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Thursday, 21 July, 2022 I 21 Zil hajj, 1443 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XII No 380 I 12 Pages I Lahore edition

PM convenes eMergency Meeting over econoMic situation

ISLAMABAD shahzad paracha/staff reporter

RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called an emergency meeting on the economic situation of the country, the PM Office said on Wednesday. The meeting will be attended by the economic team and top officials related to the Pakistan’s economic sector. The meeting will evaluate the factors for the recent hike in the value of dollar and possible measures that can be taken to address it. The prime minister’s economic team will also give a briefing on the country’s economic situation and the reasons for devaluation of the rupee against dollar. PoLITICaL sITuaTIoN BehINd RuPee dePReCIaTIoN: The State Bank of Pakistan

has termed the current political situation as one of the reasons for depreciation of rupee against dollar. Officials of the State Bank of Pakistan said that the recent increase in the value of the dollar is not due to any precondition of the IMF, but Pakistan’s import bill and political instability. The by-election results have further deepened the uncertainty however officials refuted the impression that the central bank is doing nothing to control the value of the dollar. SBP officials said that the current financial year 2022-23 will be the most difficult year in terms of the economy. Inflation in the country has definitely increased due to the exchange-rate but the foreign exchange reserves will decrease further if we control the value of dollars, officials added.

State Bank officials further said that Pakistan has taken tough decisions despite political rhetoric. Now we have to take a couple of more steps regarding further tightening the policy rate besides strictly implementing the monetary and financial measures. Officials said that the IMF has no problem in working with any government. The IMF can also work with the caretaker government and the IMF board will approve the staff level agreement at the end of August. Officials said that there was uncertainty in Pakistan’s policies since February, which badly hurt the confidence of the IMF. “The IMF was unhappy over giving the subsidy on petrol but we persuaded the fund team with great difficulty as they have the point of view that no country is giving subsidy on petrol. Presently, all parties agree to deal with the IMF except the PTI, although the Imran khan party negotiated the IMF program, officials added. Pakistan has fulfilled all the promises including the increase in petrol prices and the situation has improved now compared to February this year, officials added. Pakistan’s external debt ratio is low compared to Sri Lanka and other countries. Sri Lanka defaulted because they failed to increase interest as well as exchange rate in time and we should not use the word default for Pakistan. Officials said that we have to separate politics from economy and Pakistan has to stay with the IMF and there is no other option. Officials also said that the State Bank and the government are working together to bring money in Pakistan. Friendly countries shall surely transfer the amount to Pakistan.

PUNJAB CM ELECTION

PTI accuses ruling coalition of horse trading; PML-N refutes claim ISLAMABAD staff report

Pakistan Tehreeke-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan Wednesday accused the ruling coalition of repeating horse-trading, saying that PTI MPAs were being lured with money in a bid to win the election of leader of the house, scheduled for July 22 – a claim refuted by the PML-N government later in the day. “Today Lahore is seeing a repeat of the Sindh House horse-trading that happened in Islamabad with up to Rs50 crores being offered to buy MPAs,” former prime minister and PTI chairman Imran Khan wrote on his official Twitter handle. He claimed that the main architect behind this was PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, who he said “gets NRO for his corruption and purchases people with looted wealth. He shd [should] be jailed.” The former premier said this is not only an attack on our democracy but also on moral fabric of our society. “Had SC (Supreme Court) taken action and debarred these turncoats for life it would have acted as deterrent,” he deplored. “Don’t Handlers of US regime change conspiracy’s Imported govt realise severe damage being done to nation?” Sindh House in the federal capital came to limelight in March when several ruling PTI lawmakers had announced that they would not follow the party line in the National Assembly ahead of the voting on no-confidence motion against then prime minister Imran Khan that saw his ouster from power after one of the dissidents revealed that at least 24 MNAs were staying the infamous location. Meanwhile, former information minister and PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry, while addressing a press conference in Islamabad today, has said that each PTI MPA

is being offered Rs350 million to change their loyalties. “Asif Ali Zardari is offering this money. He has set up a marketplace for buying and purchasing MPAs. Where do you want to take this country? We demand that Atta Tarar, Zardari and Rana Sanaullah should be put in prison,” he added. The PTI leader said that his party will also approach Supreme Court on Thursday in this connection. Fawad said that the money on offer by Zardari is from the Sindh treasury. “They don’t have money to clean nullahs in Karachi but they are offering money to our MPAs.” He said that people of Pakistan will never accept such illegal practices, urging the apex court to take notice of the situation. “You’re inviting further chaos by doing this. Our economy is already in a very bad shape. Punjab chief minister’s election should be done according to law,” he added. Talking about his party’s number game in Punjab Assembly, Fawad said

the PTI had the support of 188 MPAs and after recounting, the number might jump to 189 or 190, adding that they will comfortably get Speaker Pervaiz Elahi elected as the new chief minister of the province. “If the Sindh House episode was noticed by the institutions then we would not have seen this today,” he remarked. Fawad further said that each Punjab Assembly lawmaker belonging to PTI is scrutinised, but when such a huge amount is offered, not many people can resist. The development comes days after the PTI’s stunning win in high-stakes polls on 20 Punjab Assembly seats, making a grand arrival into the enemy’s territory as it pierced through some of the arch-rival PML-N’s pocket boroughs in the party’s home ground. Winning the bellwether province with a landslide lead, PTI not only paved the way to wrestle back the heartland’s reins from CM Hamza Shehbaz but also set the course for triggering a domino effect for the shaky federal government. Tarrar rejects allegations: Punjab Home Minister Ataullah Tarar later rejected the PTI allegations of ‘horse-trading’ allegations, saying that the PML-N has not offered any money to Members of Provincial Assembly (MPAs) ahead of Punjab CM elections. Tarar said that he rejects all the allegations levelled against him by the PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry, challenging the former information minister to testify his claims on oath on the Holy Quran. Speaking about the PTI leader’s claims about the Rahim Yar Khan MPA, Ata Tarar said that Chaudhry Masood Ahmed had resigned in April and lambasted the opposition party for not being aware of its own members.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

Banks quoting upwards of Rs241 to retire LCs of oil imports from June KArAchI ariba shahid

Profit has been able to confirm that Letters of Credit (LCs) for oil shipments that landed in May and June are being retired at rates above Rs241 against the dollar. “Even state-owned banks, which usually do not charge a large spread between the interbank, are charging such rates,” said a major importer. Sources confirm that a major

importer retired its LC at the rate of Rs238/USD earlier this morning. Later in the afternoon, a large state-owned enterprise has retired its LC of $70 million at the rate of Rs242/USD. This is for petrol imported in May and June. “Banks are now more concerned with retiring old LCs instead of opening new ones,” says the source. The dollar closed at Rs221.99 on Monday after depreciating 3.06 per cent in a day.

Thursday, 21 July, 2022

Arif Nizami’s passing A towering figure in journalism leaves behind a vacuum that will be tough to fill

he passing of Arif Nizami does not just mean the end of one of the most distinguished careers of post-Partition journalism, but that this newspaper has lost its founding editor. It is a measure of the man that this was not the only paper of which he was the founding editor, for he had previously been editor of The Nation from its founding in 1986 until 2009. he was also rare in having been a bilingual journalist, fluent in both english and Urdu, for that period, for he had been executive editor of Nawa-i-Waqt, the Urdu daily his father, hameed Nizami, had founded. he was a paragon of innovation, for after The Nation, which his father had conceived, he played a leading role in the founding of Waqt News, which he headed until he left the Group. however, this did not end his association with the electronic media, and he was an anchor with 92 News, until his death. even this newspaper is a departure from the more traditional broadsheet, being in the Berliner size. One of the practices of his entire career, recruiting young people fresh out of college, and then not just training them, but giving them independence and agency, may well be attributed to this spirit of innovation. The many who were trained by him will testify that he never tried to impose an organisational template on anyone, giving them the space to develop themselves. It is perhaps because of this that so many of those who worked for him have reached the commanding heights of journalism. he was not just a journalist, but had been destined to be one. Son of hameed Nizami, he did a masters in mass communications, and served the as President All-Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) several times, and was also President of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper editors (CPNe) at the time of his death. Both his professional training and organisational responsibilities made it inevitable that he would be such an outstanding fighter for press freedom. Over the years and until his untimely demise he confronted them all; military dictatorships, civilian governments and any force that challenged and undermined freedom of press. It was not that he was naturally confrontational. A true Lahori, firm friendship was also one of his qualities, and he would go out of his way to use his good offices if he could. his friendships were subordinated to his being a newsman. his appetite for scoops remained undiminished even after he left the hurlyburly of daily reporting, which is where he started in Nawa-i-Waqt. Indeed, there he received hands-on training in every branch of the production process. Arif Nizami never waved a flag, but was always a careful guardian of the national interest, or rather custodian, for he did not really try to define it, leaving facts to do so. his engagement with the national interest made him accept in 2013 the Ministry of Information in the caretaker government that conducted the election that year. This engagement also made him disinclined to accept any dictation as to what it constituted. One of the remarkable things about him was the fact that while he worked very hard at the task of editing whatever newspaper he was responsible for, he managed a balance with family life. he never let his family feel neglected, and he was able to take out time for the finer things in life, such as art and films. having been bred and brought up in Lahore, he was not so much a hearty trencherman, as a discriminating one. Perhaps it is to this sense of taste that he made one departure from the journalistic norm, which was of sloppy dressing: he was a careful dresser, even a natty one. his contribution to the field of journalism in Pakistan must be seen in two contexts, not just that of a key profession, but one of service to the country as a whole, and that of carrying on the tradition of his illustrious father. In both aspects, he did not lag and carried forward both the principles he had imbibed, and those that his own experience had taught him. he had to fill a gap, and did so successfully, only to leave one in his turn. he will be sorely missed.

A yeAr oN … Only memories remain

lot has happened in the year since my father left for his heavenly abode. Yes, life goes on, but the enormous void he left behind remains present, noticeable and painful. his absence is also felt in the profession he made his life’s work, especially in such a dynamic political climate where his brand of fearless factual journalism is necessary and important. In remembrance of Arif Nizami, the founder and editor of this paper, we are reproducing some of the articles written by friends, colleagues and family a year ago today, on his first death anniversary, accompanied by some pictures from his life as a professional journalist and family man.

A note about my late father yousaf nizami

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OU don’t simply do journalism. You have to live it’. This is what my late father Arif Nizami would say to me whenever my work was not up to par. It wasn’t something that he just said, he abided by it. having seen him at home as a father and husband while also having the pleasure of working under him in this paper for what now seems like an unfortunately brief period, I can safely say that his commitment and dedication to his work was simply unparalleled. In fact, even during the last few months of his life, despite the doctors and his body telling him to dial it down, he still wrote the columns that needed to be written, briefed reporters on stories that warranted telling and appeared on television for his show, ready to analyze the news in his own gentle and unique way for the viewer. This is not to say that he was a workaholic, as one of his many talents was to maintain a fair balance between work and family. Although, due to the nature of the job and the uninterrupted flow of news, the work was always there, but whenever I required his undivided attention to seek advice or just to talk, he was there for as long as I needed him. I think it will be those conversations we had, where he would draw upon his own life experiences to impart valuable wisdom, that I will miss the most. he was a cultured man, a fan of good music, especially jazz, a film and TV buff who enjoyed good food. I experienced and learned to spot the good stuff because he introduced me to it at an

Memories, memories... early age. he remained terribly busy throughout his life but would take time out for himself, grab a book, put on some light music in the background and just read in his study. I can’t forget those weekly dinners we would go to as a family, typically a new place that had opened up, where without fail someone from the office would walk in around 9PM with first drafts of the editorials for the morning paper that he would edit there and send back. There were no smartphones back then, just paper, printers, faxes and a red ink pen. One of his passions, other than journalism, was to dress well and I was told the other day by my uncle that this was something he inherited from his late father hameed Nizami. Suits, ties, shoes and cufflinks; he would meticulously yet effortlessly combine a variety of these items he had in his wardrobe for formal and official engagements, looking dapper each time, while maintaining a completely separate section for the more informal of occasions. I have always tried to copy his style with some success; I still do and will continue to do so. It was an important part of his persona, to look good anywhere he went as it complemented the sort of person he was, good at heart and always there to help. ‘Your friends are your asset, invest in them, you won’t be sorry’. This is a belief that my father lived by with unwavering devotion. Throughout the trials and tribulations that he faced during his life, there was always an indi-

A fArewell To priNTer’s iNk City Notes M A NiAzi

T would not be right to write these notes without saying that they were given their name by Arif Nizami. They must have been a minor matter for him, as even I can realise, for he had many matters to deal with, many decisions to make, in the newspapers he edited. But these notes have been of importance in my own life, for I’ve been writing them now for more than three decades. I never had any idea of writing them, and was then a wet-behind-the-ears reporter out of college only the year before, when I was summoned by the editor. Mr Arif Nizami was then what I would now regard as a mere stripling, but I then regarded him as an old man, not as ancient as Ahmad Aziz Zia, the

executive editor, or Jeff Plair, the news editor, but around the same age as Javed Nazir, our chief reporter, who was vigorous enough. But still old enough to have been my teacher in college. Arif sahib briefed me about the happenings of an Iqbal Day function, The Nation had come out on the 1st of October, so this would be about a month after we had come into the market. I had not attended the function, but I took the brief, and scuttled off to write up the account. I batted it out on the old heavy-duty typewriters we then had. We went into the 1990 election computerised, but back then, in this very same galaxy, but a long, long time ago, it was those heavy old machines. Anyhow, once done, I took the result to Arif Sahib. he approved it, though I think he made a couple of changes with his pen. he then said that the piece should have a name. In fact, he said, I should

keep doing write-ups like that, and that it should be called ‘City Notes.’ For better or worse, these notes were born. I went to get briefed for a couple of weeks before writing them, but after a while Arif sahib turned me loose, and left me to make of these notes what I would. I did. I’m not aware of how much he had to tolerate on my behalf, and where and how he defended me, not in those notes I wrote, but in the reports I filed. he backed us reporters to the hilt, that much I know. he had himself been one, which was probably the reason. he was also deeply committed to press freedom, as his activity in the All Pakistan Newspapers Society and the Council of Newspaper editors showed, and I found that he did not pass on the pressure he got to reporters. Let me assure you, if a reporter doesn’t know what pressure he has created, he will be more fearless.

CMYK

One result was that Arif Sahib insisted on knowing that his report was correct. he never claimed the editor’s privilege of asking a reporter to disclose his source to him. My own experience was that he would ask the reporter questions that went around the source, but did not find out who exactly it was. I presume that the principle was that if you didn’t know something, you couldn’t let slip even a hint. Arif Sahib knew how to walk that minefield. he had been there. I would not claim to be among his circle of friends. however, I do claim to know those who were his friends. And they were basically people he had known a long time. But I do claim to have been struck by something I heard from him (at one of those reporters’ meetings so long ago), “the graveyard is full of indispensable people.” I don’t know where he got it from, but apparently there’s no firm attribution for the quote, which has been ascribed to people as

vidual or a group of people eager to do their part, just as he had done for them when they needed him. I have grown up around these individuals; these are strong men and women who don’t forget a favour. It is a valuable life lesson that I have seen in action and endorses my belief that genuine unadulterated kindness always reciprocates. Apart from the plethora of tribute messages I have come across since his passing, the ones from his former and current colleagues are the most touching. Their experiences with ‘Arif saab’ defined in their testimonials have allowed me to glimpse into how he operated, running a tight ship, allowing his team the freedom to pursue important stories fearlessly, while having their back. he was after all, for the longest time, a reporter himself, and he never really shed that skin of his. Arif Nizami lived a full life on his own terms. he was more than just a father to me, he is my idol and his loss will be insurmountable. It is however an undeniable fact and I would be remiss not to mention here that none of what my father achieved in his life would be possible without his wife, my mother, in his corner. They both navigated through happiness, pain and suffering together as a team and came out stronger each time. Theirs was a codependency and relationship that even the worst of times and people could not compromise or damage. Rest in peace Abba! The writer is Editor, Pakistan Today. He can be contacted at yousaf.nizami@pakistantoday.com.pk

diverse as Churchill, de Gaulle and Clemenceau. Anyhow, when he spoke it, little did I know that I would have to juxtapose it with him much more closely to him than as the source. And it is perhaps only right that, on this occasion, we remember that this is where we will go ourselves. This space will not suffice to sum up an acquaintance going back over so many years, but I will leave it by saying that after school and college,which is the best time for making friends, Arif sahib was by the most influential presence in my life. Newspaper editors are, for they are part of the daily routine of all their readers. Arif sahib was a good custodian for them, whichever paper he edited, this or another. he will be sorely missed, not just by the very wide circle of his acquaintances, but also by those many who never met him, but those who have their lives touched by his paper.

