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food prices ARMED FORCES CONCERNED ABOUT TTP Higher contribute to weekly inflation of 29% SAFE HAVENS IN AFGHANISTAN: COAS
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Saturday, 15 July, 2023 I 26 Zil Hajj, 1444
URGES AFGHAN GOVT NOT TO ALLOW USE OF ITS SOIL FOR TERRORISM AGAINST ANY COUNTRY
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RAWALPINDI
PAYS TRIBUTE TO MARTYRS OF ZHOB ATTACK, ENQUIRES AFTER HEALTH OF INJURED SOLDIERS IN QUETTA CMH
STAFF REPORT
HIEF of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir on Friday said the Armed Forces of Pakistan had serious concerns on the safe havens and liberty of action available to the banned Tehreek-eTaliban Pakistan (TTP) in Afghanistan. The army chief made these remarks during his visit to Quetta Garrison where he was briefed on the recent terrorist attack in Zhob, an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), a news release said. The COAS paid tributes to the Shuhada (martyrs), visited the injured soldiers at CMH, Quetta, lauded their services to the nation and appreciated their resolve. General Munir said, “It is expected that the interim Afghan Government will not allow the use of its soil to perpetrate terror against any country, in the real sense and in line with commitments made in Doha Agreement.” He further said that the involvement of Afghan nationals in acts of terrorism in Pakistan was another important concern that needed to be addressed.
“Such attacks are intolerable and will elicit an effective response from the Security Forces of Pakistan,” he added. He resolved that operations against terrorists would continue unabated and the Armed Forces would not rest till the menace of terrorism was rooted out from the country. General Munir revealed that Afghan nationals were involved in recent acts of terrorism in Pakistan.
FIA nicks nine in swoop on mobile loan apps ‘business’ ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Rs 15.00 | Vol XIV No 15 I 8 Pages I Islamabad Edition
“The involvement of Afghan nationals in acts of terrorism in Pakistan is another important concern that needs to be addressed,” the army chief said. “Such attacks are intolerable and would elicit effective response from the Security Forces of Pakistan,” he warned. He further said operations against terrorists would continue unabated and the armed forces shall not rest till the
menace of terrorism is rooted out from the country. The army chief’s statement suggests frustration on part of Pakistan due to the lack of cooperation from the Afghan Taliban to tackle the TTP threat. The Afghan Taliban spokesperson in a recent statement claimed the interim government was not allowing its soil to be used against any country and that TTP was a problem of Pakistan to deal with. The TTP has become a thorny issue between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban. Despite efforts, the two sides could not find a common ground to deal with the issue. At the heart of the problem is the Afghan Taliban’s reluctance to act against the TTP and their leadership. Pakistan believes that the TTP and their top leadership were operating in Afghanistan with impunity. The Afghan Taliban after taking over in August 2021 tried to broker a deal between Pakistan and the TTP. Talks did make progress initially as the TTP announced a ceasefire in return for Pakistan freeing certain militants. Islamabad also allowed hundreds of TTP fighters to return as part of the confidence building measure.
Govt averted ‘potential default’, says PM Shehbaz
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MIANWALI
STAFF REPORT
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Friday claimed to have arrested nine suspects and booked 19 others for allegedly blackmailing citizens through loan-giving mobile applications (apps). In a statement issued today, an FIA spokesperson said the cybercrime cell, along with the financial services, conducted raids in several areas of Rawalpindi during which nine suspects were held and first information reports were registered against 19. “Inspector Badar Munir sealed a number of offices inside a plaza located on the Saidu Sharif road,” it said in a statement. Earlier yesterday, the FIA team raided two offices of the loan app in G-8 sector, sealed the offices and confiscated laptops and other material. The FIA said the suspects were given targets to make 100 to 150 calls a day to citizens, their friends and families on a daily basis. It added that in the raided offices, a separate department was being run to make what it described as “torture calls”. The FIA said the departments were called “D-0, D-1, D-2, DS-1, DS-2, and DS-3” and the suspects would collect personal information of citizens through the loan apps. “Afterwards, they used it to harass people.” The FIA added that a significant amount of documents, computers, laptops and mobile SIM cards were taken into possession during the raid. The arrested suspects were being interrogated, while an investigation was underway to nab others, it added. MAN DIES BY SUICIDE: The investigation into predatory loan apps was launched after a man died by suicide in Rawalpindi. The deceased man’s wife, who wished not to be named, told Dawn.com yesterday that her husband had taken two loans from separate mobile apps, one of which had seen its principal plus interest amass to Rs0.7m. The wife said he had initially taken a loan of Rs13,000 from EasyLoan app, which quickly soared to Rs100,000 a few days later due to interest. To pay back that loan, he took another loan from Bharosa app, which also rose to Rs700,000 in a few weeks, she added. Her husband, she said, had lost his job six months ago, leaving the family unable to pay for their children’s school fees and rent. According to her, the officials operating the app “used to call daily to threaten and scare” the family of police action against them if the loan repayment was delayed, and her husband died by suicide after growing tired of the threats. Following the incident, the deceased man’s brother, Muzammil Husain, filed a complaint with the Race Course police station under Section 174 (police to inquire to report in suicide, etc) of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Later, an FIA team, headed by Deputy Director Cyber Crime Tahir Jamil and Additional Director Abdul Rauf visited the man’s family and registered a case after recording their statements, a Dawn report said.
