Epaper_23-03-08 LHR

Wednesday, 8 March, 2023 I 15 Shaban, 1444

Oil industry seeks increase in credit limits

NA body recommends approval of Trademark (Amendment) Bill, 2023

In par tnership with

Profit

Imran’s politics worthless without ‘establishment’s crutches’: Kh Asif

‘anoTher relief’: ihC suspends imran’s arresT warranTs Till mar 13

g court directs pti chief to appear before district and sessions court in toshaKhana case

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Theislamabad high court (ihc) on tuesday suspended till march 13 the non-bailable arrest warrants issued against pti chairman imran Khan by a district and sessions court in the toshakhana reference. ihc chief justice aamer farooq announced the verdict after it was reserved earlier in the day. the court also directed the pti chief to appear before the district and sessions court on march 13. the 70-year-old ex-premier, who has been recovering from a gunshot injury from an assassination attempt in Wazirabad last year, has thrice skipped indictment hearings in an islamabad sessions court in the case. he is accused of concealing, in his assets declarations, details of the gifts he retained from the toshakhana — a repository where presents handed to government officials from foreign officials are kept. in a petition filed in the ihc today, imran prayed that the sessions court’s feb 28 and march 6 orders be set aside so that he could have a “fair opportunity” to appear in court and

defend himself.

ihc chief justice aamer farooq, who is hearing the case, had given Khan’s legal team 30 minutes to inform the court about when the former prime minister will appear before them. Khan has missed three indictment hearings in an islamabad sessions court, as he continues to recover from an assassination attempt in Wazirabad last year.

the case centres on a government department known as toshakhana — which during the mughal era referred to the treasure

injuries

got during assassination attempt

istan democratic movement (pdm) parties has for months alleged Khan and his wife, bushra maneka, received lavish gifts worth millions during trips abroad. they included luxury watches, jewellery, designer handbags and perfumes. Khan was expected to be indicted on february 28, but his lawyer requested an exemption from the hearing, as he was scheduled to appear in several other courts. following two deferred indictments, the judge issued arrest warrants and adjourned the hearing until march 7.

Those involved in ‘illegal conviction’ of Nawaz met their fate: Maryam Nawaz

Parliamentarian’s Tax Directory 2020 to be published after Dar’s nod

profIt report

houses kept by the subcontinent’s princely rulers to store and display gifts lavished on them. government officials must declare all gifts to the cabinet division, but are allowed to keep those below a certain value.

more expensive items must go to toshakhana under the administrative control of the cabinet division, but in some cases, the recipient can buy them back at around 50 percent of their value — a discount Khan raised from 20 percent while in office. the ruling coalition of the pak-

Pakistan improves risk score on global anti-money laundering index

ISLAMABAD MuhaMMad Raafay Khan

the basel anti-money laundering (aml) index, a leading independent ranking of money laundering and terrorist financing (ml/tf) risks around the world, has acknowledged the progress made by pakistan by slightly lowering the risk score of the country.

“pakistan’s overall money laundering and terrorist financing risk score in the earlier basel aml index was 6.16. this places it in the medium-risk category compared to other global jurisdictions. in the latest update of the expert edition, which is updated quarterly with the latest data, the risk score is slightly lower at 6.11,” said the basel aml index briefing on pakistan. pakistan achieved the fol-

lowing scores in the latest fatf assessments: 3% for effectiveness and 72% for technical compliance based on the basel aml index methodology and calculations; pakistan’s score on the fatf indicator alone is 7.38 – a high risk compared to the global average. pakistan was first added on the financial action task force’s (fatf) grey list from 2012–2015. it was included on the grey list again in june 2018 as its deficiencies in some technical areas were considered a serious threat to the global financial system. these deficiencies covered many areas: legal, financial, regulatory, investigations, prosecutions, judicial and the non-governmental sector. the decision to add pakistan to the grey list was taken before the results of its mutual

evaluation report (mer) were published. the mer was published in october 2019 and revealed poor performance in both effectiveness (3%) and in technical compliance (39%). during the last four years, pakistan has had two action plans to address these deficiencies, comprising in total 34 points. 27 points were included in the 2018 action plan and 7 points were added in 2021. the action plans were sweeping and included requirements to improve almost all areas of money laundering and terrorist financing (ml/tf) compliance and effectiveness, including a specific focus on tf risks. pakistan also had to maintain a database of terrorists and terror groups operating on its territory and the actions taken against them.

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Afghan delegation due in Pakistan, says Khawaja Asif

ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt defence minister Khawaja asif on tuesday said an afghan delegation was expected in pakistan soon in continuation of talks related to various issues including regional security and counter-terrorism measures. the minister’s statement comes more than a week after a high-level pakistani delegation, led by asif, visited Kabul to meet with officials of the afghan interim government to discuss a variety of issues from security to bilateral cooperation. the two sides had specifically discussed the growing threat of terrorism in the region, particularly from the banned militant groups tehreek-i-taliban pakistan (ttp) and islamic state Khorasan province (isKp), in the high-level talks.

“pakistan and afghanistan are neighbours and

should have cordial relations. the islamic emirate of afghanistan wants expansion of commercial and economic relations with pakistan as such relations are in the interest of both countries,” the official statement from afghanistan had said on february 22. afghanistan’s acting deputy prime minister mullah baradar had noted that political and security issues should not affect trade and economic matters between the two countries and be kept separate from political and security problems. addressing a press talk in islamabad today, asif emphasised that the afghan territory must not be used by terrorists, especially in light of the agreement signed in doha. “We asked them to honour the accord and they agreed to our request,” the minister added.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 02

Ramazan package: PM announces free flour for underprivileged

ISLAMABAD: in a bid to provide relief to the poor, prime minister (pm) shehbaz sharif on tuesday announced a special ramazan package providing free flour to ‘underprivileged masses’. according to a statement, the package was approved at a meeting chaired by pm shehbaz sharif in lahore. caretaker chief minister punjab mohsin raza naqvi, the secretary food and other senior officials attended the meeting. chief secretary punjab Zahid akhtar Zaman and finance secretary mujahid sherdil briefed the prime minister about the ramazan package. the package is first of its kind aimed at facilitating the poor population. speaking on the occasion, the prime minister said after its launch in punjab, the federal government would extend cooperation to provinces to replicate the programme. the premier directed the authorities concerned to complete the comprehensive strategy for the supply of free flour to poor families as soon as possible. Staff RepoRt

at the outset of the hearing, imran’s lawyers — ali bukhari and Qaiser imam — urged the court to cancel the pti chief’s arrest warrants. however, the court remarked that the warrants were not issued for arrests but to frame charges against imran in the toshakhana case.

“You appear in court for the framing of charges and then request for an exemption,” justice farooq said. “the law is the same for everyone. What can the court do?

“the court has to adopt a legal procedure,” he stressed, saying that imran had to appear in the sessions court today but he did not.

despite the passage of two months, the federal board of revenue (fbr) is still waiting for finance minister ishaq dar’s approval to launch the parliamentarian’s tax directory. profit learnt that the federal cabinet had directed the bureau to finalise the matter earlier in january whereas the fbr has not made any progress in this regard as it continues to wait for a green signal from the finance minister before launching the tax directory, a process it claims will take no more than three days once approved. to recall, the fbr in january 2022 had launched the parliamentarian’s tax directory of 2019 and the department has yet to public details of parliamentarians of 2020, 2021 and 2022. the fbr first published a parliamentarian’s tax directory in tax year 2013. since then, it has proved to be an integral part in the board’s attempts at showcasing transparency in tax governance. the tax directory provides tax details of all members of the senate, national assembly (na) and the provincial assemblies. the directory includes the name, cnic, constituency, normal income, presumptive income, agricultural income, income tax paid, and the share of tax paid by association of persons (aops) which the taxpayer has listed. discrepancies in the tax records of parliamentarians has led to various political campaigns in the past. associated with the tax directory 2020, are important cases, including the toshakhana reference against the pti leader imran Khan.

g Khan has missed three hearings in islamabad court due to

he

GAlluP’s PublIC Pulse survey reveAls 61PC PAkIstAnIs ‘PosItIvely rAted’ IMrAn khAn

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

tHEPublic Pulse Report published by Gallup Pakistan revealed that 61 percent of Pakistanis “positively rated” PTI Chairman Imran Khan, whereas only 36 percent have a “good opinion” about PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.

The survey titled Public Pulse Report published by Gallup Pakistan on Monday, was conducted with around 2,000 respondents covering all four provinces, and urban and rural areas.

It said that the error margin for such a survey was around 3-4pc at 95pc confidence level. According to the report, Imran received a positive rating from 61pc of the population while 37pc rated him negatively.

Faithful observe shab-i-barat with religious reverence

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Further, 29pc from Punjab, 28pc from Sindh and 14pc from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa gave him a positive rating — the highest amongst the provinces for any politician.

On the other hand, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was rated negatively by 65pc of Pakistanis while 32pc gave him a positive rating. However, people from Punjab rated him more positively as compared to other provinces.

The data showed that almost three in five (59pc) gave his sibling Nawaz a negative rating while 36pc gave him a positive rating. Moreover, respondents from KP rated the PML-N supremo more negatively than people from other provinces.

As for Foreign Minister Bilawal, 36pc rated the PPP chairman positively while 57pc gave him a negative rating. Of all the provinces, he got most positive ratings from Sindh.

PML-N Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz, however, was rated negatively by 61pc while 34pc gave her a positive rating.

“People from Punjab see her in a positive light as compared to other provinces,” the survey showed.

Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman received a negative rating by 57pc while only 31pc gave him a positive rating. He received the least negative ratings from citizens from KP.

Former president Asif Ali Zardari was rated negatively by 67pc while 27pc rated him positively.

“Since 2022, Zardari has gained a more favorable opinion amongst the Public Pulse Report population. However, people from Punjab gave him the most negative ratings, followed by KP and then Sindh,” the survey said. other findings: The survey also noted that majority of the respondents, 62pc,

blamed the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM)/PML-N for the current economic crisis while only 38pc blame the previous PTI government.

“It does not come as a surprise that an overwhelming majority of those who put the blame on PDM/PML-N had voting intentions for PTI and vice versa,” the survey said. As far as unemployment was concerned, 21pc reported that someone in their household has lost their job in the last six months. The survey also said that 53pc of Pakistanis would leave their current party and vote for a new party if the latter had “honest political members and technocrats”.

“The highest proportion of people who said they would leave their current party and vote for the new, honest party were people aged 50 and above. Moreover, 8pc more males than females favored voting for the

Pakistan improves risk score on global anti-money laundering index

COntInuED fROM pAgE 01

Actions tAken And progress mAde

Shab-i-Barat, or the night of forgiveness, is being observed with religious reverence across the country on Tuesday night, as the majority of the faithful seek forgiveness from Allah and from those whose rights were usurped, either consciously or unconsciously. Many also choose to fast the following day as an expression of submissiveness in the court of Allah and to beg for His blessings in both worlds. To achieve blessings in this world and the hereafter, the faithful will also organise several gatherings and mahafil-i-naat. They will pray for an end to terrorism and for guidance for those who have been led astray by anti-state elements. Religious scholars will highlight the teachings of Islam and various aspects of the life of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in their sermons, so that followers can lead their lives in accordance with the Quran and Sunnah. Houses, streets, and mosques will be decorated with colourful pennants and bunting, and at night they will be illuminated by electric lights, candles, or oil lamps. Additionally, people will visit the graves of their loved ones, seeking Allah’s blessings for their departed souls. Special security arrangements have been made to ensure a peaceful observance of Shab-i-Barat.

eCP dismisses plea seeking removal of Imran as PtI chief

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday dismissed petition seeking the removal of Imran Khan as the party’s chairmanship following his disqualification in the Toshakhana reference. A three-member ECP bench, headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja and comprising members – Nisar Ahmad Durrani and Shah Muhammad Jatoi heard the case.During the proceedings, Barrister Gohar, the counsel for Imran Khan said that high court had restrained the ECP from taking any ‘strict action’ against the PTI chief. At this, the CEC said that no court has restrained the ECP from conducting the hearing. Meanwhile, the petitioner Afaq also appeared in the ECP and lamented the electoral watchdog for sending notice to wrong address. “You can’t pressurize us by speaking loudly,” said CEC while reacting strongly to petitioner’s rude behaviour. The chief election commissioner asked security personnel to expel the lawyer from the room. The petition stated that after Imran’s disqualification from the NA-95 constituency following Toshakhana reference, the person could not head a political party under the Political Parties Order and its rules. The lawyer requested the court to order the ECP to remove Imran as PTI chairman and issue directives for the nomination of a new party head.

