Friday, 2 december, 2022 i 8 Jamadi awwal, 1444 i rs 15.00 | vol Xiii no 153 i 12 Pages i islamabad edition
no-trust move to be employed to counter assemblies’ dissolution g
zARDARI SAyS gOD wILLIng, nOCOnFIDEnCE MOTIOnS wOuLD BE SuBMITTED ‘EvERywHERE’
ISLAMABAD
F
staff report
ORMER president and PPP chairman Asif Ali zardari said on Thursday that the coalition government had decided to table no-confidence motions in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Punjab assemblies. The statement comes days after PTI chairman Imran Khan announced plans to “quit the corrupt system and leave all the assemblies”. However, the PTI has yet to announce a date for the dissolution of assemblies in Punjab and KP, where the PTI is in power. In an interview with journalist Asma Shirazi on Aaj Tv programme ‘Faisla Aap Ka’, zardari ruled out snap polls saying that it won’t “suit us or democracy”. “It’s too immature and too soon to say anything about the elections. I don’t think there is a possibility of the establishment forcing early elections,” he said. However, at the same time, he asserted that the coalition parties would contest the polls if the PTI succeeded in
g
SAyS IT’S TOO IMMATuRE AnD TOO SOOn TO SAy AnyTHIng ABOuT nExT ELECTIOnS
dissolving the provincial assemblies. “I will see how many MPAs Imran is able to get.” In response to a question about the tabling of no-confidence motions, zardari said: “god willing.” He went on to say that the motions would be submitted “everywhere”. “Even in KP. we have seats [there]. There are some friends who have gone astray […] we have to bring them back. we will bring a way in which they won’t have to resign.” zardari claimed that he had numbers in Punjab which were sufficient to throw out the PTI government. when asked if Punjab Chief Minister Pervez Elahi could be reached out to again, the PPP chairman said that there was a distance between the two of them. “I made Elahi deputy prime minister and gave them 17 ministries. This time they opted out themselves. we have bigger choices than them now.” In response to a question on the appointment of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Asim Munir, zardari said that the new army chief came on the institution’s choice.
“I told PM Shehbaz to use his constitutional right. I told him we are your allies [… ] we give you authority to use your constitutional power. Shehbaz is a good man, he could have not called us and selected the COAS.” The former president said that there may be some things that coalition leaders differed on but promised that it won’t dent their alliance because “everything is irrelevant, only Pakistan is relevant”. He went on to say that he didn’t personally know gen Munir. “He was the first person on the list [sent to the Prime Minister House]. And as per seniority, he was selected.” zardari said that former army chief gen Qamar Javed Bajwa never approached him for an extension. “He might have said it to the prime minister. I wanted to lobby for gen Aamer, who was sixth on the list, but I could not because the situation was not good.” Talking about the institutions’ decision to stay apolitical, he said that “the army has walked ahead by staying apolitical”. During the interview on Thursday, zardari claimed that he could defeat PTI chairman Imran Khan from any constituency “except for Mianwali where the nawab of Kalabagh will stand against him”. “If I get myself shot and gather 25,000 people, where is the popularity in this? He lost against me by 21,000 votes in Sindh. we can fight him politically.” He alleged that Imran was “making full payments” and promised to hold him accountable. The former president also said that the government didn’t try to implicate Imran in any case. “If he has to be held accountable, nAB (national Accountability Bureau) will do it. If he did sell the watch then a case would be lodged against him automatically.” He, however, stated that he wasn’t aware of any of Imran’s wrongdoings. “Imran’s game was bigger and is still bigger. His game is not based in Pakistan. It’s based somewhere else,” zardari claimed. In response to a question on whether he could reach an understanding with Imran, the former president said he could not “run after a man who keeps barking”. “And even if it has to happen, the executive will do it, not me,” he added.