Thursday, 21 July, 2022

My Uncle, My Boss: Arif Nizami (1947-2021) BaBar nizami

ucH has been written about Arif Nizami, the journalist, since he passed away. Keeping in mind the target readership of this trade journal, i feel i should talk a little about Arif Nizami the publisher, the media salesman. The cEO, basically. My first interaction with Arif Nizami as a boss, not an uncle, came at the age of 22, when i was a fresh faced MBA, having joined The Nation in the marketing department. it had seemed natural for me, like it was for him, to go into the ‘family business,’ as it were. My professional relationship with him was as wholesome and productive as my personal relationship. in stark contrast to his complicated relationship with his uncle, the late Majid Nizami, the boss and owner of the Nawa-i-Waqt Group, which Arif Nizami’s father Hameed Nizami had started in the 1940s. Whereas Arif Nizami was open to ideas that in retrospect, i now think, would have come across as new-fangled and impractical, Majid Nizami was set in his ways and thought any expense by way of innovation was extravagance. The little bit that i managed to get by way of brand building, was the result of hard fought battles by Arif sahab (i trained myself to address him as such in professional settings). i remember that when i had proposed the plan of billboards with live news tickers on key traffic signals in Lahore, he immediately took to the idea, which was hitherto unheard of in Pakistan. Keep in mind that this was 2003; there were only two private TV news channels (which you could only watch in front of, well, a TV) and no cellular inter-

net. Getting news at those traffic signals was a novel concept; it was a hit, the idea. Arif sahab, dressed nattily in a suit like he always was, had stepped out onto Mall road and stood on a footpath next to the intersection on Mall road to observe himself. Such victories were few and far in between. Professionally, i felt stifled at The Nation and left. Leaving, however, wasn’t a luxury that Arif sahab had. in 2009, Arif sahab was unceremoniously let go from The Nation and Nawa-iWaqt. He called me and said he would start a new newspaper and he wanted me to come back and help run it. i would be lying if i don’t concede that part of my decision to come back was because of the love of a nephew. But another significant part of it was, indeed, because it was Arif sahab! That he would get the funding and run a good paper, free from the shackles he had been putting up with for so long. And we started Pakistan Today. The whole being-open-tonew-ideas thing came into full play. We decided to follow a Western trend and go for a Berliner format, regardless of what the canon of the broadsheet said. And oh, it had to be all colour. i will not bore the readers with printing press shop talk. Just take my word for it that printing all the pages in colour – and that too in a single fold – was an impossibility with the number of presses we had. But between us, we managed to figure out a way to print all 32 pages in colour. Those visits of Arif sahab to Germany for printing industry conventions weren’t junkets. He knew the latest technical developments. No print guy could BS us out of getting exactly what we wanted.

it was a lovely jugaar. As they say in the engineering world: if it works, it isn’t stupid. Alas, the newspaper industry’s good years were wasted on Arif Nizami’s earlier stint at the Nawa-i-Waqt Group. The internet was gobbling up ad revenue and no paper (to date) has made a successful, monetised transition online, within the country or abroad. And with that, came a dark phase in Pakistan Today’s history and, indeed, Arif sahab’s. With ad revenues shrinking, we found it difficult to pay employees and vendors. Whereas other media magnates seem to be quite comfortable with incessant salary delays, he wasn’t. it took a toll on him. The unpaid staff of other papers often had to compile photos of their owners’ families’ high partying lifestyles on their society pages. But Arif sahab felt a personal burden. in an unfortunate culture in the national news media, where even cub reporters can blackmail themselves out of a government fine, Pakistan Today’s electricity connection at the islamabad office was disconnected due to non-payment. Arif sahab didn’t pick up the phone to call someone who would most certainly have obliged. He knew it would be wrong and that was enough. Anyway, they say tough times don’t last, but tough people do. And Pakistan Today weathered that storm. We cut down on costs and redirected some of the savings to newer projects. One, was Paperazzi, which is a joint project with another publication, under an agreement, the details of which might have made other press barons wince. But one that more than fulfilled the engineering ‘ifit-works’ test. Another was our business

magazine Profit. Not only did he see a future in quality business reportage, but also in exclusive business intelligence. He took the plunge and made Profit the first Pakistani news outfit to go behind a paywall. These publications started ringing in the cash with the main paper soon following. Earlier dues to employees have nearly all been cleared up, leaving some former employees nonplussed about where the money that was just transferred to their bank account came from. He insisted on clearing those dues. Arif Nizami was perhaps – along with only one or two others – the best connected journalist. Others might boast of a contact list of the who’s who of political and government power in the country. Arif sahab had all that and contacts in the business community, the ad agencies, the intelligentsia, the legal fraternity. A Lahori boy, some of his Karachi counterparts begrudgingly admitted he knew their city’s corporate circles better than them. Such was the respect that he commanded, that Pakistan Today was the first paper in the history of the All Pakistan Newspaper Society (APNS) to obtain full membership right from the start. it was quite the cV: Arif Nizami had been a reporter, one with an impressive set of exclusive news stories under his belt. He had been a bilingual columnist, one whose analysis was widely respected. He was, as i explained earlier, aware of the technical aspects of printing presses. He was an editor, having launched and helmed not one, but two APNS (category A) newspapers. He had launched the TV channel of the Nawa-iWaqt Group, was the cEO of another one

and, since 2009, had a regular programme on one channel or the other. On the trade association front, he had been president of both the APNS and the council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (cPNE). He had been the federal minister for information in a caretaker capacity. i have listed above, the entire gamut; he had seen every possible role of the news business there was. But that does leave out one role in the news business that he also had. The one that was closest to his heart: that of the reader. That of the viewer. He was with the readers that identified and would hate to see them short-changed. running a newspaper is the art of the possible, he used to say. He wasn’t one for quixotic impracticality; we live in the real world and compromises have to be made. But as long as the vendors kept were paid and the salaries as well, he knew what a paper is, at the end of the day, supposed to do. By way of illustration, let us use the HBL case, because the bank is, after all, Pakistan’s largest advertiser. When the bank’s debacle in New York happened, it was barely covered by the other papers. Profit wrote an uncomfortably in-depth cover story. Arif Nizami was the editor. But he was also the cEO, and therefore, the marketing department’s boss. After being briefed completely on the HBL story, he knew which hat to wear and which one to shelve. “it checks out. Don’t worry, Babar. Let’s run the story.” Babar Nizami is Publishing Editor, Profit magazine and CEO, Pakistan Today. babar.nizami@pakistantoday.com.pk

Arif Nizami Humayun GauHar

rif Nizami died -- and the lights went out in my soul. i knew he was very ill, and dangerously so, but still i could never imagine his life coming to an end. it was one of the worst shocks i have had, after the death of my cousin Babar Tajammul, which i will never ever get over. The last couple of years have been dreadful, with people i knew or close to me dying. i started wondering: why is this happening? it finally hit me: the problem is that people of my age group have entered the death zone, but our tendency is to think that we are indestructible, which is why we feel immortal. We forget that nothing is permanent, except the Almighty. Arif was a unique individual. His was a life full of ups and downs. Above all, he was a survivor. He was the son of the famous Hameed Nizami, founder of the Nawa-e-Waqt Group who passed away early, in his mid-40s. At that time, Arif was just entering his teenage years, as was his brother. The newspaper began to flounder; Hameed Nizami’s brother, Majeed Nizami, had started a rival publication called Nida-e-Millat. Majeed Nizami finally acquired the full shares of Nawae-Waqt as well. After some time, Majeed wanted an English language newspaper too, and it fell upon Arif to launch ‘The Nation’ of which he became the founding editor with Majeed the editor-in-chief. The paper became a success. Before Majeed died, he transferred the ownership of the Nawa-e-Waqt to his daughter. Arif though was made of sterner stuff and with the help of some friends launched ‘Pakistan Today’ which became the most readable newspaper in Pakistan.

The age of the printed word was dying, and electronic media had taken centrestage, and except for opinion columns there was very little new for Arif to print. Yet, he made a go of it. Amongst the magazines that Pakistan Today printed, ‘Profit’ became and continues to be a terrific publication. That was the one of the great things about Arif; he understood the pulse of his craft better than most. He carefully assessed the gaps of the journalism market -- which made him a success. Arif Nizami epitomized all that should be right in journalism. He was a man of strong and correct principles, on which he never compromised. His analysis was thoughtful and loaded with substance. Always speaking and writing with conviction and authority, Arif Nizami became one of the most respected and admired journalists in the country. He wrote with clarity and honesty. On television, he was a voice of truth. The public respected his analysis and opinions greatly, as they knew his main endeavour was to speak the truth. He was never drawn into the current media climate, which centres on bias and hysteria. He was calm, considered and, above all, factual. for three months, he also became the minister for information of a caretaker government. Towards the end, he focused primarily on his new baby, 'Pakistan Today'. However, he didn’t get enough time to institutionalize it. There is nobody like him in journalism yet, and we will be hard pressed to find a replacement. Hopefully, his son, Yousuf, will pick up the torch and carry it further. He will have our prayers. rest in Peace, Arif. See you soon. The writer is a veteran journalist, political analyst and author. This article originally appeared in ‘The News’ on 29-07-2021

Arif sb. Never a boss, but a friend and a mentor Syed urooj zafar Samdani

HErE is so much i want to write about Mr. Arif Nizami, under whom i worked first at The Nation and then later on Waqt News. His passing away has left a void in me. He grew on people. He had that magical effect on them. i was always Samdani sb., to him even though i was much younger in age and stature, but then, this was just one of the so many traits that stood him apart from the rest. i was just a youngster, still in college, when i started writing for The Nation. My father, (late) Zafar Samdani had taken me to him and i started writing regularly for The Nation. To say that i learnt from him

would be an understatement. i learnt greatly from my days as a writer there under his able and loving guidance, supervision and mentorship. it was an open door policy in his office. One just had to inform his PS and walk in. There were no airs, no arrogance, no ViP status of a man who carried the legacy of the Nawa-i-Waqt group on his shoulders, one who kept The Nation up and running till he finally left it, unable to continue due to family politics. i, consider myself one of those lucky ones, who spent a lot of time with him first as a writer at The Nation and then later as the first Head of Programming of Waqt News, which was his brain child. i was his choice, much before the channel was

launched. He was a visionary, a gem, a giant of man, who loved the people working under him. He was gentle and compassionate and reminded me so much of my father. in my almost thirty years of association with him, i never saw Arif. Sb. angry or impatient, even though, he went through a lot of mental pain and torture due to family politics. Still, he always had immense respect for the (late) Mr. Majid Nizami, his uncle. i can say that because i lived through those years and saw it with my own eyes during my time with Nawaiwaqt group and later. i can go on and on about him. Words will never fail me when it comes to Arif sb.. i had messaged him a few days earlier that i wanted to come and see him, but alas! it was already too late. i will always cherish the long and beautiful years that i spent in his company, at the fourth floor office in The Nation. He was never a boss, he was a friend, a mentor. He was Arif Nizami.

04 NEWS 21 LAHORE_Layout 1 7/20/2022 11:20 PM Page 1

Thursday, 21 July, 2022 | LAHORE

04 NEWS

PTI welcoMes sc DecIsIon on lB Polls In ajK

NEWS DESk

AKISTAN Tehreek-e-Insaf Azad Kashmir while welcoming the supreme court’s directions regarding holding of local body elections in October has said that the PTI was ready to hold the local government polls as per the apex court’s directions. In a statement issued here on Wednesday, the PTI’s Information Secretary Ershad Mahmud said, “The PTI is not only ready to participate in the local body elections but will also kick start the election campaign

soon all across the liberated territory”. Referring to PTI’s growing popularity all across Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir the PTI leader expressed the optimism that the PTI would make a clean sweep in Azad Kashmir the way it did in the recent by-polls held in Punjab. He said that the people of Azad Kashmir would repose their trust and confidence in the leadership of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf to bring real change in the region. The PTI, he said, would give full representation to the youth and women in the upcoming LG polls. Terming the local

KP govt approves land purchase for Dir Motorway PESHAWAR Staff RepoRt

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has approved acquisition of land for Dir Motorway for a period of 13 months at total cost of Rs3227.74 million. In a statement issued here on Wednesday, KP Chief Minister Mahmood Khan said that purchase of requisite land and implementation of the project will be ensured well in time, adding that strict implementation of existing rules and regulations should be made in the project being executed under public-private partnership. He said that mega highway projects were of utmost importance for sustainable development in the province. Mahmood Khan said that Dir Expressway and PeshawarDI Khan Motorway construction will boost tourism, trade and economic activities in the province. He said the provincial government has already approved the construction of Dir Expressway and Peshawar-DI Khan Motorway under public-private partnership. The 30km long expressway from Chakdara to Rabat will reduce the distance by 27km, adding that the four-lane expressway will have two tunnels and three

government system as the foundation of democracy, he said, “It is the nursery where politicians are nourished”. The PTI Information Secretary said that the LG Polls in Azad Kashmir were being held after a hiatus of over three decades. “The credit for restoring the local government system in Azad Kashmir goes to PTI”, he said adding that the PPP, Muslim Conference and PML-N had promised the people that they would transfer power and authority to the grassroots level by holding local elections, but they have miserably failed in fulfilling the promises despite rul-

ing the region over and over again. He said that the PTI Chairman Imran Khan wanted to empower common citizens by bringing them into mainstream politics. Underling the importance of local government system, he said, that it was best way to transfer power from upper to grassroots level. The LG system, he said, was an inclusive system whereby people could be made part of the decision-making process and proposing development plans at local level. ““At the village level, people make their own decisions and propose development plans and allocate resources for their imple-

mentation”, Mahumud said adding that the party (PTI) under the leadership of Prime Minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas would soon organize consultative meetings all across the state to take workers on board regarding the finalizing of candidates. He said that local elections would also be instrumental in developing true democratic thinking in the region. Reiterating his party’s commitment to hold a free and fair elections, Ershad Mahmud said that the incumbent government would fully cooperate with the Election Commission to conduct clean and transparent elections in the region.

Raising temperatures: A climate catastrophe: Sherry Rehman ISLAMABAD afp

When Sherry Rehman speaks, it seems as though the world is ending. Perhaps that’s because Pakistan has a front-row seat for the cascading catastrophe of global warming. To the north, rapid glacier melt is unleashing flash floods; in the south, savage heat is surpassing 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit); the west is speckled with wildfires, and Lahore is draped in suffocating perma-smog. “It is apocalyptic,” the 61-year-old former diplomat told AFP. She was appointed minister after a tumultuous government

change in April, which coincided with the onslaught of a nationwide heatwave. “When you have an apocalypse in front of you… have you not watched Hollywood movies? You have to face it headon.” ‘perfect storm’: Pakistan is responsible for less than one percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, but ranks eighth on an index compiled by NGO Germanwatch of nations most exposed to extreme weather events. That leaves the country of 220 million people bailing out its own climate disasters whilst lobbying bigger polluters to turn the tide. Rehman has launched a rhetorical offensive, hectoring the

great and the good at global forums with unabashed descriptions of a doomsday-in-motion. She framed the argument in the long arc of history: Pakistan, once part of the British empire, freed itself only to be gripped by “climate colonialism”. “There has been so much climate denialism internationally, with the big polluters not wanting to give up their bad habits or to pay the price for going green,” she said. “We’re being told ‘it’s a perfect storm in your neck of the woods, and you just have to do this by yourself’, which is absolutely not possible.” “I don’t even sense empathy very often,” added Rehman, who

served as Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States from 2011 to 2013. Making matters worse, Pakistan is in an economic tailspin with runaway inflation, a debt crisis and dwindling foreign currency reserves. Even Rehman’s home in the cloistered capital of Islamabad hums with the sound of a petrol generator. Heatwaves have exacerbated an energy deficit, and blackouts are on the rise. Pakistanis could be forgiven for having more quotidian concerns than the end of all days. “Communicating a sciencebased crisis in our lives, created probably very far away from our neck of the woods, is very hard to explain,” she said.

