Issuu

Friday, 3 June, 2022 I 3 Dhul-Qadah, 1443 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XII No 334 I 12 Pages I Lahore Edition

‘Iron-clad FrIendshIp’: chIna agrees to reFInance $2.3 bIllIon Fund g

tors for refinAncing Agreed, cAsh inflow expected ‘shortly’ islamabad

Staff rePort

AKistAn’s ‘iron-clad friend’ china thursday came to its rescue with the chinese banks agreeing to refinance pakistan with $2.3 billion worth of funds which finance Minister Miftah ismail said will “shore up pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves.” taking to social media blogging site, twitter, finance Minister Miftah ismail tweeted: “good news. the terms and conditions for refinancing of rMB 15 billion deposit by chinese banks (about $2.3 billion) have been agreed.” the finance minister added that inflow is expected “shortly” after some routine approvals from both sides, adding that this will help shore up the country’s foreign exchange reserves. the news comes as a lifeline as the country is already facing an uncertain economic situation due to a delay in the revival of the stalled multibilliondollar international Monetary fund (iMf) programme. the development comes as a massive relief to economic policymakers that saw foreign exchange reserves held by the state Bank of pakistan (sBp) fall to $10.09 billion, with the level staying at less than 1.5 months of import cover. the agreement with chinese banks

is expected to bolster the reserves and enable the country to make import payments while lending some support to the rupee as well which has lost over 25% since the start of the outgoing fiscal year 2021-22. the restoration of pakistan’s delayed iMf programme rests on the government’s capacity to make fiscal adjustments of about 2.5 percent percent percent of the gross domestic product (gdp) by increasing revenues and reducing expenditures in the upcoming budget 2022-23. earlier on saturday last, Miftah ismail said that pakistan is expected to reach an agreement with the iMf in June to resurrect an enhanced bailout package to support the cash-strapped country’s sagging economy. he said that the country is projected to need usd 36-37 billion in foreign financing in the next fiscal year. speaking at a webinar, ismail revealed that at present, the government was not considering raising fresh foreign debt from the global capital market and commercial banks after the country’s international bonds lost almost onethird of their value, while their yields went up significantly. he said that instead of economic growth, controlling inflation was the top priority of the government. Miftah for fast edible oil import process, increase in jewelry exports

AssistAnce to help shore up foreign exchAnge reserves

Miftah ismail has directed to expedite the process for import of edible oil from Malaysia and indonesia to ensure smooth supply to the consumers and stabilise the price hike of edible oil. while presiding over a meeting of the committee on edible oil availability on thursday, the minister was informed that the price of edible oil is rising globally which would have a significant impact on the trade bill of pakistan. federal Minister rana tanveer hus-

sain also gave a workable option to enhance local production of canola oil seeds for import substitution and to ensure availability of the commodity in the wake of global pressure on supply chain. he further directed that required steps should be undertaken to enhance the local production, so that its impact on foreign exchange reserves could be minimised. separately, Miftah ismail empha-

sised Jewellers Association to play its due role in strengthening the national economy by enhancing the export of Jewellery. the finance minister held a meeting with a delegation of All pakistan Jewellers Association led by its president Mr. shehzad iqbal at the finance division, today. chairman fBr and senior officers from finance and commerce Ministries attended the meeting. the delegation gave an overview of the jewellery sector in pakistan and its contribution in the economy. they also highlighted the issues being faced by the Jewellers community regarding taxation and sought government’s support to address their issues and provide relief in taxation. it was apprised that these issues are proving as a great hindrance in the development of this sector. Miftah ismail highlighted the commitment of the present government to provide a conducive and friendly environment to the business community in pakistan. he acknowledged the contribution of the jewellery sector in the economic development and assured the delegation to provide maximum relief in taxation to this sector. the delegation thanked the finance minister for addressing their issues and assured the finance minister about growth of this sector with cooperation of the present government.

