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PM, COAS PLEDGE NOT TO LET HOSTILE FORCES DISRUPT BALOCHISTAN’S PEACE, UPLIFT Friday, 30 August, 2024 | 24 Safar, 1446
Rs 20.00 | Vol XV No 54 I 8 Pages I Lahore Edition
Chairs meeting of NAP’s Apex Committee, vow to bring planners, instigators, facilitators, and perpetrators of recent cowardly attacks to justice g Forum decides to enhance the g Gen Asim Munir, Commander Balochistan capacity of CTD, Police, Levies, Corps, Federal Ministers, Balochistan CM, and associated departments police, intelligence officials attend meeting g
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QUETTA
STAFF REPORT
RIME Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Muir on Thursday reaffirmed their resolve to prevent inimical forces from disrupting the hard-earned peace and development of Balochistan at any cost. The prime minister was chairing a meeting of the Apex Committee of the National Action Plan (NAP) here. The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs M. Ishaq Dar, COAS General Syed Asim Munir, NI (M), Federal Ministers of Planning, Interior, Commerce, Information & EAD, Chief Minister of Balochistan, key provincial ministers, provincial secretaries, commander Balochistan corps and senior civil, police, intelligence & military officials. While addressing the participants of the meeting, the prime minister commended the sacrifices and contributions of the people of Balochistan towards national progress and development, and resolved that enemies of Pakistan, bent on creating unrest in Balochistan, would be defeated with full force and national support. The prime minister further said that the entire nation was grieved by the recent tragic incident occurred in Balochis-
tan. Khwarij who shed the blood of innocent people would not be spared, he said. The prime minister stated that Balochistan was an important and beautiful province of Pakistan, and all obstacles in its path to development and prosperity would be removed. The prime minister said that the sacrifices of those who laid down their lives for the motherland and the innocent civilians would not go to waste. The prime minister made it clear that dialogues could only be possible with those who respect the constitution of Pakistan and salute the national flag. The participants offered Fateha for the Shuhada of recent terrorist attacks in Balochistan, expressing solidarity with the victims’ families, and praising the bravery of security forces for their timely response in preventing further loss of innocent lives.The committee unequivocally condemned the cowardly terrorist attacks targeting innocent Pakistanis and resolved to intensify counter-terrorism efforts in the province, leveraging multi-domain resources to eradicate terrorism. A comprehensive review of the security situation in Balochistan and ongoing operations against terrorists was conducted, and the committee decided to further solidify intelligence sharing and coordination among Security Forces and law enforcement agencies.
govt decides to depute all officers of 48th Common group in Balochistan: pM QUETTA
STAFF REPORT
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said that the federal government has decided to depute all the police/civil officers of the 48th Common Group in Balochistan without discrimination to ensure peace, stability, and development of the province. After discussion with the Interior Minister, the Army Chief and other relevant high authorities, we have made a policy under
which all the talented and efficient officers will be deployed in various districts and divisions of the province,” the prime minister said in his concluding remarks in the meeting of Provincial Apex Committee of the National Action Plan here. Announcing the policy, he said half officers of the 48th Common Group of both police and civil side would be posted to Balochistan immediately for one year.
No any plan to engage in any talks with TTP: FO ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch on Thursday categorically declared that Pakistan has no plans to engage in any talks with the TTP. “The presence of terror groups including the TTP in Afghanistan is confirmed by multiple international reports including the United Nations”, Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said at a weekly news briefing in Islamabad on Thursday. “We expect the Afghan authorities to take robust action against these terror groups and prevent their activities that endanger Pakistan’s security”, she emphasized. Mrs Baloch confirmed that invitations have been extended to all heads of government of SCO member countries, including the Prime Minister of India for the forthcoming meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The FO Spokesperson said, “We have also received some confirmations.” She said this meeting is scheduled to take place in Islamabad on the 15th to 16th of October. Responding to a question, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said Pakistan does not have trade relations with India. She said Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognized disputed terri-
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tory. She said the United Nations Security Council resolutions clearly state that the final disposition of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute shall be made in accordance with the will of the people through a UN supervised plebiscite. In this backdrop, she said that any other process cannot serve as a substitute to the grant of the right of self-determina-
tion to the Kashmiri people. When asked about China Pakistan Economic Corridor, the FO Spokesperson said it is a transformational project that has contributed positively and transparently to Pakistan’s national development. She said the corridor project enjoys support and popularity in all provinces and across the political divide in Pakistan.
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She clarified that Pakistan’s total public debt relating to CPEC projects is a small percentage of its total debt. Moreover, she said, the public debt obtained from China has longer maturity periods with low interest rates. The Spokesperson reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to provide full security to all Chinese nationals, projects and institutions.
afghan taliban label claims on ttp presence on afghan soil as ‘unfounded’ KABUL AGENCIES
Afghan Taliban Chief of Staff Fasihuddin Fitrat strongly refuted claims from both the Pentagon and Pakistani officials regarding the presence of Da’ish and Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) within Afghanistan, labeling such claims as “unfounded.” At a recent press briefing, Fitrat categorically dismissed the Pentagon’s assertion that Da’ish operates in Afghanistan, asserting that Da’ish has been eliminated from Afghan soil and that the group’s presence is a fabrication.