Govt doubles Petroleum Levy on diesel, light diesel oil profIt report shahzad paracha
The Federal government has doubled the Petroleum Development levy (PDL) on diesel and light diesel oil. Sources in the ministry have informed that the Finance ministry has increased the rate of PDL on diesel from Rs12.59 to Rs25 per litre. Similarly, the government has also increased PDL on light diesel from Rs7.90 to Rs15.39 per litre. Moreover, the Finance ministry has also enhanced PDL from Rs5.98 to Rs7.01. It is pertinent to note that the government is already charging Rs50 per litre PDL on petrol. According to the agreement of the deal with the IMF, the government must raise Rs 850 billion in tax income during the current fiscal year by raising the Petroleum Levy to Rs 50 per litre on petrol and diesel. Sources claim that the government has not imposed sales tax on petroleum products given the reason that the federal government is bound to transfer amounts to provinces in case it collects sales tax. However, in the PDL case, the federal government pockets entire revenue to its accounts. Currently, the petroleum prices in the international market are going down due to partial lockdown in some cities of China and the Russian oil prices cap. However, the government of Pakistan is not passing the lower
price benefit to the masses. Sources said that increasing PDL on HSD will put further burden on the farmers who are already under stress. Senate body toLd $4b in LoanS, GrantS received For FLood reLieF So Far: Senate Standing Committee on Planning and Development was informed on Thursday that Pakistan had so far received financial foreign assistance worth over $4 billion to support flood relief activities in the country. Officials from Economic Affairs Division (EAD) informed the committee that out of total financial assistance, the international development partners had extended an amount of uS$3.64 billion in form of loans and $435.03 million in the form of grants. Further the meeting was informed that the development partners and the countries had dispatched in kind assistance for the flood victims. The meeting of the committee was presided over by Senator Attaur Rehman and attended by Senators – Dost Muhammad Khan, Ejaz Ahmed Ch, Saadia Abbasi, Hidayat ullah, Tahir Bazinjo and nuzhat Sadiq. The meeting was informed that out of total loan amount, the world Bank had extended $1.78 billion loan while the Asian Development Bank provided loan worth of $559 million. Similarly Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank also extended $500 million loans.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 05
PM for realising Fund commitment to cope with climate challenge ISLAMABAD staff report
Terming the Loss and Damage Fund a realisation of climate challenge by the global north, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Thursday said it was a must to practically implement the commitment as the disaster faced by Pakistan could also hit others in the future. The prime minister, addressing the event “COP27 and Beyond: Pakistan’s Resilience Challenges” told the world that what had happened in Pakistan would not stay in Pakistan. It necessitated seriousness towards the challenge of climate change. “Our friends in the global north, they should and they have realised the importance of this challenge. That is why it has made a remarkable agreement at Sharm El-Sheikh. ‘Loss and Damage’ is now a reality. But then, it’s not about these agreements and understandings. It’s about practical implementation,” the prime minister remarked addressing the event held to acknowledge the ministers, government officers and experts whose efforts led to the agree-
ment on the Loss and Damage Fund. He appreciated the efforts of all those involved for achieving “which was almost impossible.” He said the unprecedented floods in Pakistan had affected 33 million, left 800 dead, and inflicted around $30 billion loss to the country’s agriculture, industry, infrastructure, and livestock. He thanked the donor countries, organizations, and local philanthropists for supporting the flood survivors. He also lauded the role of the provincial governments and government institutions for their efforts for relief and rehabilitation of the victims. He said that “Loss and Damage was like a sleeping beauty for the decade” and for the first time, it was articulated by the team led by the ministers for foreign affairs and climate change. He said Pakistan had been seeking justice as it had faced which it had nothing to do with having less than 1% contribution to the carbon emission. He also appreciated the role of diplomats, experts and other ministries including economic affairs, planning, information, and every Pakistani who
contributed to making the world realise what happened to Pakistan. Addressing the ceremony, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar said Loss and Damage Fund was a “landmark event” because it was able to develop something which the developing countries had been pursuing for the last three decades. She said the Fund would support developing countries like Pakistan to rebuild the destroyed infrastructure and achieve resilience. “This is not about global south alone but rather all climate justice seekers both in north and south,” she remarked. She apprised the gathering of the concerted efforts made by the prime minister, foreign minister and diplomats at COP27 and earlier, as the urgency was felt more after the floods. She said the Fund was considered a major outcome of the COP27 and appreciated the flexibility shown by the developed countries which led to the agreement bringing a win-win situation for all. Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman, who had been instrumental in the dialogue process at COP27, said resilience was key to a sus-
tainable future and trajectory to growth. She said the concerted public advocacy led to the agreement adding that it was all about climate justice, not charity as the developing countries lacked resources to deal with the climate change-induced disasters.
She said the situation would not stabilise unless the climate stress was addressed. She said the resilience was also a race against time, citing the seriousness of the situation caused by climate change in form of artificial lakes and flood-caused destruction.