Since June 2018, the country has been working with the FATF and its affiliates to strengthen its legal and financial systems against ML/TF in order to meet international standards in line with the FATF’s 40 recommendations. Pakistan has amended more than 10 laws to ensure technical compliance with the FATF Recommendations.

From September 2020 to August 2022, the country went through four follow-up reports and improved its performance in technical compliance from 41% to 72%. Currently, Pakistan is evaluated as being “largely compliant” with most of the 40 Recommendations. Only in R15 (new technologies) and R38 (mutual legal assistance: freezing and confiscation) is Pakistan only “partially compliant”. There is no single recommendation left where the country is evaluated as “non-compliant”. Performance under the FATF’s effectiveness criteria (“immediate outcomes”) was not reassessed.

In late August 2022, an FATF delegation and the regional Asia/Pacific Group on money laundering conducted an on-site visit to verify Pakistan’s compliance with the 34-point Action Plan. 4 Following the visit, the FATF decided by consensus that Pakistan had completed all substantial, technical and procedural requirements of both the 2018 and 2021 Action Plans. As a result, Pakistan was taken off the grey list with immediate effect. Being delisted from the grey list often results in further positive developments in economic and social areas. In general, it increases a country’s attractiveness to foreign investors. For Pakistan it can have positive consequences such as increased access to financial resources and assistance to deal with the consequences of recent floods in the country.

Exiting the grey list means Pakistan can now have more access to foreign aid and loans as well as more foreign direct investment, which has shown a downward trend recently. The Pakistani economy

has been facing severe difficulties and is in dire need of that investment. On 21 October 2022, just ahead of the FATF announcement, the credit ratings agency Fitch Ratings cut the country’s sovereign rating to CCC+ from B-. This followed the downgrading by Moody’s – another credit ratings agency – of Pakistan’s ranking to negative.

Being on the FATF grey list also made it difficult for Pakistan to get assistance from the IMF, World Bank, Asian Development Bank and EU. For instance, the IMF had included exiting the grey list as part of its conditions for receiving a $6 billion bailout. In November 2022, Pakistan and the IMF began talks online regarding a $ 7 billion loan programme. Based on earlier reviews of the programme, the IMF had already approved $ 1.1 billion earlier in August 2022. the BAsel Aml index

The Basel AML Index is an independent country ranking and risk assessment tool for money laundering and terrorist financing (ML/TF), produced by the Basel AML Index since 2012.

The index is developed and maintained by the Basel Institute on Governance through its International Centre for Asset Recovery. The institute is an independent not-for-profit organisation dedicated to countering corruption and other financial crimes and to improving standards of governance. It is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland and maintains field operations in Africa, Eastern Europe, Latin America and Southeast Asia.

The index provides risk scores based on data from 18 publicly available sources such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), Transparency International, the World Bank and the World Economic Forum. The risk scores cover five domains considered to contribute to a high risk of ML/TF:

Quality of AML/CFT Framework

Bribery and Corruption

Financial Transparency and Standards

Public Transparency and Accountability

Legal and Political Risks

Afghan delegation due in Pakistan, says Khawaja Asif

COntInuED fROM pAgE 01

In February 2020, the United States and the Taliban signed a peace agreement in Doha, Qatar, to bring an end to the 2001–2021 war in Afghanistan. The agreement ultimately led to the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan on Aug 15, 2021.

Asif said Pakistan fought hard to rein in terrorism and vowed the government would do so again. “We will fight as we did in the past.”

He insisted there would be accountability for people who agreed to fight “America’s war” in the 80s. Turning his guns on his top political rival Imran Khan, Asif claimed the former premier had made no political decisions without the establishment’s help.

He went on to allege that Imran wanted to appoint the army chief of his choice to keep clinging on to power for another five years.

The minister also rebuffed reports of the government’s alleged plan to arrest him, saying “we are not in a hurry as he is getting exposed in front of his supporters [with his own actions].” He urged the courts to “treat” the PTI chief as it did to politicians in the past. “It shouldn’t look like he is being accommodated. The treatment he has received will bring us (PML-N) political dividends.”

He said “special treatment” should not be given to the PTI chief. “The ex-premier has no courage if the establishment’s ventilator is not attached to him,” the minister claimed.

new party with honest political members,” the survey said.

“Surprisingly, among political party workers highest percentage of voters ready to leave their party for a new one were found in PTI where the figure was 52pc,” it added.

It added that 61pc of the respondents were in favour of Nawaz’s immediate return to Pakistan. The highest proportion of people in favor of the ex-premier’s return were from KP (67pc), followed by Punjab (64pc).

Regarding the PTI chief’s decision to dissolve the Punjab and KP assemblies, 57pc supported the decision.

“Of those who said that they support his decision, majority (83pc) intend to vote for PTI, while only 24pc of PML-N supporters think that Imran Khan’s decision to dissolve the assemblies and hold new elections is right,” the survey said.

Marriyum lashes out at Imran for not appearing in court

ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum

Aurangzeb on Tuesday criticizing Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf Chairman Imran Khan said that a person who had hidden when police arrived to arrest him was now fine to hold election rallies. ” This was not a movement to save the judiciary but a movement to be saved from judiciary”, she said in a tweet targeting Imran Khan. Lashing out at the PTI chairman, she said “the foreign agent and Toshakhana thief” did not appear even when his nonbailable arrest warrants were issued. The minister said that the accused and his legal team were missing and the court was again waiting.

Punjab, Akhhuat team up for ‘Protection Centers’ to help transgender community

LAHORE

Staff RepoRt

The Punjab Police and Akhhuat Foundation – a social welfare organization – on Tuesday entered a partnership for the support and protection of the transgender community and both the institutions will cooperate with each other in steps taken for welfare of the transgender community. Similarly under the MoU, joint measures will also be taken to resolve problems of homeless, destitute and mentally and physically challenged children and special persons. According to the details, a delegation comprising senior officials of Akhhuat Foundation led its Chairman Dr Amjad Saqib visited Central Police Office and signed the MoU during a meeting with Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Usman Anwar. Under the MoU, Akhhuat will provide full support for functioning of the “Protection Centers” activated by Punjab Police to help the transgender community in all regions and District Police offices across Punjab. The Akhhuat will launch special training courses for police staff posted in Protection Centres with respect to provision of facilities to transgender community. The Akhhuat’s Transgender Support Program teams will provide data and other details related to transgender issues to the Punjab Police so that steps can be taken to alleviate the social problems and difficulties faced by the transgender community. Both the Akhhuat and Punjab Police, under the MoU, will take joint measures to provide medico-legal cases and medical facilities to the transgender community, while the teams of Punjab Police will hold Khuli Katchehri (open courts) on monthly basis and the Akhhuat will organize other programs for the transgender community at Fountain House where trans persons can get immediate relief by submitting applications to senior police officers about problems faced by the community. During the meeting, it was also decided to provide interest-free loans up to Rs100,000 to police employees. Police personnel up to grade 7 will be able to avail loans from the Akhhuat to purchase essential items like bikes and laptops.

PDM wants to obstruct elections, says Rashid

RAWALpInDI Staff RepoRt

Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed

Ahmad said on Tuesday the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) wanted to obstruct elections in the country, saying these were the signs of their mental defeat. In a series of tweets, the former interior minister said the situation continued to worsen in the country and elections were the only solution to it. He also criticised Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Ghulam Ali Khan, saying he should give priority to the Constitution and law over his relationship to JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman. He said the Supreme Court of

QuEttA Staff RepoRt

Six members of a same family including women and children were killed and four others sustained multiple injuries when a gas cylinder exploded with a bang due to leakage, destroying the house in Quetta in the wee hours of Tuesday.

According to the Balochistan Provincial Disaster Management Authority, the gas cylinder exploded in a house in Sarki Kalan area of Quetta around 4:30am. As a result, the house was completely destroyed and six persons including 2 women and four children were killed. Four other people also sustained critical injuries in the blast. The dead included: three-year-old Ibad Ullah, seven-year-old Misbah, eight-year-old Hammad,

Pakistan had clearly directed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the KP governor to announce a date for elections in the country.

Reacting to plans of arresting Imran Khan, he said such move would strengthen the PTI chief politically and raise his popularity ahead of elections. Claiming cracks in the ruling coalition of PDM, he said the parties would contest elections using their own electoral symbols instead of the single platform. He said Mr Khan would launch his election campaign on Wednesday from Lahore. Saying the country is heading towards elections, the AML chief hoped that the provincial and federal polls could be held at the same time.

Nine-year-old Tanzeela, 28-year-old Gul Zareen and 35-year-old Tahira Bibi. The injured were identified as: three-year-old Ghazali, 12-year-old Imdad Ullah, 27-year-old Siddique Ullah and 45-year-old Maulvi Abdul Aziz.

The rescuers shifted the dead and injured to hospital where condition of the injured is stated to be critical.

The police informed that the injured and deceased persons belonged to the same family.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority continued operation and moved bodies and injured to the hospital.

It is to be noted that temperatures in the country’s southwestern region drop at night, with most families relying on makeshift gas cylinders to stay warm because of the lack of gas access in several areas.

Six of same family dead in Quetta gas cylinder blast

nChr lAunChes PolICy brIeF on doMestIC vIolenCe bIll

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

ASpart of a wider campaign against domestic violence, the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR), in collaboration with UN Women, launched a ‘Policy Brief on Domestic Violence’ on Tuesday.

The policy brief provides a detailed view of how domestic violence affects Pakistani citizens, particularly women. Furthermore, it analyses possible interventions that can be made against domestic violence, citing the establishment of federal domestic violence legislation as a crucial step in addressing this ‘urgent matter.’ The brief also examines the international commitments made by Pakistan and provides recommendations for

legal and socio-economic actions that can be taken by the government to tackle the issue. Speaking on this occasion, NCHR Chairperson RabiyaJaveri Agha said that following nationwide consultation and meetings with various stakeholders from civil society and state institutions, the NCHR took note of the alarming rise in domestic violence cases in the country and lack of protection for women who find themselves in an increasingly precarious position as Pakistan reels from COVID-19 pandemic, the devastating floods and now rising inflation, all which disproportionally affect women far more than their male counterparts. The Chairperson said besides working on a Policy Brief, the Commission has launched a helpline (1413) for the protection of women’s marriage rights in

directorate General of trade office suspends office bearers of skardu chamber

ISLAMABAD Ghulam abbaS

In an interesting development Directorate General of Trade Office (DGTO) of Ministry of Commerce has suspended the office bearers of newly established Skardu Chamber of Commerce and Industry for alleged issuance of around 1679 visa recommendation letters to foreigners without approval of executive Committee and other violations of Trade Organization Act 2013. As per documents available with this scribe, the president of Skardu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), who is reportedly a non-local having no business in the area, has issued 1679 visa recommendation letters to foreigners especially Chinese of only three companies which have alarmed not only DGTO but the concerned authorities. As per the complaints registered by Secretary General Ahmed Ali and Vice President Khuwaja Kazim, the incumbent president, while sitting in Islamabad has issued such a large number of Business Visa Recommendation letters to foreigners and nonmembers without approval of Executive Committee and consulting the Secretary General and other office bearers. The president of the chamber Arif Mehmood has also been accused of misusing the name of SCCI and operating the chamber from Islamabad. The DGTO has also been informed that the CE members through a resolution have immediately deseated Arif Mehmood as president. The DGTO office after security of records and hearing the case, has come to the conclusion that the SCCI is not being run in accordance with the provision of Trade Organization Act 2013 and Trade Organizations Rules 2013. “As the office bearers of SCCI (President, Sr. Vice President and Vice President), are involved in irregularities in the Chamber, therefore, the status / functions of the office bearers of the Chamber are suspended till completion of the enquiry proceeding,” the DGTO’s notice said. The DGTO office has directed the suspended president and CE members to submit required records. Meanwhile, according to sources, the Federal Investigation Agency has initiated an inquiry into the matter related to issuance of business visa recommendation letters by Arif Mehmood of SCCI.

renowned actor Qavi khan laid to rest in Canada

LAHORE

Staff RepoRt

Renowned actor Qavi Khan, who passed away at the age of 80, has been laid to rest in Canada. The actor, 80, was buried in the Meadowvale Cemetery in Brampton near Ontario. Held at a mosque in the city of Mississauga, the funeral was attended by his close relatives and a large number of Pakistani community members. Born in Peshawar in 1942, Khan worked in theatre, and radio, and appeared in over 200 TV dramas and films. Some of his notable TV serials include Lakhon Mein Teen, Alif Noon, Andhera Ujala, Angar Waadi, and Ashiana. He also acted in movies like Tiger Gang and Sarfarosh. He received several accolades for his outstanding performances, including the Pride of Performance and Sitara-e-Imtiaz awards. He was also nominated for the Nishan-e-Pakistan award this year and received the Life Time Achievement Award in recognition of his work for Radio Pakistan and Pakistan Television. Khan was a cancer patient and had traveled to Canada to be with his family for treatment. Members of the entertainment industry said his demise has left a void and he will be remembered as a legendary actor.