2ND AZADI MARCH

SC returns PTI plea with objections

islamabad Staff rePort

the supreme court of pakistan on thursday returned the constitutional petition of the pakistan tehreek-e-insaf (pti), seeking directions for the federal and punjab governments to allow the party to hold a peaceful protest in islamabad. the apex court’s registrar office noted that the petitioner did not approach the appropriate forum to redress the grievances. the sc’s registrar office returned the petition after raising objections that a similar issue

had already been decided in the islamabad high court Bar Association case. the registrar office said the supreme court has already given a verdict on the point raised in the petition. the top court’s registrar objected that the supreme court cannot take up the matter that has been already decided. it also raised the objection the petition contained scandalous matter in certain paras. the pti filed the petition, seeking to bar the incumbent government from using force, coercive measures or ‘intimidation tactics’

such as raiding homes of party workers, unlawful restrictions and blocking entry points. the constitutional petition, filed under Article 184(3) through Ali Zafar, termed the recent arrests a breach of fundamental rights of free movement, peaceful protest, association, assembly and freedom of speech. the pti in its plea asked the apex court to direct federal and provincial governments against violent measures against the peaceful marchers in future besides also issuing directives to the inspector generals of police (igs) against the arrest of leaders and activists of the pti. in earlier verdict, the top court allowed pti to stage a protest at islamabad’s h-9 and stopped the government from carrying out raids on houses and offices when imran Khan led his long march towards islamabad on May 25. in its orders, the apex court also stated that pti supporters “have demonstrated from their past conduct that they will be peaceful in the exercise of their constitutional rights”. the order maintained that the recent and ongoing actions of the government “are arbitrary, illegal, discriminatory, unlawful, and in violation of law as well as the letter and spirit of the constitution”.

Rush of motorists at a filling station in Lahore ahead of POL price hike Thursday night. Photo by Zubair MehfooZ

Govt jacks up petrol price by another Rs 30 islamabad ShahZad Paracha

the federal government has decided to raise the price of petrol by another rs30, taking it to highest ever rs209 per litre, to meet the international Monetary fund (iMf) demands. the federal finance minister Miftah ismail on thursday night announced that the federal government has decided to raise the prices of petroleum besides ending the tax amnesty for construction sector announced by last pti government. the new price of petrol, after the latest hike, will be at rs209.86, diesel at rs204.15, kerosene oil at rs181.94 and light diesel at rs178.31, he announced and the new prices will come into effect from midnight tonight. the finance minister said that the government is still facing a loss of around rs9 in petrol despite a hike of rs30 as we are not collecting any tax on the fuel. he said that government will reach an agreement with iMf in June and we are making negotiations with lender on daily basis.

iMf had demanded to withdraw subsidies on petrol and electricity, he added. Miftah also said that government will have to end the subsidies announced by last government however he claimed that government will not impose any new tax in next year budget. Miftah also said that pti government took huge loan in last four years comparable to loan taken by successive governments in last 71 years. he also said that government will not increase tax on salaried class in next budget. finance minister said that pakistan has also requested to iMf for extension in program and the lender is agreed as pakistan will start repaying the iMf loan from next year so it’s important to us to be in program. in one question, he said that the one month expenditure of government is rs40 billion and if we minimized the expenditure then we can reduce just rs4 billion. he again reiterated that government will not impose any new tax in June and government of pakistan cannot sell the petrol in loss.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

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Friday, 3 June, 2022 | LAHORE

NEWS

PSDP LIKeLy to be RS700b In bUDget 2022-23: AhSAn IqbAL

APP

EDERAL Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal on Thursday said that the volume of the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) is likely to be Rs700 billion in Budget (202223), which will increase more development opportunities in the country. At the same time, he said that efforts

will be made to raise upto Rs200 billion more through public-private partnership, which will accelerate development projects. Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal expressed these views while addressing a press conference here at the Press and Information Department. He said that in a total, 44 percent of PSDP projects are provincial projects and

the remaining 46 percent are federal projects, “We have ample opportunities.” Ashan said, “We had taken PSDP to Rs1000 billion during previous tenure of PML –N government. However, former Pakistan Tehrek-e-Insaf government had brought it to Rs500 billion, which till now should have reached Rs2000 billion.” He said the government will work mostly on youth issues and water scarcity and other issues, which are very important

for the sustainable economic development of the country. The minister said that there was no work on the projects of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in the previous regime, only a few of these projects started during our tenure. He said that work on 9 Special Economic Zones (SEZs) of CPEC was to be completed by 2020 but not a single SEZ was completed by the PTI government.

CM KPK Mahmood Khan approves subsidy on flour in the province

Ahsan said that Chinese industrial relocation was possible only with the completion of these 9 CPEC SEZs, which did not happen. He said that the Chinese government was more interested in the Hattar Special Economic Zone (SEZ) project, but the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) provincial government decided to transfer the project to Rashakai SEZ. “Now the government is trying to include Hattar SEZ also.”