High time to reconnect central and South Asia through Kashmir ISLAMABAD anadolu agency

Authorities in Indian-occupied Kashmir recently declared an age-old building unsafe, asking its residents to vacate the premises. Named after Yarkand — one of the largest cities in northwest China’s Xinjiang-Uygur Autonomous Region — this historic edifice known as Yarkand Sarai in the heart of the capital Srinagar symbolised the trade and connectivity between the central and south Asian regions, ties enjoyed

until the early 20th century. Unfortunately, over the past century, links between the two regions have all but disappeared, and they are currently the world’s least integrated geographies, due to a trust deficit and rulers’ lack of political will to address issues. However, at the ongoing 76th session of the UN General Assembly, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan proposed a draft resolution, co-sponsored by Pakistan, stressing the need to improve connectivity between central and south Asia.

Munir Akram, Pakistan’s permanent representative at the UN, said the ancient Silk Route that connected the East and West across the Eurasian heartland was a prime historical example of the benefits of regional connectivity. He said Pakistan is working on several specific projects to enhance connectivity. The landmark among them is the Central AsiaSouth Asia power project, known as CASA-1000, which would supply surplus electricity from Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to Afghanistan and Pakistan. Work has also been going full steam

Diarrhea on rise in Swat, adjoining areas SWAT Syed Shahabuddin

Diarrhea has assumed epidemic proportions as more than 2,000 cases have been reported in Swat and adjoining districts during the past nine days, officials confirmed. On the other hand, the district administration has decided to ensure use of medical masks in the affected areas and clean water tanks providing drinking water to the local population. The health department has also asked the people to boil water be use to prevent spread of the disease. According to health officials, more than 2,000 diarrhea patients have been brought to Saidu Teaching Hospital since July 11. To review the situation, an emergency meeting was held under the chairmanship of Swat Deputy Commissioner Junaid Khan in DC office Saidu sharif here on Wednesday. Additional Deputy Commissioner Sohail Khan, MS Saidu Teaching

Hospital Dr Zia Ullah, DO Health Dr Mohammad Saleem, officials of Public Health, TMAs and WSSC participated in the meeting. On the occasion, Saidu Teaching Hospital MS Dr Zia Ullah informed the participants that since July 11, more than 2,000 patients of diarrhea had been brought to the hospital. He pointed out that among the patients, 43 were from Shangla district, four from Buner district and 13 patients from Kohistan district, adding that presently 76 diarrhea patients are under treatment in Saidu Teaching Hospital. During the meeting, the Swat DC directed the officials to ensure cleanliness of water tanks with chlorine, adding that laboratory analysis of water should be carried out to assess cause of the disease. He said that medical compasses should be installed in the affected areas. On this occasion, the medical experts appealed to the public to use boiled water and follow the rules of hygiene.

Heavy spell of monsoon rains likely in most parts of country: PMD ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecast rain and thundershower in Kashmir, Punjab, Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and northeastern Balochistan from Thursday (today). The Met office warned that heavy rainfall may generate urban flooding in Rawalpindi/Islamabad, Peshawar, Nowshera, Mardan, Faisalabad, Lahore and Gujranwala from July 20-23. It said scattered heavy falls are likely in Kashmir, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, upper Punjab and upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The rainfall may trigger landslides in Kashmir, Galiyat, Murree, Chillas, Diamir, Gilgit, Hunza, Astore and Skardu during the forecast period. In Islamabad, cloudy weather with rain/thundershower (with scattered heavy falls) is expected.

ahead on the Termez–Mazar-iSharif-Kabul-Peshawar railway project, which is set to provide Central Asian states access to deep sea ports in Gwadar and Karachi. There have also been several rounds of talks on constructing a pipeline to bring gas from Turkmenistan to India via Afghanistan and Pakistan. Using past linkages for oUtreach: Besides Pakistan, over the years India has been also working towards geographical integration of the regions around its landmass.

Thursday, 21 July, 2022 | LAHORE

NEWS

Punjab CM Election:PTI accuses ruling coalition of horse trading; PML-N refutes claim continued from page 01 The Punjab Home Minister further said that the PTI has once again started crying, adding that more resignations could possibly come forward. “Shah Mehmood Qureshi was also present in the parliamentary party meeting of PML-Q and PTI. Why only 100 members out of 188 participated in the meeting,” the provincial minister argued. Tarar levied his own allegations of PML-N MPAs being allegedly bribed by Punjab Assembly Speaker Pervaiz Elahi and his son Moonis Elahi. “A PML-N lawmaker was approached with a bribe of Rs100m while he was performing Haj,” he alleged, adding that Moonis was ‘pleading’ with the MPAs in Islamabad to switch loyalties while an elderly female PML-N MPA was also approached in Faisalabad.

‘Panic’ in markets as rupee slides further against dollar KARACHI: The rupee slid further against the dollar on Wednesday, as the foreign exchange association warned that panic was spreading through the currency market following the sharp declines this week. The rupee fell 2 percent on Monday, and 3 percent on Tuesday, despite last week’s staff level agreement reached with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that would pave the way for a disbursement of $1.17 billion under resumed payments of a bailout package. On Wednesday morning, the rupee was trading at 225 per dollar, having ended Tuesday at 221.99 after the Fitch ratings agency revised its outlook for Pakistan sovereign debt from stable to negative — though it affirmed Long-Term Foreign-Currency and Issuer Default Rating at “B-.” “There is panic in the market, I fear it (the rupee)will go down further,” Zafar Paracha, Secretary General of a foreign exchange association, the Exchange Companies of Pakistan, told Reuters. Paracha said he did not see any reason for the depreciation in the rupee other than a possible IMF preconditions. Neither the government nor the IMF have said anything about the need for any further depreciation of the currency, though Pakistan recently adopted a marketbased exchange rate under advice from the IMF under the economic reforms agenda. “The recent movement in the rupee is a feature of a market-determined exchange rate system,” the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said in a series of Twitter posts late Tuesday night, adding the rupee’s depreciation against the dollar is in large part a global phenomenon. ReuteRs

SECP reconstitutes Shariah Advisory Committee ISLAMABAD: The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) on Wednesday reconstituted its Shariah Advisory Committee (SAC) under the SECP Act, 1997. The SAC is mandated to assist SECP in approving Shariah-compliant issues and guidance for the promotion of Islamic finance within the regulatory ambit of SECP. SAC will be chaired by prominent scholar Mufti Irshad Ahmed Aijaz, who is also serving as Chairman of SBP’s Shariah committee and is a member of the Religious Board for Modarabas. Other members included Omar Mustafa Ansari, who is a renowned chartered accountant by profession and is presently serving as Secretary General of the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI). Mufti Ehsan Waquar is the third member of SAC, having contemporary qualifications in diverse disciplines apart from the religious qualifications. He is currently serving as Chairman of the Shariah Boards of National Bank and Soneri Bank. The Head of the Islamic Finance Department of SECP and Registrar Mudaraba Tariq Naseem will serve as the fourth member of the committee. staff RepoRt

TExTILE ExPorTS SurgE by 25.52% To $19.3b IN Fy2022 iSLamaBad

staff RepoRt

HE exports of textile commodities surged by 25.53 percent during the outgoing fiscal year 2021-22 as compared to the corresponding period of last year. The textile exports were recorded at $19,329.985 million in July-June (202122) against the exports of $15,399.083 million July-June (2020-21), showing growth of 25.53 percent, according to the latest data released by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Friday. The textile commodities that contributed in trade growth included cotton cloth the exports of which increased by 26.91 percent to $2,437.875 million during the FY2022 as compared to the exports of $ 1,921 million last year. The other commodities that witnessed growth in trade included cotton year, the exports of which grew by 18.67 percent, from $1,016.970 million to $1,206.838 million and raw cotton by 714.94 percent from 0.807 million to $6.577 million. Likewise, the exports of cotton (carded or combed) increased by 2450

percent, from $0.064 million to $1.632 million, yarn (other than cotton yarn) by 98.35 percent, from $33.369 million to $66.188 million whereas the exports of knitwear increased by 34.23 percent, from $ 3,815 million to $ 5,120.973 million. Exports of bed wear increased by 18.80 percent, from $2,771.786 million to $3,292.880 million, towels by 18.54 percent, from $937.533 million to $1,111.334 million, tents, canvas and Tarpulin by 0.02 percent, from $110.389 million to $110.413 million,

readymade garments by 28.75 percent, from $ 3,032.812 million to $3,904.658 million, art, silk & synthetic textile by 24.20 percent, from $370.417 million to $460.061 million, made up articles (excluding towels and bead wear) by 12.25 percent, from $ 756.444 million to $849.120 million whereas the exports of all other export materials increased by 20.39 percent, from $632.492 million to $761.438 million. Meanwhile, on year-on-year basis, the textile exports from the country in-

creased by 2.86 percent by growing from $ 761.438 million in June 2021 to $ 1,706.350 million in June 2022. On month-on-month basis the textile exports from the country declined by 3.93 percent during the month of June 2022 as compared to the exports of $1,641.901 million recorded in May 2022, the PBS data revealed. It is pertinent to mention here that the exports from the country witnessed an increase of 25.51 percent during the fiscal year 2021-22 as compared to the corresponding period of last year. According to PBS data, the exports from the country were recorded at $31.760 billion during July-June (2021-22) against the exports of $25.304 billion recorded during JulyJune (2020-21), showing growth of 25.51 percent. The imports during the year under review also went up by 41.93 percent by growing from $56.380 billion last year to $80.019 billion in July-June (2021-22). Based on the data, the trade deficit during the period under review was recorded at $48.259 billion, showing an increase of 55.29 percent over the deficit of $31.076 billion recorded during last year, the PBS data revealed.

Rasheed moves SC to secure voting rights for overseas Pakistanis iSLamaBad inp

Former interior minister and Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad on Wednesday submitted an application to the Supreme Court seeking to grant voting rights to Pakistan nationals living abroad. The petition pleaded with the court to declare the amendment to Clause 94 of the Election Act, 2017, unconstitutional. The petitioner also requested the court to order the government to take steps to ensure the rights. While talking to the media outside the court building, Ahmed said that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) was actually a synonym of Imran. He said his party would stand with Khan wherever he went. Ahmed also said that PML-Q leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi would be the PTI candidate for Punjab’s chief ministership.

Pakistan passport ranks fourth-worst for international travel: index

Police arrest two men accused of gangraping tourist muLtan the associated pRess

The police have arrested at least two people after a 21-year-old American woman claimed she was gang raped at a hotel when she was visiting a tourist resort in Dera Ghazi Khan, officials said Wednesday. The detainees included Arabela Urpi’s host, who took her to a hotel in the border district where she says she was sexually

assaulted this week, according to an initial police investigation. She arrived in Pakistan three weeks ago, according to police. However, according to several press reports, Urpi, who is on a tourist visa, had been living in Pakistan for over seven months. Police say they are still investigating to determine how she was lured and taken to a hotel by the two men accused of raping her. The woman earlier stayed at the home of one of the alleged at-

tackers for five days. The US Embassy in Islamabad told The Associated Press that its consulate in Lahore was ready to provide consular services to the victim. “The protection of US citizens overseas is the highest priority of the US Department of State and our embassies and consulates abroad,” it said. It added, “out of respect for the privacy of the alleged victim, we cannot comment on the specifics of the allegation.”

Over 50pc Pakistanis perceive positive impact of Internet on society: survey iSLamaBad MonitoRing RepoRt

The findings of a study showed that more than 50 percent of Pakistanis have a perception that the Internet is having a positive impact on society. The perception has increased by 9 percent over the course of two decades, as in 2001 it was 42 percent while the figure rose to 51 percent this year, a Gallup and Gilani Pakistan survey reported. In a Gallup and Gilani Pakistan National Survey conducted in 2001, a representative sample of adult men and women from across the country was asked the following question, “Some people are of the opinion that

the advent of the internet has adversely impacted our society while others believe that it has some positive impact too. Do you think that overall, the Internet has more negative or positive effects?” In response to this question, the survey revealed that 39 percent said negative impact, 42 percent replied positive impact and 19 percent answered either don’t know or gave no response. The question was asked again in 2022 to allow a comparison to be made across the years. This year, 37 percent said negative impact, 51 percent replied positive impact while 12 percent either responded don’t know or gave no response, according to the survey.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s passport has been ranked the fourth worst in the world by a global index that grades travel documents from different countries on the basis of international mobility enjoyed by their holders. The Henley Passport Index has exclusive access to data from the International Air Transport Authority (IATA). It compares the visa-free access of 199 different passports to 227 different travel destinations. The index is updated quarterly and is considered the standard reference tool for global citizens and sovereign states when assessing where a passport ranks on the global mobility spectrum. Pakistan is placed on the 109th position on the list, the fourth worst in the index, with visa-free access to only 32 destinations across the world. Only three other countries’ passports rank lower than Pakistan’s in the world which include conflict-ravaged Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. A holder of Pakistan’s passport, as per the index, requires visas for 196 travel destinations across the globe. Pakistan enjoyed its highest ranking on the index in 2006 when it was 79 on the index. The nation’s position gradually fell over the years until it dropped to its lowest ranking of 113 in 2021. Japan retained its top spot, with a record-high visafree or visa-on-arrival score of 193. Singapore slipped to joint second place alongside South Korea, with passport holders from both countries able to access 192 destinations around the world visa-free. India has been placed at number 87, with visa-free access to 57 destinations, compared to just 23 destinations in 2020. staff RepoRt

06-07 Comments - 21st July 2022_Layout 1 7/21/2022 1:15 AM Page 1

Thursday, 21 July, 2022

06 COMMENT

High-profile outlaws

Reviving Riko Diq The gold-cum-copper project will need heavy security

A constitutional democracy must have rule of law

HE deal signed in March with Canadian firm Barrick Gold to reconstitute the Reko Diq project in Balochistan was important on two counts. First, after the signing of the agreement Pakistan could avoid the $11bn penalty slapped on the country by a World Bank arbitration court. Second it brought an investment of $7 billion and provided an opportunity to exploit the world’s largest gold and copper reserve. The agreement however was only in principle. The implementation of the deal required prior steps to be taken. After the Riko Diq development lease was declared null and void in 2013 by the Supreme Court in the wake of a months-long smear campaign against the project in media, investors had become wary. Barrick Gold wanted the Supreme Court of Pakistan to review the settlement and Parliament to endorse it through legislation before any move was to be made towards the project’s implementation. For this the Barrick Gold CEO and his team met Finance Minister Miftah Ismail early this week. It appears that the Finance Minister has given an assurance to fulfill both the demands within a couple of weeks. This presumably brought Barrick Gold CEO Mark Bristol to Quetta on Tuesday where he and an enthused Chief Mimister Abdul Quddus Bijenjo jointly announced start of work on the project from 14 August. Bizenjo called the project a game changer for both the province and the country. He said the project would bring $1 billion every year to Balochistan’s kitty without any investment by the province. The project would also provide over7000 jobs to the local population. The province would also enter into an investment environment from a security environment Some of the nationalist parties have complained against the secretiveness maintained by the Balochistan government about the details of the agreement. A private citizen has approached the court over the issue. This is natural on account of the scale of corruption prevailing in the province. There is a need therefore to make the agreement public. The press briefing was organized under a heavy presence of defence personnel. This was meant to provide confidence to the Barrick Gold CEO. But the real challenge will emerge when thousands of workers and scores of foreign personnel will have to be provided a security cover both in Chagai and Quetta

Dr FariD a Malik

HE Islamic Republic of Pakistan is unique as it has failed to implement the rule of law despite being a constitutional democracy since 14 August 1973. General Parvez Musharraf, the former President and COAS was tried and convicted under Article 6 of the Constitution yet he managed to escape. Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, the three-time Prime Minister of Pakistan, was facing a jail sentence yet he managed to leave the country on medical grounds. Altaf Hussain, the founder of the MQM, was provided a free passage despite serious charges of murder and extortion against him. On the other hand, the journalist Imran Riaz Khan has been denied justice by the high-handedness of the civil administration, clearly indicating that all is not well in the land of the pure. The common law is based on the foundations of 'justice for all ', but it seems everyone is not equal in the eyes of the law of the land. A constitution is a sacred document which must command respect for it to be effective. It is an agreement between the rulers and the ruled which has to be followed to ensure fundamental human rights. Ever since its creation, Pakistan has faced a constitutional crisis. Perhaps it's the only country in the world that had to enact four constitutions (1956, 1962, 1972,

Taking it too far Shahbaz Gill’s latest allegations and the FO’s swift denial show the boat of sticking to the narrative

The power of the vote

TI chief Imran Khan’s narrative of an American conspiracy to overthrow his government though a vote of no-confidence with the help of local institutions is a toxic one, not least because it obliges party leaders to go that extra inch in their claims but also leads them into outright untruth. The latest example is the claim made by Imran’s chief of staff, Dr Shehbaz Gill, when talking to the press outside the Supreme Court, where he was appearing in a bail matter, when he claimed that the famous cipher, in which Ambassador Asad Majeed Khan is supposed to have denied the conspiracy, was held back by the Foreign Office from the Foreign Minister and the Prime Minister. He was trying to explain why Mr Khan did not make any claim about the receipt of the cipher until he waved it at a crowd several days after its receipt. Naturally, the Foreign Office was quick to jump to its own defence, also goblin itself into incoherence, as it stiffly denied that it could be so unprofessional as to hold back such a communication. It might have resented the implication that it held back the cipher as part of the conspiracy, as the conspirators did not want the conspiracy to come to light. Apart from making the PM, the Foreign Minister, the establishment and the Foreign Office bit players in a bad spy movie, Dr Gill inadvertently raises the question of why the US interlocutor who allegedly made the threat did so, when the threat was not to be passed on. Dr Gill’s statement shows the dangers of trying to defend a narrative that is itself riddled with improbabilities. Apart from the military and the judiciary, the PTI now finds that it has to include the Foreign Office as a conspirator if it is to prove that the USA-sponsored narrative is true. And because Mr Khan still insists it is true, and the Punjab by-election results will probably ensure that he sticks to this narrative, everyone in the PTI thinks himself or herself honor-bound to repeat the calumny, say the Foreign Office what it will.

