on finance Muzzammil Aslam on Friday that the provincial government was reducing its expenses as the federal government was not clearing its dues.

During a post-budget news conference here, Mr Aslam complained that the province hadn`t received a single penny from the centre as net hydel profit.

He said the provincial government would receive Rs1.2 trillion from the federal government in the next fiscal year, while the province was likely to generate Rs93 billion in revenue by it self. The aide to the chief minister said the provincial government would get Rs122 billion in foreign loans for development schemes and recommended a 10 per cent increase in the basic sal-ary of its employees.

He said the provincial government`s tax on property was reduced from six per cent to 3.5 per cent and the tax on private housing societies increased. Mr Aslam said cess on tobacco was increased.

He said there would be a fixed tax on wedding halls, while the tax on restaurants had been reduced to six per cent

The CM`s aide said the provincial government was not taxing merged tribal districts and Malakand division, so it requested the federal government, too, not to tax those areas. He said the province recently received funds for tribal districts from the centre.

Mr Aslam said the federal government was holding talks with the International Monitory Fund for loans, and therefore, it couldn`t set a date for the announcement of its budget. He added that even if the federal government presented its budget on June 7, there would be very little time for the provincial government to lay and pass its budget due to Eid ul Azha, which was likely to be marked on June 17 or 18.

`We have not bypassed anyone, noris there anything in the law stopping us from presenting the provincial budget before the announcement of the federal budget,` he said.

The CM`s adviser said the provincial government developed its budget in light of four principles, including revenue maximisation, expenditure reduction, resource mobilisation, and taxing those required to be taxed, and providing relief to those who deserved relief. He said the provincial government feared it would not receive Rs46.8 billion under the windfall levy and Rs111 billion in net hydel profit from the centre. Meanwhile, opposition members in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly wondered why the KPgovernment wanted to present its budget even before the announcement of the federal budget.

Leader of the Opposition Dr Ibadullah Khan told reporters after the budget speech outside the Assembly Hall on Friday that the provincial government had acknowledged that 92 per cent of its total annual expenditure was paid by the federal government, but it was still complaining against the latter. He said it wasn`t clear how much funding the centre would provide to the province in the next fiscal year from the federal divisible pool and under the National Finance Commission Award and what decision the Council of Common Interest would take.

Dr Khan said provincial minister for finance Aftab Alam Afridi had assumed about the funds to be given by the federal government to the province. Accompanied by Pakistan Peoples Party leader Arbab Zarak

and Pakist an Muslim League Nawaz leader Zahir Khan, the opposition leader said the federal government wanted to pass the budget before June 3, in a reference to a Supreme Court hearing about the oath-taking of the KP Assembly`s reserved seats for women and non-Muslims.

Seminary head, others held over girl`s assault, murder in Dir

LOWER DIR: The Munda police here have arrested three suspects, including head of an orphanage-cum-seminary and his son, in Mandizo area of Jandol after they were charged by the father of a seven-year-old girl with her assault and murder.

The police arrested the seminary head, Maulana Ziaul Haq Haidari

on Thursday night, and his son, Abu Bakar and body guard, Sanaullah, on Friday. They were produced before a judicial magistrate, who remanded them for four days.

An FIR of the case was registered under sections 302 (intentional murder) and 376 (rape) of Pakistan Penal Code and section 53 (sexual abuse) of KP Child Protection and Welfare Act.

Sartaj, the victim`s father, told the police in the FIR that the seminary administration informed him on May 17 that his daughter had died and collect her body. He, however, claimed his daughter was killed several days ago and her body was kept hidden in the seminary.

The complainant said after the girl`spostmortem report, which he got on May 23, he got registered a case against the seminary head, his son, his body guard and others for his daughter`s murder. The complainant said he had got his daughter admitted to the seminary a month ago.

Official sources said the medical report confirmed the girl`s death was caused by torture. The postmortem was conducted at the District Headquarters Hospital, Timergara.

Delay in postmortem report triggered calls from public circles and social media activists that an impartial and transparent investigation should be conducted into the case. Area elders also met district police officer Mazhar Iqbal, asking him to order probe into the matter.

The administration of the orphanage/ seminary had earlier claimed the minor girl had died after quilts fell over her.

The sources said an investigation team supervised by SP investigations Rashid Ahmad had been formed to investigate the case.

PTI govt to spend Rs416bn on development

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Finance Minister Aftab Alam Afridi

on Friday unveiled Rs416.3 billion Annual Development Plan (ADP) for 2024-25, an increase of 38 per cent over the caretakers` Rs301bn.

While the provincial government of Pakistan Tehreek-I-Insaf increased the ADP size by Rs115.3bn for FY25, it is lower than the Rs418bn development outlay it unveiled in 2022-23.

The ADP 2024-25 comprises development funds for the settled and merged areas, a share of the two-tiered local government system, an accelerated implementation programme for the merged areas, donorfunded projects, and the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).

• According to the budget documents, Rs120bn has been allocated for the settled districts and Rs36bn for developing the province`s merged districts.

• Similarly, Rs24bn has been earmarked for the district annual development plan, which would be devolved to the two-tier local government system, including tehsil, village, and neighborhood.

• Another Rs79bn would be utilised in the merged areas under the Accelerated Implementation Programme (AIP).

• The development budget would include a hefty Rs130.59bn through foreign project assistance. The documents reveal that Rs24.4bn is also part of the development outlay to be provided by the federal government under the PSDP.

• According to the budget documents, Rs65.9bn has been earmarked under the head of multi-sectoral development, Rs46.6bn for road construction, Rs30.2bn for the energy and power department, Rs32.4bn for the health department, Rs23.2bn for elementary and secondaryeducation, Rs23.1bn for urban development, and Rs21.7bn for water.

• The departments for which less development funds are allocated include Rs67 million for the environment, Rs177m for the Excise Taxation and Narcotics Department, Rs302m for the Housing Department, Rs71m for information, Rs152m for the Labour Department, Rs224m for public-private partnership and Rs 308 for the Food Department.

• Sharing the salient features of the development sector on the floor of the provincial assembly, the finance minister said that Rs4.4bn has been allocated for the development of the Higher Education Department.

• Besides other development activities planned for the next fiscal year, the minister said, prominent among them are the establishment of 30 new colleges in the rented buildings and the Centre of Excellence for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM).

• He said that Rs10bn would be used on the Chashma Right Bank Canal (LeftCumGravity) project, which will irrigate 300,000 acres and make the province self-sufficient in the food sector.

• The finance minister further said that Rs12bn has been allocated for different employment schemes under which 100,000 youths of the province will get jobs. These employment schemes include the Ehsaas Rozgar Programme, Ehsaas Nojawan Programme, and Ehsaas Hunar Programme.

• In the road sector, the finance minister said the government was set to launch big projects in public-private partnerships, including Dir Motorway and Dera Ismail Khan Motorway.

• The minister said that Rs37bn would be used for the health insurance program (Sehat Card Plus) and Rs10bn for the purchase of medicines in public-sector hospitals.

Weekly inflation slows to 21.3pc

ISLAMABAD: Short-term inflation, measured by the Sensitive Price Index (SPI), slowed to 21.31 per cent on an annual basis in the week ending May 23, official data showed on Friday.

However, it witnessed a 0.34pc decline on a weekon-week basis, mainly due to the drop in prices of wheat flour, LPG, onions, rice, and a few vegetables, including tomatoes.

The items whose prices declined week- on-week included garlic (7.87pc), chicken (5.92pc), wheat flour (4.66pc), LPG (3.23pc), onions (1.99pc), eggsrice(1.22pc), basmati pulse(1.12pc), masoor (0.95pc), rice IRRI (0.84pc) firewood (0.04pc).

The items whose prices increased the most over the previous week included beef (0.49pc), energy (0.44pc),saverpulse gram (0.42pc), milk powder (0.37pc), tea prepared (0.30pc), mutton (0.25pc).

However, on an annual basis, the items whose prices increased the most included gas charges for Q1 onions(570pc),(88.26pc), chilli powder (69.71pc), garlic tomatoes(53.46pc),(38.63pc), beef energy(23.70pc), saver (22.48pc), pulse mash (21.79pc) sugar (20.18pc).

Trade gap with Middle East narrows 26pc

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan`s trade deficit with the Middle East has significantly improved, narrowing by 26 per cent to $10.672 billion in the first 10 months of the current fiscal year, mainly due to decreasing petroleum imports from the region.

The trade imbalance with the region has decreased since the beginning of the current fiscal year, primarily because of reduced consumption of petroleum products, as prices have continued to rise during the months under review.

In absolute terms, Pakistan`s exports to the Middle East rose 31.88pc to $2.523bn between JulyApril 2023-24 compared to $1.913bn in the corresponding period lastyear. At the same time, imports dipped 19.22pc to $13.195bn in 10MFY24, compared to $16.335 bn inthe same period last year, according to data compiled by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

Pakistan has recently signed a free trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states to minimise its trade imbalance with the region.The demand for Pakistani products has surged in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

Pakistan witnessed a 7.24pc decline in imports totalling $17.488bn in FY23, down from $18. 853bn in the preceding year. In FY23, exports to the Middle East shrank 12.62pc to $2.332bn from $2.669bn in the preceding year. Exports to Saudi Arabia rose 42.91pc in 10MFY24 to $579.43m from $405.44m in 10MFY23. At the same time, imports from Saudi Arabia increased by 0.26pc to $3.79bn in 10MFY24against $3.78bn in the same period last year.