Another application to register FIR against PM, Sanaullah and others submitted in Lahore court

News Desk

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on Thursday approved provision of subsidized flour to masses across the province. KP Minister for Higher Education told media after the cabinet meeting that under the subsidy, the 20 kg bag would be sold at Rs 980 and 10 kg bag at Rs 490 from this month, adding the supply of wheat would be ensure to flour mills this month after which the subsidized flour would be made available at specific shops and sale points. The Cabinet expressed grave concern over reduction in the number of seats of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in National Assembly. The cabinet also expressed concern over alleged misappropriation in the voter lists as reported by the public through complaints and decided to take up the matter with the Election Commission and if it was not resolved, the matter would be taken to the court. He said the cabinet had approved a draft bill for regularization of services of 675 contract doctors in the health department. These doctors had been serving as medical officers in different parts of the province since the outbreak of Corona pandemic. The Cabinet also approved creation of 34 posts for IT cadre in the Excise and Taxation Department, including Director, Deputy Director and Assistant Director. It also approved the adjustment of 296 employees including sub-engineers and other staff of CDLD project in the Local Government Department. The Cabinet approved adjustment of 33 Khasadar and 77 Levis officials in KP police while an additional fund of Rs 265 million was also approved for water supply schemes to Mingora and Kohat under its Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cities Improvement Project. The cabinet approved Rs 200 million seed amount for establishment of a fund for creation of awareness among masses about wildlife and development of national parks during the fiscal year 2022-23. Similarly Rs, 200 million grant-in-aid was approved for University of Chitral. The Cabinet decided to take up the matter of handing over the Pakistan Hunting and Sporting Development Company to the province and its merger with SMEDA with the relevant division of the federal government. It should be noted that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has a 150-year history of small arms business and there are more than 300 manufacturing units in Peshawar and Dara Adam khel while thousands of people are involved in this business.

A district court in Lahore on Thursday received another application for registration of a first information report (FIR) against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and senior police officials over police action against Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf supporters during the party’s recent long march. The development comes after the court’s earlier order to register a criminal case against interior minister, CCPO, DIG and others. However, the additional district and sessions judge sought a reply from the concerned police station by June 4. The petitioner, advocate Afzal Azeem, contended that police high not only tortured PTI’s workers but also baton-charged, used tear gas, and damaged their vehicles merely to restrain them from joining the party’s march. He termed the police’s conduct a serious offence in which police officials assualted citizens who were exercising their democratic right of protest. Azeem further contended that senior police officials committed this offence on the ‘whim of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz Sharif, and Interior Minister Rana Sana Ullah’. He also made the CCPO, DIG and other senior rank officials respondents in the application. The petitioner further implored the court that he visited the concerned police station but the police seemed reluctant to register the FIR and prayed the court to direct the concerned SHO to register the FIR against the above mentioned. Earlier, an additional district and sessions judge had also directed SHO Bhati Gate Police Station to register a criminal case against interior minister Rana Sanaullah, eight police officials including CCPO Lahore and DIG Operations, 400 unknown officials for assaulting the lawyers, torturing and damaging their vehicles when they were going to the Islamabad to join the long march.

Rescue 1122 firefighters extinguishing a fire broke out in shops along Peco Road in Kot Lakhpath area of Lahore Thursday morning. Staff photo

Apparel exporters woes know no bounds amid scathing power outages intensifies News Desk The Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PRGMEA) has called for exemptions from power outages for exporting SMEs, as the power crisis across Pakistan has intensified and overall electricity shortfall has reached more than 7,000 megawatts. PRGME north zone chairman Sheikh Luqman Amin asked the authorities to take quick action, taking notice of forced load-shedding in the export industry because of non-availability of fuel, technical faults, failure in purchasing of fuel and maintenance of the power plants, leading to crunch of thousands of megawatts across the country and particularly in the export hub of Sialkot. He remarked that exporters would not be able to meet timely shipments due to closure of one shift while local supplies of goods would also face problems. As the residents continue to face massive power failures, the distribution companies have now extended the scope of load-shedding towards the industrial sector by conducting eight to 12 hours power cuts. Export industries in Sialkot, Faisalabad and Lahore are facing various durations of power breakdowns, as many units have closed down their night shift production owing to non-availability of power while others might