Imran now has the wind behind him

MUHaMMaD ali alVi

representative sitting in an assembly has the backing of the majority that has elected him and carries on his shoulders the responsibility of the will of the people who entrusted him with their vote. He may be a single person apparently but in reality, he is the face of thousands of people with a common narrative. People gave the PTI a mandate to form a government in 2018. Three and a half years into the government, 20 members of the Punjab Assembly who either won on PTI tickets or joined PTI later, separated themselves from PTI, voted against it, and joined the ranks of the opposition. It was against the will of the people of their respective constituencies. The recent results have proved it. But, at the expense of a lot of time and capital. Both time and capital have been very important for Pakistan of late. Pakistan is among the countries that are at risk of default. The last couple of months have been the most troublesome years in the political history of Pakistan. For a country in such a critical position, spending millions of rupees on a by-election that would help check the credibility of the decision of disgruntled lawmakers just doesn't seem reasonable. The PTI blames the PDM government for the current economic problems in the country. And, with the recent by-election results, it has every right to do so because it has a mandate now as people also think the same. The Shahbaz-led government till now had been

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1973). Thank God the 1973 consensual document has survived despite suspensions and unholy amendments by the usurpers and their coattail followers. There are around 20 clauses in the Constitution covering human rights, yet not one of them has been provided or discussed on the floor of the House, clearly indicating their lack of priority together with an antipeople mindset. After ‘Law' comes 'Accountability'. In the absence of both no system can function. Today the republic has been rendered dysfunctional. Service to the people seems to be on no one's agenda. Even constitutional infringements go unpunished. Personally, in my opinion the trial of General Musharraf under Article 6 will go down in history as a commendable highlight of the political innings of one of the most corrupt politicians of the country but there are lessons to be learnt in his escape. Firstly, the individuals who prepared the 'Emergency Declaration' in the Law Ministry and then the PM on whose advice the President acted, should also have been included, but they were not, indicating personal vendetta against the General. In the words of Imran Khan the traitors like Mir Jaffar and Mir Sadiq have to be punished to stop this intrigue against the people. If every institution of the state operates under the ambit of law as determined by the Constitution, adventurism by a few can be made impossible. Constitutional boundaries are crossed by the connivance of the state organs, namely the Bureaucracy and Judiciary. They are all party to the infringement that has repeatedly taken place in the republic and continues till today. Rights of the people have been trampled with impunity with no punishment of the perpetrators. At least the Justice Yaqoob Ali Khan doctrine should have been followed which says; " Punish after they have been disarmed ". Nawaz Sharif, like Altaf Hussain, now operates from the freedom of London. While Nawaz continues to pull the levers of his party from abroad, Altaf Hussain has been denied this privilege for the time being. However, the arrival of Babar Ghauri has raised a lot of eyebrows and so has the intended return of Ishaq Dar. Platelets of MNS were totally out of control while in Lahore. Hourly updates were presented on the electronic media. It seemed that his time was over but

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hiding behind the three and a half years performance of the PTI government and blaming it for the economic crisis in the country. It claimed that it had to take tough decisions to bring the economy back on track. However, the people don't seem to buy this narrative and spare the PDM government for rising inflation and fuel prices. The recent results showed that people think otherwise. But why would a coalition government of several parties led by PM Shahbaz Sharif want to come to power, take tough decisions and then end up losing in its stronghold? If it considered it as the saviour of the country that could bring the country out of the economic crisis, and for a second if it is believed to be true, then it has wasted its chance to help the country because the public has rejected it comprehensively and as things currently stand the future looks bleak for it. But what might be the reason behind the vote of no-confidence? Simply put, it might be a lucrative option for Shahbaz Sharif to see himself as the Prime Minister of the country. It might be an innovative step for the PPP for resurgence and revival in Punjab. And, for Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman, a possibility to be the president of the county. The PTI's win in the byelection has come as a surprise for many. Especially for those who were curious about the establishment's role. But, whatever the situation may be, we should never disgrace our institutions by dragging them into politics. On the other hand, the current economic situation in the country and PTI’s narrative on regime change that was accepted by the public predicted a similar outcome. This win has put the PTI in a dominating position. It can simply dissolve Punjab and KP assemblies and force the government to announce early elections. But if PTI does not go for this option, then it might continue its aggressive campaign against the government. The narrative that has earned PTI a massive victory in the by-election will be built further. But we might see a change in the approach of PTI towards the establishment after this result.

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the moment he stepped onto the Royal Qatar aircraft all his ailments were gone. The safe haven in London has ensured perfect behavior of the faulty 'Lahore Platelets'. He now resides in the comfort of his expensive London flats with his two sons. The bothersome chants of 'Chor' by the expatriates residing in the city are muffled by double-pane windows. To counter the public outburst the paid goons of the party are sent to chant slogans outside the house of Jamima's 80-year-old mother, the former mother-in-law of IK, which shows the mindset of the escapees of law. Currently Imran Riaz Khan is being dragged from pillar to post or court to court to teach him a lesson. It has proven to be a mockery of the judicial system which is required to ensure personal freedom. Only free nations are governed by their constitutions, slaves have no rights, they are treated as beneficiaries of the state, not their customers to be served. The colonial system that we inherited was based on public hatred which has continued unabated. While the colonialists were forced to leave, their system and left-overs remained to usurp our freedom. Executive abuse is the order of the day. The judicial system is choked. The elected representatives have their own agendas. The common man is left at the mercy of the sharks that keep pushing them out of the arena. 'Azadi', yes, we need to rise for it, but the same mistakes should not be repeated. The system of governance has to be dismantled for which 'technocrats must replace bureaucrats. Relief to the public will only be possible once the executive abuse has been contained. For rule of law to be effective, defense of the constitution has to be impregnable. Usually, such terms are used by ISPR ( Inter Services Press Relations ), it is time that there should be a 'Constitution Defence Force' to stand up and fight for our constitutional rights which are being trampled every day. In the meantime all outlaws should be captured and returned to face the law of the land. Pakistan and its constitution must come first. To move forward, a new road map is needed to facilitate growth. The consensual document has to be followed in letter and spirit. No one should be allowed to escape. The writer is ex-Chairman, Pakistan Science Foundation. He can be contacted at: fmaliks@hotmail.com.

It will make things more complex for the PDM government because it might be the very factor that could have helped the PDM win in the upcoming elections. But, what are the options left for the PDM government and especially for the PML(N)? The PML(N) has accepted the defeat, but the option of resignation on moral grounds is not likely to happen. The PML(N) would want to continue at least for the maximum possible time. It will not want to go for elections after seeing the latest trend. It would like to give itself enough time to go out in public with something at its back. For that purpose, the PDM government will try to take steps that will provide immediate relief to the public. It will try to recover the lost ground by taking actions that might provide swift relief but not a longterm benefit. The slashing of petrol prices a couple of days before the by-election is an example. Pakistan’s economic condition demands long-term actions that can bring the economy back on track. For that purpose, a sustainable and credible government is required. A government that has a fresh mandate to start the recovery process. A government that will be answerable to the public once it completes its term. We might see the PPP distancing itself from the PDM government in the future after the recent results as it did with the PDM after initially joining it. Nawaz Sharif might return to Pakistan to revive his party. And with Nawaz in Pakistan and Shahbaz being the Prime Minister, how long would the brotherly bond continue is a difficult question to answer now. One can hope that wisdom prevails among all the stakeholders so that Pakistan can be prevented from becoming the next Sri Lanka. The political crisis in Pakistan can be potentially much bigger than Sri Lanka. The people are mobilized and charged up and ready to go to any extent and Imran Khan is in a position to lead them while the government is not ready to take a step back as well. The future looks gloomy. One misstep from either side can result in a bigger crisis in the future. What steps both these sides take in the coming days are very important. All stakeholders should keep in mind that Pakistan comes first and their decisions should not be fatal for the country.

The future looks gloomy. One misstep from either side can result in a bigger crisis in the future. What steps both these sides take in the coming days are very important. All stakeholders should keep in mind that Pakistan comes first and their decisions should not be fatal for the country

Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

The writer is freelance columnist

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

06-07 Comments - 21st July 2022_Layout 1 7/21/2022 1:15 AM Page 2

Thursday, 21 July, 2022

COMMENT 07 Editor’s mail

Send your letters to: Letters to Editor, Pakistan Today, 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah, Lahore, Pakistan. E-mail: letters@pakistantoday.com.pk Letters should be addressed to Pakistan Today exclusively

Ways of gauging performance of different regimes THERE are straightforward ways of gauging the performance of different regimes. Simply put, one can see whether the policies strengthen the economy or weaken it to the extent that it becomes vulnerable to internal and external shocks. During the last 60 years or so, the country has become increasingly dependent on external sources for finances and technology while veering away from the concept of self-reliance. The net result is that the country today faces a grave debt trap. Successive regimes in Pakistan have reached out to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for emergency bailout support to overcome serious financial difficulties arising intermittently, and considered organically unmanageable, to ward off the default risk. Till November 1958, Pakistan saw no need to borrow from the IMF, thus indicating that the economy was relatively strong and self-sustaining. From December 1958 to 2018, Pakistan borrowed 21 times from the IMF; seven times by three military governments and 14 times by the two main experienced political parties, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Nawaz faction of Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N). The frequent recourse to IMF by the civilian governments is indicative of the poor shape of the economy during their rule. The previous government that was led by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), which came to power in 2018, sought the lone IMF support in 2019. Arif MAjEEd KArAchi

The misery of Afghans

In the Throes of Politico-Economic Instability The PTI’s by-election win may carry a hidden cost

Zain abbas riZVi

OLITICAL instability is creeping back again, shortly after the sign of stability welcomed in the form of the staff-level agreement with the IMF. The unprecedented victory of PTI in the by-elections of Punjab has revitalized the debate over the power dynamics in the central province, threatening the viability of the coalition government in the Centre. If the PTI manages to consolidate a majority in the Punjab Assembly, as technically seems inevitable, then the federal government would be deeply disturbed as PTI will hold power in two provinces Punjab being the symbol of intrinsic political power in Pakistan. Thus, the restive state of politics would likely worsen as PTI eyes to dethrone the current Punjab Chief Minister, Hamza Shehbaz, on July 22. It might be good news for the visionary Imran Khan loyalists, yet it could be a knell of doom for the ailing economy of Pakistan. Just a day after the astonishing result of the by-elections, the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) dropped by 770 points in intra-day trading as investors rushed to book profits and exit the precarious market. The rupee, which recently stabilized against the US dollar, plummeted by almost two percent in a single day - the fastest rate of decline recorded in over two years - to settle at a new record-low of 215.20 against the greenback. Such a debilitating start to the new fiscal year is a bad omen, considering the renewed projections of a global economic recession at the helm of a stronger dollar and skyrocketing energy and food prices around the globe. However, Pakistan could trip into the abyss of bankruptcy long before the recessionary timeline, and not entirely due to autonomous macroeconomic misfortunes. Pakistan’s economic policies are at the front and centre of this agony. I have continually discussed the poor monetary and fiscal policymaking, totemic to Pakistan, that creates a spiral of dependency around a country, only to become apparent in testing situations, like a pandemic or a commodity crisis catalyzed by a war. It is our deviant fallacy to rely on imported furnace oil to produce electricity for households and industries. Our policymakers are privy to the benefits and opportunities of coal as an alterna-

tive fuel. Yet we continue to spend billions of dollars we cannot afford to squander. It is our own fault that we refuse to focus on improving crude refining capabilities to reap gains, both monetary and in productivity, in the long run. We bypass the structure of responsive policymaking and try to resolve supply-side problems with a frivolous preference for demand-side monetary policy tools like interest rates and money supply. Our government continues to rely on domestic debt when yields are intractable, adding more weight to the fiscal deficit. And it is our fault that we let our politicians decide inane policies. Policies that are nothing but dilatory tactics to weather the storm in the short run, so they could add a ticker of achievement to their notorious political term, only to leave the country in dire circumstances in the long run. The so-called “Pakistan Democratic Movement” or PDM, since apparently, an acronym defines the true essence of a campaign has nothing democratic about it! Once a politician enthroned himself as a leader while his obsequious followers chanted his name in parades and rallies. They voted for him in the name of provincial ethnicity and overlooked his blunders and crimes that eventually brought Pakistan on the verge of economic misery. Then he was conveniently convicted at privilege, escorted to jail (in privilege), and was respectfully flown out of the country, with privilege. Now his brother holds the office of Prime Minister. His nephew controls the reigns in the capital province. And his daughter campaigns for his party in the by-elections. The sheer irony of this scenario is a blasphemy to democracy. How could we possibly expect a bunch of convicted (and privileged) politicians to bring us through this political and economic dilemma when their survival is not remotely contingent on the survival of Pakistan? Naturally, we should expect the drama we are currently witnessing in the name of democracy. The suffering, however, will always be in the share of the poor of Pakistan. The middle class is not exactly immune to the throes of economic instability either. As the policy rate is standing at a regional high of 15 percent (the benchmark interest rate in India is 4.9 percent, China 3.9 percent and Bangladesh

4.75 percent, the brunt is faced by the salaried. As the exporting industry suffers from a competitive disadvantage due to the sky-high cost of credit, orders would be shifted to regional rivals, leading to a wave of unemployment and poverty. The idiotic policy of an import ban is truly a marvel of the incompetent policymakers playing fundamentals to resolve the balance of payments crisis magically. The banned commodities would only save roughly five percent of the import bill which stood at around $80 billion in the outgoing fiscal year. Yet the lack of imported raw materials would exacerbate the difficulty of the manufacturing sector,- further inciting supplyside problems and fuelling supply-side inflation. The signs of economic contraction are already noticeable. According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, Large Scale Manufacturing (LSM) increased by 11.7 percent from July-May. However, the recent report shows that the LSM output contracted 1.3 percent in May relative to April. It is due to an unreasonably high policy rate coupled with restrictive capital controls imposed by the State Bank of Pakistan at the directive of the government policymakers. Ultimately, the rapid inflationary pressure would surge in the following months. The central bankers, like always, would again blame the global uncertainty and high international commodity prices as a justification for another sweeping import ban and a sharp rate hike. I believe we will continue in this spiral as long as our allies continue to loan funds and the IMF continues to support our government. I know I stand in the minority, but it is high time that we let Pakistan take a dive like Sri Lanka. A complete restructuring of both the political and economic frameworks is crucial to the long-term survival of Pakistan. I’m sure our politicians (and financial gurus) can still swing our country through this crisis and mould an artificial schedule of growth and prosperity. But we need to realize that we are digging a hole, and we probably are in too deep already to return unscathed. Hence, to force a comprehensive reformation, I believe bankruptcy might be the only pill to swallow that could (somehow) redress our faults and actually spell hope for democracy and a chance of economic sustainability.