Exports to the UAE surged 35.62pc to $1.637bn in 10MFY24 from $1.207bn in 10MFY23, primarily due to a significant rise in exports to Dubai. Most of these exports were directed towards Dubai, amounting to $1.358bn this year, compared to $1.087bn during the same period last year, indicating an increase of 24.93pc.

Pakistan`s top export products to the UAE include rice, bovine carcasses and half carcasses, men`s/ boys` ensembles,cottonguavas and mangoes.

Contrary to this, imports from UAE declined by 22.67pc to $5.056bn in 10MFY24, compared to $6.539 bn in the corresponding period last year.

Exports to Bahrain increased by 7.49pc to $58.78m in 10MFY24 from $54.68m in the corresponding period lastyear.

QR code payment for sacrificial animals on cards

KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) is working with 25 banks to facilitate 50 cattle markets across the country for the payment through QR code that may attract up to Rs550 billion as the estimated price of sacrificial animals.

A Quick Response (QR) code payment is a form of contactless payment. A QR code is a scannable barcode containing horizontaland verticallines, dots, and patterns.

While speaking at the 17th international conference titled `Mobile Commerce 2024`, organised by Total Communications, SBP (Payment System Policy and Oversight Department) Joint Director Ahmed Sumair said that the central bank was working with the banks to enable cattle markets and cattle farmers to do transaction on QR code on Eidul Azha.

The SBP will make it easy for buyers of sacrificial animals to make payment by using QR code mechanism at cattle markets nationwide during the Eid, expanding the application of payments through Raast Instant Payment System.

The initiative is being taken to help people and merchants to securely make payments, besides helping banks to potentially tap over Rs550bn to Rs600bn cattle purchases through digital banking on the annual religious festival.

`We are working with 25 banks... and have selected 50 major cattle markets to enable QR code payment method there,` he said.

He said the markets had been identified in all the 15 cities having SBP field offices including Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad and Hyderabad. `We are covering six cattle markets alone in Karachi on this Eid (falling in mid of June 2024).

He said the project was aimed at solving various pain points including the hassle of carrying cash and making payments to purchase sacrificial animals.

Besides, it would help on boarding of cattle farmers and expand financial inclusion through Raast, he said.

He said the QR code payment method would revolutionise the payment experience, as high cost of installing POS machines at merchants had its own limitations.

The QR payment has also enabled small merchants to receive payment through online transactions, discouraging the use of cash in the economy. Merchants may display QR code to receive online payment in a real-time and hasslemanner.

IMC raises prices of Yaris facelift

KARACHI: Indus Motor Company (IMC) has launched the Toyota Yaris facelift model with a price increase of Rs144,000-Rs606,000.

In mid-March, IMC cut the prices of various Yaris models by Rs73,000133,000 to keep them below Rs4 million, excluding general sales tax.According to the indicative price list issued by the IMC to its authorised dealers, the new prices for the Toyota Yaris GLi M/T 1.3, CVT 1.3, ATIV M/T 1.3 and ATIV CVT 1.3 are Rs4.479 million, Rs4.760m, Rs4.730m and Rs5.604m as compared to Rs4.326m, Rs4.616m, Rs4.586m and Rs4.766m, respectively. The ATIV X CVT 1.5 (Beige interior) is now available at Rs 6.255m, up from Rs5.649m.

Yaris booking is being done with a partial payment of Rs1.5m on order intake starting from May 24. A dealer said the company has jacked up the pricesfor afacelift ofheadlights and bumpers.Amid lethargic auto sales during 10MFY24, a silver lining emerged after the State Bank of Pakistan relaxed import curbs, thus boosting the arrival of completely knocked-down kits (CKD).

According to Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) data, the import of CKD rose to $72m in April from $60m in March, $50m in February, and $37m in January, suggesting an improvement in advance booking of hot-selling vehicles.An auto part expert, Mashood Ali Khan, said that the rising trend in the import of CKD kits signals improvement in sales, especially from July onwards, depending on the pro-auto industry measures to be announced in the FY25 budget.

Equities cross 76,000 on economic optimism

KARACHI: Investment commitments from the United Arab Emirates and significant progress on the new IMF bailout programme sent stocks rallying above the 76,000 level intraday. However, the benchmark KSE 100 index on Friday settled shy of this level, but it still closed at a record level despite the drop in trading volume.

Topline Securities Chief Executive Mohammed Sohail said stocks rallied further after the IMF said Pakistan made `significant progress` towards reaching a Staff-Level Agreement for a new loan.

Moreover, the UAE`s $10 billion investment commitment in promising economic sectors and the news that Pakistan may sell its stake in Reko Dik to Saudi Arabia also contributed to the weekend rally.

Mr Sohail hoped that the sixth continuous deceleration in short-term inflation, measured by the Sensitive Price Index, would reduce the interest rate in the coming months, boosting investment in flows in the equities.

He said that though the PSX doubled in a year, stock valuations remain attractive as the market is still trading at a low priceto-earnings ratio of 4 to 5.Answering a question about bullish market performance despite harsh IMF conditions for the next bailout, Ahsan Mehanti of Arif Habib Corporation told Dawnthat these conditions would improve the energy sector outlook by resolving circular debt crises.

However, he added that industrial earnings would decrease due to higherenergy costs.

`PIA privatisation will be the next trigger for PSX besides expectation of a massive cut in SBP policy rate while new IMF bailout will stabilise foreign exchange reserves in the coming months,`he added.

Explaining other factors boosting the bullish market outlook, he said the proposed higher PSDP allocations in the budget 2024-25 would improve the earnings outlook for the cement, energy, and engineering sectors.

Corporate taxes are expected to remain firm, and the government`s focus would remain on broadening the tax base.

As a result, the benchmark index hit an intraday record high of 76,248.76 and a low of 75,263.06. However, the KSE 100 index settled at new peak of 75,983.04 points after staging a spectacular rally of 868.56 points or 1.16pc on a dayon-day basis.

$11.3bn received in loans, grants

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan received only about $11.3 billion in foreign loans and grants in the first 10 months (July-April) of the current fiscal year, far behind the annual target of $17.4bn. This is amid major slippages in raising international financial support, although it has met the revised target.

According to official data released by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the country received about $237 million in foreign loans in April compared to $204m in March and $318m in February.

It said the government could materialise about $7.142bn in foreign economic assistance (FEA) in the first 10 months of outgoing FY24, almost 41pc of the annual budget target, amid limited borrowing avenues. This is in the wake of poor credit ratings and adverse conditions in the global financial markets despite the support of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

This FEA is in addition to $3bn released by the IMF under the Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) and $1bn by the United Arab Emirates, which is separately accounted for by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). Thus, total foreign inflows, including the IMF and UAE, amounted to $11.24bnin 10 months. This generally works out to be almost 65pc of the full-year targeted inflows.

However, the authorities claim better debt and trade management has reduced the current year`s foreign assistance requirements. Thus its target is now tentatively revised to around $11bn instead of $17.62bn set in the 2023-24 budget for FEA. They are now predicting the current account deficit to be around $2bn instead of about $6bn budget estimate.

In its monthly FEA report for April, the MEA said the country received $7.142bn in July-April FY24 against its annual target of $17.62bn. This meant foreign inflows were over 12pc lower than the $8.124bn of the same period last fiscal year, which was otherwise a very tough period given the challenging relationship with the IMF.

The low inflows were mainly because of the adverse international environment and the country`s poor credit rating, making international capital markets a no-go area for Pakistan.

Therefore, Pakistan had to defer its plan $1.5bn Eurobond because of higher interest rates in the international capital markets and the country`s low credit rating. The EAD report showed that besides the $1.5bn in fresh bonds, the government had also budgeted another $4.5bn in for-eign commercial loans for the current fiscal year.

Total inflows recorded by the EAD in April came in at Rs237m compared to 204 million in March, $333m each in January & February and $1.62in December.

by three major multilaterals $638 million by the World Bank, $469 million by the Asian Development Bank and $255 million by Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). In October, the country had received $318m foreign inflows and $321m million in September.

Major FEA during the first ten months flowed in at $2.89bn in July 2023 soon after Pakistan reached an agreement with the IMF for a fresh shortterm programme and then $1.343bn in April when the IMF released its $1.1bn final tranche on April 29.

Strangely, the EAD had accounted $1.16bn receipt from the IMF in last

fiscal year into its FEA inflows but did not depict similar $3bn inflows this year.

Interestingly, the EAD had projected $3bn from IMF last year but only $1.16bn could be materialised following the derailment of its programme soon after the exit of former finance minister Miftah Ismail.

For the current year, the EAD had budgeted $2.4bn from theIMF which later actually committed and disbursed $3bn in the wake of signing of 9-month SBA that expired last month.

The bulk $2.63bn of foreign loans reported by the EAD in10 months came from Saudi Arabia as a time deposit and oil facility followed by $1.525bn from the World Bank, $708 million from ADB and a $508m guaranteed loan to Pakistan Air Force (PAF) by China National Aero Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC).