AtC issues non-bailable arrest warrant for rana sanaullah

guJRAnWALA

Staff RepoRt

An Anti-Terrorism Court in Gujranwala dismissed Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah’s request for exemption from Tuesday’s appearance and issued a non-bailable arrest warrant. Sanaullah’s non-bailable arrest warrant was issued by ATC judge Rana Zahid Iqbal Khan. The court ordered the police to arrest Rana Sanaullah and produce him on March 28. On February 24, the ATC had issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for the interior minister in a case registered at Industrial police station in Gujarat and ordered the police to arrest and produce him on March 7. During Tuesday’s hearing, Rana Sanaullah’s lawyer Advocate Abdul Majeed appeared in the court and filed a request for exemption from Sanaullah’s appearance in the court, saying due to official engagements Sanaullah couldn’t appear in the court today and that he would appear in the court on the next hearing. However, the court issued a non-bailable arrest warrant while rejecting the plea of exemption from attendance.

Punjab. “In addition to that, the NCHR has a complaint redressal mechanism and continuously follow up on rules and implementation of provincial domestic violence Acts in Sindh and Balochistan.”

The information gathered by the Policy Brief research team shows that over 90 per cent of Pakistani women face domestic violence in their lifetime (HRCP Factsheet on Domestic Violence During COVID-19 Lockdown) and there were 10,000 to 11,000 reported cases of violence against women (Aurat Foundation, SSDO and NADRA).

Regarding legal framework, the brief says that three laws including Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence Act 2016, Domestic Violence Prevention and Protection Act Sindh, 2013 and Domestic Violence Prevention and

Protection Act Balochistan, 2014 are in place whereas Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act 2020 at Federal level is pending.

The brief recommends enactment of legislation against domestic violence at federal level, provision of support and services of the victims of domestic violence, awareness raising and education around the issue, sensitization and capacity building of stakeholders especially judiciary and law enforcement agencies, engagement of different segments of the society especially men in campaigns against domestic violence and availability of legal aid system at wider level.

In her opening remarks, Federal Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman said that according to research 90 per cent of women in Pakistan face one or the other form of

domestic violence but 50 per cent of them do not report that. “An unfortunately, all this data is just the tip of the iceberg,” she said adding that domestic violence is more about cultural and social norms. “Law and policy matter but it largely depends on how the society regards its vulnerable.” She appreciated the #GharKiBaatNahi for the campaign and said that it is an appropriate hashtag which applies to every social class and every country in the world.”

In her keynote address, Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Shazia Marri said domestic violence is never a topic of fashion for her but it is a reality and issue of many women in Pakistan. Said that she can imagine the pain of a domestic violence survivor as she herself is one of them.

Imran begins election campaign, will lead PTI rally today

LAHORE

Staff RepoRt

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Musarrat Jamshed Cheema announced that the party would be launching an election rally led by former prime minister Imran Khan on Wednesday at 1:00 pm.

The rally will begin from Khan’s residence at Zaman Park and culminate at Data Darbar.

In a tweet, Cheema said the rally was aimed at saving the judiciary and the country, as the judiciary had come under fire for attempting to guard the

Constitution and save the country from anarchy.

She also declared that Lahore had become a stronghold of PTI and that the people of Lahore would come out to safeguard their rights and show their affiliation with the Constitution.

The rally comes on the heels of the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s (SCP) verdict ordering the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to hold elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa within ninety days of the dissolution of the provincial assemblies.

The Punjab Assembly was dissolved on January

14, and the KP parliament was dissolved on January 18. President Dr Arif Alvi announced April 30 as the date for elections in Punjab, and the PTI finalised its candidates for the upcoming contest.

Meanwhile, political tensions in the country have risen due to the capital city police’s attempt to arrest Khan at his residence in connection with his multiple absences from court appearances in the Toshakhana case.

The police were unsuccessful in their attempt to arrest him, and Imran Khan later decided not to appear before the court, citing security threats.

Nisar speaks

Comments must be considered in light of his tenure as CJP

FORMER chief Justice of Pakistan Mian saqib Nisar is back in the news cycle for all the wrong reasons, as is usually the case with him. apart from making a cryptic statement that a book with the ‘complete story’ will be released after his death, he claimed that his ‘Whatsapp’ was hacked, a feat that most experts maintain is near impossible to achieve without using some very specific equipment and skill. However, the operative part of Nisar’s abrupt jump into the ongoing political hullabaloo is him confirming that former PM and Pti chairman imran Khan called him two weeks back seeking ‘help and guidance’ in the plethora of legal troubles he faces currently. He did not bother to divulge whether or not he provided any ‘legal aid’ to imran Khan in this particular instance but his actions and decisions during his more than two years as cJP certainly offered immense relief, paving the way for the latter to reach the highest echelons of power. imran Khan reaching out to Nisar in such desperate times is therefore no surprise.

Nisar’s role in the removal of Nawaz sharif from power through a sc decision of disqualification under articles 62 and 63 of the constitution, that has over time been exposed for the engineered farce that it was, disrupted an ongoing process of progression and evolution in democracy which was crucial at the time and had it continued, the country’s condition would be very different, for the better, currently.

allegations of his dealings and interactions with the military leadership of the time, cOas Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa and isi chief lt Gen Faiz Haqmeed, the muscle that took ‘Project imran’ to its logical end and the spectacular implosion that followed, cannot be ignored either. the judicial-military nexus that aided and abetted in the manufacturing of a regime that was unsustainable due to its unconstitutional murky origins and realised as just another failed experiment due to the incompetency of all involved should serve as a reminder to anyone with any notions of repeating the same mistake. it is obvious therefore that Mr Khan’s fierce attacks on his former handlers, intensifying only after they left office, have nothing to do with a newfound principled pursuit of a more constitutionally-bound system of government, but are rather just a calculated pressure tactic to get back to the system of the ‘old days’ that he enjoyed greatly. it is a gut-wrenching tragic irony that the judiciary, a branch of government that must protect and interpret the constitution in letter and spirit, has done a majority of the damage to it.

It will only get worse

The Russia-Ukraine war shows no sign of ending

forced to flee their country to the West, with many more internally displaced as a result of widespread destruction of homes and infrastructure. as a result, Ukraine has become dependent on the West not only for weapons, but also for economic subsidies to pay their military, government entities, and basic services.

it would be won, but also that it must be won. and at a recent European security conference the German Foreign Minister upped the ante, declaring that anything short of a Russian defeat would mean “the end of the international order and the end of international law.”

As Russia’s devastating war in Ukraine is entering its second year, with no end in sight, serious questions must be asked about the way forward. One year ago, i faulted Europeans for not taking President Biden’s early warnings more seriously and for failing to act more vigorously to forestall a hostile Russian invasion. But five months later, in July 2022, when it became clear to me that there was no good outcome to this war, i wrote the following:

“Only naive souls or blind ideologues could have thought that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine would end well. it will not. and the longer it continues, the worse the situation will be for everyone … the reality is that no one can or will win this war.” seven months later, the toll tells the story. Us government sources estimate that more than 130,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed or severely wounded. Estimates of Russian military casualties number between 150,000–200,000, with at least 60,000 of that total reflecting those killed — more than doubling the number of Russian soldiers killed in afghanistan and chechnya combined. the impact on the Ukrainian people and economy has been even more consequential. the Ukrainian GDP declined by one-third. they’ve lost more than 40 percent of their electricity-generating capacity. and more than 8.5 million Ukrainians have been

Because the war has not come home, Russians have been spared the death and devastation they have visited upon their neighbours. sanctions imposed by the West have had an impact, but the Putin government has not only been able to draw on reserves to buttress the economy, but has also found ways to circumvent sanctions to maintain a profitable, though diminished, level of exports and imports. as a result, the Russian economy shrank far less than expected in 2022, with the iMF even predicting some slight growth in 2023. and instead of mobilizing the world against Russian aggression, the war has accentuated the preexisting divide between East and West, North and south.

a year into this war, several developments should be noted. Most important among them is the fact that it has become an existential conflict for all parties involved. Ukrainian nationalism has proven to be a far more potent force than expected. Motivated by that deeply held belief and emboldened by Western military and political support, Ukrainian leaders now pledge to continue fighting until Russian forces are removed from “every square inch” of their territory.

Russia initially projected the view that Ukraine was an artificial and even “illegitimate” country, and sought to bring down its leadership through a devastating “shock and awe” assault. When that goal became unattainable, they settled on claiming their right to annex territories in the Eastern part of Ukraine that are heavily Russian-speaking. Having been forced to surrender control in some of the areas they had initially occupied and now ground down in deadly combat on several fronts, Mr. Putin is loath to relinquish more territory or admit defeat fearing a threat to his leadership and vision of Russian destiny.

the Usa and its Western allies have also dug themselves into a rhetorical hole. Early on President Biden sounded like a mix of churchill and Reagan, mobilizing the Usa and Western European opinion to join this battle to save democracy and freedom from authoritarian aggression and assuring everyone not only that

Plastic pollution and Pakistan

water, which can then enter the food chain, leading to adverse health effects. additionally, plastic waste can attract pests and vectors that can cause the spread of diseases.

agency) is a government agency responsible for enforcing environmental laws and regulations in the sindh province of Pakistan. in recent years, sEPa has taken several steps to reduce plastic pollution in the province. some of the actions taken by sEPa to address plastic pollution are as follows:

Now one year after it began, the battle has not been won and all signs point to it continuing. the main combatants have shown remarkable resilience. the Usa and its allies are pouring new and more lethal weapons into Ukraine. thus supplied, the Ukrainians are gearing up for a new offensive. and the Russians are holding their own, determined to commit new atrocities to weaken Ukrainian resolve. the problem, of course, is that more weapons or more battlefield losses will not end this war with all parties still believing they can and must be victorious. some additional cautionary signs ahead:

n Russia has augmented its weapons with inferior, though still lethal, supplies from iran and North Korea. should the vastly superior weapons from the Usa and NatO allies prove impactful, will china respond to Russian appeals for assistance?

n after initially welcoming fleeing Ukrainians, European support for refugees is showing signs of diminishing because of the economic and social costs. Will this grow?

n While Biden initially found bipartisan support for Ukraine, recent polling shows an emerging partisan split, with Republicans and some Democrats questioning the administration’s requests for additional aid. Will this tie the administration’s hands moving forward?

n Given the Western European economic downturn, who will pay for Ukraine’s reconstruction at war’s end? against this backdrop, year two of this war promises only more death and destruction. None of the major parties show signs of losing their resolve. if anything, attitudes among hawks in Russia, the Us, and Ukraine have hardened, convinced that more arms and better strategy are all that is needed to win. and so, it continues.