I’m sure our politicians (and financial gurus) can still swing our country through this crisis and mould an artificial schedule of growth and prosperity. But we need to realize that we are digging a hole, and we probably are in too deep already to return unscathed. Hence, to force a comprehensive reformation, I believe bankruptcy might be the only pill to swallow that could (somehow) redress our faults and actually spell hope for democracy and a chance of economic sustainability

The writer can be reached at szainabbasrizvi.14122@khi.iba.edu.pk

Vladimir Putin’s assurances of regional stability are commendable. Despite the fact that the Soviet Union was defeated by the United States in Afghanistan, Russian progressive policy approach to the volatile region is nothing short of revenge against the imperial power, which has just recently been forced by the Taliban to withdraw in haste and is now licking its wounds. Russia is a growing economic and military power. It has recently seized control of Ukraine on the ground that the US intended to challenge Russia using the Nato defence pact. It is true that the US implements its expansionist designs by using states that could pose a threat to Russian security. To counter Russia, Ukraine is just being used as a proxy by the US and is paying the price in the shape of a Russian onslaught. In the past, a deal was brokered between Russian president Mikhail Gorbachev and the US President George Bush. Following the disintegration of the erstwhile Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), they agreed on having truce and that there would be no eastward expansion of Nato. This, however, was not followed. Nato took a number of eastern nations into its fold and continued to wield immense influence in many parts of the world. It is like stabbing a foe in the back. As Russia launched its military intervention in Ukraine in February, it has led to grim consequences in socioeconomic dimensions across the world. Europe was highly dependent on Russia for energy, primarily oil and gas. After Russia was sanctioned economically, Europe has been caught in the crossfire and is itself suffering considerably from energy shortage owing to the conflict. The Russo-Ukrainian conflict, as expected, has made a wider and deeper impact not only on Europe, but throughout the world. Today, the world bears the brunt of domino effect of the crisis. In this context, Afghanistan is in dire need of economic assistance. Regional countries, like Pakistan, Russia, China, and India, should play their part in alleviating the troubles that the landlocked state is faced with. There is a deteriorating humanitarian crisis. The impoverished Afghan people are compelled to sell off their kidneys to survive. Abdul QAdEEr SEElro lArKAnA

Grotesque entity IN today’s globalized, technologically advanced, diplomatically nuanced and media-savvy age, our society is plagued with diverse social problems almost found unexpressed. Such problems are a threat to developed society which mostly blemish contentment of life, hinder progressiveness, mar socio-economic activities and moral development perpetually. Problems that our society is coping with are unemployment, poverty, gender inequality, sexual abuse, and prostitution. Whenever I hear the word “prostitute” the first image that comes to mind is an inappropriately dressed woman standing in filthy streets waiting for a client. Prostitution, a taboo culture of the sex trade, in Pakistan is not an anomalous profession for needy and helpless women- who found other means of livelihood irksome and tiresome. If we trace the history of prostitution, we will find it interesting that it had been managed before the partition of the subcontinent. Heera mandi, a traditional brothel quarter of Lahore, is the most infamous and widely criticized place of prostitution where all ages of men visit for self-gratification- the glaring remnant of the British Raj. This so-called profession is always confronted with hate and disgrace from the people. Society can humanize their plight by accepting them as a marginalized fraction of society and raising their concerns. The reason for such menace should be properly described and understood for sake of this poverty-ridden community. There are myriad reasons that give rise to the spread of prostitution in Pakistan. Many opportunists lure the poor class into a job by offering high salaries. But their hopes dash to the ground when they find themselves around people who deceive and rape. Aftermath, they think they cannot go back and they seek refuge in “madams” who are already managers or suppliers of girls to brothels. A couple of years ago, the police arrested Farzana alias Kalashnikov for prostitution. She told the sessions court where she applied for bail that her husband was an addict. That compelled her to take work at a private company where the employer sexually exploited her. To escape poverty and abuse at home might be the reason for the menace of prostitution. Unsupported girls or women, where husbands or family members are incompetent to earn a livelihood due to their mental health or physical inability are prone to such abusive and nasty ways to make ends of life meet. According to my observation and deep study, society is responsible for compelling women into the profession of Prostitution. No woman wants to lose her chastity, honour and womanhood. It is a socially constructed phenomenon that plunged women into disgraceful professions against their own dignity. Society can assuage its social and economic volatile situation in many ways. SAMiullAh KAKAr, QuEttA

08 WORLD VIEW 21st July 22_Layout 1 7/20/2022 11:44 PM Page 1

Thursday, 21 July, 2022

08 WORLD VIEW

EuropE is burning EUROPE IS ALSO HIGHLY URBANIZED. ABOUT 72 PERCENT OF EUROPEAN UNION RESIDENTS LIVE IN CITIES, TOWNS, AND SUBURBS. THE CONCRETE, GLASS, AND STEEL OF URBAN ENVIRONMENTS AND THE RELATIVE LACK OF GREEN SPACES TURNS CITIES INTO HEAT ISLANDS THAT STAY HOTTER THAN THEIR SURROUNDINGS

Vox

umair irfan

HE United Kingdom’s Meteorological Office declared its first ever “red warning” for exceptional heat over the weekend. Meanwhile, the UK Health Security Agency raised its heat alert level to 4, triggering a national emergency. And on Tuesday, the UK broke its national record for the highest temperature ever recorded: 39.1 degrees Celsius, or 102.4 degrees Fahrenheit. Forecasters warn the numbers could climb higher. “In this country, we’re used to treating a hot spell as a chance to go and play in in the sun,” said Penny Endersby, chief executive of the Met Office, in a statement. “This is not that sort of weather.” The heat in the UK has disrupted trains and flights. Hospitals are bracing for an influx of heatrelated casualties, and Covid-19 cases are rising as well. Across the channel, France broke more than 100 all-time heat records across the country in the past week. But just as energy demand is spiking with people desperate to cool off, the high temperatures have forced France to cut down its nuclear power output since the rivers used to cool the power plants have become too hot. Much of Europe is already dealing with a spike in energy prices after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine led countries to reduce their use of Russian oil and gas. Spanish authorities estimate more than 500 people nationwide have already died from the heat through the weekend. High temperatures are fueling a spike in ozone pollution. The heat and dry weather have also created ideal conditions for wildfires,

and blazes have already ignited in France, Spain, and Portugal, creating harrowing scenes of flames encroaching on homes, roads, and trains while forcing thousands to evacuate. The recent heat wave is a reminder that disasters are rarely polite enough to wait their turn. Covid-19, the war in Ukraine, and the economic stresses of inflation are making it more difficult for countries to respond to the severe weather, and compounding its toll. The severe heat this week across Europe is unusual for the continent, but it’s not surprising. Scientists have warned for years that more frequent and intense heat waves are one of the most direct consequences of climate change, even in places used to mild weather. While the whole planet has warmed on average by about 2°F since the Industrial Revolution, that small rise in the average is leading to a large spike in extreme temperatures. Even so, the recent heat is leading scientists to rethink just how quickly extreme temperatures could arrive. But it’s clear that more sweltering summers lie ahead for Europe. THE RECENT HEAT WAVE IS EXPOSING EUROPE’S UNIQUE VULNERABILITIES Though countries in Europe are wealthy, heat is still a major threat to people and to infrastructure. Europe’s ordinarily mild climate has meant that many homes and businesses have not invested in air conditioning. Fewer than 5 percent of homes across Europe have air conditioning, according to the International Energy Agency. And compared to people who live in warmer climates, Europeans themselves are also less acclimated to extreme heat. That can mean people miss the warning signs of heat danger. These patterns are why heat waves are often more dangerous in cooler climates. In fact, one of the

biggest predictors of the dangers of a heat wave is not how high temperatures get, but how much they deviate from the norm for an area. Europe is also highly urbanized. About 72 percent of European Union residents live in cities, towns, and suburbs. The concrete, glass, and steel of urban environments and the relative lack of green spaces turns cities into heat islands that stay hotter than their surroundings. One especially dangerous aspect of the current heat wave is how warm it’s been after sunset. The UK just broke its record for the hottest temperature recorded at night. In many parts of the world, nighttime temperatures are rising faster than daytime heat. This often leads to worse health problems because people find little relief as heat stress mounts. “Nights are also likely to be exceptionally warm, especially in urban areas,” said Neil Armstrong, chief meteorologist at the UK Met Office, in a statement. “This is likely to lead to widespread impacts on people and infrastructure. Therefore, it is important people plan for the heat and consider changing their routines.” Europe may face even more extreme heat in the future because of changes in the jet streams, the narrow, fast-moving bands of air in the upper atmosphere. A study published earlier this month in Nature Communications found that the jet streams are shifting in ways that amplify heat over the European continent. So the combination of human factors, changes in regional weather patterns, and warming around the world is converging to worsen the toll of extreme heat in Europe. Much of Europe remains haunted by the 2003 heat wave that killed more than 70,000 people. The good news is that natural disasters like heat waves are becoming less deadly around the world. Better forecasting and more tools to cope with

heat have saved lives in Europe. But with disrupted travel, increasing hospital visits, and lost productivity, heat is still extracting a growing social and economic toll. That’s why, although few Europeans have air conditioners in their homes, worries about extreme heat have been mounting for years. In 2014, French weather presenter Évelyne Dhéliat imagined an August weather forecast for France in the year 2050 using projections from the World Meteorological Organization. She showed the kind of weather that would be likely after decades of additional warming, with temperatures rising to 109°F in southern France. But as the French magazine L’Obs points out, much of that imagined midcentury forecast already came true in 2019: The recent heat wave showed similar heat patterns to those projections across France. In 2020, the UK Met Office did the same exercise, creating a hypothetical weather forecast for 2050. That forecast has also come true this week: So does this heat wave mean the weather of tomorrow is already here and that climate models underestimated what’s in store? It’s not clear yet. Temperatures in Europe this week certainly expand the realm of what’s possible in the present and into the future. “It’s definitely extreme in terms of what’s happened historically, but we should be expecting that we’ll hit more and more extremes moving forward,” said Isla Simpson, a research scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research. However, scientists are still trying to figure out how the current European heat wave fits into previous forecasts and whether it’s more extreme than predicted. Climate models do show that Europe is capable of reaching triple-digit temperatures in the current era, but researchers are calculating how much more likely they’ve become. The current heat wave isn’t over

Sri Lanka is the beginning of globalists’ collapse back by blocking main thoroughfares with their tractors and keeping supermarket shelves relatively bare. Already, similar protests have popped up in Italy, Poland, and Germany. Castro-loving Prime Minister Justin Trudeau may have succeeded in using the iron fists of government force and bank account seizures to dismantle Canadian truckers’ Freedom Convoy protests against experimental vaccine mandates earlier this year, but the current spate of public demonstrations against historic food and fuel costs show few signs of being similarly squashed. While Germany prepares to restrict home heating at night and ration hot water, some industry leaders are already warning that “social peace is in great danger.” If tempers are running hot today, they are certain to go nuclear in the near future, as French and German leaders have warned their populations to “prepare for a total cut-off of Russian gas” that promises to exacerbate business bankruptcies and extend personal economic ruin. Only adding to the uncertainty of this approaching cataclysm, Europe’s border forces are reportedly “bracing” for “waves” of hungry illegal immigrants heading their way during what is inarguably transforming into a global food crisis. Riots, famines, societal collapse, and cultural invasion — the globalists’ Great Reset agenda has created the perfect storm of economic insecurity and national instability. All of this leads to an important question: If this Build Back Better project to demolish and reconstruct the West’s economic foundations ends up blowing up right in the globalists’ faces, what will they do next? In Sri Lanka, the president hightailed it out of town and headed for paradise in the nearby Maldives. If Europe descends into conflict or outright rebellion, however, where will the World Economic Forum’s leaders hide? Is there someplace left in the world still unscathed from the predictable consequences of their disastrous actions?

RIOTS, FAMINES, SOCIETAL COLLAPSE, AND CULTURAL INVASION — THE GLOBALIST AGENDA HAS CREATED THE PERFECT STORM FOR NATIONAL INSTABILITY FEdEralIst

J.B. Shurk

OR a year, the Biden administration told Americans inflation wasn’t real. Then it was “transitory.” Then it was “sticky.” Then inflation was miraculously “real” but perfectly expected as a result of Covid-19 workplace lockdowns. Then it was an unfortunate but “necessary cost” for patriotic Americans to pay in defense of Ukraine against Russian aggression. Now inflation has risen to an annual rate of 9.1 percent, the highest in more than 40 years. Tucker Carlson has been outlining how Joe Biden’s Green New Deal energy policies — not Russia’s war in Ukraine or Covid-19’s economic fallout — are directly responsible for our current economic crisis. In following the World Economic Forum’s Build Back Better socialist blueprint for transitioning the economy from one relying on the hydrocarbon energies of oil, coal, and natural gas to one based on insufficient supplies of wind and solar energies, manufacturing and transportation costs have skyrocketed. Add to this destabilizing energy shift the WEF and Green New Deal’s concerted efforts to shift the global food supply from one based on high-yield, fertilizer-intensive crop farming and traditional cattle and poultry production to a new “sustainable” diet of insects and labgrown synthetic meats, and it is clear that the Build Back Better agenda touches every part of an individual’s daily life. In one fell swoop, Davos devotees are attempting to overhaul both the energy sources undergirding the global economy and the energy sources that fuel every human being. One of the principal effects of this forced paradigm shift in energy and food production

is today’s runaway inflation. If the supplies of relatively inexpensive sources of hydrocarbon energy are reduced on the global market, then everything dependent on hydrocarbon energy increases in price. From the operational overhead required to keep commodity and manufacturing plants running to the international shipping and transcontinental transport costs required to move finished products across the world, everything becomes more expensive. At each stage of the process of extracting raw materials, producing a product for market, and putting that product in a consumer’s home, rising “green” energy costs cascade to create skyrocketing inflation. Likewise, when agricultural and livestock farming are heavily regulated in accordance with Green New Deal “climate change” goals, then not only does food become more expensive, it also becomes more scarce. Inflation and food insecurity are the natural results. The Great Reset, however, is not occurring in a vacuum. Unsuspecting citizens may be the guinea pigs forced to endure the World Economic Forum’s agenda, but they do not lack agency of their own. Hunger and loss of savings tend to fracture societies, and not surprisingly, chaos and carnage are now on the rise. In Sri Lanka, the costs of food and fuel have gotten so high that the island country has nearly collapsed. The president has fled, the prime minister has promised to resign, the socialist nation is in a state of emergency, and fed-up citizens have taken over much of the capital. It is the starkest warning yet to the Build Back Better zealots how devastating for ordinary citizens their forced experiment in social engineering has become. In the Netherlands, farmers protesting government plans to regulate their livelihoods out of existence and seize their farms have fought

J.B. Shurk is a freedom-minded, anti-establishment, sometimes unorthodox, committed generalist.

yet, and it will take some time to compare climate predictions to the actual results. Researchers are also investigating exactly how much human-caused climate change made it worse. “Climate change has already influenced the likelihood of temperature extremes in the UK,” said Nikos Christidis, a climate scientist at the UK Met Office, in a statement. “The chances of seeing 40°C [104°F] days in the UK could be as much as 10 times more likely in the current climate than under a natural climate unaffected by human influence.” In past heat waves, climate simulations struggled to anticipate the severe temperatures already manifesting in some parts of the world, like the expansive blob of heat that settled over the Pacific Northwest last year. “It was hard for our models to produce an event that extreme even if you account for climate change,” Simpson said. “We will have to start to wonder, are we missing something, or are we just very unlucky?” Of course, Europe isn’t the only place that’s sweating this summer. Much of the US is also facing a heat wave that has worsened wildfires and created risks of power outages, while India and Pakistan saw a massive heat wave across the region in May. And climate change is expected to nudge future thermometers even higher. As hot as it’s already been, this is still likely to be one of the coolest summers we’re going to experience for the rest of our lives. Umair Irfan covers climate change, energy, and Covid-19 vaccine development for Vox. He is also a contributor to Science Friday. Before joining Vox, Umair was a reporter for ClimateWire at E&E News in Washington, DC, where he covered health and climate change, science, and energy policy.