Total inflows from multilaterals excluding IMF stood at $2.678bn in 10 months of current year when compared to $4.135bn of the same period last year.

Inflows from all bilateral lenders, excluding Saudi Arabia, stood at $815 million in 10 months. Another $889.4m flowed in from overseas Pakistanis in Naya Pakistan Certificates (NPCs).

The government has estimated about $17.62bn in foreign assistance in the budgetfor the current fiscal year, including $17.385bn in loans and the remaining $235m in grants. As such, total loan disbursements in the first 10 months stood at $7.01bn and $132m in grants.

PM Shehbaz joins calls for enforcement of ICJ ruling

ISLAMABAD: Supporters of the Palestinian cause on Friday hailed the ICJ verdict ordering Israel to halt its military operation in Rafah, as Pakistan called on the international community to immediately implement the world court`s decision to stop Israeli aggression in Gaza.

In a statement issued after the ruling, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to the courage of the 13 judges who made the decision and thanked South Africa for filing the petition against Israel`s genocidal campaign against Palestinians.

He also urged the international community to ensure the provision of humanitarian aid and relief to the people of Palestine besides providing immediate access to the UN investigation commission to Gaza and Rafah. Pakistan will continue to play its role in protecting the basic human and legal rights of the Palestinian people, he assured.

Later, PM Shehbaz telephoned his Irish counterpart Simon Harris and felicitated him on assuming office. On the issue of Palestine, the PM expressed deep admiration for the recent decision taken by the government of Ireland to recognise the state of Palestine. Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Turkiye and saudi Arabia were also among the countries that welcomed the ruling.

In a statement, the Egyptian foreign ministry called on Israel to `comply with its legal obligations within the framework of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and international humanitarian law, and to implement all interim measures issued by the ICJ, which are considered legally binding andenforceable, as they are issued by the highest international judicial body.

`Egypt stresses that Israel bears full legal responsibility for the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip as the occupying power, calling on Israel to stop its systematic policies against the Palestinian people of targeting, starvation and siege in violation of all provisions of international law and international humanitarian law.

In its statement, Saudi Arabia also welcomed `the decision issued by the International Court of Justice ordering 1srael to immediately stop the military offensive or any other actions in Rafah, in accordance with the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

Anwar Iqbal adds from Washington: US media outlets, such as CNN and The New York Times, noted that President Biden had quickly rejected the ICJ`s arrest warrant against the Israeli prime minister last week, but had yet to comment on Friday`s order.

Several media outlets noted that the US judge at the ICJ, Sarah Cleveland, voted in favor of the court`s order for Israel to halt its offensive on Gaza`sRafah. When she was elected as an ICJ judge last November, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken praised the court as a `guardian of international law.

Amnesty International, emphasized that all thirdparty states have a legal duty to prevent genocide, meaning they themselves must take action to ensure that the ICJ`s provisional measures are implemented. Oxfam praised the ICJ order to halt Israel`s military actions in

Rafah, emphasizing that

`must comply with the ruling, cease its offensive, and allow humanitarian aid to reach Gaza.`

Court orders live telecast of missing persons cases

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court on Friday ordered the live telecast of all cases relating to enforced disappearances, as its senior judge summoned the officials of intelligence agencies and top government officials during a hearing of a petition seeking the recovery of missing poet Ahmed Farhad, who was allegedly picked up by a spy agency.

In addition to notices to the defence secretary, the sector commanders of the Inter-Services Intelligence, Military Intelligence and director of the Intelligence Bureau, the court also summoned Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar,

who had asked the judges to exercise restraintin a press conference earlier this week.

On May 20, the federal minister had suggested judges speak through their orders rather than resorting to `unwarranted` remarks, after the same judge threatened to summon the prime minister, cabinet members and intelligence officials.

During Friday`s hearing, the judge said the ISI sector commander`s rank was equivalent to the rank of a Station House Officer (SHO) and he should attend the proceedings.

In a rare development, the judge authored the order of the day in Urdu, in which he detailed the reasons for summoning top government functionaries and senior officials ofthe intelligence agencies.

The order states: `The AGP was asked [whether] the law enforcement institutions, including the ISI and the MI, were performing their duties under any law, to which the AGP said that the ISI is directly accountable to the prime minister of Pakistan while the MI is associated with the defence secretary and the armed forces of Pakistan.

`Looking at the explanation of this matter, the court considers it necessary that all the institutionsshould work within their constitutional limits, but in the present situation, we cannot do a comparative assessment of the administrative performance of the ISI with the police, FIA [Federal Investigation Agency] and CTD [CounterTerrorism Department] until the court is briefed about official practices in institutions such as the ISI and MI, including the way to conduct investigation and inquiry.

`Role of agencies` The order said the defence secretary was thus summoned in his personal capacity so he could submit a written explanation to the court on the above matters. `This would allow the court to clarify the role of the agencies in the jurisdiction of police investigation in the future and lead them to be accountable in the jurisdiction of the court,` the order said.

It further said: `During the discussion, the court has come to the conclusion that the issue of missing persons is the most important issue of public interest at the moment, adding that for this, no legislation was passed by parliament to `make the role of law enforcement agencies...responsible`.

The court observed that the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances headed by former National Accountability Bureau chief Justice Javed Iqbal was of no use. While the blanket ban on court reporting imposed by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) was still in the field, Justice Kayani allowed the reporting of the case as the order said `as this case is of an important nature which concerns the people of Pakistan, this court allows the proceedings of the case to be reported`. Furthermore, the judge ordered live streaming of all missing persons cases to facilitate public awareness and understanding of important legal issues. It further directed the court registrar to produce an administrative note on the matter. The judge observed thatthe problem of missing persons was not a singular problem, nor would it end after the recovery of the present hostage and require a permanent solution.

He sought a report from Inspector General Ali Nasir Rizvi

about the cases registered against unknown persons in all police stations in the last year in which investigating officers recorded the statements of the abductors or the statements of the next of kin regarding the allegations levelled against any agency. He also questioned whether a statement was recorded by the relevant agency`s sector commander in this regard during the investigation.

Justice Kayani said the cases of enforced disappearances were tarnishing the image of intelligence agencies and there is a need to dispel the `negative public perception`. He also summoned the law minister and the law secretary for the court`s assistance. In order to get some understanding of the code of conduct of the ISI, MI, and IB, Justice Kayani summoned them and also sought the details of the action taken against the officials of the intelligence agencies punished for illegally detaining, blackmailing and surveilling citizens. The court also sought the procedure of self-accountability within the intelligence agencies.

During the hearing, Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan informed the court that a few call detail records (CDRs) were available that were being used to trace the whereabouts of the missing poet. The judge then remarked that at this point, the poet`s recovery was inconsequential compared to `a few things` that he said he would settle.

Senior Superintendent of Police Malik Jamil Zafar informed the court that the investigation was underway with the assistance of the IB. The judge directed SSP Zafar to record the ISI sector commander`s statement. Further hearing in this matter has been adjourned till May 29.

No foul play in Raisi chopper crash: Iran

TEHRAN: Iran`s army has so far found no evidence of suspicious activity in a helicopter crash that killed the country`s president Ebrahim Raisi

and seven others, state media reported.

President Raisi, 63, along with his entourage died on Sunday after his helicopter went down in the country`s mountainous northwest while returning from a dam inauguration on the border with Azerbaijan.

`No bullet holes or similar impacts were observed on the helicopter wreckage,` said a preliminary report by the general staff of the armed forces published by the official IRNA news agency late on Thursday evening.

`The helicopter caught fire after hitting an elevated area, it said, adding that `no suspicious content was observed during the communications between the watch tower and the flight crew`. Raisi`s helicopter had been flying on a `pre-planned route and did not leave the designated flight path` before the crash.

The report said the wreckage of the helicopter had been found by Iranian drones early on Monday but the `complexity of the area, fog and low temperature` hindered the work of search and rescue teams.

The army said `more time is needed` to investigate the crash and that it would announce more details later.

Raisi was laid to rest in his hometown of Mashhad on Thursday, concluding days of funeral ceremonies in major cities of Iran, including the capital, attended by throngs of mourners.

Among the people killed in the incident was Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian who was also buried on Thursday, in the town of Shahre Ray, south of Tehran.

43 Pakistanis in Sri Lankan jails to return home soon

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Sri Lanka have agreed to take immediate steps to facilitate return of prisoners of each country to their homeland.

The move, which would bring 43 Pakistani citizens back to their homes from Siri Lankan jails, was part of an understanding reached at a meeting of High Commissioner of SriLanka,Admiral(Retd)Ravindra Chandra Srivijay Gunaratne with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Friday.

Both sides agreed to increase cooperation in the field of security and counter-narcotics, as issues of mutual interest and the development of bilateral relations came under discussion at the meeting.

The interior ministry had been working Lankan authorities for the past month 43 Pakistani prisoners.

The Sri Lankan high assured all possible in this regard. The minister the diplomat for his support for the repatriation of the prisoners.

Later, Mr Naqvi said in an announcement that the arrangements for the return of Pakistani prisoners would be finalised within a few days. He said that relations between Sri Lanka and Pakistan had been going from strength to strength overthe pastseven decades.