follow the suit. Closure of the night shift would hit over 30 percent of total production of the manufacturer, he added. Sheikh Luqman Amin said that load-shedding is being carried out on the pretext of furnace oil shortage, recalling that a week ago, DISCOs authorities had assured industries not to carry out load-shedding, but then suddenly started it on an hour’s notice. He said that the 10-hour load-shedding would affect 30% of production and hit exports, he said, urging Prime Minister Shehbaz Shaif to save Sialkot from anti-industry policy, as the city is hit by load-shedding the most. Sheikh Luqman urged the government to end loadshedding from the industrial area as power interruption is causing drastic effects on production and exports. He feared power outages would lead to an alarming rise in unemployment in the industries and urged the federal government to immediately resolve the issue. The prime minister should take immediate steps and if it’s not resolved, the situation may become more serious, he added. PRGMEA NZ chief said that all the major industrial cities of the country are facing electricity load-shedding due to which the production activities are badly suffering. He said that rural areas are also reportedly facing severe load-shedding at a time when the mercury is on the rise and this situation is making the life of common man more miserable.

Imran Khan to announce future political strategy in Dir rally News Desk Former Prime Minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan on Thursday said that he would announce his future course of action during his next public gathering in Dir and asked the nation to prepare for getting independence from the corrupt ruling elite. “We are getting prepared to rid the nation of people who are part of this imported government,” Imran Khan said while addressing a rally in Shangla and asked the participants to get ready for his call to march towards Islamabad. He lauded that people have proved during the PTI’s long march that they are independent and are not afraid of brutal tactics adopted by the government led by Shehbaz Sharif and Rana Sanaullah.

“The people stood their ground despite extreme shelling through expired tear-gas during the long march towards Islamabad to convey their message that they would not accept slavery and imported government,” he said. The PTI chairman during his address said that the country is facing a financial crisis and could go bankrupt owing to the policies of the incumbent government. “I wanted to give a message to the establishment that if it wanted to remain neutral let it be but nation knows that real power in the country rests with you and the history will not forgive you if you remained neutral when the country is slipping towards bankruptcy owing to policies of the incumbent rulers,” he said. Khan said that those in power are dragging the country towards bankruptcy and are only busy getting rid of their corruption cases.

Pakistan sends second consignment of humanitarian assistance to Ukraine IsLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Thursday handed over the second consignment of humanitarian assistance for Ukraine. The handing over ceremony was held here at Nur Khan Airbase. The relief items consignment including emergency medicines, blankets and food items dispatched to Ukraine through two Pakistan Air Force C-130 aircraft. Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar handed over the relief goods to the Ukrainian Ambassador in Pakistan Markian Chuchuk during an official ceremony, attended by officials of NDMA, Foreign Office and Ukrainian Embassy. Speaking on the occasion, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs said that Pakistan highly valued bilateral relations with Ukraine stretched over the past three decades. She said that the government of Pakistan had extended 15 tonnes humanitarian relief goods in solidarity with Ukrainian people. While expressing deep concern over on-going war in Ukraine, she emphasized that both countries should resolve the matter through dialogue and diplomacy for global peace.

Moody’s changes Pakistan’s outlook to negative from stable News Desk Moody’s Investor Service on Thursday downgraded Pakistan’s outlook from stable to negative, citing “heightened external vulnerability” and uncertainty around securing external financing to meet the country’s needs. Moody’s assesses that Pakistan’s external vulnerability risk has been amplified by rising inflation, which puts downward pressure on the current account, the currency and – already thin – foreign exchange reserves, especially in the context of heightened political and social risk.

Pakistan’s weak institutions and governance strength adds uncertainty around the future direction of macroeconomic policy, including whether the country will complete the current IMF Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme and maintain a credible policy path that supports further financing. The decision to affirm the B3 rating reflects Moody’s assumption that, notwithstanding the downside risks mentioned above, Pakistan will conclude the seventh review under the IMF EFF programme by the second half of this calendar year, and will maintain its engagement with the IMF, leading to

additional financing from other bilateral and multilateral partners. In this case, Moody’s assesses that Pakistan will be able to close its financing gap for the next couple of years. The B3 rating also incorporates Moody’s assessment of the scale of Pakistan’s economy and robust growth potential, which will provide the economy with some capacity to absorb shocks. These credit strengths are balanced against Pakistan’s fragile external payments position, weak governance and very weak fiscal strength, including very weak debt affordability.