Asking exam candidates to remove innerwear to check cheating shows abysmal level of trust in the young TO HUMILIATE STUDENTS FOR AN ARTICLE OF CLOTHING — OR, AS THE “RULES” WOULD HAVE IT, “ANY ORNAMENTS/ METALLIC ITEMS” — IS UNCONSCIONABLE AND SYMPTOMATIC OF A DEEP SUSPICION OF ASPIRANTS ON THE PART OF THE NTA IndIan ExprEss Editorial

There is no justification for the alleged actions of officials under the National Testing Agency (NTA) at an examination centre in Kollam, Kerala. On Thursday, according to an FIR filed by a parent, several young women were forced to remove their innerwear by officials as they sought to appear for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for admissions to MBBS and BDS programmes. The current episode is not the first such instance: In 2017, “overzealous” teachers at a Kerala school were suspended for asking a girl to remove her innerwear before entering a NEET exam centre. To humiliate students for an article of clothing — or, as the “rules” would have it, “any ornaments/ metallic items” — is unconscionable and symptomatic of a deep suspicion of aspirants on the part of the NTA. How can an earring, or a hook on an item of clothing lead to cheating? And exactly how many candidates smuggled cheat sheets in these wires? Yet, the NTA’s list of prohibited items — which includes shoes, jewellery and all metallic objects — only empowers the person on the ground to police the bodies of aspirants. Bureaucratic “rules” too must aspire to common sense. As a governance reform in the healthcare and education sector, the NEET has much to recommend it. Like the Joint Entrance Exam for engineering, the NEET has the potential to ensure uniformity in admission standards across states and objectivity and transparency in candidate selection. What is common here is an assumption of guilt — of “cheating” — and the impunity arising from the vaguely-worded rules used to humiliate students. The local police has filed an FIR in the matter and the NTA has sent a team to Kerala to conduct its own investigation. The offending officials must be brought to book. But a wider conversation on reforming the guidelines and powers of the NTA is also needed. The guiding principle of such reform must place the dignity of students and aspirants front and centre; it must ease their burdens while ensuring that exams are conducted fairly. Mechanisms must be put in place to ensure that those conducting tests — whether NEET, JEE or any other such examination — are sensitised to their role as enablers for the youth, who are already under tremendous pressure. To stripsearch a candidate to protect a test means there’s something terribly wrong with the test — not the candidate.

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Thursday, 21 July, 2022 | LAHORE

NEWS CORPORATE CORNER

CPEC offErs hugE businEss oPPortunity to logistiC ComPaniEs in truCk oPErations ISLAMABAD

Daraz and Visa collaborate to impart business skills for online Sellers. Pr

PtC plans to plant 5 million trees in 2022 ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tobacco Company Limited (PTC) officially marked the start of monsoon season plantation drive2022 by opening doors of its plant nurseries providing free of cost plant saplings to individuals, public and private sector organizations. Mohammad Qasim, CSR Manager PTC, said that we have currently the largest private sector afforestation program in the country having planted and distributed 120+ million trees and saplings since 1981. This year our plan is to plant and distribute at least 5 million trees. Currently, the plant species available at the nurseries are beech tree, Persian lilac, mountain ebony, willow, golden dewdrop, guava and java plum. PTC nurseries are in Islamabad (Sector F-9 & Barakahu), Jhelum (main G.T. Road near PTC factory), Lahore (Behind Ring Road Head Office), Swabi (Motorway Interchange) and Faisalabad (Iqbal Stadium). Any individual can come to any of our plant nurseries and obtain up to 25 plant saplings free of cost, he added. Pr

baloch emphasizes need for new campuses ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Science and Technology Agha Hassan Baloch presided over the 6th Meeting of SubCommittee of the Senate COMSATS University Islamabad today. The meeting was attended by The Secretary Science and Technology Mr. Ghulam Muhammad Memon, Rector COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI) Prof. Dr. Muammad Tabbasum Afzal, Director General Faculty Affairs Higher Education Commission (HEC) Islamabad. Mr. Muhammad Raza Chohan, Treasurer COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI) Mr. Muhammad Azam and senior officers of The Ministry of Science and Technology. While addressing the meeting Federal Minister for Science and Technology Agha Hassan Baloch emphasized the need of new campuses and directed the management of COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI) to enhance collaboration with the relevant departments to establish the Sukkur and Quetta campuses of the university in this financial year. The sub-committee of CUI granted approval of the appointment of the Deans, Faculty of Business Administration and Faculty of Science. In the meeting, the sub-committee also agreed upon the proposal of affiliation of educational institutions with the COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI) to improve the educational standard of the country and financial position of the University as well. After detailed deliberation on the agenda of appointment of Registrar COMSATS University the Subcommittee decided and directed to undertake the process afresh. The Rector COMSATS University briefed about the implementation status of the decisions of the 5th Meeting of the Subcommittee of the Senate. The Federal Minister appreciated the initiatives taken by the University for Promotion of education in the country and expressed the hope that university will further improve the quality of education and also ensure good governance. Pr

staff rePort

ARIS Jamali, CEO TCS Private Limited, has said the government is working along with the private sector to enhance the logistic network via road links among the regional countries to tap into the potential of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) with the Central Asian Countries. Speaking to the media roundtable, he said that CPEC offers a huge business opportunity to Pakistan’s logistic companies in the areas of truck opera-

tions with the focus to provide them access to Central Asian countries till Uzbekistan hence the policy framework is being finalized to kick start the operations of enhancing connectivity within the region. Haris further pointed out that various pilot projects of cargo transportation have been completed successfully between Pakistan and Uzbekistan with private companies including TCS Pvt. Ltd. Pakistan needs to focus on the protection of local players to open the borders with Uzbekistan keeping in mind the trade balance which should maintain a surplus in values to con-

tribute positively to the economy. Speaking to the media about the courier’s business countrywide, he said the business of the courier may grow at the rate of 5-6% per annum despite issues and challenges to the economy. We are working closely with our international partner to provide them with speedy logistic services in different countries to enhance the export volume of the country in different sectors including Daraz and Alibaba. In this regard, there are multiple challenges to streamlining logistic channels in Pakistan with different countries which may take time to proceed but it will ultimately enhance the

NUST and PepsiCo partner to enable a circular economy for plastics pr PepsiCo launched one of the largest waste collection and recycling program in Pakistan by collecting 16000 tons of plastic. PepsiCo has doubled down on its plastic waste collection and recycling program for 2022 NUST and PepsiCo will launch joint collaboration programs include R&D projects, specialized training programs, research events and student competitions on finding practical solutions to the challenges of plastic waste July 20th, 2022, Islamabad: National University of Science and Technology (NUST) and PepsiCo Pakistan signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) at NUST to collaborate on enabling a circular economy for plastics. Dr. Rizwan Riaz, Pro-Rector NUST and Mr. Mohammad Khosa, Senior Director Commercial and Corporate Affairs PepsiCo Pakistan signed the MoA. Under the MoA, NUST and PepsiCo will launch joint collaboration programs that will help tackle the growing challenge of plastic waste in Pakistan. Collaboration programs will include R&D projects, specialized training programs, research events and student competitions on finding practical solutions to the challenges of plas-

reach of Pakistan brands and products in different countries. He added that the cost of operations of the logistics operators increased by 50% due to the increasing prices of petroleum products in the country but the companies did pass on the prices by 3-4% at a local level. TCS Private Ltd, the largest market player in Pakistan, is introducing innovations and environmentfriendly business practices which will include the use of electric bikes and vehicles, the launch of drones, and the utilization of digital channels and means to reduce the use of papers in the operations.

13 outlaws held; cash and bikes recovered ISLAMABAD Pr

tic waste. Additionally, both organizations will also collaborate on important topics of sustainability for e.g., climate change and sustainable agriculture. PepsiCo envisions a world where packaging never becomes waste. As a company, it recognizes the important role it plays in driving toward a circular economy and reducing plastic waste. As a global food and beverage company, PepsiCo aims to use its reach and influence to help change the way society makes, uses and disposes of plastics. In Pakistan, PepsiCo has launched several meaningful programs to drive a circular economy for plastics. In 2021, the company launched one of the largest waste collection and recycling program in Pakistan by collecting 16000 tons of plastic.

PepsiCo has doubled down on its plastic waste collection and recycling program for 2022. PepsiCo is also incentivizing plastic waste collection for the citizens of Islamabad and Rawalpindi by giving Aquafina refills in exchange for used bottles. The company also unveiled a first of its kind Reverse Vending Machine (RVM) in Islamabad to raise consumer awareness. These initiatives are part of the company’s PepsiCo Positive agenda, a strategic end-to-end business transformation with sustainability and human capital at the center of how the company will create growth and value. Senior Director Commercial and Corporate Affairs, PepsiCo Pakistan, Mr. Mohammad Khosa, commented, “PepsiCo is committed to resolving the issue of plastic waste in Pakistan.

CDA environment wing accelerates tree plantation drive ISLAMABAD Press release

On the direction of the Capital Development Authority, the Environment Wing has planted trees in the fire-affected areas of Margalla Hills in the months of May and June this year. This tree plantation is being carried out jointly by

CDA, IWMB and district administration. The saplings planted in this regard are now rooting while more plantations are also being done. It should be noted that in these areas, plants compatible with the local climate are being planted. Moreover, safety and monitoring of plantations is also being ensured. These measures aim to increase the greenery of Margalla Hills.

Islamabad Capital territory police during a drive against anti-social elements arrested 13 outlaws during the last 24 hours from different areas of the city, a Police Public Relation Officer said. According to the details, a Koral police team apprehended an accused identified as Rabnawaz. Police team also recovered 03stolen bikes were stolen from Koral and Lohibher areas. Further investigation is underway for more recovery. Police teams also arrested a snatcher namely Nasir and recovered snatch cash and one pistol along with ammunition use in crime. Further-more Kohsar police arrested two accused namely Ali Javed and Waleed alias Wali and recovered two 30 bore pistols along with ammunition from their possession. Shalimar police team arrested a lady drug peddlers namely Seami alias Sajni and recovered 1280 gram hashish from her. Lohibher police arrested two accused namely Yousaf and Kamran and recovered two 30 bore pistols along with ammunition from their possession. Shehzad Town police arrested a drug peddler namely Asim Iqbal and recovered 1210 gram hashish from him. Khanna police arrested two accused namely Imran and Anwar Hussain and recovered two 30 bore pistols from their possession. Noon police apprehended two accused namely Ahmed Khan and Adnan Khan and recovered 1150 gram hashish and one 30 bore pistol from their possession. likewise Sabzi Mandi police recovered a stolen Suzuki mehran car from the possession of accused Haleem Badshah. Cases have been registered against the nominated accused and further investigation is underway. Islamabad Capital Territory police have accelerated its efforts against criminal elements in the city to curb the crime and to save the lives and property of the citizens. Citizens are also requested to cooperate with police and inform about any suspicious activity around them.

4,500 Chinese Tech Companies attend Pak-China tech, investment conference in Beijing ISLAMABAD Pr

The Special Technology Zones Authority (STZA), Cabinet Division, Government of Pakistan, the Pakistan’s Embassy in Beijing, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Zhongguancun Belt and Road Industrial Promotion Association (ZBRA) of People’s Republic of China, jointly organized the first ever China-Pakistan Technology Investment Conference (CPTIC) virtually. More than 4500 representatives of the Chinese technology ecosystem, including science and technology parks, high tech production enterprises, technology companies, investment organizations, research and development centers, Chinese state-owned infrastructure companies, and Chinese agencies of national, provincial, and municipal governments attended the conference. The conference can probably

be termed as one of the biggest ever forum held between Pakistan and China in terms of participation from Chinese companies. STZA aims to create new linkages with the technology sector in China and pave way for the Pakistani and Chinese technology players to cooperate in the field of technology, and attract Chinese investments, knowledge and technology capabilities through ensuring world-class customer experience and ease of doing business for their operations in Pakistan’s Special Technology Zones (STZs). Ambassador Moin ul Haque opened the forum by welcoming the Chinese representatives. Acknowledging the strong diplomatic ties between the two nations, the Honorable informed the participants that joint working groups with the Ministry of Science and Technology, and Ministry of Information and Technology, have been established

under the CPEC framework. He recognized China as a global leader in the technology industry and stated that both countries have many avenues to cooperate in the field of technology sector. The Ambassador appreciated the role of Chairman STZA and his able team in enabling the technology ecosystem in Pakistan and create effective linkages

with Chinese technology companies. Mr Amer Hashmi, the Chairman of STZA stated that China is a leading partner in developing the knowledge ecosystem in Pakistan, revealing that STZA had set up a dedicated China desk to help Chinese technology companies and large-scale enterprises investing in Pakistan’s STZs. The STZs are

being developed under the Triple Helix Model of Innovation, bringing together the Government, Industry and Academia to remove barriers and create ease of doing business for domestic and foreign technology sector companies. He thanked the Ambassador of Pakistan to the People’s Republic of China for facilitating the virtual conference and pledged his resolute support for the Chinese technology investors. The conference was also facilitated by the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad, which was represented by Mr Cao Zhouhua, the First Secretary of Science and Technology. He said that both sides are exploring multi spectral cooperation in the technology sector including, knowledge sharing, zone development, research, policy development, joint training of professionals, and management of STZs as per international benchmarks. Director of Strategic Planning at

STZA, Hamza Saeed Orakzai, who also heads the China desk at STZA, gave a detailed presentation to the representatives including the tax incentives, regulatory support and one window facilitation for the perspective Chinese technology investors. He highlighted several large-scale Chinese tech companies that are already in the application process. He further explained that the STZs are planned under the purview of sustainable development goals and hence purposefully designed to be eco-friendly. He said that STZA has already notified STZs in Islamabad, Lahore and Haripur, while more STZs in Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir were in the pipeline under the national rollout plan. Mr Zhang Xiodong the President of ZBRA stated that due to the technology boom in China, the taxation revenue increased by 2000 times over the last 30 years.

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10 FOREIGN NEWS

US ReMoveS PakiStan fRoM tieR 2 hUMan tRafficking ‘watchLiSt’ WAsHingTOn

Agencies

He US State Department on Wednesday released its 2022 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report that calls for action against domestic trafficking in human beings, in which Pakistan has been upgraded from Tier 2 “watchlist” to Tier 2. Tier 2 are countries whose governments do not fully meet the TVPA (Trafficking Victims Protection Act”) minimum standards

for the elimination of trafficking but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with these standards. Pakistan remains in Tier 2 on the country trafficking scale, but has been removed from the “watchlist”, which amounts to a warning that in case of lack of further progress and being downgraded to Tier 3 would lead to sanctions. “The Government of Pakistan does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so,” the report during

its report last year. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken launched the report at a ceremony at the State Department. “The (Pakistan) government demonstrated overall increasing efforts compared with the previous reporting period, considering the impact of the COVID19 pandemic, if any, on its anti-trafficking capacity; therefore Pakistan was upgraded to Tier 2,” the report said. According to the report, these efforts include increasing investigations, prosecutions, and convictions, including increasing

investigations and prosecutions under the 2018 Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act (PTPA). “The (Pakistan) government referred more victims for protection services. The government’s provincial departments increased implementation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) on victim identification and referral and trained more stakeholders, it said. “The government allocated resources for the implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) and amended the PTPA to remove provisions that allowed fines in lieu of

imprisonment for sex trafficking crimes with women and children as victims.” In addition, Pakistan has also been removed from Child Soldiers Prevention Act (CSPA) list. That list identifies foreign governments having government-supported armed groups that recruit or use child soldiers, a designation that could result in restrictions on certain security assistance and commercial licensing of military equipment.

final two candidates for Uk PM to be decided

Indian court orders release of journalist Mohammad Zubair

LOnDOn

Agencies

AFP

The final two candidates to become UK prime minister will be decided Wednesday, with Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and Penny Mordaunt battling it out to make an expected runoff against frontrunner Rishi Sunak. Former finance minister Sunak was only two votes short of securing his place in the final two after Tuesday’s voting, but the race behind him tightened as Truss clawed back five votes to finish only six behind Mordaunt. The final pair will be announced at 4:00 pm (1500 GMT), before the race moves to Conservative party members, who will decide the new leader and prime minister. The result will be announced on September 5. Tuesday’s vote means Britain will get either its first British-Asian prime minister or the third female leader in its history. Sunak, whose resignation helped to topple outgoing leader Boris Johnson, is all but guaranteed to make the final cut. But Mordaunt — the one-time bookmakers’ favourite — is now the outsider, with punters betting that the right wing of the party will swing behind Truss after Kemi Badenoch was voted out on Tuesday. In a bid to woo those MPs, Truss wrote in Wednesday’s Daily Telegraph that her plan to revive the economy would be “based around tax cuts, deregulation and tough reform”. Former minister David Davis, a backer of Mordaunt, accused Sunak of lending votes to Truss so he could face her in the runoff. “He wants to fight Liz, because she’s the person who will lose the debate with him,” he told LBC radio. A YouGov poll published before the vote indicated that, despite his popularity with colleagues, Sunak was the least appealing candidate to the members. The BBC plans to host a live televised debate with the final two candidates on Monday, with all remaining candidates agreeing to take part if they get through. Sunak won the two previous debates, according to snap polls. But his popularity with the Tory grassroots has faded since questions were raised over his family’s tax arrangements, and as he presided over sky-rocketing inflation, which on Wednesday hit a new 40-year high of 9.4 percent in June. In a new policy announcement, Sunak vowed an “ambitious new plan to make the UK energy independent” by 2045 in order to prevent future energy-driven inflation spikes, after Russia’s war in Ukraine sent gas prices rocketing. ‘Fantasy economics’: Mordaunt had headed the same YouGov poll of Tory members previously. But she now trails Truss after a damaging few days in which her former boss, one-time UK Brexit pointman David Frost, slammed her work ethic and questions were raised over her stance on transgender rights. Johnson announced on July 7 he was quitting as Conservative leader after a government rebellion in protest at his scandal-hit administration. Under Britain’s parliamentary system, the leader of the biggest party is the prime minister and can be changed mid-term without having to call a general election.