Earlier, the minister welcomed the Sri Lankan High Commissioner on his

PTI, PML-N accuse each other of `pursuing fascist policies`

ISLAMABAD: Tensions ran high in the Senate on Friday, with the PTI and PML-N both accusing each other of pursuing fascist policies.

Speaking in the House, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Shibli Fraz,

who on one occasion criticised the law minister for leading attacks on the judiciary, raised alarm over the `attack` on PTI`s central office and the arrest of PTI leaders and workers.

`Is this politics. Can you take pride in calling yourself politicians. We are ready to quit, if this is [what you call] politics,` Mr Fraz said.

He lashed out at the treasury benches for actions taken against the PTI, which he said were being carried out under their watch.

Speaking about the action against the PTI central office in Islamabad,

Mr Fraz said that not only was the bulding demolished,

but party workers were also baton charged and the head of the party`s Islamabad chapter, Amir Mughal, was arrested.

`You cannot do politics by force. You can take away our party symbol, jail our [party] chairman, demolish our offices, raid our homes but cannot erase the affection for PTI leader Imran Khanfrom the hearts of the majority of 250 million people of this country, the PTI senator said.`Whatever oppression and tyranny you may do, will be chronicled. [...] It will be very upsetting when history will be written tomorrow,` he added.

Accusing the PML-N-led coalition government of coming to power through a stolen mandate, Mr Fraz said that originally they could not secure more than 27 seats in the National Assembly.

`Through these actions and tactics, you are not winning the hearts of Pakistanis or your voters, but fanning hatred,` the PTI leader said.

Mr Faraz then noted that the economic statistics did not show a positive outlook which he said was due to political instability. The PTI senator said that if `colleagues` on the treasury benches did not join the party`s condemnation of the action against the PTI office, it `meant they endorse it`.

Anti-encroachment actions Responding to Mr Faraz`s speech, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar highlighted that the Capital Development Authority (CDA) had been ordered to speed up action against encroachments.

He said that orders had been given by Senate`s StandingCommittee on Interior, headed by PTI Senator Mohsin Aziz.

He said the first notice had been issued to the PTI in 2020, when the party was in power, adding that multiple notices had been sent to `remind you that you have constructed two floors without a map and approval and have placed containers and set up a parking shed in a public area`.Noting that the last notice was sent on May 10, the law minister said the action against the PTI office was in accordance with the law, adding that he had talked to the CDA chairman about the matter.

Responding to Mr Faraz claim that Mr Tarar was making strong [verbal] attacks on the judiciary`, the law minister said he took serious exception to the remarks of the PTIleader.

He said he owned each and every word uttered by him during Wednesday`s session.

He said the Constitution enshrined three water-tight compartments of trichotomy of power which must not be encroached upon. `If saying that the judges should express their views through their decisions, TV tickers and unnecessary remarks hurt people, and the Constitution guarantees dignity and honour of a man, is an attack, I do not feel ashamed for such attacks,` he said

Economy is country`s `lifeline and red line`, says info minister

ISLAMABAD: Calling the economy and the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) a `lifeline` and `red line`, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar expressed optimism that development would continue with more investment in the days ahead.

`These are our red lines, which some disgruntled elements are trying to violate and trespass and they are surely doomed to fail,` the minister said while addressing a press conference, nanked by Commerce Minister Jam Kamal, on Friday.

said efforts led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif

to attract foreign investment were bringing positive results, with the clear signs of economic stabilisation. Steps were underway to create an enabling environment for the foreign investors, he added.

Unfortunately, he said, the PTI leadership was engaged in such steps which were against directly inimical to the national interests, thus misleading the nation at the critical juncture. He said regrettably they were the same people who had made a botched attempt in the past to make the GSP Plus status of Pakistan controversial and were allegedly resorting to a malicious campaign against the SIFC,the government and the armed forces to hamper the process of national progress and development.

They intentionally targeted the SIFC on social media on the day the UAE made a pledge of $10 billion investment in Pakistan, he added.

He said it was acceptable if they had targeted him or his political party, but they were bent on sabotaging the economy, and the nation was fully aware of their misadventures.

Criticism over KP budget The minister said there was no precedent, till date, that a province presented a budget before the federal one.

`Normally, the federal government has to give budget estimates about receivables with allocating their specific percentages for the provinces,` he said.

He said the KP move might mislead the people while assuming that they would get 14pc of the receivables from the Centre.

`How can they estimate the federal budget and declare 14pc (receivables) by themselves?` he questioned.

Mr Tarar said the opponents even did not fathom the exact meaning of the SIFC, which was, in fact, the lifeline of Pakistan.

The minister said three chief ministers were striving hard for the welfare of the people, but unfortunately one was creating chaos.

He expressed the hope that the SIFC would bring foreign direct investment in the country.

The minister said the federal government was committed to ensuring progress and development of the country. `We are ready to sit and work together with all provinces.

He reiterated that the SIFC was on the forefront and the world was also witnessing seriousness on the foreign policy issues.

The UAE, he said, had allocated $10 billion for investment, which was a landmark achievement of both the government and SIFC. He said that before the setting up of the SIFC, investors had to visit multiple ministries and divisions as no one-windowoperation was available.

The UAE`s official news agency had also formally reported about the $10 billion investment initiative, he mentioned. It seemed political opponents

were upset due to such initiatives on the economic and diplomatic fronts, he added.

Mr Tarar said PM Shehbaz during all his foreign visits had clearly indicated that Pakistan would welcome investment and not aid or loans. The international community believed that the country had great potential,

immense capabilities and natural resources, he said, adding that Pakistan had 68pc youth bulge, natural resources and skilled human resource.

Mr Tarar

PM to visit China in June to join formal launch of CPEC-II

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will visit China in the first week of next month to join formal launching of the second phase of ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC-II).

A source in the Prime Minister`s Office told Dawn that PM Shehbaz was scheduled to leave for China on June 4, but the date of visit could slightly be changed.

Infrastructure and energy projects were part of the CPEC`s first phase. In CPEC-II, both countries will focus on agriculture, Main Line-I of Pakistan Railways, businessmen- to-businessmen deals and realignment of Karakorum Highway (KKH) etc.

While presiding over a meeting of representatives of the Chinese companies, the prime minister said that Pakistan wanted to benefit from Chinese experiences to promote its IT sector and to boost exports.

`China has an important role in Pakistan`s development. It has always helped Pakistan in difficult times for which the entire nation, including me, is grateful to the Chinese leadership and the people,` the PM said.

He assured the Chinese firms that security and protection of Chinese workers and citizens was the top priority of the government.

`The government has taken all possible measures to ensure foolproof security of the Chinese citizens in Pakistan,` he told the meeting, adding that a comprehensive plan had been prepared in this regard.

Mr Sharif said that Pakistan was an agriculture country and it wanted toutilise China`s modern technology in this sector.

He invited Chinese companies to invest in Pakistan`s electric, hybrid auto sector and other sectors.

JCC meeting In a related development, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal

and China`s Vice Chairman of National Development Reform Commission Li

co-chaired a meeting of the Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC), adds APP.

In the meeting, the Pakistan side appreciated the vision of Chinese leadership to upgrade the second phase of CPEC with the inclusion of new corridors.

Speaking at the JCC meeting, Mr Iqbal said: `We are ready to work with NDRC to finalise the scope and implementation plan on these corridors.

The minister said that last year China`s Vice Premier He Lifeng

Mr Iqbal said Gwadar Port had been made operational and several other projects completed. `Now is the time to attract investors and manufacturers to populate the Special Economic Zones (SEZs), develop Gwadar as a business district, and create high-quality tourist resorts in Gwadar. To this end, we propose signing of an MoU to promote cooperation in these areas,` he said.

He said the second phase of CPEC had already begun, but much work remained to ensure its success. `We are progressing on developing four priority SEZs, including Rashakai SEZ, Allama Iqbal Industrial City, Dhabeji SEZ, and Bostan SEZ. But we need to replicate the Chinese experience in this area,` he said.

Chunlin

unveiled five new corridors proposed by President Xi Jinping, including Growth Corridor, Livelihood Enhancing Corridor, Innovation Corridor, Green Corridor, and Opening Up/Regional Connectivity Corridor.

England women draw first blood against Pakistan

DERBY: England eased home by 37 runs against Pakistan to strike the first blow of their three-match One-day International series in Derby on Thursday.

Chasing 244 for victory, Pakistan finished on 206-9 as spinners Sophie Ecclestone (3-26) and Charlie Dean (2-39) turned the contest England`s way.

Ecclestone moved within two wickets of becoming the fastest to reach three figures in women`s ODI cricket, although she must achieve that in the second game of the series on Sunday to eclipse Australia`s Cathryn Fitzpatrick.

Pakistan were handily placed at 149- 4 in the 35th over, but the fall of five wickets for 29 runs in the space of seven overs killed off their hopes.

who had earlier taken three wickets built decent foundations as Pakistan sought their first-ever ODI win over England at the 13th attempt.

Maia Bouchier made 17 before falling to Nashra Sandhu and fellow opener Tammy Beaumont, back on international duty after being overlooked for T20 action, went for 33 as Umm-e-Hani won another lbw appeal.