The writer is President of the Arab American Institute

Barkhan should be an eye-opener

Plastic is a material that has become ubiquitous in modern life due to its low cost, durability, and versatility. However, plastic waste has become a major environmental issue, particularly in developing countries like Pakistan, where the lack of proper waste management and recycling infrastructure has resulted in the accumulation of plastic waste in the environment. Plastic pollution not only affects the environment but also human health, as plastic waste can release harmful chemicals into the soil and water, and be ingested by animals, which can then enter the food chain. in this article, we will discuss the extent of plastic pollution in Pakistan and potential scientific solutions to address this problem.

Pakistan is a developing country with a population of over 220 million, and plastic waste has become a significant environmental challenge due to the lack of proper waste management systems. according to a report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Pakistan generates approximately 20 million tons of solid waste annually, of which 5 to 10 percent is plastic waste. additionally, a study conducted by the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) in 2018 found that Pakistan is one of the top 10 countries in the world for plastic pollution, with an estimated 90 percent of plastic waste being improperly disposed of.

the plastic waste in Pakistan is primarily generated by urban areas, and the waste collection and disposal infrastructure is inadequate to handle the volume of plastic waste generated. as a result, plastic waste is often burned or dumped in open areas, including water bodies, which leads to environmental pollution and health hazards.

the plastic pollution problem in Pakistan has severe environmental and human health impacts. the accumulation of plastic waste in the environment leads to soil, air, and water pollution, which can cause long-term damage to the ecosystem. the plastic waste often clogs drains and waterways, leading to flooding during the monsoon season. the burning of plastic waste also releases harmful chemicals into the atmosphere, leading to air pollution.

the plastic pollution problem also poses a severe threat to human health. Plastic waste can release harmful chemicals into the soil and

the plastic pollution problem in Pakistan is complex and requires a multi-pronged approach to be tackled. the following are some potential scientific solutions to address the plastic pollution problem in Pakistan: the development of efficient waste management systems is critical to reducing plastic waste in Pakistan. Municipal authorities should invest in waste collection infrastructure, including recycling facilities and proper disposal mechanisms. innovative solutions like waste-toenergy plants can also help reduce plastic waste by converting it into energy.

the development and use of biodegradable alternatives to plastic can help reduce plastic waste. Biodegradable plastics break down naturally and do not release harmful chemicals into the environment. Research and development of such materials are required to promote their use. there are several methods of producing biodegradable plastic, including: starch-based bioplastics are made by combining starch, such as corn or potato starch, with a biodegradable polymer such as polylactic acid (Pla) or polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHa). the starch acts as a filler material while the polymer acts as a binding agent. the resulting bioplastic is biodegradable, compostable, and has a lower carbon footprint than conventional plastic.

cellulose-based bioplastics are made from cellulose, which is extracted from plant materials such as wood, cotton, or hemp. the cellulose is then chemically modified to produce a biodegradable polymer. these bioplastics are strong, durable, and biodegradable.

Microbial bioplastics are produced by bacteria or yeast that ferment organic materials such as sugar or starch to produce a biodegradable polymer. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHas) are a common type of microbial bioplastic. these bioplastics are biodegradable, compostable, and have a low carbon footprint.

algae-based bioplastics are produced by extracting polysaccharides from algae and converting them into a biodegradable polymer. these bioplastics are renewable, biodegradable, and have a low carbon footprint.

Protein-based bioplastics are made from plant or animal proteins, such as soy or casein. these proteins are combined with a biodegradable polymer to create a bioplastic that is strong, durable, and biodegradable.

(sindh Environmental Protection

sEPa

sEPa has banned the use, manufacturing, and sale of single-use plastic bags in the province of sindh. the ban was enforced in October 2019, and violators can face heavy fines and penalties. sEPa has launched several initiatives to manage plastic waste in the province. One such initiative is the establishment of plastic waste recycling facilities to recycle plastic waste into useful products. sEPa has also introduced a plastic waste collection program, in which households and businesses can dispose of their plastic waste at designated collection points.

sEPa has also launched awareness campaigns to educate the public about the harms of plastic pollution and encourage them to reduce their use of plastic. sEPa has organized seminars, workshops, and social media campaigns to raise awareness about plastic pollution and promote sustainable alternatives to plastic and among other initiatives, is that sEPa has collaborated with stakeholders, including the government, NGOs, and the private sector, to address plastic pollution. sEPa has partnered with businesses to promote sustainable packaging and reduce the use of single-use plastic. sEPa has also worked with NGOs to organize clean-up campaigns and promote sustainable waste management practices.

sEPa’s efforts to reduce plastic pollution in sindh are commendable. the ban on single-use plastic bags, plastic waste management initiatives, awareness campaigns, and collaboration with stakeholders are all steps in the right direction. However, more needs to be done to address plastic pollution in Pakistan. the government should consider implementing similar measures at the national level and work towards reducing plastic production and promoting sustainable alternatives to plastic.

the production of biodegradable plastics is a promising solution to the plastic pollution problem. starch-based, cellulose-based, microbial, algae-based, and protein-based bioplastics are all viable alternatives to conventional plastics. these bioplastics are biodegradable, compostable, and have a lower carbon footprint than conventional plastic. the development and implementation of biodegradable plastics can help reduce plastic waste and mitigate the impact of plastic pollution on the environment and human health.

The writer can be reached at fayyazsalih@gmail.com. He tweets @fayyazshussain

tHis is with reference to the editorial ‘Barkhan outrage’ (Feb 23) and the report “Raid at minister’s home after bodies found in Barkhan well” (Feb 22). it can be said without any fear at all of contradiction that violation of funda-mental rights, as enshrined in the constitution, is a chronic phenomenon right across Pakistan. the misery of missing persons is known to one and all, and now the matter of so-called private prisons has started to surface in Balochistan where a provincial minister has been accused of illegally running one such ‘facility’. the question that is agitating the mind of countless people, especially of those living in Balochistan, relates to the safety of life and honour of the ordinary folks. How safe they are? are they safe at all? is there anybody doing anything to make life safe in the province? indeed, is there anybody even interested in making life safe for the people of Balochistan?

What is the purpose of running private jails? are state-managed prisons not enough? Why are people in positions of power interested in spreading fear among the powerless? there is no end to such questions, and there is no answer to any such question. all that we get in response is silence; a screaming, deafening, intriguing silence. is this what the people of Pakistan deserve? silence. is this what Pakistan was made for? More silence. is this the way forward for Pakistan and Pakistanis? Even more silence. Nothing but silence. the constitution of the islamic Republic of Pakistan guarantees safety and security of every citizen. and yet people with power and influence continue to prove themselves as being ‘more equal’ than the rest.

Despite all the progress that has been made in the last few years regarding the whereabouts of ‘missing persons’, there remain uncountable such cases where parents and relatives continue to hope against hope that their sons and brothers and husbands and fathers will one day return. the hope keeps fading with every passing day. and yet they keep hoping because that is all that they can do. Making matters worse is the ongoing political instability in the country that has pushed back such issues into oblivion. the momentum has gone to waste, with the government and state institutions now focusing elsewhere. continuing political conflicts and the prevailing economic strife have only strengthened the hand of the feudals who now enjoy even more in their own respective fiefdoms. this is what has happened repeatedly in the past, and this is what is happening now.

Student suicide

tHis refers to the report “student jumps off school’s third floor to ‘commit suicide’” (Feb 14), according to which, a grade Vi student in Hyderabad died in undetermined circumstances. the loss of a young life is always a tragedy, but it is especially heart-breaking when it occurs in the context of an educational institution.

suicide is a complex issue that can have many contributing factors, including mental health challenges, social isolation and academic pressures. it is essential for us to take a comprehensive approach to preventing suicide and promoting mental health in our schools and communities. to this end, i urge the school administrations and all the relevant government authorities to prioritise the implementation of evidence-based programmes and policies addressing mental health and suicide prevention. this includes increasing access to mental health services and resources for students, staff and parents, as well as promoting a culture of openness and support around mental health. We must also work to reduce the stigma around mental illness and ncourage individuals to seek help when they are struggling. this includes educating students, staff and parents about the warning signs of suicidal ideation, and how to respond when someone is in crisis. We must come together as a community to support one another during difficult times and to work together to prevent future tragedies.

Year two of this war promises only more death and destruction. None of the major parties show signs of losing their resolve. If anything, attitudes among hawks in Russia, the US, and Ukraine have hardened, convinced that more arms and better strategy are all that is needed to win.

And so, it continues

Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late)

The production of biodegradable plastics is a promising solution to the plastic pollution problem.

Biodegradable plastics are the solution

Pakistan’s tough warning to Afghanistan COMMENT 05

terror attacks a bone of contention

for the cPEc projects in Balochistan. these terror entities also abducted and killed many chinese nationals. Meanwhile, the afghan taliban skirmished with Pakistani security forces at the Pakistani territory from across the chaman border on December 10, and fired mortars at civilian areas, martyring at least seven people and injuring 17 persons.

WHEN the taliban fighters in august 2021 seized power, taking control of afghanistan, the taliban-led government clarified that afghan soil would not be used for any terrorist groups like tehreek taliban Pakistan (ttP), al-Qaeda or isis for terror-attacks against neighbouring countries, including Pakistan. But, regarding some terror attacks, sources suggested that some militants of the ttP, which is based in afghanistan, have entered Pakistan from afghanistan. Hence, military leadership had warned Kabul to check this infiltration.

Pakistan’s armed forces and primary intelligence agency isi have successfully broken the backbone of the foreign-backed terrorists. Peace has been restored in Balochistan province and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province and in Karachi as well as in other vulnerable regions. But terrorist attacks continued in KP and especially Balochistan, which is central point of the china-Pakistan Economic corridor (cPEc)— show that the cia-led indian RaW and israeli Mossad are destabilizing Pakistan and want to damage the cPEc project which is part of china’s One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative, or BRi, as Washington and New Delhi have already opposed this project.

RaW is also using some terrorist outfits such as isis and the Balochistan liberation army (Bla)-linked Majeed Brigade which claimed responsibility for a number of terrorist assaults on workers and labourers, working

But, despite Kabul’s apology, unprovoked heavy shelling by the afghan Border Force killed at least one person and injured at least 16 people on December 15, at the same border area. the clashes erupted after the afghan Border Force tried to prevent the Pakistani authorities from repairing part of the fence along the border. Pakistan, in order to prevent the movement of militants and ensure better border management, has fenced a nearly 2600-km-long frontier. islamabad was hoping for improvement in bilateral ties after the return of the taliban to Kabul. But, despite promises, afghanistan failed to tackle the banned ttP and frequent border incidents highlight the challenges faced by both sides in improving ties. in this regard, the head of the Pakistan diplomatic mission in Kabul,Ubaid-ur-Rehman Nizamani, narrowly survived an assassination attempt on December 2. Next day, afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Maulvi amir Khan Muttaqi and taliban Foreign Ministry spokesperson abdul Qahar Balkhi condemned the attack on the Pakistan embassy, saying that taliban security agencies would investigate.

and the afghan chargé d’affaires in islamabad had been called in over the “extremely serious lapse in security” and that he told them that security had been “beefed up” at Pakistan’s mission. it was not immediately clear who was behind the assault, which came just days after Pakistan’s Minister of state for Foreign affairs Hina Rabbani Khar visited Kabul to meet taliban authorities to ease tensions along the border. the attack occurred at a time of heightened security concerns in areas bordering afghanistan after the ttP on November 28 ended the ceasefire agreed with the Pakistan government in June and ordered its militants to stage attacks across the country.

the ttP, also known as the Pakistani taliban, is a separate unit from the afghan taliban, but both share a similar hardline ideology.