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Friday, 3 June, 2022 | LAHORE

NEWS

PAKIStAn’S tRADe DeFICIt ReACheS ALL tIMe hIgh In 11 MonthS

GhuLAM ABBAs

S the governments fail to reduce imports the country’s trade deficit has reached an all time high in 11 months. As per data released by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Thursday, the trade deficit has widened by 57.85 percent during the first eleven months (July-May) of the current fiscal year, 2021-22. The deficit has reached $43.334 billion compared to $27.452 billion during the same period of 2020-21, which is

considered the highest ever trade deficit for the period under review. However, the data regarding monthly exports show the country’s exports increased by 27.78 percent as it reached $28.848 billion in the past 11 months as compared to $22.576 billion recorded during the same period of fiscal year 2020-21. Similarly the imports have also increased by 44.28 percent during the first eleven months (July-May) of the current fiscal year and stood at $72.182 billion compared to $50.028 billion during the

same period of the corresponding year. As per the PBS data, the country’s trade deficit widened by 11.50 percent on a yearon-year basis, jumping from $3.626 billion in May 2021 to $4.043 billion in May 2022. Imports registered an increase of 25.43 percent on a year-on-year basis and jumped from $5.297 billion in May 2021 to $6.644 billion in May 2022. Further, exports registered 55.66 percent growth on a year-on-year basis and increased from $1.671 billion in May 2021 to $2.601 billion in May 2022.

The fresh data shows that the trade deficit widened by 6.90 percent on a monthon-month (MoM) basis from $3.782 billion in April 2022 to $4.043 billion in May 2022. Imports decreased by 0.52 percent on a month-on-month basis and remained $6.644 billion in May 2022 compared to $6.679 billion in April 2022. Exports registered negative growth on MoM basis and decreased from $2.897 billion in April 2022 to $2.601 billion in May 2022. Meanwhile the PBS has extended the basket of selected items

Experts urge Sino-Pak media cooperation to help scuttle negative propaganda against CPEC IsLAMABAD

said that through events like these, both countries get an excellent opportunity to consolidate the existing all-weather friendship.

Mian abRaR

Experts at the 7th China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Media Forum urged for broader Sino-Pak media cooperation to help scuttle negative propaganda against China, Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the iron-clad friendship between the two all-weather friendly neighbours. The Media Forum held here was jointly organized by the Pakistan-China Institute (PCI) and China Economic Net (CEN) in cooperation with the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Pakistan. It is conducted as an annual event in Beijing and Islamabad on alternate years. The theme of this year’s forum was “Enhance New Media Cooperation to Depict the Multidimensional and Comprehensive CPEC”. The Forum conducted in-depth exchanges and discussions on topics including ‘CPEC Phase 2: Opportunities & Challenges’, ‘Pakistan, Global Development Initiative, and the Role of Media’, and ‘Objective and Fair reporting of CPEC’. The opening session was moderated by Mustafa Hyder Sayed, the Executive Director of the PakistanChina Institute. Speaker National Assembly of Pakistan, Raja Pervez Ashraf was the Chief Guest. The establishment of the CPEC Media Forum in 2014 has paved the way not only for international information sharing and news collaboration, but also

for the people of both countries to learn about, and from, each other. In his opening remarks, Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed thanked China for helping Pakistan during Covid-19 by extending much-needed medical and moral support, which saved millions of lives. China, he said, established an air corridor for 6 weeks in March-April 2020 which enhanced Pakistan’s capacity to contain the pandemic at home. Commenting on the dividends of CPEC, he said that CPEC has created 75,000 jobs for Pakistanis so far, and energy projects under CPEC have produced over 5,000 MW of electricity. While rejecting the Cold War Mentality, he advocated for multilateralism and connectivity and said the enemies of Pakistan-China friendship have launched a campaign of disinformation and fake news against CPEC. Pakistan-China relationship, he maintained, has withstood the test of times and emerged as a uniquely robust and resilient relationship. Raja Pervez Ashraf, Speaker