Skipper Heather Knight wasdropped twice by Hani, on nought and 18, but eventually departed for 29 as wicket-keeper Najiha Alvi held her attempted cut off Aliya Riaz.

The tourists also benefited from some wayward England bowling, with a staggering 31 wides part of a record total of 40 extras, as well as two rare spills behind the stumps from Amy Jones.

But Lauren Bell (2-31) found movement off the pitch to break through at the top of the order, and Ecclestone and Dean turned the screw before Kate Cross claimed a couple of late wickets.

Asked to bat, England who were without Danni Wyatt due to illness made 243-9 from their 50 overs.

With Nat Sciver-Brunt, averaging a handsome 80 against Pakistan, falling for 31 to another catch behind off Aliya, England were 118-4 and in need of stability at the halfway stage.It arrived in the form of a skillful partnership of 67 between Alice Capsey and Jones, who dominated the alliance with 37 from 38 balls.

Teenager Capsey showed maturity beyond her years for an ODI-best 44 following a run of low scores in this

Dean produced a useful 20 asFatima Sana`s final-over drop the fourth of the innings prevented Pakistan from bowling out England for the first time in a oneday game.

Scores

ENGLAND 243-9 in 50 overs

(T. Beaumorit 33, Capsey 44, A. 37; Nida Dar 3-56, Nashra Sandhu Umm-e-Hani 2-43);

PAKISTAN 206-9 in 50 overs

(Muneeba Ali 34, Sadaf Shamas 28, Najiha Alvi 26 not out; S. Ecclestorie 3-26, K. Cross 2-46, L. Bell 2-42, C. Dean 2-39).

Sadaf Shamas,

Muneeba Ali

and captain Nida Dar

Owen-backed PFL an `unsanctioned, illegal` event, says PFF NC

KARACHI: With the franchise-based Pakistan Football League, backed by former England star Michael Owen, announcing a series of its launch events next month, the Pakistan Football Federation Normalisation Committee has finally acted, terming it as an `illegal` event.

The Haroon Malik-led PFF NC, appointed by global football body FIFA, said in a statement on Friday that the PFL was not sanctioned by it.

`The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has categorically stated that the franchise-based Pakistan Football League (PFL), which is claimed to be held in the next month, is an illegal event as per its statutes and has not sanctioned by the federation,` the PFF NC stated.

`The PFF is the sole governing body for football in Pakistan duly affiliated with FIFA and the AFC. The PFF`s authority is reinforced by the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) vide its letter dated September 9, 2014 according to which the government only engages with national sports federations recognised by their respective international bodies.

`Participating in, organizing, or supporting any football event not sanctioned by the PFF is a clear violation of Article 82 of the PFF constitution and could lead to disciplinary measures. Furthermore, the PFF emphasises that it encourages any project aimed at genuine football development in the country, provided it is duly approved by the federation.

The PFF NC`s statement came a day after British newspaper The Sun revealed that Owen will be joined by his former Liverpool and England strike partner Emile Heskey

during the launch events in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi next month.

The PFL has announced Nov 1 as the starting date for its competition. Its claims of partnerships were denied by the English Premier League and its clubs.

The PFL is pointing to last year`s verdict by the European Court of Justice on the breakaway European Super League, which ruled against the principle of the governing bodies restricting a new league, to go ahead with its plans.

Pakistan eager to face full-strength England in second T20I

BIRMINGHAM: With their first of the four Twenty 20 Internationals against England washed out on Wednesday, Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman is looking on the bright side.

`A three-match series is likely to end up with a result in favour of one side, there`s no chance of a 2-2 draw,` he quipped during the press conference on the eve of the second match, which is set to be held at Edgbaston on Saturday.

Just like Fakhar`s perspective, the conditions, unlike how they were at Headingley in Leeds three days ago, will be bright, perfect for cricket, with weather forecast suggesting negligible chances of rain.The flamboyant southpaw`s positive outlook reflected the energy in the Pakistan camp, the team having seemingly wrapped their head around the modern style of playing the T20 format after shows of relentless aggression in the recent series against Ireland.

Pakistan`s squad for the T20 World Cup, which starts next week in the United States and the West Indies, was also confirmed on Friday, putting Babar Azam and co. in complete preparation mode for the showpiece.

Fakhar said there couldn`t have been better opponents than title-holders England to warm-up for the big challenge.`They are one of the best teams in the world,` he noted. `We`re really excited for the game.

`Playing

against England in their home conditions, I think this is the best preparation for us going to the World Cup, playing against a tough team.

Pakistan`s run-in to the T20 World Cup started with five games against New Zealand at home and Ireland away. While they drew 2-2 with a depleted BlackCaps side, the 2022 finalists beat Ireland 2-1.England`s quality, in comparison to both New Zealand and Ireland, is clearly higher, and that they are set to field their firstchoice team is going it make it highly competitive for Pakistan.

The hosts even have express pacer Jofra Archer back in their ranks.

`We are playing with a fullstrength team of England which is a very good thing for us, Fakhar remarked. `And while having Jofra in the team will help England, it will also help us as we will get to play a worldclass bowler.

In both their wins against Ireland, Pakistan chased down targets maintaining strike-rates of more than 10 runs per over, which was uncharacteristic of a side known to take games deep.

Pakistan`s style of wrapping up the games two to three overs earlier boosted the side`s confidence, which Fakhar said they wanted to carry into the England matches and then the World Cup.

`Look, if you see strengthwise, our team is very good and strong,` he observed. `And our team has a mindset that we have to play attacking cricket from now on. So, in my opinion, we have alotofchances.

`We will carry this momentum in this series as well. If you are in form, you got to prolong it.`

Over 2,700 govt schools in Sindh without teachers, SHC told

KARACH1: The Sindh High Court has been informed that around 540 viable closed schools have been reopened, but currently 2,769 similar government schools are without teachers in the province.

A single bench of the SHC comprising Justice Salahuddin Panhwar

was also informed that the recruitment process of teachers had been restarted and a committee was also notified about increase in the strength of schools as per census figures. Regarding budget for repair of such schools, government officials submitted that the finance department had been approached on the subject matter and it was decided that in the first phase, 250 public-sector schools would be selected and the same was also recommended by the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

The SHC issued a show-cause notice to the additional finance secretary over his absence without prior intimation and summoned the finance secretary with thedirection to appear and provide an explanation for the delay in approving the statement of new expenditures (SNEs) submitted by the education department for revival of closed schools.

The court was hearing a petition filed in 2019 and previously it had passed various orders on the subject matter. At the last hearing, the court had ordered the education authorities to frame recruitment rules after it was informed that over 7,000 teachers of public schools in the province were set to retire by December 2025.

The SHC had also directed them to make a policy and ensure that not a single school was closed due to lack of teaching staff and initiate the process to fill the likely vacant posts in six months before retirement of such teachers.

At the outset of the hearing, the secretary of school education department filed a report in compliance with the previous court order which reflected that education authorities had issued reminders to the Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC) regarding appointment of teachers.

The bench directed the chairman of the SPSC to ensure completion of recruitment process within three months. The report also asserted that directions had been issued by the department to all directorates of school education and district education officers to post newlyrecruited teachers in viable closed schools from where teachers would be retiring in next four months on a top priority basis.

The bench in its order said, `Deputy secretary law present contends that subject specialist teachers as recommended by the SPSC will be issued appointment orders within 15 days. Further, it reflects that approximately 540 viable closed schools have been opened and currently 2,769 viable schools are without teachers in Sindh. However, the recruitment process has been restarted. With regard to the increase in the strength of schools as per census, a committee has been notified`.

It also observed that earlier, it had directed the secretary ofeducation to sanction the SNEs of all those schools, which had been closed, and make these schools functional while the finance department was also ordered to approve all the summaries regarding SNEs of education department for revival of such schools.

However, the bench said that the additional secretary of finance department was found absent without prior intimation and issued him a show-cause notice as well as issued directive to the secretary of finance to appear and provide an explanation.

`The SNEs shall be approved forthwith, in accordance with the orders issued by this Court, to ensure the uninterrupted provision of education, which is enshrined as a fundamental right of every citizen`, it added.

The bench asked the secretary of school education to submit a comprehensive record of all funds received fromvarious foreign donors over the past five years and warned that in case of noncompliance, the secretary must be required to appear in person. It also directed the school education department to implement a policy similar to the one adopted by the college department, which mandated a minimum service period for newlyappointedteachers within their assigned districts and all appointment orders issued to new teachers should explicitly include a clause outlining the consequences of violating the transfer policy and such consequences may include the recall of the appointment order if a teacher prematurely seeks transfer outside of his assigned district.

Sindh Assembly passes law on e-registration of immovable property

Temperature crosses 51°C in Sindh as heatwave continues

KARACHI: In a landmark legislation, the Sindh Assembly on Friday repealed the Registration (Sindh Amendment) Ordinance, 2024 and replaced it with the Registration (Sindh Amendment) Act,2024 to meet international requirements and obligations for a comprehensive computerised system of e-registration of immovable property.

Under the new law, a system of e-registration of land titles, leases and properties would be introduced in the province. The Act was passed into a law unanimously after presentation of a report of a special committee constituted by the assembly.