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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Friday that the risk of potential default has been completely averted through the efforts made by the government’s economic team. “Our detractors had been fabricating rumours all around that Pakistan was going to default on its sovereign commitments but we crossed all turbulent waters in just 15 months,” he added. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed the views at the groundbreaking ceremony of the 1,200 MW Chashma Nuclear Power Plant Unit 5 (C-5) which is likely to be completed in seven to eight years at a cost of around $3.48 billion. The prime minister said the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved a new programme earlier this week and within 48 hours, around $3 billion were transferred
by Pakistan’s brotherly countries, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the first tranche of $1.2 billion was received from the IMF. He added that about four months back, the Chinese government and commercial banks rolled over amounts to the tune of $5 billion. The premier said keeping in mind the country’s requirements
for clean and cheap energy sources, the nuclear project should be completed before the given schedule. Terming it a huge milestone and a symbol of cooperation between the two great friends, China and Pakistan, PM Shehbaz said the project would help the country promote clean, efficient and comparatively cheaper energy.
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We will go solo, field candidates in all Punjab constituencies: Sanaullah LAHORE
STAFF REPORT
PML-N Punjab President Rana Sanaullah indicated on Friday that his party would be contesting the polls solo in Punjab as he announced it was fielding candidates in all constituencies of the national and provincial assemblies in the province. His remarks come after the prime minister promised timely elections after the government’s tenure comes to an end in August. In a news conference in Lahore, the interior minister said: “The PML-N is beginning its electoral activities and for this purpose, an organisational meeting of the Punjab [chapter] has been called. The primary agenda that will be discussed is our resolve to take forward the election activity
in Punjab with full force. “All national and provincial constituencies, which number 433 — 297 of which are provincial and 146 are NA constituencies — in all those, a PML-N candidate will be present,” he asserted. A day ago, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said that the parliamentary committee on electoral reforms, which met for the third day in a row, had completed 99 per cent of the work regarding the preparations for the polls. He had also said that all parties agreed on the proposed certifications and that while the PTI had objected to a few points, they would be resolved soon with PTI Senator Ali Zafar assuring them of his suggestions on the remaining issues. Last week, it was reported that meetings between PML-N and PPP bigwigs in the United Arab
Emirates had purportedly resulted in a consensus on a number of issues, including names for the caretaker set-up and a power-sharing formula if the two parties win the next election. In his media talk today, Sanaullah noted that it had been the case sometimes that in a few constituencies, the PML-N had not fielded its candidates for the elections. However, this time, the party has taken it as a challenge to ensure that its party symbol — the tiger — would be present in every constituency, he added. Recalling that the PML-N had organised the party in Punjab up to the Union Council level, the minister expressed his party’s intentions to fully back its candidates in the upcoming elections.
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PRICES OF 41.17% DAILYUSE ITEMS WITNESS HIKE, 21.58% DROP PROFIT
STAFF REPORT
According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the inflation measured by the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) increased by 0.33 percent for the week ending on July 13, 2023. This rise was primarily driven by higher prices of food items, including sugar (5.22 percent), wheat flour (4.23 percent), gur (3.68 percent), salt powdered (2.17 percent), and eggs (1.34 percent). On a year-on-year basis, there has been a significant increase of 28.96 percent in overall inflation. This upward trend is mainly attributed to substantial price hikes in wheat flour (129.84 percent), cigarettes (111.74 percent), gas charges for q1 (108.38 percent), tea lipton (101.56 percent), rice basmati broken (76.74 percent), rice irri-6/9 (73.88 percent), potatoes (61.67 percent), gents sponge chappal (58.05 percent), sugar (57.91 percent), chicken (56.06 percent), salt powdered (53.49 percent), gur (48.30 percent), and bread (46.86 percent). However, certain items have experienced a decrease in prices, including onions (28.17 percent), electricity for q1 (14.58 percent), pulse masoor (7.54 percent), diesel (5.82 percent), LPG (1.23 percent), and vegetable ghee 1 kg (1.16 percent). Out of the 51 items considered, during the week, the prices of 21 items increased (41.17 percent), 11 items decreased (21.58 percent), and 19 items remained stable (37.25 percent). Some of the notable items that saw an increase in their average prices during the week compared to the previous week were sugar (5.22 percent), wheat flour bag 20 kg (4.23 percent), gur (3.68 percent), salt powdered (2.17 percent), eggs (1.34 percent), energy saver philips (0.81 percent), toilet soap (0.80 percent), rice basmati broken (0.77 percent), rice irri-6/9 (0.75 percent), milk fresh (0.47 percent), matchbox (0.36 percent), tea prepared ordinary (0.33 percent), garlic (0.33 percent), sufi washing soap (0.29 percent), pulse mash (0.27 percent), potatoes (0.14 percent), curd (0.14 percent), beef with bone (0.12 percent), cooked beef (0.08 percent), powdered milk nido (0.06 percent), and mustard oil (0.04 percent). On the other hand, the average prices of some items decreased during the week compared to the previous week, including bananas (12.18 percent), tomatoes (6.35 percent), onions (5.32 percent), LPG (2.17 percent), vegetable ghee dalda/habib 2.5 kg tin each (0.85 percent), pulse moong (0.70 percent), cooking oil dalda or other similar brand (sn), 5-litre tin each (0.51 percent), pulse gram (0.46 percent), vegetable ghee dalda/habib or other superior quality 1 kg pouch each (0.36 percent), pulse masoor (0.18 percent), and chicken (0.13 percent).
