saturday, 10 december, 2022 i 16 Jamadi Awwal, 1444 i Rs 15.00 | Vol Xiii No 161 i 12 Pages i islamabad edition
TIP survey reveals PolIce remaIn mosT corruPT dePT In PakIsTan g
PM SHEHBAZ SAYS PROSPERITY NOT POSSIBLE WITHOUT ERADICATION OF CORRUPTION IN ALL FORMS
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EDUCATION CLIMBS TO 4TH RUNG OF CORRUPTION LADDER SINCE 2021
ISLAMABAD/LAHORE
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staff report
HE National Corruption Perception Survey (NCPS) 2022 on Friday revealed that police remained top of the corruption chart in Pakistan followed by tendering & contracting, judiciary, and education —which climbed to 4th since the last poll carried out in 2021. These are the findings of Transparency International Pakistan’s (TIP) National Corruption Perception Survey (NCPS) 2022. The NCPS 2022 released on Friday also showed no confidence in anti-corruption entities including National Accountability Bureau (NAB). At the national level, majority of people considered anti-corruption watchdogs’ role as “ineffective” in curbing the menace in the country, the report said. key FiNdiNgs oF The NCPs 2022: The provincial breakdown of the three most corrupt sectors reveals the following: In Sindh, education remained the most corrupt sector, police was seen as the 2nd most corrupt, while tendering and contract-
ing was the 3rd most corrupt. In Punjab, police remained the most corrupt sector, tendering and contracting were seen as the 2nd most corrupt, while the judiciary was the 3rd most corrupt. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), the judiciary remained the most corrupt sector, tendering and contracting was seen as the 2nd most corrupt, while the police department was the 3rd most corrupt. In Balochistan, tendering and contracting remained the most corrupt sector, police
were seen as the 2nd most corrupt, while the judiciary was the 3rd most corrupt. At the national level, the majority of 45% of people considered anti-corruption institutions’ role as ‘ineffective’ in curbing corruption in Pakistan. In Sindh, 35% of Pakistanis considered the NAB’s role as effective in curbing corruption. In Punjab (31%), KP (61%), and Balochistan (58%) Pakistanis considered the role of “none of the anti-corruption institutions” to be effective in curbing corruption in Pakistan. Pakistanis continued to believe that corruption in public service delivery is high. According to the citizens, the three most corrupt public services for which people have to pay bribes are contracts of roads (40%), access to uninterrupted electricity (28%) and access to clean drinking water (17%). In Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan, maintenance of roads tops the list of public service delivery perceived by the citizens to be the most corrupt. While in KP, the majority of citizens (47%) consider access to uninterrupted electricity to be the most corrupt public service delivery.
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FTo jumps into oilseed saga; recommends ships be released PROfIt REPORt ahmad ahmadani
In the latest twist in the saga of soybean seeds stuck at Port Qasim, the Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) has thrown their hat into the ring, recommending that the nine ships stuck in Karachi be released within the next week because of the problems being faced by the poultry sector. Nine consignments of soyabean seeds have been stuckup at Port Qasim for a few days now, with the first two of the consignments arriving back on the 20th of October. The FTO had taken suo-moto notice of the issue after the Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation (I&I) Customs, Karachi and Depart-
ment of Plant Protection (DPP) held the shipments. In early November, a reliable source in the the Plant Protection Department (DPP) of the Ministry of Food Security and Research said the shipment had been stopped over the issuance of a certificate by the ministry of climate change.As time went on, more shipments joined the two original shipments. As the shipments continued to languish, the confusion between the food security ministry and the ministry of climate change reached a crescendo near the end of November. At least six vessels containing valuable oilseeds important for Pakistan’s food security continue to be stuck at Port Qasim amid ambiguity and confusion. Three more have now arrived, tying up oilseeds vital to
edible oil and poultry feed worth nearly $300 million. On Thursday, the FTO office held a detailed hearing on the case at the FTO Secretariat wherein officials of the Revenue Division; Ministry of Food Security and Research; secretary Ministry of Climate Change; director general Directorate General of Intelligence and Investigation-Customs; Chief Customs (F&C), Federal Board of Revenue, and Pakistan Poultry Association were in attendance. The FTO heard the viewpoint of all the stakeholders and issued a release order in this regard on Friday and sought a compliance report within seven days. During the course of hearing, the Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation (l&l) Customs categorically conveyed to the
FTO that the agency has not stopped the imported consignments but only passed on the information to the concerned Department of Plant Protection (DPP) and asked DPP to ensure that any health hazard material should not be cleared under the name of imported soybeans. And, the poultry industry advocated consequences of nonavailability of imported feed i-e soybean seeds, saying there is no alternative of soybean or soybean meal for the poultry feed and further delay in clearance of the imported consignments would result in a severe shortage of chicken and eggs in the country while the poultry farms will have to shut down their operations across the country.