According to Section 16 of the law, the person purported to execute the document or his duly constituted attorney shall submit an online application along with an affidavit and map of the property though E-service for registration of the document as per the format and procedure notified by the Inspector General of Registration with the approval of theBoard of Revenue.

One of the sections of the law said that on verification of title documents from the database or uploading a scanned copy of the document, directions for payment of taxes and/or fee through e-pay along with an auto-fixed date for appearance and execution of the document at the service centre shall be communicated through SMS and email. The date can, however, be changed at the request of the applicant online.

Under the law, if Nadra-based verification of the bio-metric verification is not performed despite all attempts allowed by Nadra in a day in the e-registration system, the party or the parties shall be referred to Nadra for re-validation of their thumb impressions. After such validation, if Nadra confirms thatthe thumb impression of a particular person cannot be performed, the Registration Officer with the approval of District Registrar shall carry out the thumb impression on plain paper certifying himself its authentication with CNIC or passport of the concerned party and upload the same in the e-registration system to be made part of the relevantregistered deed.

Call attention notice Responding to a call attention notice given by Muttahida Qaumi Movement-P member Kiran Masood, Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani informed the house that the provincial government had started work to construct separate sewerage system so that the sewage was not drained into storm-water drains (nullahs).

He said that the sewerage system had been separated from three out of 45 major drains under the administrative control of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation and work on the remaining storm water drains was in progress.

Responding to another call attention notice given by MQM-P lawmaker Fouzia Hameed, the local government minister said that all preparations had been completed to remove and dispose of garbage on the occasion of Eidul Azha. He said that 113,500 tonnes of garbage and offal were collected from the city during the three days of Eidul Azha last year.

`This year, 6,802 vehicles and 24,366 employees will be present on the three days of Eid,` he said adding that arrangements were being made at 91 different collection points and 17 disposal sites were being established in the city.

In response to a call attention notice given by Pakistan Peoples` Party legislator Khairunisa Mughal, the energy minister said that the provincial government would once again take uptheissue ofgasshortagein the province.

Later, Speaker Awais Qadir Shah adjourned the house to 11am on Monday.

KARACHl: The ongoing heatwave continued to bake major cities of Sindh as maximum temperature surged to 51 degree Celsius mark on Friday.

According to the Met Office, Mohenjo Daro

was the hottest place in the country, where the maximum temperature was 51°C, followed by Jacobabad and

Khairpur (50°C).

The maximum temperature in Larkana and Dadu was 49°C, Rohri and Sukkur (48.5°C), Padidan (48°C), Shaheed Benazirabad (47°C), Mithi (46.5°C), Sakrand and Chhor (46°C), Tando Jam and Hyderabad sizzled at 44.5°C.

In Karachi, too, hot weather conditions persisted and the maximum temperature was recorded at 36.7°C with 55 per cent humidity count of moisture in the air.

In its daily advisory, the Met department predicted `very hot` weather in most parts of Sindh, including Karachi, during the next 24 hours.

Wounded journalist Nasrullah Gadani dies at Karachi hospital

KARACHI/SUKKUR: Journalist Nasrullah Gadani, who was shot at and wounded by armed assailants in Mirpur Mathelo a couple of days ago, died at a private hospital in Karachi on Friday.

Forty-year-old Gadani, who was associated with Sindhi language daily Awami Awaz, was initially treated at a hospital in Rahim Yar Khan from where he was airlifted to Karachi for further treatment.

The body was transported to his hometown in an ambulance. From Karachi to Mirpur Mathelo, a large number of people from every segment of society, including students, stopped the ambulance at different places and showered it with rose petals in order to pay their respects to the slain journalist.

The body was brought to the Civil Hospital Ghotki, where doctors conducted a post-mortem examination. Later, the body was handed over to the family after completion of medicolegal formalities.

The coffin was brought to his native village, Qabool Gadani, where a large number of people already gathered to attend his funeral prayers. Later, he was laid to rest at a local graveyard in the presence of thousands of people including journalists and leaders and workers of several nationalist parties.

Gadani is survived by a widow, four sons, two daughters, and his mother.

A large number of people blocked the National Highway and staged a protest in front of the office of the SSP for the arrest of his killers.

Journalists stage walkout in PA The news of his death sparked anger and protests by the journalist community in different cities and towns of the province. In Karachi, reporters covering the Sindh Assembly session on Friday staged a token walkout of the press gallery of the assembly and demanded arrest of the killers of Gadani and Jan Mohammed Mahar who was shot dead in Sukkur recently.

The protesting reporters chanted slogans against the growing incidents of killing of journalists in Sindh before staging the walkout. Later, Home Minister Zia Lanjar and Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon met with the protesting journalists and assured them of taking every possible step for the arrest ofthe killers. The home minister said that three suspects had been taken into custody and said that a breakthrough was expected within a week.

Media bodies, parties demand justice The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has slammed the brutal murder of Nasarullah Gadani and noted that despite fatal attacks on media persons over the years no culprit had been arrested by the provincial authorities.

In a statement issued on Friday, PFUJ President Afzal Butt and Secretary General Arshad Nasari said: `It

is becoming increasingly difficult for journalists to perform their duties and those who do so are eliminated like Gadani.

The PFUJ leaders demanded that the government immediately arrest the killers and provide compensation to the family of the slain journalist. Black flags were hoisted at every press club in Sindh and journalist bodies staged demonstrations and held rallies in protest over the killing of Gadani. Protesters termed the killing an attack against independent journalism and a conspiracy against the freedom of expression.

In the evening, civil society organisations held a protest demonstration outside the Karachi Press Club and demanded justice for the slain journalist. Announcing three-day mourning, the Awami Awaz media group said that it would stage a protest on May 27 against the murder of Gadani. Meanwhile, PPP chair-man Bilawal BhuttoZardari and Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah offered their condolences over the death of the journalist and vowed to bring the killers to justice.

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan, Sindh United Party, Sindh Tarraqi-passand Party chairman Dr Qadir Magsi, Jeay Sindh Mahaz (R) chairman Riaz Ali Chandio, Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (B) chairman Sanan Qureshi, Sindhi Association of North America (Sana) paid rich tribute to the slain journalist and demanded the government arrest his killers immediately.

Murder probe under way DIG-Sukkur Pir Mohammed Shah told Dawn that investigators had collected spent bullet casings fired from 9mm pistols and sent the same to a forensic lab to know whether the same weapon was used in any previous crimes.`We are investigating the case with different angles including the journalist`s social media activism, personal enmity and political affiliation,` the DIG said. `We have got some clues and are working to unearth the identity and motive of the killers,` he added.

Materiality in art

KARACHI: In a broader sense, there is no fine line between substantial and insubstantial aspects of existence or with respect to the world of symbols and metaphors between tangible and intangible things in life. This is where the artist community comes in. It tries to find, nay discover, the relationship between these two opposites. The reason for that is their attraction to the age-old subject of the body-soul harmony, much like the connection between form and content in any creative pursuit. When that harmony suffers a rupture, things can go awry.

A four-person show titled Building Material that`s concluded on Thursday at the Canvas Art Gallery examines the role that materials play in our lives, but in a way that it isn`t confined to the substantial realm alone. There is something interesting going on here.

The participating artists Haider Ali Naqvi, Niamat Nigar, Noor Ali Chagani and Usman Ansari are known names in Pakistani art.

If they have kept the topic of the show as simple and seemingly uncomplicated as Building Material then the viewer knows the exhibition aims to achieve more than it claims. And it does.

With exhibits such as `Basics` (concrete, rust and metal), `Furma` (sand and acrylics on canvas), `A conversation about the dividing lines with mother` (stitching and oil on dyed cotton) and the `Land remains` series (graphite on bristol paper and wooden box frame), the four creative individuals investigate the process in which the `constructed` and the `thought of` come together in a mutually complementing way. That`s not it.

The artists examine the shortcomings, too, which emerge in using the materials to come up with something that either elevates their materiality to a higher level of socio-cultural experience or causes it to go down a bit to disrupt the whole exercise. In doing so, they come up with some startling works of art!

Efforts on to improve heritage sites in Karachi, says mayor

KARACHI: The city administration, along with building and maintaining urban infrastructure, is also striving to improve the protected heritage sites of the metropolis, Mayor Murtaza Wahab said on Friday.

While visiting the Frere Hall along with the Ambassador of Spain, Jose Antonio de Ory, the mayor briefed the foreign diplomat about the `rich culture` of the city and referred to the number of buildings which were declared protected heritage by the government due to their historic values.

`Karachi

is an important city in terms of history and civilisation,` a statement quoted the mayor as briefing the Spanish ambassador.

The government has declared historical buildings in Karachi as national heritage. During the British era, many historical buildings, including the Frere Hall, Mereweather Tower, KMC Building were raised. Besides Muslims, a large number of Christians, Hindus, Parsis and Sikhs are settled in Karachi reflecting the city`s cultural diversity.

He said efforts were on to improve the infrastructure of Karachi and at the same time to maintain and improve all the heritage sites.

The mayor also briefed the ambassadorabout the ongoing projects in the city.

Visits Banbhore The Spanish ambassador also visited the historical heritage site of Banbhore.