Despite receiving humanitarian and economic support from Pakistan, the taliban government has failed to rein in the ttP from carrying out attacks. the tribal areas of North Waziristan close to the afghan border have suffered from attacks at regular intervals in which many Pakistani soldiers have been martyred. taking cognizance of the recent terror attacks on Police in KP in lakki Marwat Bannu cantt, counter-terrorism Department (ctD) in Bannu, holding several security personnel hostage, exchange of firing, a deadly suicide blast at a mosque in the Peshawar Police lines martyred many persons of the security forces, including civilians, with a briefing given to the apex committee which includes civil and military leadership that the banned outfit ttP was indeed the mastermind of the attacks. the meeting decided to take up the matter with the interim afghan government, with a clear message that Pakistan would no longer tolerate cross-border terrorism. in this connection, a highlevel Pakistani delegation led by Defense Minister Khawaja asif along with DG isi lt Gen Nadeem ahmed anjum, and other senior officials from the Defence and Foreign Ministries, visited Kabul on February 22, with the main agenda of countering terrorism and the use of afghanistan soil by the ttP militants. in this respect, the major concerns of Pakistan were communicated to the islamic Emirate of afghanistan, such as the ttP’s ideological alignment with the tehreek taliban afghanistan and its legacy of coexistence, ttP hideouts/shelters in afghanistan, unaccountable movement and activities of ttP with deliberate facilitation of afghanistan.

and the location of its leadership in afghanistan. therefore, the afghan leadership could not deny the facts onground and could not muster the courage to mention about the evidence, given by islamabad in connection with ttP presence in their Press Release.

Pakistan has warned the interim Afghan Taliban administration that if the TTP, involved in cross-border attacks, are not eliminated, Islamabad would take action against it within Afghanistan.

afghanistan accepted and agreed to work for regional peace and control ttP elements inside afghanistan. in this context, the Pakistani leadership communicated in unequivocal terms that Pakistan’s goodwill should not be taken as a sign of weakness and tangible actions be taken against ttP militants, and also expressed serious concerns over provocations by afghan forces along the Pakistan-afghan border. Pakistan also rebutted the afghan stance of mismanagement of afghan nationals at various border-crossings. they were told that the afghanistan side repeatedly failed to ensure provision of border crossing protocols for afghan citizens, their travel with incomplete and fake documents as well as failure to comply with legal movement procedures. islamabad has already made all out efforts to facilitate afghan nationals who are legally crossing into Pakistan on a daily basis.

it is mentionable that as regards the recent terror assaults, UN secretary-General antonio Guterres called on the afghan taliban “to prevent terrorist organizations… the tehreek-i-taliban (ttP) from attacking Pakistan or any other neighbouring country from afghan territory.”

Notably, the GDi, the afghan intelligence agency, briefed the Pakistani delegation and accepted the problem of terrorism was originating from afghanistan’s soil. they also presented details of the solution, but that was found unsatisfactory, lacking in addressing the key security concerns of Pakistan. then isi gave irrefutable evidence of ttP presence

Nevertheless, Pakistan has warned the interim afghan taliban administration that if the ttP, involved in cross-border attacks, are not eliminated, islamabad would take action against it within afghanistan. Not only that, all facilitators and abettors of terrorists would also face the same consequences.

Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations and can be reached at: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com

Report on ‘India’s impunity in occupied Kashmir’ reveals Israel connection

THIS REPORT IS A RESULT OF THE COLLABORATIVE WORK OF RESEARCHERS FROM INDIAN OCCUPIED JAMMU AND KASHMIR AND PALESTINE

“GRAB THEM BY THEIR B****, THEIR HEARTS AND MINDS WILL FOLLOW”

Legal Forum for Kashmir/www.lfkashmir.com

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

“GRaB them by their b****, their hearts and minds will follow.” With the eruption of insurgency, as a form of resistance in the 1990s against indian rule, the government of india has employed different forms and strategies of counter-insurgency operations in indian occupied Kashmir. Besides the usage of the strategy of containment, the use of draconian laws, disproportionate use of force, extra-judicial and custodial killings, rapes, and torture have been the key features of these operations, these modus operandi have been aided by modern means of the cyber warfare which includes communication blockade aided by internet shutdowns (as psychological warfare). However, these measures employed to curtail the insurgency and political dissent with large social costs have failed to resolve the fundamental political issues. these employed oppressive counterinsurgency measures by the indian state are in clear violation of basic human rights as well as international law. Occupied Kashmir was governed under the requirements of india’s ‘national security’; with its administration centered on counter-insurgency measures and the basic rights of Kashmiris kept in perpetual abeyance. the more conventional methods of counter-terrorism have been aided by modern measures including cyber warfare and “managing” perceptions and narratives. Beside the communication blockade for curtailing the information flow or political narrative of Kashmiris, instilling fear and silencing the population to hinder the uprising against the occupation, controlling social media space and long curfews have been some of the new additions to the previously existing strategies of counter-insurgency measures.

One of the longest internet shutdowns was imposed on 05 august 2019 after article 370 and 35a of the constitution of india was abrogated and the state of Jammu and Kashmir was dismantled into two Union territories; Ut of Jammu and Kashmir and Ut of ladakh. the Jammu and Kashmir union territory regained a 4G connection on 6th February 2021 after 552 days of no to low internet. the erstwhile state of J&K went for almost 172 days of absolute digital blackout and 378 days of speed throttling. the lack of access to phone lines and the internet due to this forced blackout has had a severe impact on the diverse rights of people including suffocating the daily lives of Kashmiris, affecting education, relationships, jobs, medical accessibility, press freedom, and freedom of expression. it was called a “digital apartheid” by the rights group. after the communication blockade followed the intensified electronic surveillance methods. the architecture of surveillance methods has been upgraded in the

recent past with the advancement of new technologies in Kashmir valley. More technologically equipped police control rooms, cctV networks, and mobile squads have been deployed by the state as a strategy and an instrument in its counter-insurgency mechanism. the presence of electronic surveillance units in different areas has further added to the already existing visible web of military existence in controlling the Kashmiri landscape. according to media reports,

4,257 cctV cameras will be installed at 251 police stations and 88 police posts across Jammu and Kashmir. Drones, snipers, deployment of policemen in plain clothes, roadside mobile bunkers and vehicles checking vehicles, and roadside frisking has been normalized in Kashmir valley. similarly, escalation of frisking and cordon and search Operations (casOs), after the revocation of article 370 along with the incorporation of new checkpoints have been deployed where people were lined up, frisked, and subjected to identification checks by heavily armed cops and paramilitary men. ahead of 05 august 2019, 380 companies of central forces were deployed in Kashmir valley; in July 2020, then another 100 companies were rushed in and in November 2021, another 50 companies were deployed. searches were conducted by women constables of the central Reserve Police Force as they checked bags of women passing through srinagar’s lal chowk area. During these casOs and raids (including the horrific night raids), vandalism, destruction of civilian properties, harassment as well as loot and theft of cash, gold, and jewelry, and torture by indian armed forces have been widely reported. cases of sexual violence and physical assaults against women and men have also been extensively reported during the process of these search operations. However, the modus operandi of these operations has changed post-august 5, and they are now being predominantly used as a tactic of ‘spreading fear’ among the population instead of what was claimed by indian forces of it as to “flush out militancy”. the practice of using civilians as the human shield has also been widely reported. state agencies including the National investigation agency (Nia) and state investigation agency (sia) have been brutally used to curb the political dissent in occupied Kashmir. Nia and later on sia have raided almost every sector in Kashmir from individuals, NGOs, human rights defenders, religious institutions, and academics to journalists. More than 100 raids per year have been reported since 2019. However, according to government data, only six persons have been convicted from 2016 to July 2021. this conviction rate is in total contrast to whatever the allegations are being leveled at the time of raids and harassment.

Operating in one of the world’s most intricate and restrictive environments, journalists have been at the forefront of the assault and unreasonable policies in occupied Kashmir. Journalists in occupied Kashmir, since

2019, have been routinely summoned to police stations for questioning on their work and their social media posts, threatened with jail if their work criticizes the authorities, and pressured to self-censor. according to media reports, at least 35 journalists in Kashmir have faced police interrogation, raids, threats, physical assault, or fabricated criminal cases for their reporting. Between 5 august 2019 and 5 august 2022, at least six individuals including journalists, human rights activists, and academics were stopped from traveling abroad without any reason according to amnesty international. in June 2020, the government announced a new media policy that made it easier for the authorities to censor the news and criminalize journalism in the region. in 2022, the authorities rearrested Fahad shah, aasif sultan, and sajad Gul etc., under the Public safety act after they had been granted bail previously in other cases filed against them in retaliation for their journalism work. the policy would cripple journalism in the Valley, and it empowers the government to be the editor, printer, and publisher of newspa-

AND ACADEMICS TO JOURNALISTS

pers in the Union territory of J&K. the Kashmir Press club (KPc), formed in 2018, is the largest independent media body in the Himalayan region, with at least 300 journalists as its members were shut down by authorities in Kashmir. therefore, fostering suppressive tactics and criminalizing journalism by shutting down the only space available for journalists in Kashmir.

arbitrary detentions have been profusely used by authorities in occupied Kashmir to curb dissent and suffocate the resistance movement in Kashmir. since 5 august 2019, indian authorities have intensified the use of the draconian Jammu & Kashmir Public safety act 1978 (Psa) to place Kashmiris under preventive detention. the authorities have arbitrarily detained thousands of Kashmiris under the Psa since the indian government revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special autonomous status in 2019. in November 2021, the authorities arrested a prominent Kashmiri human rights activist, Khurram Parvez, on politically motivated charges under the abusive counter-terrorism law, the Unlawful activities Prevention act (UaPa).

Parvez, 44, is the Program coordinator of the Jammu and Kashmir coalition of civil society. the Psa allows the authorities to arbitrarily detain people for up to two years without charge or trial. the Unlawful activities (Prevention) act (UaPa) 1967 is india’s foremost anti-terror law. UaPa not only dilutes the provisions of bail but it also authorizes police to conduct warrantless searches, arrest individuals, and keep them in custody for up to 6 months without formally filing any charges. it has been used extensively since 05 august 2019, for instance, in the case of journalists since 2016, 49 journalists in J&K have been arrested of which eight have been arrested under the Unlawful activities (Prevention) act (UaPa). the destruction of civilian properties by indian armed forces personnel has been one of the key counter-insurgency strategies since the inception of the armed resistance against indian rule in the 1990s. the destruction of civilian properties during encounters saw an escalation during the cOViD-19 lockdown enforced by the government, rendering many families homeless and without shelter. the destruction of window panes and household materials including entering into people’s private spaces is generally done to impose collective punishment and to dissuade the people from protesting. For example; in May 2020, 22 homes were burnt down in srinagar during a 12-hour gunfight between indian police and paramilitary forces and rebels, leaving dozens of families homeless during the coronavirus outbreak. in recent years indian armed forces in Kashmir have burnt down civilian property (by JcB, cans of oil, other types of chemicals, etc.) during and after gunfights between government forces and rebels. since april 2020, the government stopped handing over the bodies of armed militants to their families and has, instead, been burying them in remote locations, citing cOViD-19 concerns. in 2020, around 158 militants were buried in isolated locations in Baramulla, Ganderbal, and Handwara areas, mostly in Northern Kashmir. Mothers in Kashmir are unable to bear the pain of not seeing their sons for the last time. shakeela suffered a heart attack 12 days after her son adil ahmad Wani was killed in an encounter in the Pulwama district of south Kashmir on May 6, 2021. the indian state is taking a leaf out of israel in denying the bodies to the families by ensuring its control not only over the living but also over the dead. as indian state continues to mimic israeli strategies and sometimes even surpassing it, we at lFK –legal Forum for Kashmir have tried to document some of the contemporary strategies. this report is a result of the collaborative work of researchers from indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and Palestine. the report has been enriched with important insights from lived experiences of Palestinian researchers. Researchers from Palestine have contributed immensely from developing a framework of research to drafting this report. this report is also a summation of everyday life of Kashmiris under indian military occupation.

NIA AND LATER ON SIA HAVE RAIDED ALMOST EVERY SECTOR FROM INDIVIDUALS, NGOS, HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS, RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS,

ChInA’S LegISLAtUre StreSSeS enhAnCIng whoLe-ProCeSS PeoPLe’S demoCrACy

ISLAmABAD Mian abrar

CHINA’s top legislator on Tuesday urged the National People’s Congress (NPC) to uphold and improve the people’s congress system and continuously enhance whole-process people’s democracy.