PM speaks highly of NFRCC, others role in relief, rehab of flood survivors ISLAMABAD staff report
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday appreciated the fabulous teamwork by the National Flood Response and Coordination Center (NFRCC) and other institutions for relief and rehabilitation of millions of distressed flood-hit people across the country, by utilizing all available resources. The prime minister, addressing a ceremony held to acknowledge the efforts by the NFRCC and others during the flood relief operations, appreciated the leadership of Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and NFRCC head Major General Zafar Iqbal. He said the Center had made efforts for the suffering flood-hit people who had lost around 1700 of their dear ones, houses and crops to the floods which also damaged the road and power supply infrastructure. He said many villages had lost road connectivity but the Pakistan Army, Pakistan Navy, Pakistan Air Force, National Disaster Management Authority, provincial authorities and governments carried out the uphill task of supplying ration to the stranded people and restoring their access. The prime minister partic-
ularly appreciated the role of former NDMA Chairman LtGen Akhtar Nawaz, Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman, Poverty Alleviation Minister Shazia Marri, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and provincial chief ministers. He also spoke high of the “remarkable job” by Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb for highlighting the catastrophic situation within Pakistan as well as internationally, by capturing the “critical moments” which impacted international viewers. The prime minister said as the government had a model before it which required immediate implementation to save Pakistan as much as possible from any future catastrophic situation and enhance the country’s preparedness to cope with the disasters. He told the gathering that Pakistan was rich with immense natural resources like Reko Diq and others in Northern Areas, Sindh and Punjab. He said Reko Diq had huge reservoirs of copper and gold to the tune of billions of dollars but despite the passage of several years, the country could not dig out even a “kilo” of gold or copper and instead lost billions of dollars in terms penalties, fees and tribunal expenses.
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World needs to look at Pakistan as a promising emerging market: Bilawal SINGAPORE agencies
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Friday urged the world to develop a “fresh look” towards Pakistan and move away from its stereotypical image. “As a young political leader, I strongly feel that the world needs to have a fresh look at Pakistan, away from its stereotypical image,” Bilawal told The Strait Times before his maiden trip to Singapore. Pakistan’s top diplomat told the Singapore-based publication that there are “many opportunities in Pakistan awaiting the world”. However, he said that the first step for making use of those opportunities is to lift the travel advisories against Pakistan. “I strongly feel that the world needs to look at us more objectively, as a promising emerging market,” said the Bilawal. He highlighted Pakistan’s young population and the country’s fastestgrowing middle class. Ties WiTh AseAN One of the industries that were mentioned by the foreign minister was the
Pakistani e-commerce market. He told the publication that based on data from German research firm Statista, the country’s e-commerce market is projected to generate US$7.67 billion in revenue in 2022. Along with this, he highlighted that Pakistan has multiple freelancers who are providing services in IT, telecom, ecommerce, data analytics, financial services, music, and health. “Singapore and other ASEAN countries outsource many IT-related activities and financial services and can benefit immensely from our young talent.” On the visit, Pakistan’s top diplomat stressed that ties with ASEAN countries are a priority for Islamabad. He added that Islamabad is seeking to upgrade its partnership with the regional bloc into a full dialogue partnership. “Some recent initiatives of ASEAN are of great interest to Pakistan which we believe are bound to unlock immense trade and investment opportunities for emerging economies including Pakistan. We believe our start-up and fintech ecosystem can contribute a great deal by connecting with South-east
Asia,” said Bilawal. The foreign minister told the Singapore publication that in the context of ASEAN, Pakistan places great importance on its relations with Singapore. He highlighted that Pakistan was among the first countries to recognise Singapore after independence, and how the Pakistani expatriates have contributed to the country’s development in its early years. Bilawal pointed out how the two nations have exchanged highlevel visits in the past, including former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew’s visits to Pakistan in 1988 and 1992, and former premier Benazir Bhutto’s visit in 1995. “Over time, we lost the momentum in our bilateral relations,” said Bilawal, adding that he was coming to Singapore “to revive that momentum and intensify our bilateral exchanges. Pakistan is keen to strengthen this relationship in all dimensions”. MeeTiNg WiTh PResideNT hAliMAh During his visit, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari called on President Halimah Yacob today. “In the meeting, enhanced en-
gagement and mutually beneficial cooperation were discussed while the foreign minister shared Pakistan’s desire to intensify cooperation with ASEAN,” the Foreign Office said in a statement. Earlier, Singaporean FM Dr Vivian Balakrishnan hosted Bilawal Bhutto over breakfast where matters of mutual interest were discussed between the two leaders. PRogRAM FoR FACeBook MoNeTizA-
TioN iN PAkisTAN In the meanwhile, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday visited the Asia Pacific headquarters of Meta (Facebook), based in Singapore, where he launched the “Stars Programme” for monetization in Pakistan. This will contribute to the capacity building of young entrepreneurs as a valuable tool for Pakistan’s growing number of Meta content developers.