Historical Pakistan embassy sold in Washington for $7.1m ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The process of selling a government-owned historical building in downtown Washington, DC was completed in accordance with the instructions issued by the federal government. According to details, the property was purchased by Abdul Hafeez Khan, a Pakistani-American who offered the highest bid of $7.1 million, which was subsequently approved by the federal cabinet. In this regard, a ceremony was held at the Lincoln Library, Waldorf Astoria Hotel, Washington DC with Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, Congressman Gregory Meeks and former congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson were in attendance at the event. Speaking on the occasion, Johnson congratulated Khan for buying the historic building. She highlighted his achievements and extended her best wishes for his future endeavours. Speaking on the occasion, Pakistan Ambassador Masood Khan expressed his satisfaction that the property has been sold and transferred as per the decision of the Cabinet. He also clarified that no other property is being sold. Meanwhile, Khan thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the federal cabinet for accepting his offer. He said that as a Pakistani-American citizen, it is a matter of pride for him to own a building that has served the Pakistani community for decades. For nearly two decade, residents and local political leaders of downtown Washington, DC had complained bitterly about the condition of the former Pakistani consulate in the area. The large building at the corner of 22nd and R streets sticks out like a wart in the otherwise upscale neighbourhood, The Associated Press reported.
NEPRA raises average power tariff by Rs4.96 per unit for FY 2023-24 PROFIT
AHMAD AHMADANI
HE National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has finalized the consumer-end tariff for the fiscal year 2023-24, with the national average tariff experiencing an increase of Rs. 4.96 per kilo watt hour (kWh) compared to the previous year. NEPRA’s determination for the fiscal year 2023-24 reveals a revised national average tariff of Rs. 29.78/kWh, showcasing an increase of Rs. 4.96/kWh compared to the previous rate of Rs. 24.82/kWh. This adjustment accounts for various contributing factors within the power sector.
The rise in the national average tariff can be attributed to multiple aspects, including overall low sales growth, the devaluation of the Pakistani Rupee, high inflation rates, exorbitant interest rates, and the incorporation of new capacities to meet growing demands. To fulfill the revenue requirements of the distribution companies (DISCOs), a total projected revenue of Rs. 3,281 billion has been established for the fiscal year 2023-24. This projection is based on an estimated sales volume of 110,165 GWh. NEPRA’s determination process takes into consideration the distinct revenue requirements and allowed levels of transmission and distribution losses for each distribution company, known as DISCO.
This approach ensures a fair and customized tariff structure based on the unique circumstances of each company. Once NEPRA establishes the consumer-end tariff, it is then forwarded to the Federal Government, which files a uniform tariff application. Upon approval, the uniform tariff, inclusive of any subsidies or surcharges communicated by the government, is officially notified and implemented for consumers. Aligning with the multi-year tariff regime, numerous distribution companies, including MEPCO, GEPCO, HESCO, SEPCO, QESCO, PESCO, and TESCO, have filed adjustment/indexation requests for the fiscal year 2023-24. These requests
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aim to cater to the specific requirements of each company. In addition, IESCO, LESCO, and FESCO have submitted multi-year tariff petitions, encompassing the period from 202324 to 2027-28. Alongside these petitions, they have also sought an interim tariff for the upcoming fiscal year. It is essential to note that any potential relief or decrease in tariffs in the future will directly benefit consumers if there is appreciation of the Pakistani Rupee, a decrease in inflation rates, interest rates, or other relevant factors. This ensures that adjustments are made to maintain a fair and balanced tariff structure. NEPRA’s determination of the con-
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sumer-end tariff plays a crucial role in shaping electricity pricing, emphasizing the challenges posed by economic factors impacting the energy sector. The effective management of transmission and distribution losses remains a priority to establish a transparent and sustainable system for electricity consumers. The implementation of the determined tariffs will not only ensure a fair and transparent system for consumers but also support the financial sustainability of distribution companies. NEPRA’s decision sets the stage for the upcoming fiscal year, providing guidance for the electricity sector’s operations and facilitating a reliable and efficient power supply.