Li Zhanshu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the 13th NPC, made the remarks while delivering a work report at the first session of the 14th NPC.

Whole-process people’s democracy is a model of socialist democracy that covers all aspects of the democratic process and all sectors of society, according to a white paper titled “China: Democracy That Works,” released by China’s State Council Information Office in 2021.

‘Strong vitality anD Superiority’ of the npc

The NPC and its standing committee have stayed committed to the Party’s leadership, the people’s position as the

masters of the country and law-based governance, according to the report.

Li said the five-year term of the 13th NPC Standing Committee coincides with a period of “great historical change” in which the cause of the Party and the country is flourishing.

Talking about the most important achievement of the NPC Standing Com-

China warns US risks conflict with moves to contain Beijing

BEIJING agencies

China’s foreign minister blamed the US for rising tensions between Washington and Beijing and said if the US does not change its path there will be “conflict and confrontation”. The US has been engaging in suppression and containment of China rather than fair or rule-based competition, Foreign Minister Qin Gang told reporters at a news conference in Beijing on the sidelines of an annual parliament meeting. “The United States’ perception and views of China are seriously distorted,” Qin said.

“It regards China as its primary rival and the most consequential geopolitical challenge. This is like the first button in the shirt being put wrong.”

The US should play by the rules it talks about, Qin said.

“The United States talks a lot about following rules, but imagine two athletes competing in the Olympic race,” he said. “If one side, instead of focusing on giving one’s best, always tries to trip or even into the other. That is not fair competition, but malicious confrontation and a foul.”

The US says it is establishing guardrails for relations with China and is not seeking conflict, but what this means in practice is that China is not supposed to respond with words or actions when slandered or attacked, he said.

“That is just impossible,” Qin said.

“If the United States does not hit the brake, and continues to speed down the wrong path, no amount of guardrails can prevent derailment, which will become conflict and confrontation and who will bear the catastrophic consequences?” Relations between the two superpowers have been tense for years over a number of issues including Taiwan, trade and Ukraine but they worsened after the controversy involving a balloon which the US said was a Chinese spying device and shot down last month. “If the United States has the ambition to make itself great again, it should also have a broad mind for the development of other countries,” Qin said. “Containment and suppression will not make America great. It will not stop the rejuvenation of China.”

Smith relishes ‘game of chess’ as Australia look to square India series

SYDNEY afp

Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said at the meeting that the whole-process people’s democracy in China “not only has a complete set of institutions and procedures but also full participation and practices.”

“It is the broadest, most genuine and most effective socialist democracy,” Xi said. Meanwhile, the work report said the 13th NPC has ensured the full implementation of the Constitution and upheld its authority and sanctity during its five-year term. Over the past five years, improvements have been made to the Constitution and other relevant laws, noted the report.

mittee during the five years, Li highlighted that the concept of whole-process people’s democracy profoundly explains the basic connotation, essential features and fundamental principles of socialist democracy in China.

In 2021, a central conference on work related to the people’s congresses was held in Beijing. Chinese President Xi

In particular, the NPC adopted the Constitutional amendment, which made it clear that the leadership of the Communist Party of China is the defining feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The constitutional amendment also established the guiding role of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in China’s political and social activities.

White House urges UN to investigate poisoning of Iran schoolgirls

WASHINGTON afp

The White House said an investigation into the recent poisoning of school girls in protest-hit Iran could fall under the mandate of the United Nations.

Several hundred cases of gas poisoning have been reported in more than 52 schools across Iran since the end of November, according to an official count.

The cases come more than five months after the start of protests, labelled riots by Tehran, that were sparked by the death of Iranian Kurd Mahsa Amini, 22, following her arrest for allegedly breaching the country’s strict dress code for women.

“If these poisonings are related to participation in protest then it is well within the mandate of the UN independent international fact-finding mission on Iran to investigate,” said White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre, referring to the body established in November to investigate human rights

abuses in Iran.

“There must be a credible independent investigation, accountability for those responsible,” she said during her daily press conference, condemning the poisonings as “unconscionable.”

For more than three months, hundreds of female pupils have reported suffering symptoms such as shortness of breath, nausea and vertigo after detecting “unpleasant” or “unknown” odors, with some girls being hospitalized.

The wave of incidents has sparked fear among parents and calls for authorities to act, with deputy health minister Younes Panahi saying recently the suspected attacks were aimed at shutting down education for girls.

Iran’s Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Monday said perpetrators should face “severe punishment”, according to his website.

Iranian officials have not announced any arrests so far.

Poor countries call for debt revolution at UN summit

DOHA afp

Worn down by growing debt and a barrage of crises, leaders of the world’s poorest countries have stepped up calls for the rules governing handouts of billions of dollars to be rewritten.

Western nations gave out more than $185 billion in grants and cheap loans in 2021, according to the OECD. Official development assistance is one of the pillars of the international financial system. But the 46 Least Developed Nations holding their own UN-organised summit in Doha this week feel short-changed.

Five decades after the LDC club was set up by the UN to organise trade privileges and easier access to other finance, presidents and prime ministers said their problems have piled up.

Climate change, Covid19 fallout, food and fuel price rises stoked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and ever bigger debts are weighing on the poor nations who are blaming the system.

“Our partners have a tendency to cast all blame

on the recipient partner for failures and avoid scrutiny of their of their own aid programmes that certainly might have contributed to the failures,” said East Timor’s President Jose Ramos-Horta.

Debt blame game: Seychelles President Wavel Ramkalawan said it was time for the international financial institutions to move beyond per capita gross domestic product (GDP) as the only measurement for development. “One size does not fit all,” he said, calling for a system that recognises that different countries have different problems.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres widened the attack when he condemned a global financial system “designed by wealthy countries, largely to their benefit.” Without any cash reserves, the poor nations were being forced to pay “predatory interest rates.” The coronavirus pandemic was regularly cited at the summit. The LDCs got fewer vaccines and then had to borrow at crippling rates to pay for their emergency measures.

Ahead of the summit, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) estimated that 52 countries were either suffering debt stress or close to it and in danger of default. Lesotho’s deputy prime minister Nthomeng Majara was among leaders to call for an “urgent” rescheduling or writing off debt.

The calls added to longstanding criticism of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund for imposing austerity on poor populations to get loans.

China is now the biggest single creditor nation, often seen as rivalling western influence, but has recently indicated a willingness to work with the IMF and other institutions to organise debt relief.

Peshawar beats Lahore, eliminates Karachi from PSL playoffs

RAWALPINDI staff report

Shaheen Shah Afridi’s maiden half-century and four wickets went in vain as his defending champion Lahore Qalandars lost to Peshawar Zalmi by 35 runs in the Pakistan Super League on Tuesday.

Peshawar’s victory eliminated former champions the Karachi Kings from playoffs contention. Karachi takes on Lahore in its last league game on Sunday.

Lahore, which has already qualified for the playoffs, was bowled out for 172 with two balls remaining.

Peshawar posted 207 thanks to half-centuries by openers Saim Ayub (68) and captain Babar Azam (50), and despite the last eight wickets falling for 39 runs.

Afridi picked up three wickets in his last over to finish with 4-31.

Left-hander Ayub, opening for the first time this season, showed plenty of aggression against the Lahore bowling attack comprising of Haris Rauf, Afridi and Rashid Khan. Ayub plundered eight fours and three sixes in his 36-ball knock. Ayub and Babar combined for 107. Ayub was caught behind in the 11th over and Babar caught at long on in the 16th, as Peshawar collapsed with three balls left.

Stand-in captain Steve Smith is looking forward to a new “game of chess” against India as Australia aim to square the series on another spin minefield when the final Test begins in Ahmedabad on Thursday.

India were chastened by a rare home defeat in the third Test last week and are looking to bounce back to take the series 3-1, and with it secure their berth in the ICC World Test Championship final at the Oval in June.

Australia clinched their place in the showpiece with their nine-wicket third Test win, completed before lunch on the third day on a treacherous Indore track.

Australia captain Pat Cummins has remained at home because of a family illness, leaving his deputy Smith with another chance to pit his wits against India in the subcontinent, something he clearly relishes.

“It’s a game of chess, every ball means something,” said Smith after the Indore victory, which followed India’s wins in Nagpur and Delhi.

“It’s good to just move people and try to make the batter do something different and just play games with them,” Smith said after the Indore triumph.

“It’s probably my favourite place in the world to captain.” India and Australia’s prime ministers are scheduled to attend on Thursday where another sharply turning wicket is expected at the Narendra Modi Stadium, the world’s largest cricket ground with a capacity of 132,000. Joe Root’s England were thrashed there twice two years ago, including inside two days in a day-night game, the shortest completed Test since 1935.

‘too much’ pitch talk

Despite the local Gujarat Cricket Association’s assurances of a “normal pitch”, both sides are again expected to pick three spinners, though India may opt for the wrist-spin of Kuldeep Yadav instead of Axar Patel, who has taken only one wicket in the series. India may also strengthen their batting by dropping a seam bowler and bringing in the explosive Suryakumar Yadav. Australia’s spinners Nathan Lyon and Matthew Kuhnemann took full advantage of an Indore pitch officially rated as “poor” by the match referee to give Australia only their second Test victory on Indian soil since 2004.

Kuhnemann took five wickets and Lyon three as India were rolled for 109 in their first innings after opting to bat. Usman Khawaja’s 60 in a 96-run stand with Marnus Lasuschagne helped Australia to an 88-run lead, despite a late collapse from 186-4 to 197 all out. Lyon ripped through with 8-64 as India made 163 in their second innings, before Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne chased down the 76-run target with ease. India captain Rohit Sharma said he was fed up with the constant focus on the playing surfaces and wanted to focus instead on some exceptional bowling performances.

corporate corner

not-By- profit

Chinese insurers unwilling to insure new finanCing for CPeC Power ProjeCts

Islamabad NeWs DesK

wRITINgfor Business Recorder Mushtaq

ghumman explains that Chinese companies involved in power projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) are still facing financial difficulties despite repeated assurances from the Pakistani Prime Minister. The Chinese government has reportedly raised this issue at all forums, and even Chinese insurance company M/s Sinosure is unwilling to insure new financing for power sector projects due to companies' failure to meet contractual obligations.

Federal Govt to share contingency plan for bird flu with provinces

IslAmAbAd: Secretary National Food Security and Research, Zafar

Hassan, chaired a meeting to review the situation of Bird Flu disease in the country on Tuesday. The meeting was attended by officials from the provinces and relevant departments. While briefing on the current situation of Bird Flu disease, Animal Husbandry Commissioner Muhammad Akram said that the disease is not yet reported from any part of the country. However, vaccination of Bird Flu is being carried out as a preventive measure, he added. pr

Oscar-winner Sharmeen ObaidChinoy launches ‘Museum of Food’

KARACHI: Pakistan's culinary heritage is an intrinsic part of the country’s cultural identity, but with the passing of generations and the challenges of globalization, certain domestic practices and traditional recipes are at high risk of being lost. To address this concern, with two-time Academy Award Winning film-maker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy at the helm, Pakistan’s leading production house, SOC Films, has been documenting and recording important food stories from all over Pakistan for the past 3 years and is now set to launch the Museum of Food initiative, which aims to further preserve and revive the country's unique and diverse food culture. The Museum of Food will be an online repository featuring Pakistani food stories, for which SOC Films is now actively researching and looking for further authentic and uncommon recipes and food practices from all over the country, especially from women, which are in danger of being forgotten. SOC Films is also interested in stories related to traditional and modern agricultural practices in Pakistan, including those that are at risk of being lost or have been impacted by climate change. pr

46 organizations win Annual GDEIB Awards 2023

On the eve of International Women’s Day, Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Benchmarks (GDEIB) awards 2023 were held at Hotel Pearl Continental Karachi. 46 Pakistani organization have won annual GDEIB awards 2023. HR Metrics conducts GDEIB awards on annual basis through a merit-based scoring process. Organizations from all sectors are eligible to take part in the awards. GDEIB are the standards for organizations around the world. GDEIB Standards contain 15 categories, 275 benchmarks and 5 levels. It helps organizations determine strategy and measure progress in managing diversity and fostering inclusion for sustainable financial and social performance. The Centre for Global Inclusion USA is the home of GDEIB. HBL was declared as the most inclusive company. Top 10 companies were Engro Fertilizers, Engro Vopak Terminal, METRO Pakistan, Engro Polymer & Chemicals, Bank Alfalah, HBL Microfinance Bank, Engro Energy, Pakistan Tobacco Company, and Standard Chartered Bank. pr

Careem to launch women-driven motorbike service for females

KARACHI: On the occasion of International Women’s

Official documents reveal that the Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC) has been severely impacted due to significant delays in opening Letters of Credit and foreign remittances. The company is incurring demurrage charges, liquidated damages, and penalties, resulting in additional costs and damage to its reputation. SECMC is continuously engaged with banks, but a significant amount is still pending. The company has also warned that shutting down the mine operations will lead to a shutdown of four power plants operating on Thar coal, resulting in additional foreign exchange burden on the economy and three times more expensive power generation. Similarly, the Port Qasim Electric Power (Pvt.) Co (PQEPC) has informed

the government that both its units of 1320 MW are about to shut down due to the default of the government's obligations. The coal supplier has stopped shipments after January 2023 due to outstanding foreign exchange requests with the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

The shortage of coal has caused significant financial strain for the company, resulting in a shutdown of both units and capacity payment deductions.