He also addressed concerns about TTP activities, stating, “TTP does not maintain any bases on Afghan soil and the fear surrounding Afghanistan’s territory unwarranted.” Fitrat accused TTP of having well-established bases in Pakistan, from which they conduct operations against Pakistani military forces. These statements come in response to recent comments by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pentagon spokesperson Major General Patrick Ryder. PM Shehbaz alleged that TTP utilises Afghan territory for its operations, emphasizing that Pakistan has undertaken significant measures against
these terrorist activities. He claimed that terrorists are launching attacks from Afghan soil, which has prompted Pakistani authorities to act. Meanwhile, Major General Ryder from the Pentagon had highlighted the presence of various terrorist groups in Afghanistan, including Da’ish, and criticised the Taliban’s role as the ruling entity in the country. Additionally, the Afghan Ministry of Interior, in its annual report, reiterated that Da’ish activities in Afghanistan have ceased, asserting that there is no evidence to support claims of its continued presence.
Foreign companies repatriate profits of $139m in first month of FY2024-25 Highest repatriations recorded from power sector where independent power producers (IPPs) repatriated $28.3m PROFIT
NEWS DESK
The repatriation of profits and dividends by foreign investors surged to $139.13 million in July 2024, a significant jump from the $2.16 million repatriated in the same month last year, according to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). This sharp increase follows the easing of foreign exchange controls by the SBP, which had been imposed during the previous fiscal year to conserve reserves. Foreign companies repatriated $133.86 million in profits against foreign direct investments (FDI) in various sectors, compared to just $1.53 million in July 2023. Additionally, repatriation from portfolio investments increased to $5.27 million in July 2024, up from $0.62 million in the same month last year. The removal of restrictions on the outflow of foreign exchange, implemented following Pakistan’s agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on a $3 billion Standby Facility, has been a key factor in this substantial increase in repatriations. Sector-wise, the highest repatriations were recorded from the power sector, where independent power producers (IPPs) operating in the thermal segment repatriated $28.3 million out of the $29.5 million total for the sector. Other outflows included $22.1 million from the tobacco sector, $21.2 million from the transport sector, $16.1 million from financial businesses, and $13.5 million from the chemicals sector. Despite an year-on-year increase, the outflow in July 2024 was 66.5% lower than the $414.5 million sent abroad in June 2024, reflecting a normalisation after clearing a backlog of repatriation requests from the previous fiscal year. The increased repatriation coincided with a slight depreciation of the Pakistani rupee, which fell by Rs0.13 to Rs278.45 against the US dollar in the interbank market. The rupee had previously gained Rs0.34 over three consecutive days. The currency has remained relatively stable within the range of Rs278-278.74 per dollar over the past five months, despite pressures from external financing uncertainties.
Hamas, Israel agree to zoned 3-day pauses for Gaza polio vaccination: WHO GAZA/CAIRO AGENCIES
The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Thursday announced that the Israeli military and Hamas have agreed to three separate, zoned three-day pauses in fighting in the Gaza Strip to allow for the vaccination of children against polio. According to media reports, senior World Health Organisation (WHO) official Rik Peeperkorn said that the Israeli military and Hamas have agreed to three separate, zoned three-day pauses in fighting in the Gaza Strip to allow for the vaccination of some 640,000 children against polio, Reuters reports. The vaccination campaign is due to start on Sunday, said Rik Peeperkorn, adding the agreement was for the pauses to take place between 6am and 3pm (0300-1200 GMT). He said the campaign would start in central Gaza with a three-day pause in fighting, then move to southern Gaza, where there would be another three-day pause, followed by northern Gaza. Peeperkorn added that there was an agreement to extend the humanitarian pause in each zone to a fourth day if needed. Hamas welcomes a UN request for a humanitarian pause in the fighting in Gaza to implement a polio vaccination campaign, Hamas official Basem Naim has told Reuters, adding that the group is ready to cooperate with international organisations. “We are ready to cooperate with international organizations to secure this campaign, serving and protecting more than 650,000 Palestinian children in the Gaza Strip,” Naim said.
Power outages threaten industrial cooperation at Rashakai SEZ, Chinese firm warns PROFIT
MONITORING DESK
The Rashakai Special Economic Zone Development & Operations Company (RSEZDOC) has issued a warning to the government, stating that unresolved power issues at the Rashakai Special Economic Zone (SEZ) could jeopardize industrial cooperation between China and Pakistan. According to a news report, in a letter addressed to the Secretary of the Power Division, RSEZDOC’s Chief Executive Lyu Ming expressed serious concerns about the ongoing power shortages at the SEZ, which are significantly disrupting operational activities and hindering investment promotion efforts. RSEZDOC emphasized that the Rashakai SEZ, the only SEZ under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) operated by a Chinese entity, has received considerable support from both the Chinese and Pakistani governments. The unresolved
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Rashakai Special Economic Zone Development & Operations Company urges swift resolution to power issues to prevent further investor withdrawal
power issues, however, pose a critical threat to the SEZ’s success and could further harm industrial cooperation between the two countries if not addressed promptly. According to RSEZDOC, the current temporary power supply is inadequate and unstable, affecting the production capacity of businesses within the SEZ and deterring potential investors. The company has called on the Power Division to expedite the energisation of the internal distribution network to resolve these issues. The letter, which was also shared with Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, highlighted the withdrawal of major Chinese investors, including Alice, due to the zone’s inability to meet their power demands. The situation was discussed at a meeting convened on August 21 by the Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initia-
tives. The meeting involved key stakeholders such as the Ministry of Energy, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra), the Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA), and the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO). The letter also noted that the Planning Minister had directed the Power Division to finalize and report a policy decision within five days to find a permanent solution to the ongoing power problems. However, RSEZDOC expressed concern that it was not included in detailed discussions regarding these solutions. The company urged the Ministry of Energy to take into account the practical challenges faced by the Rashakai SEZ and to communicate a viable solution as soon as possible to prevent further investor withdrawal and secure the future of the zone.