Accompanied by Culture and Tourism Minister Zulfiqar Ali Shah, the Spanish Ambassador visited Banbhore Museum, historical mosque and archaeological sites, and inspected the valuable artefacts and showed deep interest in the history, culture and archaeology of Banbhore.

The minister also briefed the Spanish ambassador about the history of Banbhore.

The ambassador expressed mutual cooperation in joint research on archaeology, saying that the history and monuments of Banbhore were the manifestation of the prosperity of the region, and with the joint cooperation on the history of Banbhore, the new doors of research opportunities will be opened for history lovers.

Mr Shah said that Pakistan and Spain had deep historical and cultural ties, and there was a need to promote tourism between the two countries, adding that the Spanish expertise will benefit the promotion of tourism in Sindh.

He said that the Sindh government was providing a safe and peaceful environment for tourism to all foreign tourists.

Notices issued to SPSC on candidates` plea against `corrupt practices`

HYDERABAD: A division bench of Sindh High Court, Hyderabad circuit, comprising Justice Khadim Hussain Tunio and Justice Yousuf Ali Sayeed has issued notices to the chairman and secretary of the Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC), directing them to appear in court on June is on a constitutional petition filed by two candidates.

Petitioners Tahir Imdad Soomro

and Waqar Ahmed

have submitted in court that superior courts, through their several judgements had mentioned mala fide and corrupt practices on the part of SPSC and its members. The petitioners alleged that the respondent SPSC chairman and secretary were involved in nepotism, corruption, malpractices and dishonest management of petitioners` marks.

They pointed out that the court vide its order dated Feb 24, 2023 had ordered that examinations were to beheld in the presence of an official assignee of this court to know ground realities.

They said that on July 30, 2019, SPSC had published advertisement for Combined Competitive Examination (CCE)-2019. These exams had become a matter of controversy amid the above-mentioned allegations. They said that on June 30, 2021, the court had declared the results announced by the SPSC null and void.

The commission and some other individuals challenged the judgement in Supreme Court and in the meantime Sindh government enacted the SPSC Act, 2022 as well as the SPSC (Recruitment Management) Regulations, 2023.

The petitioners stated that they were declared eligible for written test but the same was not held until June 12, 2023, when they were called for written test.

They said the respondents merged two subjects, `Pakistan affairs` and `current affairs` which were quite dif-ferent from each other. They said the results of the test were announced in March this year and they [petitioners] were shocked to see that they were failed in `current affairs`, `Pakistan affairs` and `international relations-IP.

The petitioners also pointed out that in its March 13, 2024 judgement, the high court remarked that SPSC members were involved in corrupt practices.

They submitted in court that they had, as mandated under S.161 of the 2023 regulations, filed application to the respondents for re-examining their marks but it was not decided to date though it was supposed to be decided within 15 days.

They prayed the court to direct the respondents to decide the application dated April 5, 2024 and declare that not deciding the application before the final results dated May 16, 2024 was illegal, and also declare the final results of the CCE-2020 illegal and void.

The petitioners are represented by Advocate Jawad Qureshi.

Police claim arresting five arms smugglers

SUKKUR: Police claimed to have recovered a large cache of weapons during search of a pickup vehicle on a section of link road in Faroogi Gagh area near Kashmore and arrested five members of an interprovincial gang of arms traffickers on Friday.

Food outlets sealed, fined for unhygienic conditions

TAXILA: The Cantonment Board Wah food inspection teams sealed food outlets and eateries and imposed heavy fines on some for poor cleanliness and hygiene arrangements during surprise visits conducted in different localities of the garrison city on Friday.

officials said they found vehicle.

During these surprise visits, a hotel and a food outlet were sealed for severe unhygienic conditions; a chicken shop was sealed for operating without a valid trade license, vaccination records, and medical certificates; and a meat shop located within the premises of a shopping mall was sealed for selling meat on prohibited days.

`We have also arrested people onboard and impounded the vehicle,` they said.

They said that the suspects identified as Ejaz Ahmed Awan, Riaz Rajput, Haseeb Awan, Mohammad Nazar Kobhar and Aslam Kobhar confessed during initial interrogation that they were members of an interprovincial gang of arms smugglers and operated between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and different areas of Sindh and Punjab.

They said that police were collecting criminal records of the suspects from different police stationsin other districts.

Moreover, a restaurant and a chicken shop were issued notices for failing to maintain required hygiene standards.Cantonment Executive Officer Jawwad Aslam Butt said that in an effort to ensure public health and safety, the Food Inspection Cell of Cantonment Board Wah has conducted thorough inspections of various food outlets within the Cantt area.

registered against the suspects at Kashmore police station on charges of arms smuggling.

He said that these inspections were part of their commitment to upholding stringent hygiene and regulatory standards.

He was of the view that such measures should be implemented to ensure that food outlets within the cantonment area comply with the necessary health regulations, thereby protecting the health of all residents.

He added that the Cantonment Board Wah remains dedicated to maintaining high standards of cleanliness and safety in all commercial food establishments.

Initiative to train overseas employment promoters launched

ISLAMABAD: The International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), through the Migrant Resource Centre (MRC), has partnered with the Pakistan Overseas Employment Promoters Association (POEPA) to conduct capacity-building training and consultative sessions for several Overseas Employment Promoters (OEPs).

This initiative aims to enhance the skills and knowledge of OEPs, equipping them to provide the best possible service to job seekers aspiring to work abroad and addressing the challenges faced by workers in Pakistan and abroad.

The training featured two sessions covering topics including fair recruitment practices, legal frameworks, ethical standards, monitoring and grievance mechanisms, the significance of predeparture orientation, and post-arrival information for intending, aspiring, and potential migrant workers from Pakistan.

Community Welfare Attaché (CWA), Embassy of Pakistan in Saudi Arabia Sohail Babar, Director Operations Bureau of Emigration and OverseasEmployment (BEOE)Farrukh Jamal, Group President, POEPA Athar Iqbal Shah, and Professor at the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST)Dr. Umm-e-Laila were the main speakers.

Saad ur Rehman Khan, project manager of the MRCs in Pakistan, highlighted in his opening remarks that`investing in the training of OEPs is crucial for creating a more transparent and responsible migration system that safeguards the rights and well-being of migrant workers. By equipping OEPs with the necessary skills and knowledge, we can contribute to a more ethical and sustainable labour migration process.` Rana Imran, MRC coordinator, Islamabad, highlighted `the vital role of training workshops in empowering OEPs, ensurine fair recruitment,legal compliance, and migrant welfare.

Farrukh Jamal, director operations at the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment (BEOE), highlighted the role of government departments in securing labour worker rights and ensuring fair and safe working conditions through legislation. He focused on labour laws and ethical recruitment practices that protect workers from exploitation, discrimination, and unsafe environments, promoting a more just society.

Sohail Babar, a community welfare attaché (CWA), Embassy of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, explained the various channels available to workers for reporting any infringement of their rights, ensuring they can navigate potential challenges with confidence. Athar Iqbal Shah, group president POEPA, shared his thoughts, stating that through this training session, MRC and POEPA are not only fostering the professional development of licensed OEPs but also ensuring that job seekers receive optimal support and guidance in their pursuit of opportunities abroad.

Chaudhry

Tanveer,

three others deny involvement in Chaudhry Adnan murder case

District admin asked to complete all projects by June 30

RAWALPINDI: Former Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) senator Chaudhry Tanveer, MNAelected Daniyal Chaudhry, Osama Tanveer and Changez Khan, who were booked by Civil Line police in the former MPA Chaudhry Adnan murder case, visited the Civil Lines police station on Thursday night and recorded their statements, denying their involvement in the case.

All the accused who had already obtained pre-arrest bails appeared before the court of Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Rana Sohail

on Friday who extended their pre-arrest bails till May 30.

Chaudhry Mohammad Adnan,

48, an independent candidate in the Feb 8 elections, was killed by unidentified motorcycle riders outside the Police Lines Headquarters. The murder occurred in the Civil Lines area, which has already been declared a Red Zone inthe garrison city.

After registration of the FIR by Chaudhry Nadeem Iqbal, brother-in-law of the deceased, the police launched an investigation to arrest the culprits. According to the complainant, his brother-in-law, Chaudhry Adnan, was on his way to his residence in Jhanda Chichi in a black SUV with his aides, after negotiating a land issue at ahousing society office. His vehicle was also accompanied by another car.When the vehicles stopped at the traffic light near Jinnah Park, two unidentified persons came close to the driving seat of Chau d hry Adnan`s vehicle and started firing at him.The FIR said Adnan was hit in the neck, face and other parts ofthe body. The assailants sped off on their motorcycle which was parked across the road.

Chaudhry Adnan lost his life while being shifted to the Benazir Bhutto Hospital by the emergency service staff of Rescue 1122.

A day after the murder of the former MPA, Civil Lines police booked Chaudhry Tanveer, MNA-elect Daniyal Chaudhryand Changez Khan on the complaint of the deceased`s in-laws for their alleged involvement in the killing of the exlawmaker.

According to the FIR, `Chaudhry Adnan had a political rivalry with...Chaudhry Tanveer Khan, Chaudhry Changez Khan, Daniyal Chaudhry and Osama Tanveer; whereas a case related to some property matter was in the courtof law against Lugman Kamil.