The Chinese Charge d’ Affairs to Pakistan, Pang Chaunxue, has expressed his concerns in a letter to the Minister for Power Khurram Dastgir Khan, stating that CPEC coal-fired power plants now face difficulty in buying coal due to foreign exchange restrictions, including Port Qasim Power Plant, which has shut

down as its coal has run out. The capacity payment deduction issue is still pending resolution, causing the company to face a difficult situation.In light of these concerns, Islamabad has shown willingness to amend/modify the Pakistan Energy Revolving Account (PERA) to address the concerns of Chinese lenders of CPEC Independent Power Producers (IPPs) with respect to future payments.

The circular debt has now surpassed Rs. 2.6 trillion, causing serious financial constraints for other IPPs, public sector power generation plants, Pakistan State Oil (PSO), SNgPL and SSgC, PPL, etc. due to non-payment by CPPA-g.

To read the full article visit www.brecorder.com

Concerns grow over Pakistan’s economic crisis and govt leadership

Islamabad NeWs DesK

Writing for Dawn author Uzair Younus explains that in March, 2023, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) decided to raise interest rates by 300 basis points, taking the policy rate to 20 percent, the highest level since October 1996. This decision was expected to be one of the final capitulations to secure an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and unlock muchneeded dollar inflows. The other was the depreciation of the rupee, which had slid to Rs 285.09 to the dollar.

Briefings conducted by the governor of a central bank around the world are big events, especially in a country of over 220 million people on the brink of default. When a country's central banker talks, those with a keen eye on the economy and its outlook pay close attention. This was especially true when the bank's meeting to set interest rates, essentially the price of money in the economy, had been brought forward.

While these events by themselves may seem surreal, it was the briefing by the central bank after its policy decision that dissolved what little optimism many had in the men running Pakistan's economy. The virtual discussion began almost 40 minutes late, perhaps because the central bank was scrambling to get its talking points in order. Once things got going, it was evident

that this would be one of the more unusual briefings conducted by the bank.

A key point that caught the author's attention was a comment made by the presenter while talking about core inflation. According to the slide on display, core inflation in the economy is currently running wild, hovering around the 20 percent mark, compared to around 10 percent in the previous crisis. Core inflation is a measure of changes to the price of goods and services excluding food and energy. The latter are more volatile, so excluding those gives a better picture of price movements in the economy.

Regardless of whether someone is familiar with core inflation, they know that 20 percent inflation of anything is insane. Those who lived through the 2018 crisis know that it was bad, but this time around, prices have gone up at twice the rate, which should have set off alarm bells.

But not for the presenter in this briefing from the central bank, who argued that wage price spiral had not yet set in, meaning that there is still some hope to clamp down on runaway prices. It is as if someone is trying to calm you down by saying that while your house has burned down, just be glad that the clothes on your back have not yet caught on fire!

The end of the presentation opened the floor to questions from the audience, where the governor of the

Pakistan Navy ship siezes narcotics at sea

Islamabad staff report

Pakistan Navy Ship while deployed on Regional Maritime Security patrol seized huge quantity of drugs in a counter Narcotics Operation at North Arabian Sea.

Pakistan Navy Ship while undertaking maritime security operations intercepted a suspicious stateless fishing boat at sea. Upon search of the boat, Pakistan Navy troops seized 280 Kg narcotics (Crystal and Ice) worth approximately US $15 Million in international market. The vessel and crew members were later handed over to Law Enforcement Agencies for further legal proceedings.

The successful anti-narcotics operation by Pakistan Navy Ship reaffirms PN resolve to deny illegal activities in maritime zones of Pakistan.

MMBL and CASH1 join hands to boost financial inclusion in remote areas

Islamabad pr

Mobilink Microfinance Bank Ltd. (MMBL) has taken another step towards expanding its reach across Pakistan by partnering with CASH1 - owned by Webdnaworks Private Limited. Webdnaworks is the pioneer of Independent ATM deployment and operations in Pakistan and is the first non-banking entity to get the State Bank of Pakistan’s license of Payment Service Operator (PSO) and Payment Service Provider (PSP) for the deployment of Off-Site ATMs under the brand CASH1.

As part of this joint initiative, CASH1 will be providing Off-site ATM deployment services to MMBL, enabling the Bank to broaden its outreach and enhance its service in far-flung areas where customers lack adequate access to basic facilities and

PPL clinches Corporate Philanthropy Award

infrastructure, thereby increasing access to financial services for those who have been traditionally unserved and underserved.

The deployment of Off-Site ATMs will provide greater convenience and accessibility to customers, allowing them to access their accounts and conduct transactions at any time.

Pakistan showcasing tourism potential in World’s largest travel show: ITB Berlin 2023

Islamabad pr

KarachI

pr

Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) has once again been adjudged as one of the largest corporate givers by volume of donations for 2020-21 and 2021-22 by Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy (PCP). This is the 18th consecutive year since 2004 that the company has maintained this philanthropic tradition.

General Manager Shared Services PPL Syed Mahmood ul Hassan received the award from Chairman, Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan Akif Saeed at a distinguished ceremony organized by PCP at Marriott Hotel, Karachi attended by business leaders, civil society officials, bilateral donors and media.

Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) along with Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), Embassy of Pakistan in Germany, provincial tourism departments and private sector stakeholders is participating in ITB Berlin 2023 to showcase the rich tourism potential of Pakistan with a view to boost inbound tourism in the country. Pakistan pavilion in ITB Berlin 2023 was formally inaugurated by H.E. Ambassador of Pakistan in Germany – Dr Mohammad Faisal.

It is due to the continuous efforts and active participation of Advisor to Prime Minister on Tourism and Sports/ Chairman – PTDC and Managing Director PTDC that a joint delegation of public and private sector stakeholders is attending the event under one umbrella after the interval of 14 years. Keeping in view the Austerity measures of government of Pakistan, APM on Tourism and MD PTDC are attending ITB in virtual mode to minimize the cost of Participation.

central bank was asked about a few things, including the exchange rate and debt repayment obligations in the short-term. About the exchange rate, the governor denied that there was a "border rate" of the rupee, which is a reference to the rate in the informal market, particularly in Peshawar, where Afghan demand for dollars is driving up the price of the greenback.

Now the informal rate of the rupee is a reality from Karachi to Peshawar, and many factors including Afghan demand and the Dar Peg have fuelled the growing gap between the informal and formal price of the dollar. Rather than acknowledging that this is an issue and sharing ways in which the central bank is trying to deal with it, the governor flat out denied that this rate existed. This denial was to an audience of economic experts who have a keen eye on the ins and outs of the economy and exchange rate.

With regards to the debt repayment obligations, the governor broke down the financing needs, highlighting that the debt repayment obligation from March through June 2023 stood at $7.2 billion. Of that amount, he said, $3 billion would “hopefully” be rolled over, $1.3 billion will be repaid but was “expected” to be lent back to Pakistan, and then another $3 billion would be paid back.

To read the full article visit www.dawn.com

Pakistan boat rally held at PAF Yacht Club Korangi Creek

The Pakistan’s coastal areas are great example of beauty and these can promote tourism and stabilize the national economy. Water Sports needed support in Pakistan to compete in World Olympics.

This was expressed by PNSC Chairman Rear Admiral Jawad while addressing the prize distribution ceremony of the 2nd Pakistan Boat Rally held at PAF Yacht Club, Korangi Creek. He said that the role of Pakistan Boat Association in raising the profile of Pakistan at the global level is valuable. Despite various challenges, the boat rally was a success, PNSC will sponsor the water sports players. On the occasion, PAF Air Vice Marshal Imran Majid said that the efforts of Pakistan Boat Association for national cause are commendable.

DIG Security Maqsood Memon said that a positive impression of Pakistan emerged from the boat rally. While delivering the welcome speech, President of Pakistan Boat Association Ahmed Mamoor Umaimi said the main objective of boat rally is to bring Pakistan’s coastal areas beauty to the world. This rally placed to the Guinness World Records. Season-two explores the hidden beauty of Damb Lagoon. A boat rally in seasonthree would be a journey from Karachi to Muscat. There is a plan to run two cruises in Pakistan, while efforts are be made to construct around 50 jetties on sea during next five years.

IMC wins 1st prize at UN Global Compact Network Pakistan Awards

KarachI pr

At a ceremony hosted by the UN Global Compact Network Pakistan (UN GCNP) at Karachi, Indus Motor Company (IMC) took first prize, winning the Global Compact Business Sustainability Award 2022 in the Multinational Enterprises category. The award was presented at the SDGs Pakistan Summit 2023 by Mr Jonas Erlandsen, Senior Lead South Asia, Maritime Anti-Corruption Network, to IMCs Mr Asad Abdullah, Head of Corporate Communication & CSR and Member of Board UN GCNP. The company has been a recipient of this award for the eighth year running for its vision, commitment and stellar contributions towards social responsibility that include education, adult and child health, nutrition, welfare of the differently-abled, promotion of sports, environmental conservation.

OIl IndUSTry SEEKS InCrEASE In CrEdIT lImITS

IN LETTER TO MINISTRY OF ENERGY, OCAC EXPRESSES CONCERNS REGARDING CREDIT LIMITS TO ENSURE IMPORTS

ISLAMABAD ahmad ahmadani

ONbehalf of the oil industry, the Oil Companies Advisory Council (OCAC) on 6th March wrote a letter to the Ministry of Energy expressing their concerns about the “severe impact of the Pakistani Rupee depreciation”.

In the letter addressed to the Secretary Petroleum Division, OCAC – umbrella organisation of refineries and oil marketing companies (OMCs) – has highlighted the severe impact of depreciation in the Pakistani rupee on the oil industry and requested an urgent meeting.

“As of today, the deal is to immediately revise the prices based on the current exchange rate, however, we understand that this might be challenging for the government,” the letter read.

Followed by requests to the government to ask the banks to increase credit limits for the sector and implement a holistic mechanism for recovery of exchange losses to manage the impact of increased oil prices following the steep depreciation in the local currency.

As per the Council’s letter, the steep depreciation of Pakistani rupee has made the existing LC lines inadequate for the industry, resultantly there is a grave danger that import of crude and refined products may be disrupted.

It is also a point of great concern for the industry that the cost of opening confirmed LCs has gone up many times, adversely impacting profitability as this cost is not absorbed in the pricing.

Further, current PKR/USD parity and after the increase in SBP Policy rates, simply maintaining 20 days’ stock cover as per OMC licence requirements

Pakistan, US reaffirm commitment to address common terrorism threat

ISLAMABAD

agencies

Pakistan and the United States on Tuesday reaffirmed their commitment to address the common threat of terrorism, according to a press release by the Foreign Office (FO).