The Indian Supreme Court ordered release of cofounder of Alt News Mohammed Zubair, today, in all the six FIRs filed against him in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The Supreme Court bench headed by Justice D Y Chandrachud said there was absolutely no justification in keeping Zubair in custody when the Delhi court has granted him bail in a FIR registered by its special cell. “We are of the view that he should be released on interim bail on all FIRs. It’s a set principle of law that power of arrests must be pursued sparingly. In present case no justification to keep him in continued detention and subject him to an endless round of proceedings in various courts,” the Supreme Court said.

The court also done away with an earlier condition imposed on Zubair to not make any social media posts/tweets. “We can’t say he wont tweet again. It is like telling a lawyer that you should not argue. How can we tell a journalist that he will not write?…” The fact-checker Mohammad Zubair was arrested on June 28 by the Delhi police over a 2018 tweet. The court said Zubair will be released on interim bail by presenting a bail bond of Rs 20,000 before the magistrate court at Patiala house. The bench also added that it would be fair that all the FIRs are clubbed together and investigated by one authority. The court further said that overlapping of FIRs, emanating from the tweets, require consolidation of FIRs rather than piecemeal investigation by diverse police authorities.

UN report highlights hundreds of rights violations in Afghanistan KABUL ReuteRs

The United Nations mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said on Wednesday that the ruling Taliban were responsible for extrajudicial killings, torture, arbitrary arrests, and inhumane punishments in the 10 months since they seized power. An UNAMA report said the violations were targeted at a number of groups, including those associated with the ousted government, human rights defenders and journalists. Women’s rights had also been eroded, it said. “UNAMA is concerned about the impunity with which members of the de facto authorities appear to have carried out human rights violations,” it said in a statement. The term “de facto authorities” refers to the Taliban administration which took over Afghanistan in August last year after foreign forces withdrew and the elected government collapsed. A spokesman for the Taliban government rejected the report’s findings, calling them baseless. “Arbitrary arrests and extrajudicial killing are not allowed,” Zabihullah Mujahid said on Twitter. Anyone found guilty of such violations will be considered a criminal and will be dealt with according to Sharia law, he said. Taliban officials have in the past said retribution attacks were not happening with their leadership’s consent and that they had barred fighters from such actions. They also said they had begun a process of purging their ranks of elements that did not fully follow instructions. While the statement acknowledged steps taken by Taliban authorities apparently aimed at protecting human rights, as well as a “significant reduction in armed violence”, it said authorities also bear responsibility. UNAMA particularly mentioned the role of two bod-

ies in violations — the Ministry of Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice as well as the General Directorate of Intelligence. The report said the hardest hit victims were those associated with the former government and its security forces. It listed 160 extrajudicial killings, 178 arbitrary arrests, and 56 instances of torture and ill-treatment of former government employees. Human rights violations also affected 173 journalists and media workers, 163 of which were attributed to Taliban authorities, including 122 arbitrary arrests and 33 instances of threats. UNAMA also stressed the erosion of women’s rights. “Women and girls have progressively had their rights to fully participate in education, the workplace and other aspects of public and daily life restricted and in many cases completely taken away.” UNAMA recorded 2,106 civilian casualties — 700 killed, 1,406 wounded — since the Taliban takeover. A majority were attributed to a local affiliate of the Islamic State militant group.

Chinese, Sierra Leonean FMs discuss ties over phone BeiJing Agencies

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Sierra Leone’s counterpart, David John Francis, talked about bilateral ties in a phone conversation on Tuesday. In their talks, Francis, on behalf of his country, thanked the Chinese government and people for their valuable assistance to Sierra Leone’s economic and social development over the years, and since the COVID-19 outbreak in particular, for China’s timely help to Sierra Leone and other small and medium-sized countries in their anti-COVID-19 fight. Sierra Leone highly recognizes China’s commitment to prioritizing development and putting people first, and speaks highly of China’s leading role in preserving

world peace and security, he said. Describing China as a reliable and strong partner of Sierra Leone, Francis said his country will continue to stand in solidarity with China on issues concerning China’s core interests and major concerns, expecting to deepen cooperation with China in various fields and welcoming Chinese enterprises to invest in Sierra Leone. China and Sierra Leone are good and old friends, Wang said, adding that under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, bilateral ties have maintained a strong momentum for development. The close cooperation and mutual support between the two sides in jointly fighting the pandemic, promoting economic recovery and safeguarding international equity and justice demonstrates the high level of bilateral relations, Wang

said. China appreciates Sierra Leone’s consistent support for China in safeguarding its core interests, Wang noted. China also firmly supports Sierra Leone in safeguarding its sovereignty, independence and national dignity. China, Wang said, also supports Sierra Leone in making various efforts to promote national development and to play a more important role in Africa and on the international stage. China will continue to offer support and assistance according to the developmental needs of Sierra Leone, promoting cooperation in mining, agriculture and infrastructure, carring out more livelihood projects, encouraging Chinese enterprises to invest there, and helping Sierra Leone improve its independent development capabilities and accelerate the industrializa-

tion process, Wang added. On the Ukraine crisis, Francis expounded on Sierra Leone’s position that as a small and war-torn country, Sierra Leone advocates peaceful settlement through political negotiations, and believes it is necessary to address all parties’ legitimate concerns on safety and security and to seek long-term solutions. Meanwhile, practical measures should be taken to alleviate the impact of food and energy shortage on small and middle-sized countries in Africa and other regions, he added. Sierra Leone’s stance also reflects the consensus of most developing countries, Wang said, adding that China remains firmly committed to promoting peace talks and will work with other parties to do its utmost to mitigate the negative spillover effects of the Ukraine crisis.

Russian military in Ukraine no longer focused ‘only’ on east: Lavrov Agencies Russia’s military aims in Ukraine are no longer focused “only” on the country’s east, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said, adding that supplies of Western weapons had changed the Kremlin’s calculus. “The geography is different now. It is not only about the DNR and LNR, but also the Kherson region, the Zaporizhzhia region and a number of other territories” Lavrov told state media in an interview published Wednesday. “This process is continuing, consistently and persistently.” The pro-Moscow breakaway so-called Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics (DNR and LNR) are in east Ukraine. Moscow’s forces already control the southern Kherson region and parts of the southeastern region Zaporizhzhia. Lavrov said that while Moscow’s aim remains the same — “denazification and demilitarisation” of Ukraine — the “geography” has changed since Istanbul talks between Moscow and Kyiv in March 2022. He said Western supplies of weapons to Kyiv including US-made Himars missile systems had made Moscow review its plans. Lavrov said Russia’s “geographical aims will move even further from the current line” if the West continues to “pump” Ukraine with weapons. “We cannot allow the part of Ukraine that (President Volodymyr) Zelensky will control or whoever replaces him to have weapons that will pose a direct threat to our territory and the territory of those republics that have declared their independence,” Lavrov said. After failing to take the capital Kyiv at the start of its attack on Ukraine, Russia has focused its military offensive on the eastern regions of Donetsk and Lugansk. Moscow declared full control of Lugansk in early July. Russian President Vladimir Putin sent troops to Ukraine on February 24.

Lucknow police arrest four Muslim men for offering prayers at Lulu Mall LUcKnOW Agencies

The Lucknow police have arrested four Muslim men who allegedly offered prayers at the city’s newly-opened Lulu Mall. Those arrested have been identified as Mohammad Rehan, Aatif Khan, Mohammad Luqman and Mohammad Noman. The Lucknow Police Commissionerate claimed that they identified the accused persons after checking surveillance footage from the mall. All four have been sent into judicial custody, the police said. On July 12, Hindutva handles and RSS mouthpiece Organiser shared on social media a video of some persons offering namaz at the mall.

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SPORTS 11

ShAfique STeeRS PAKiSTAN To wiN oveR SRi LANKA iN fiRST TeST GALLe The AssociATeD Press

Shafique BDULLAH scored an unbeaten 160 to lead Pakistan to a record run chase and a fourwicket victory on Wednesday in a series-opening cricket test that went ahead despite a political and economic crisis in Sri Lanka. His 408-ball innings contained seven boundaries and a six in an innings, although the 22-year-old opener did get some reprieves. Shafique was lucky to survive an LBW appeal when he was on four. He was dropped on 70 by wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella on Day 4 and on the fifth day Dhananjaya de Silva failed to collect a return when Shafique was on 135 and Kasun Rajitha down a chance in the outfield with the batter on 151.

A rain delay after lunch on Day 5 slowed down Pakistan’s push for victory by an hour with 11 runs still required, but it really was only a matter of time. Shafique, in just his sixth test, hit the winning runs with a cover drive to the boundary and was voted player of the match. The previous highest successful run chase at Galle was Sri

Barca thrash Beckham’s Miami 6-0 in friendly MIAMI

Lanka’s 268 against New Zealand in 2019. Together with overnight batsman Mohammad Rizwan, Shafique added 71 runs for the fourth wicket to help Pakistan inch toward the victory target of 342. Rizwan eventually fell for 40 when Prabath Jayasuriya trapped him LBW, leaving Pakistan need-

ing less than 70 runs with six wickets in hand. Sri Lanka also claimed the wicket of Agha Salman (12) in the last over before lunch, when Jayasuriya had him caught behind. The wicket eased out with a lack of bounce helping the batters as the first test wore on. Sri Lanka didn’t help its cause by spreading the field in a bid to stop boundaries and its defensive mindset only helped Pakistan’s batters take singles. A protest against the rising cost of living and corruption was staged a few hundred meters from the stadium in Galle on Day 5 but didn’t interrupt the match. The protests in the capital Colombo have been taking place on a larger scale and forced cricket officials to shift the second test, originally scheduled for Colombo, to Galle with a Sunday start. The first test finished not long

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday appreciated the performance of the national cricket team on winning the test match against Sri Lanka. “I congratulate the nation and the Pakistani cricket team for their brilliant win in the first test match against Sri Lanka,” he said in a tweet. The prime minister especially appreciated skipper Babar Azam for a good strategy and also Abdullah Shafique for his superb batting. “The entire team pleased the nation and the cricket fans with their excellent game,” he said. PM Sharif hoped that the Pakistani cricket team would fulfill the expectations of the fans in future by maintaining the high level of performance. News Desk

after Sri Lankan lawmakers chose six-time Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as president, defying the risk the vote would re-ignite turmoil among a public outraged by the South Asian country’s dire economic, humanitarian and political crisis.

Sana Sher wins KP Peshawar Regional Junior Squash title

AFP

Raphinha marked his Barcelona debut with a goal and two assists as the Spanish giants kicked off their four match US tour with a comprehensive thrashing of David Beckham’s Inter Miami on Tuesday. The Brazilian, signed from Premier League Leeds United earlier this month for around $60 million, capped a promising first outing for his new club with a welltaken first-half strike after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had given the La Liga giants the lead at a sold-out Drv Pnk Stadium. With fellow new signing Robert Lewandowski not involved ahead of his official unveiling in Miami on Wednesday — following his move from Bayern Munich — it was left to Raphinha, 25, to get the thousands of Barcelona fans in attendance excited about the future. The Brazilian was making his debut alongside fellow newcomer Andreas Christensen, who left Chelsea at the end of the season, and both were impressive against Phil Neville’s side. Predictably, Barcelona dominated possession against the MLS team and former Arsenal forward Aubameyang went closest on 15 minutes to opening the deadlock when his closerange effort flashed past the post. There was no denying him soon after when he coolly chipped the ball past Inter Miami keeper Nick Marsman following good work from Pedri and then Raphinha. And on 25 minutes it was Raphinha’s turn to get on the scoresheet, the Brazilian expertly guiding home an Alejandro Balde cross to double Barcelona’s lead. It was completely one-way traffic and Raphinha capped a good night’s work with another assist just before half-time, teeing up Ansu Fati who expertly smashed home from close range. Both teams made a raft of changes after the interval but the outcome was never in doubt, Gavi’s excellent finish from a Memphis Depay corner making it four on 55 minutes before the Dutch forward produced a sublime turn and finish to make it 5-0. Ousmane Dembele’s driving run helped set up a sixth of the evening with 20 minutes remaining as Neville’s side were completely outclassed. This was the first game of Barca’s US tour which will see them face Real Madrid, Juventus and the New York Red Bulls before the start of the new La Liga season on August 12th.

PM lauds cricket team on ‘brilliant win’ against Sri Lanka

News Desk International Sana Sher Bahadur claimed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Regional Junior Squash title after defeating her strong rival Mehwish Ali in the final by 3-2 here at Qamar Zaman Squash Complex on Wednesday. Deputy Commissioner Peshawar Shafiullah Khan was the chief guest on this occasion. Regional Sports Officer Miss Gul Rukh, District Sports Officer Charsadda Tehsil Ullah, DSO Officer Anwar Kamal Burki, Director Operation Aziz Ullah Jan, former World No. 11 Mansoor Zaman, AD Ashfaq, squash coaches Tahir Iqbal, Muhammad Waseem, Asian gold medalist Alam Zeb, Female coach Riaz Khan, Niamat Ullah, Tournament Referee Adil Faqir, Chief Referee Munawar Zaman, players and spectators were also present. In the final of the U19 Girls Sana Sher Bahadur of Pakistan

Army defeated Mehwish Ali of Bank of Khyber by 3-2, the score was 11-7, 11-13, 12-10, 8-11, and 11-8. Sana Sher Bhadur won the first set but she lost the second at 11-13 before overcoming on two three set points. Mehwish played well and did not give her chance in the second set and marching into victory. After 1-1, Sana took the third set by 12-10 after tough fight faced at the hands of Mehwish but again she lost the fourth set at 8-11 that won by Mehwish. Both Sana and Mehwish played well and used some fine lengths and cross courts smashes with some excellent and timely nicks and drops shorts were also witnessed. It was the fifth set in which Sana did not look behind and defeated Mehwish by 11-8 and took the final match at 3-2. In the Boys Under-11 Muhammad Hamza defeated Muhammad Khan in another thrilling final de-

cided in five sets, the score was 12-10, 8-11, 14-12, 8-11 and 11-9. Both Hamza and Muhammad Khan played well against each other as the final lasted for 42minutes. In another thrilling final played between Talal Khan and Abdul Zaman, son of Mansoor Zaman that lasted for almost 49-minute wherein both exhibited some beautiful shorts including key nicks and drops were also witnessed. The two received thundering applauses from the sitting spectators. The score of the final was 118, 11-6, 4-11, 17-19, and 14-12. Both stretched to five sets battle and even in the fourth set it was point to point process wherein they raced up to 17-19. In the U15 final national player Ibrahim Zeb of PAF defeated Nouman in straight sets, the score was 11-6, 11-4 and 11-4. The match decided in one-sided affairs. More than 100 players from Peshawar Region participated in the Championship. Deputy Commissioner Peshawar Shafiullah Khan distributed prizes among the players along with Director Operation Azizullah Khan, Regional Sports Officer and District Sports Officer Peshawar Miss Gul Rukh Yasir. He also awarded cash prizesof Rs. 7000 and 5000 to winners and runners-up besides Rs. 2000 to semi-finalist of U19, 13-year-old Sunzil, Zohra and Fahad Ahmad Khan. The two-day Squash Championship held at Qamar Zaman Squash Complex Peshawar under the auspices of Regional Sports Office Peshawar.