It further said Adnan often used to say that `he feared for his life and if any harm was done to him, these people would be responsible`.

Police investigating the murder had also placed the names of four suspects on the Provincial National Identification List (PNIL) toprevent them from leaving the country.

RAWALPINDI: The district administration has been asked to complete all development works worth Rs19 billion by June 31.

Deputy Commissioner Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema expressed dissatisfaction over the performance of the concerned departments and directed health, education, highway and building department officials tospeed up the work to complete them as soon as possible. He warned that the government would not compromise on the quality of construction material.

The DC was speaking at a meeting of the District Coordination Committee held toreview the developmentworks.

A senior official of the district administration told Dawn that there were 227 schemes in the annual development programme (ADP) 2023-24 worth Rs18 billion and the government had released Rs15 billion in the current fiscal year.

He said so far 34 schemes had been completed and work on others was ongoing. He said Rs12 billion had been spent so far and 82 per cent of work on the schemes completed. There were 38 schemes of the highway department, 19 related to roads; 68 with building department, 21 with local government, 29 with public health, 29 with Water and Sanitation Agency, seven with Rawalpindi Development Authority and three with district sports department.

However, he said, 18 per cent work was still in progress despite clear directions from the governmenttocompletethem beforethe end of June. He said the stipulated timeframe of developmentworksusually completed at the endofMay but the departments were carrying out the works slowly.

`Rawalpindi Development Authority is also slow and busy in other ordinary work instead of completing the schemes,` he said.

The deputy commissioner told the meeting that the departments should

speed up the work without any compromise on the quality.

He said that the government was spending billions of rupees to improve the living standard of the people. The projects were also aimed at providing education and health facilities at the doorsteps of the people.

Plan sought to resolve traffic gridlocks at PTCL Chowk

DHQ hospital told to ensure availability of medicines

The traffic mess at the junction of Jinnah Avenue and 9th Avenue near F-8 has become a constant problem

During peak hours, people face prolonged signal closures at PTCL Chowk and commuters in non-air conditioned vehicles face more problems in the hot summer days. The Capital Development Authority (CDA), which has spent billions of rupees on road projects in the recent years, never paid any heeds towards the choking point.

However, following a visit of CDA Chairman Mohammad Ali Randhawa to the chowk on Thursday, the engineering wing with support from experts conducted a traffic counting and was finalising a report.

Sources said after the report, proposals including construction of an interchange and a flyover at the point would be presented to the CDA management. The CDA will then prepare PC-I before floating tenders.

The CDA chairman said a plan should be made to resolve traffic congestion at PTCL Chowk. He said the plan should be presented immediately for shortterm and permanent solutions to end traffic jams at the square,` said a press release.

Mr Randhawa announced that in addition to ongoing ones, new projects will also be started. He said citizens have to face problems due to the traffic jams at PTCL Chowk, so work on the project should be started on a priority basis.

RAWALPINDI: Deputy Commissioner Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema on Thursday asked the management of District Headquarters Hospital to ensure availability of medicines for all patients.

He inspected the hospital on the directives of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to ensure availability of medicines to patients. The DC also inspected the heatstroke ward where 10 beds have been allocated. However, so far no patient has been brought to the ward.

A patient in the hospital informed him that he bought medicines from outside the hospital. Upon this, the DC asked the hospital administration to provide medicines to patients from the hospital. He said he would again check the hospital soon.

He said the provincial government was working to provide better health facilities to patients and in this regard all available resources were being utilised. `The district administration has also established camps in different areas to treat people in case of heatstroke and shifted them to the DHQ hospital,` he said.

He also asked the administration to improve arrangements for attendants of patients.

Later, he also inspected the newly-constructed Hamilton Road in Raja Bazaar. `Footpaths should be cleared from encroachments so people would use the road and footpaths without any hurdles,`he directed the officials of Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation.

He said roadside drains should be cleared so that water would not accumulate in rainy days. He also asked RMC officials to ensure the repair of streetlights on all bridges and adjoining areas within three days. Moreover, he directed the Rawalpindi Waste Management Company to clear garbage from the roadsides.

Business community representatives informed the DC about the disposal and cleaning of garbage collected on the side of Gawalmandi bridge. The deputy commissioner instructed the officials concerned to make arrangements for picking up the garbage on a daily basis.

Army officer robbed on motorway

RAWALPINDI: A serving army officer associated with Special Services Group (SSG) was robbed of two mobile phones and cash by two robbers on the motorway near Kallar Kahar on Friday.

Malik Waleed Ahmad, a resident of Gujranwala, lodged an FIR with the police saying that he was traveling on the motorway and stopped his car near Science College Kallar

Kahar for attending a phone call on Thursday night.

He said all of a sudden two persons, one of them carrying a pistol, appeared on the scene and snatched his phones, one apple watch, a 9mm pistol and Rs18,000 cash and escaped after threatening to kill him.

Schedule issued for Bajaur by-election

BAJAUR: The Election Commission of Pakistan on Friday issued the schedule for the by-election on a provincial assembly seat PK-22 in Bajaur tribal district.

According to a notification, polling on PK-22 will be held on July 11.

The notification said nomination papers could be filed from May 27 to 29. June 6 has been fixed as the last day for scrutiny of nomination papers by the returning officer.

June 10 will be the last date for filing of appeals against the decision of the returning officer regarding rejection or acceptance of the nomination papers.

June 13 was fixed for decision on appeals by the appellate tribunal.

Candidates can withdraw their candidature on June 21, and the revised list of candidates will be published on the same day. The notification said symbols to the contesting candidates would be allotted on June 22, while the polling would be conducted on July 11.

Meanwhile, in another notification, ECP nominated deputy commissioner Mohammad Anwarul Haq and additional assistant commissioner Shah Nawaz as the district returning officer and the returning officer, respectively, for the by-election.

Mubarak Zeb Khan had won both PK-22 and NA-8 seats in the April 21 by-election. However, he retained the NA seat and quit the PA slot.

Teenage boy found dead in Haripur

HARIPUR: Unknown assailants murdered a teenager by slitting his throat and dumped his body in the limits of Khalabat Township police station,

officials said on Friday.

Identity of the deceased boy remained to be established, the police said while sharing the details on social media forums.

Khalabat Township SHO Siddiq Shah, on whose complaint the FIR was registered against unknown assailants, said residents informed him that the body of a boy was lying in the agriculture fields near the graveyard of Chohar village. He said the police shifted the body to the trauma centre.

He said circumstantial evidence showed the boy was about 13/14 years of age, and his throat was slit with a sharp-edged weapon.

Meanwhile, a van driver was killed and six university students were injured when a car collided with a van on Khanpur Road, police said on Friday.

They said a recklessly-driven car coming from Taxila collided head-on with a van loaded with stones in Pind Muneem village.

Man held for killing three brothers

LAKKI MARWAT/CHARSADDA: The prime suspect involved in killing of three brothers a day earlier was arrested during a raid in Bannu while the deceased brothers were laid to rest at their ancestral graveyard in their native town in Charsadda the other day.

Four people including three brothers hailing from Charsadda had been killed in exchange of gunfire between two groups on Wednesday over a property dispute.

A police official said that the incident occurred inside a house in the congested Gardanali Street in Bannu city. He said that Regional Police Officer Qasim Ali Khan took notice of the murder of three brothers and tasked DSP Imran Aslam to ensure the arrest of killers.

`Police started raiding suspected hideouts in search of killers and in the meantime local authorities were tipped off that the prime suspect, Inam Khan, was trying to flee to Karachi,` he said. He added that law enforcers foiled his fleeing bid and arrested the killer from a Karachi-bound bus.

Meanwhile, the deceased were laid to rest in their ancestral graveyard in Parang Majuki area of Charsadda district. A large number of people participated in their funeral prayers. The deceased were buried amid moving scenes.

Growers` body rejects tobaccoofficial price

SWABI: Members of Kashtkar Coordination Council on Friday accused the federal government of violating the tobacco marketing law, (MLO-487) by fixing price of tobacco for the current year below the previous year`s rate.

Speaking at a meeting held here, they regretted that tobacco was still under the control of the federal government despite the Eighteenth Amendment.They also showed a notification to reporters, which was recently issuedby the Federal Ministry of National Food Security and Research, in which minimum indicative price for current year was fixed at Rs505 per kg for

fluecured Virginia (FCV) of plain area, Rs573 per kg of submountainous area FCV, dark air-cured tobacco Rs378 per kg, white patta Rs245 per kg, burley Rs295 per kg, naswar-snuffhookah tobacco and its products at Rs245 per kg and sun-cured Virginia Rs331 per kg.

They quoted the MLO-487, which said: `The weighted average price of tobacco for the crop of any year to be paid by a tobacco company to the tobacco growers shall not be lower than the weighted average price paid to them for the crop of the immedi-ately preceding year.

The participants said in 2023 weighted average price of FCV was Rs709 per kg, which the federal ministry slashed to Rs505 per kg, and the huge difference was flagrant violation of the tobacco marketing law, and that it should be immediately corrected.

Officials of the federal ministry were repeatedly contacted for comment on the matter. but none of them attended the phone calls. An email sent to them was also not responded.

Amal Manzoor , 2024