A US delegation had arrived in Islamabad on Sunday for counterterrorism talks, days after an official US report warned that terrorist groups were once again regrouping in the Pakistan-Afghanistan region. The FO said the PakistanUS Counter-Terrorism Dialogue took place on Monday and Tuesday in which the two sides “reaffirmed their commitment to address the common threat of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations” and shared their experiences in countering terrorist financing. They also agreed to continue the counterterrorism dialogue and develop a “better understanding of the terrorist threat”. “The two-day discussions covered a range of topics, including counter-terrorism cooperation at multilateral forums, assessment of regional counterterrorism landscape, cyber security and countering violent extremism.

“The US assistance projects in Pakistan were discussed, with a particular focus on capacity building in anti-money laundering and the justice sector. Both sides highlighted the importance of these projects in enhancing Pakistan’s capacity to counter terrorism,” the FO said.

Pakistan was led by FO Additional Secretary Syed Haider Shah and the US delegation was headed by State Department Acting Coordinator for Counterterrorism Christopher Landberg. Diplomatic sources previously told media that US-Pakistan defence talks, held in Washington last month, also focused on issues like counterterrorism, terrorism financing and intelligence sharing.

The United States expects Pakistan to back its efforts to prevent terrorist groups from renewing their roots in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime. After recent terrorist attacks in Peshawar and Karachi, the United States assured Pakistan of its full support in fighting banned extremist groups such as the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Islamic State-Khorasan who claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Over the past few months, the law and order situation in the country has worsened, with terrorist groups executing attacks with near impunity across the country. Since the talks with the TTP broke down in November, the militant group has intensified its attacks, particularly targeting the police in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and areas bordering Afghanistan. Insurgents in Balochistan have also stepped up their violent activities and formalised a nexus with the TTP.

Ch Pervaiz Elahi appointed PTI president

LAHORE staff RepoRt

results in borrowing costs of more than 50% of regulated margins.

The Council in its letter also highlighted that the industry has been doubly hit due to the erosion of equity from foreign exchange losses as well as reduction in working capital lines due to increase in the PKR/USD parity coupled with increase in international oil prices, particularly diesel.

While giving the comparison of global oil prices and exchange rate in the last 14 months the OCAC said that oil price and exchange rate changes imply that it needs 90% greater LC limit in local currency terms compared with the last year to procure the same quantity of diesel.

The Council urged the government to ensure that the banking sector enhances limits for the industry members enabling them to manage the impact of

increased oil prices and rupee depreciation as it is critical for the survival of the sector and to maintain the integrity of the supply chain.

Requesting an urgent action to ensure uninterrupted supplies, the Council stated that the oil industry is on the brink of collapse, instances of fuel shortage in certain areas earlier this year highlight the fragile conditions of the industry, your urgent action is requested to ensure uninterrupted supplies.

In the same letter it suggested that the recovery of exchange loss can be managed through the adjustment of Inland Freight Equalisation Margin (IFEM).

According to the OCAC’s letter, the Council has been following up with the Ministry of Energy as well as the Ministry of Finance for developing a mechanism for complete recovery of exchange losses.

NA body recommends approval of Trademark (Amendment) Bill, 2023

The National Assembly Standing Committee of Commerce on Tuesday recommended the approval of the Trademark (Amendment) Bill, 2023, with slight amendments to protest the rights of Pakistani products in the international market.

During a meeting of the committee, which was chaired by MNA Khursheed Ahmed Junejo, here on Tuesday it was informed that the trademark bill will facilitate local brands owners of Pakistan to protect their trademark in up to 130 countries by filing a single international application in one language and pay one set of fees with World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

During a committee meeting chaired by MNA Khursheed Ahmed Junejo on Tuesday, it was revealed that the trademark bill will enable local brand owners in Pakistan to protect their trademarks in up to 130 countries by submitting a single international application in one language and paying one set of fees with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

It will also enable provisions to the Madrid Protocol for international registration of trademarks and electronic validity/payment of the documents. The committee was briefed about the statement of objects and reasons for the bill by the Chairman of the Intellectual Property Organization (IPO).

The Director General, IPO Ms. Shazia Adnan, while briefing the Committee regarding the proposed amendments, said that Pakistan became a member of the World Trade Organization in 1995. Thereafter, it was obligatory to amend Intellectual Property (IP) Laws as per the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property (TRIPS) Agreement.

Accordingly, all IP Laws, including Trademark Ordinance 2001, were revised. She aprised that the IPO Act, 2012 (No. XIII of 2012) was enacted which empowers IPO Pakistan, under Section 13(i), to administer and coordinate all Government systems for the protection and strengthening of IP Laws, Rules and Regulations made thereunder.

She also briefed that Pakistan became a mem-

ber of the Madrid Protocol on 24th May 2021. The Madrid Protocol is an international treaty that allows businesses and innovators to obtain trademark protection in up to 130 countries. Members of the protocol can obtain this protection by filing a single international application in one language, and paying one set of fees in one currency, with the WIPO. WIPO is one of the 15 specialized agencies of the United Nations (UN) that works to promote and safeguard IP across the world.

He further briefed that after the enactment of IPO-Act, 2012 and accession to the Madrid Protocol, it was essential to harmonize the TMO, 2001, as per international practices and in line with IPO-Act, 2012. In pursuance of this goal, an exercise was undertaken to introduce amendments in the trademark Ordinance 2001, she added. After detailed deliberations, the Committee recommended approving the Bill with slight amendments.

In a separate briefing on TCP’s long outstanding dues against Utility Stores Corporation (USC), National Fertilizer Marketing Limited (NFML), and Pakistan Agricultural Storage & Services Corporation (PASSCO), the Committee was informed that for the year 2007-08, the principal amount has been paid, but due to delayed payment, mark-up has been accruing which is also payable by USC.

It was informed that USC agreed to pay the amount in a meeting that was held on 8th December 2021 in the presence of Secretaries, m/o Industries & Production and Finance Divisions but they expressed their inability to pay due to unavailability of funds.

The Committee then appointed a Sub-Committee under the Convenership of MNA, Rana Iradat Sharif Khan along with MNAs, Ms. Tahira Aurangzeb and Syed Javed Ali Shah Jillani, as its Members. The Sub-Committee will consider and resolve the TCP’s long outstanding issue of receivables against various Ministries/Organizations on account of the import of Urea, Sugar, and Wheat. The Committee may seek assistance from the Ministries of Commerce, Industries & Production, National Food Security & Research, Finance Division, and State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

Former Punjab chief minister (CM) Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has been appointed as president of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). A notification to this effect has been issued after an approval from former prime minister and PTI chairman Imran Khan. It is pertinent to mention here that Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and ten other ex-Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid MPAs formally joined Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) following Imran Khan’s offer to merge PML-Q with PTI. PTI Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry met Elahi on Imran’s instructions and presented him with the notification while congratulating him on becoming the party president. “Former Punjab CM and his associates have joined PTI”, Fawad Chaudhry said, adding that Elahi and his associates made sacrificed to stand with Tehreek-e-Insaf. He announced that Pervaiz Elahi will be the PTI President. Elahi said he was “grateful” for the trust reposed in him by Imran, adding that he would continue to stand by him and strive to uphold the Constitution and the law. Taking over the presser, Elahi vowed to stand firmly with Imran Khan, saying that they will continue to work for betterment of the country. Elahi’s son Moonis Elahi also thanked the PTI chairman and said: “God willing we will not let you down.”

Parvez had last month announced his joining the PTI along with ten other former PML-Q MPAs. Parvez had said he had always stood with Imran during “hard and testing times”. “Parvez Elahi is quitting the PML-Q and is joining the PTI,” Chaudhry had confirmed.

Imran’s politics worthless without ‘establishment’s crutches’: Kh Asif

ISLAMABAD

staff RepoRt

Federal Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Tuesday hit out at the PTI Chairman Imran Khan, saying his (Imran Khan) political status was worthless without support from the establishment. Addressing a press conference, he said the former prime minister had been creating a drama for some days by not appearing before courts, stating: “In 75 years history of the country, no suspect has refused to appear before courts”. He said Mr Khan had no relationship with politics. He said former chief justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar had admitted that he had not declared the PTI chief “100% Sadiq aur Amin”. Strongly criticizing Imran Khan, Kh Asif said the PTI chief is involved in number of cases of financial misappropriation and he should be held accountable for this. He said the PTI Chief is inciting the masses and his workers against the state institutions, and even escaping to face the courts. The Defence Minister said all the tall slogans including ” Jail Bharo Tehreek’ of Imran Khan witnessed failure as the nation is well aware of his deeds and opportunist behaviour.He said if selective justice was given to Imran Khan it would deteriorate the situation further. He clarified that the government was not in hurry to arrest Imran Khan. Meanwhile, Mr Asif has reiterated the government’s resolve to root out menace of terrorism from the country. He expressed his profound grief and sorrow over the terrorist incident in Balochistan, which claimed lives of security forces personnel. He said the security forces were valiantly fighting against terrorism. The defence minister said he received positive response from the interim Afghan authorities during his recent visit to Kabul. He said under Doha agreement, Afghanistan was bound that its soil is not used for terrorism and against Pakistan. He said during the talks with the Afghan authorities, “we urged them to honour Doha Agreement and they acknowledged our position in this regard”.

PAC seeks audit, record of SC judges’ salaries

ISLAMABAD staff RepoRt

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the National Assembly on Tuesday directed the Auditor General for Pakistan (AGP) to complete audit of the Supreme Court within 30 days and sought detailed record pertaining to Supreme Court judges’ salary, perks and privileges within a month.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meeting held here with its Chairman Noor Alam Khan in the chair, expressed dismay over failure of the AGP to present a report on salary, perks and privileges of the Supreme

Court judges and directed him to comply in positive. During the meeting Chairman PAC Noor Alam Khan raised a question as to why

the AGP failed in presenting a report relating to top court judges’ salary, perks, and privileges. It is important to mention that during the last meeting, the PAC has ordered the collection of toll tax from everyone, including politicians, judges and generals, saying exemption will be granted to on-duty personnel of the armed forces and police only.

According to the report of a private television, Noor Alam Khan said the masses should know what salary, perks and privileges are being enjoyed by the judges of the Supreme Court. He ordered the AGP to complete audit of the Supreme Court within 30 days and submit a report to the committee.

Those involved in ‘illegal conviction’ of Nawaz met their fate: Maryam Nawaz

SHEIKHUPURA staff RepoRt

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz

(PML-N) Senior Vice President and Chief Organiser Maryam Nawaz said on Tuesday that all those involved in illegal conviction of Nawaz Sharif had met their ultimate fate.

Speaking at PML-N workers convention here, she said that Nawaz Sharif had left the matter of the injustice committed to him to Allah Almighty. And today, all those hatching conspiracies against him were themselves admitting that injustice was committed to the former prime minister, she added.

Referring to former chief justice Saqib Nisar’s press talk the other day, she said he had not spoken the full truth yet, but soon he would tell the nation who were other characters involved in the conspiracy hatched against

Nawaz Sharif. She said those who were bestowed with the quality of speaking the truth, do it in their life like Nawaz Sharif, and those who had ever told lies say that they would tell the truth in their posthumously published book. She said deposing of Nawaz Sharif for life brought economic disaster and miseries to the people of Pakistan.

Flaying former CJP’s claim that his whatsapp account was hacked, she said it was not Saqib Nisar’s account which was hacked, but it was the future of Pakistani youth which was hacked due to his wrong decisions. Calling PTI chairman Imran Khan a coward and a ‘jackal’ she said judiciary at that time supported him and people were fac-

ing unprecedented price hike due to those wrong decisions. Citing the statement of Saqib Nisar, she said those behind such wrong decisions should have thought of the Pakistani children like their own children while giving rulings in their favourite.

Maryam Nawaz said that Nawaz Sharif was convicted for not taking salary from his son, and on the basis of an expired iqama. But Imran Khan committed theft of toshakhana gifts and his wife received jewellery and other gifts for getting illegal works done by her husband. She said why a watch thief could not be convicted and sent to jail if Nawaz Sharif could be convicted for not receiving salary from his son. She said the PTI chairman concealed billions of rupees he had made through corruption and theft of toshakhana gifts, adding that he not only concealed gifts but also his daughter from the people of Pakistan.