Kerley sprint double dream over, Lyles marches on eUGeNe AFP

Newly-crowned 100m champion Fred Kerley saw his hopes of a world sprint double go up in smoke Tuesday as he failed to advance from the semi-finals of the 200m. Kerley set off fine from the blocks but was left grimacing as he hit the home straight at Eugene’s Hayward Field, eventually finishing sixth in 20.68 seconds. Kerley later said he had cramped up in the later stages of the race, but insisted he would be fit to race in the relays. “Bit of cramp, but it’s all good,” Kerley said. “I’m not in pain, I’ll be good.” With Kerley hobbling over the line, the heat was won by the Dominican Republic’s Alexander

Ogando in 19.91sec. Liberia’s Joseph Fahnbulleh was second in 19.92sec. While Kerley was left digesting a disappointing early exit, there were no such worries for defending 200m world champion Noah Lyles, who romped home in his semi-final with a blistering 19.62sec. The charismatic American star crossed ahead of team-mate Kenny Bednarek, the Olympic silver medallist, who was second in a season-best 19.84sec. Lyles’s victory was never in doubt after a superb first 100m on the curve that left his rivals trailing. “It’s about time, that’s what I’ve been looking for for a few weeks now,” said Lyles of his fast start. “Not a shock for me but I’m pretty sure it was a shock for my

competitors.” The main threat to Lyles’ hopes of retaining his 200m world title may well come from team-mate and emerging rival Erriyon Knighton. The 18-year-old prodigy blazed home in the third semi-final in a time of 19.77sec — a new world under-20 record. Canada’s Aaron Brown finished second behind Knighton in 20.10sec. Knighton moved effortlessly through the gears to lead coming off the bend and then eased up well before the finish line to book his place in the final. “I always get out fast, maybe that was about 70 percent on the backstretch,” Knighton said afterwards. The men’s 200m final takes place on Thursday.

The vote means Wickremesinghe, prime minister and acting president, will succeed former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and finish the term ending in 2024 that Rajapaksa abandoned by fleeing the country and resigning earlier this month.

‘Next batting superstar’: Afridi, Ramiz Raja, Shoaib Malik laud Abdullah Shafique News Desk The Pakistani cricketing fraternity is all praises for batter Abdullah Shafique’s epic innings that led Pakistan’s victory against Sri Lanka in the opening Test in Galle on Wednesday. Shafique hit an unbeaten 160 as Pakistan chased down a record target of 342 to beat Sri Lanka by four wickets. Former national cricket team captain Shahid Afridi said Abdullah Shafique’s exceptional innings will always be remembered. In his message on social networking site Twitter, Afridi said that this innings will make Abdullah Shafique a big star. All-rounder and cricket star Shoaib Malik called Pakistan’s win a “remarkable and historic victory”. PCB Chairperson Ramiz Raja, too, gave the team a pat on the back. Here are some more reactions to Shafique’s stellar performance and the Men in Green’s smashing win.

15th Korean Ambassador National Senior Taekwondo C’ships to commence on July 22nd News Desk The 15th Korean Ambassador National Senior Taekwondo Championships will commence here on Friday at Shehbaz Sharif Sports Complex, Pakistan Taekwondo Federation (PTF) announced on Wednesday. Taekwondo senior (male/Female/para) teams of all the four provinces, Islamabad, AJK, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan Army, Pakistan Air Force, Navy and other affiliated units of the federation will participate in the four-day event, the PTF said in a press release. “Around 350 male and 200 female athletes will partake in the event, to be conducted by 48 international and national referees of the PTF.” Top officials including the Korean Ambassador, Korean Military Defence Attaché, Director Army Sports, Director Naval Sports, Director Air Force Sports, renowned sports dignitaries and Members of the National Assembly will attend the event as chief guests and guests of honour in different ceremonies. The opening ceremony will be hosted by Mr Suh Sangpyo, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea in Islamabad and Ehsan Ur Rehman Mazari, Federal Minister for Inter Provincial Coordination.

Thursday, 21 July, 2022

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COAS StreSSeS deplOyment Of AdditiOnAl mAnpOwer fOr SeCurity Of pOliO teAmS RAWALPINDI

stAff report

RMY chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Wednesday said that additional manpower and resources should be provided to the polio teams to ensure a safe and secure environment at sensitive locations, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. According to the military’s media wing, Gen Bajwa visited the National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC), where he was briefed on the latest polio campaigns conducted in the country and the challenges being faced. “The COAS directed to provide additional manpower/resources in sensitive locations to ensure a safe and secure en-

vironment for polio teams for proper reach and effectiveness of polio campaigns to achieve the objective of a

pervaiz elahi an obvious choice for punjab Cm’s slot, clears Shujaat LAHORE

polio-free Pakistan,” said the ISPR. Before visiting the NEOC, the army chief visited the Tunneling Institute of

Top court seeks transcript of Sana’s ‘disappearing lawmakers’ comment ISLAMABAD

sAleem JAdoon

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Dispelling all rumors and reports, Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid) Supremo Ch Shujaat Hussain on Thursday made it clear that Ch Pervaiz Elahi will be the candidate for the Punjab Chief Minister slot. “I am not releasing any letter as my decision is obvious and I do not need to clarify myself anymore.” In a policy statement released on Wednesday, the PMLQ president reiterated his support for his cousin Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi in the upcoming election for the Punjab chief minister. Veteran Ch Shujaat clearly stated that Pervaiz Elahi would be the candidate of party for Punjab CM election. He said that he had made it clear not once but two or three times before. On the current political situation, the PML-Q supremo declared that those who achieved mandate had got the right to govern the country. He advised politicians to forget about the number game and try to resolve the country’s problems. He urged them to take steps to mitigate the common man’s problems. “Those who will solve poor people’s problems, will actually get the required numbers,” Shujaat said while advising fellow politicians against pulling each other’s legs. “There is only one solution which could steer the country out of the quagmire of problems: either let the government complete its tenure or conduct immediate elections. Immediate elections means government should conduct polls right now, not after a delay of several months,” he added. It is to be noted that Shujaat is an ally in the ruling coalition government in the Centre, and his son Chaudhry Salik Hussain and an MNA tariq Bashir Cheema are members of Shehbaz Sharif’s cabinet. In response to reports that PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari had asked Shujaat to write a letter instructing PML-Q MPAs not to vote for Pervaiz Elahi, Shujaat said there was “no question” of issuing a letter. “I do not need to clarify. The solution to the country’s problems lies in not getting involved in cycles of counting [votes],” he said while referring to the election for the chief minister. “Whoever succeeds in solving the problems of the poor will have completed his numbers in the true sense,” Shujaat said in his statement. “Those who are elected should serve the people.” Shujaat said the solution to the country’s problems was to either let the incumbent government stay for a year or more till the general elections or hold fresh elections immediately.

Pakistan (TIP) where he inaugurated the state-of-the-art tunnelling Institute launched by the Frontier Works Organisation. TIP will promote professional tunnelling expertise including research and development and synergise tunnelling resources. “TIP will provide a distinctive platform to encompass tunnelling education through both tunnelling academia and industry experts. TIP is only sixth such facility in the world which has been completed and operationalised within the planned time frame of 10 months by FWO,” said the ISPR. Earlier on arrival at TIP, the army chief was received by Engineer in Chief (E-In-C) Lieutenant General Moazzam Ejaz and Director General FWO Major General Kamal Azfar.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought the text of a recent press conference by Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah Khan wherein he had mentioned making Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers disappear before the July 22 election for the office of Punjab chief minister. In the press conference on July 18, Khan, accompanied by Minister for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb, while discussing means to ensure Hamza Shehbaz remains chief minister — an unlikely prospect as the PTI-Pakistan Muslim LeagueQuaid (PML-Q) combine commands 188 votes of the 186 needed — said the situation could change if “five to seven PTI lawmakers don’t come to the assembly on voting day.” He did not clarify if this meant the PML-N planned to detain some of the PTI’s lawmakers or is willing to offer them deals, as it did the earlier defectors later disqualified by the Supreme Court. A two-member bench comprising Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Ijazul Ahsan heard the petition filed by PML-Q leader Elahi. However, the following day, Q League, whose leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi is the two parties’ joint candidate for the post, moved a contempt petition against Khan in the apex court over his statement. Addressing a press conference, Elahi, who’s

speaker of the Punjab Assembly, said that instead of focusing on law and order, Khan was using Intelligence Bureau (IB) to harass lawmakers of his party. During the proceedings on Wednesday, Faisal Fareed, counsel for Elahi, urged the court to initiate contempt proceedings against Khan, Aurangzeb, and PML-N leader and minister Attaullah Tarar. He contended they had violated the July 1 order of the Supreme Court for holding “run-off polls” for the chief minister’s office on July 22 and during the interregnum period, “Hamza Shehbaz remain within the confines of the Constitution and the law without incidence of harassment of political opponents or witch-hunt”. However, Justice Ijaz ul-Ahsan observed the petitioner was “merely quoting a newspaper clipping” and summoned a transcript of the press conference in court. He further said that once the text was submitted, the case would be set for hearing. SC MOVED OVER ‘MEDDLING’ IN ELECTION: In a related development, PTI secretary general Asad Umar moved Supreme Court against what he said were attempts to influence the election. Sharing the details of the contempt plea he filed, Umar said Khan and the Punjab government have been made nominated as respondents. Naked threats of the use of police and its socalled special branch to interfere in the process by the interior minister are a clear contempt of the court’s July 1 verdict, he said.

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eCp postpones 2nd phase of Sindh lG polls, by-poll to nA-245 Karachi ISLAMABAD stAff report

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday postponed the second phase of local body elections in Sindh scheduled for July 24. Now the second phase of LG elections will take place on August 18. According to a spokesperson, the ECP also postponed the NA-245 by-polls in Kaarchi, scheduled for July 27. The by-polls will now take place on August 21. The spokesperson said Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja presided over a meeting wherein it was decided to postpone the second phase of the local body elections after it received requests from the MQM-P, GDA, chief secretary Sindh, and provincial election commissioner. In a press release issued by the ECP confirmed that CEC Raja had chaired a meeting where the body reviewed different applications it had received for the postponement of the second phase of the local body elections and NA-245 by-polls. The applications had requested that the polls be held after Muharram. The meeting also reviewed the reports submitted by the Met Office and provincial election commissioner. The Met Office had informed the ECP of its rain forecast in its report. On the other hand, the provincial election commissioner in his report had requested the ECP to postpone the polls as it feared the rains may affect the electoral bodies’ ability to conduct the polls and warned of low voter turnout. “This decision has been made based on the report submitted by provincial election commissioner Sindh, requests from people and report submitted by the Met Office,” said the spokesperson while shedding light on the reasons behind the postponement. The second phase of the local government polls was to take place in the 16 districts of Karachi and Hyderabad division on July 24.

rupee all time low hits rs225 against uS dollar KARACHI news desk

The dollar rate has reached an all-time high against the Pakistani rupee and is presently trading at Rs225 in the interbank market, as reported by Mettis Link News. According to details, the greenback spiked sharply by Rs3.01 in the interbank market to settle at Rs225. The USD is trading at Rs226-227 in the open bank market. “The panic in the market is primarily due to political turmoil, which will subside in a few days,” Ismail told Reuters, adding that he expected pressure on the rupee to fall in the next few days. Analysts attributed the decline to the lack of economic guidance amid the political uncertainty prevailing in the country and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) not intervening. According to the SBP, the rupee closed at Rs224.92 against the dollar, down Rs2.93 or 1.3 per cent, from yesterday’s close of Rs221.99.

NEPRA reserves decision on Rs7.91/unit hike in power price ISLAMABAD AhmAd AhmAdAni

The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) on Wednesday reserved its judgement on a hearing over the approval of a Rs7.91 per unit increase in the power tariff in three phases. The hearing took place following the submission of an application by the federal government which recommends a hike in the consumer end tariff for power distribution companies including DISCOs and K-Electric, NEPRA.The hearing was held under NEPRA chairman Tauseef H. Farooqi. A statement issued by NEPRA in this regard read that the authority will soon send its decision to the fed-

eral government for issuing a notification regarding a power tariff hike in phases. Speaking on the occasion, NEPRA chairman said that the authority had determined the power tariff while keeping the dollar exchange rate at Rs200 which has now reached at Rs 226. “It is NEPRA’s job is to approve the tariff while it is the government’s prerogative to allocate the subsidy,” he said. However, officials of the Power Division informed NEPRA that there will be no increase in the tariff for lifeline consumers and the protected category of consumers, adding that the government will give a Rs220 billion subsidy despite an increase in the price of power so that this hike does not affect at least 50 per cent of consumers.

NEPRA officials warned that though the federal government has submitted an application to jack up the power price by Rs3.50/unit from July 1, a Rs3.50/unit increase from August 1 and a 91 paisa/unit hike from October, prices can go further up due to a decrease in the value of local currency against the dollar as well as quarterly adjustments. “The price of electricity currently stands at Rs27/unit inclusive of all taxes. However, the tariff might increase to Rs40/unit if all taxes are included,” they added. It is relevant to note that earlier, the authority, after conducting a hearing, had forwarded its decision of a Rs7.9/unit hike to the Energy Ministry and asked the government to issue notification in this regard.

Strategy evolved to level imports with exports, remittances: Miftah ISLAMABAD App

Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Miftah Ismail on Wednesday said that the government has taken result-oriented measures to level imports with exports and remittances. “We are trying to bring imports almost equal to exports and remittances. Because we do not have space in foreign exchange reserves to reduce these and we also do not have other reserves. So we want to strike balance between imports exports and remittances,” the federal minister said while addressing a press conference. The minister said that soon after assuming the power, the government initiated measures to reduce imports and it achieved success in June when the non-energy import

bill reduced by 15%. However, he added that energy imports increased due to price-hike in international market and import bill surged by 120% last month. He said that there were imports of $7.4 billion last month including $3.7 billion energy and $3.7 billion other imports. He said the government had taken many measures including improving LC margins, banning assembled vehicles and mobile phones. It also reduced speed of local manufacturing of cars, vehicles and fridges. It also made it mandatory for $1 lac LC to get permission from State Bank of Pakistan. All this worked and bore fruit as till July 18, there were only $2.609 billion imports, indicating that there would not be more than 5.5 billion imports throughout the month. Last month it was $7.5 billion, so 2 billion

was reduced. The current account deficit would also reduce, he said. The minister said, last year there was $48 billion trade deficit and $17 billion current account deficit, which is not affordable for Pakistan. However, it is encouraging that the measures the government had taken helped reduce imports. He said when diesel was sold on subsidy, many dealers had hoarded the commodity for their benefit and currently there were around 60 days diesel against usual 8 days. So there would be less import demand, hence energy imports would reduce. Likewise, fuel prices have also moderated in the international market and have impact on country’s imports. He said, the economic fundamentals of trade have been corrected as imports are al-

most equal to remittances and exports. There is little CAD, which could be financed. The minister said, the Extended Fund Facility agreement with International Monetary Fund was on track and there was no issue that could halt it. He said Pakistan had already met all the prior requirements for the fund. He said the loan money would be transferred after formal approval by IMF board. He said, this would open up financing from World Bank and Asian Development Bank and bring bout billions of dollars in the country. He said, IMF was of the view $4 billion funding gap still existed which he said would be bridged by many sources as one of a friendly country had offered $1.2 oil financing, which would be finalized within a couple of days.

Likewise, another country would invest $1 to $2 billion in Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) whereas another country had promised $200 to $300 million gas on deferred payments. In addition, he said, another friendly country offered $2 billion deposits and yet another friendly country would provide 2 billion SDRS (more than $2 billion) Talking about the depreciation of rupee, the minister said that the local currency had depreciated against dollar whereas it had strengthened against Pound, Euro and Japanese Yen. He said, dollar has witnessed 22 years high appreciation against all currencies. He however admitted that the current political situation in the country was one of the reasons for rupee depreciation.

Published by Arif Nizami at Qandeel Printing Press, 4 Queens Road, Lahore, for PT Print (Pvt) Limited. Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965. Email: newsroom@pakistantoday.com.pk