PSX loses 518 points to close at 42,237 points APP The KSE 100-index of the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed bearish trend on Thursday, losing 518.13 points, with a negative change of 1.21 percent, closing at 42,237.91 points against 42,756.04 points on the last working day. A total of 157,004,355 shares were traded during the day compared to the trade of 194,398,097 shares the previous day, whereas the price of shares stood at Rs5.286 billion against Rs5.349 billion on last trading day. As many as 345 companies transacted shares in the stock market, 75 of them recorded gain and 254 sustained losses, whereas the share price of 16 companies remained unchanged. The three top trading companies were Pak Refinery with a volume of 14,990,615 shares and price per share of Rs17.95, Unity Foods Limited with volume of 10,966,534 and price per share of Rs21.86 and Cnergyico Pk with volume of 9,870,697 and price per share of Rs5.4. Sapphire Tex witnessed a maximum increase of Rs70 per share, closing at Rs1,120 whereas the runner up was Sapphire Fiber, the share prices of which climbed up by Rs35.01 to Rs1,135. Bata (Pak) witnessed maximum decrease of Rs126.85 closing at Rs1,723 followed by Nestle Pakistan, the share price of which declined by Rs105 to close at Rs5,675.

National Assembly of Pakistan, in his keynote speech said that CPEC has changed the destiny of so many people in the country and, in fact, through CPEC, China has given a vote of confidence in Pakistan’s potential to build a better future. Not even a day passes when we don’t hear about development by Chinese enterprises on CPEC projects in the media. The professionalism and consistency through which Chinese enterprises continued work on CPEC despite a global pandemic like Covid-19 when almost every project in the world hit the snag, has been lauded by the governments of Pakistan and China as well as international media. As the CPEC moves forward, the media’s responsibility to report fairly and factually on CPEC would grow. Moreover, he said that the media, since the inception of CPEC, has played a very important role in the dissemination of facts on CPEC. He also commended Pakistan-China Institute and China Economic Net for hosting the forum and

A special video message by the Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was played during the event. He said that the Pakistan-China relationship is indeed a special relationship that has no parallel in contemporary international relations. For me personally, he remarked, it is a great honour to be talking about this special bond because my grandfather Prime Minister Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto is the architect of this very relationship and in 1963, he signed a historic boundary agreement between Pakistan and China. He was also the last world leader to meet Chairman Mao. Moreover, he said that the Pakistan Peoples Party is committed to sustaining, maintaining, and continuing this relationship. Madame Pang Chunxue, acting ambassador of China in Pakistan said that we need to encourage the strengthening of narrative building and join hands in combating fake news. Some western countries continue to slander China on issues related to Xinjiang, Tibet, Hong Kong, and spread rumours on CPEC. Media bears the sacred mission of advocating order and justice. She said that we should take advantage of our complementarity, increase positive publicity, take the initiative for building narratives from our own perspectives, and jointly respond to negative public opinions.

Govt likely to announce tax credit for private funds in next fiscal year budget shAhzAD PArAchA The federal government is likely to announce tax credit for private funds in next fiscal year budget 2022-23. Sources said that Securities Exchange Commission of Pakistan in its budget proposal asked the federal government for tax credit for private funds. The rationale of this proposal is the promotion of investment by Private Equity (PE) and Venture Capital (VC) funds to ignite start-up investment and facilitate restructuring of sub-optimally performing companies. In Pakistan for both VC and PE only two levels (Levels 2 and 3) exemptions were available until the Finance Act 2021, when they were both withdrawn resulting in unjustified taxation on same source of income. The tax credit will encourage greater participation in the private funds market and increase the size and depth of our capital markets and increase

overall investment in the economy. In addition, SECP in its budget proposals asked the government to give tax amnesty on GEM board and listing under the direct listing method. Such tax incentive would attract SMEs to raise funds from GEM board besides help in increase in direct listing would result in increased trading activities, thereby impacting tax revenue. Moreover, it would enhance investment options for both local and foreign investors, sources added. Sources also said that it would also facilitate the Growth Companies (SMEs, Startups) to get themselves listed on the GEM board and it would encourage listing through the Direct Listing method besides positively enhance the tax revenue over medium to long term. The SECP has also proposed reinstatement of reduced tax rate of capital gains tax of 10% on sale of private company shares to a Private Fund.

Swvl to pause daily rides within major cities News Desk The bus-sharing service Swvl has announced on Thursday that it would be “pausing” it’s daily rides within Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Faisalabad starting from Sunday June 5, 2022. However, the service has informed that Swvl Travel rides (city to city) and Swvl Business rides (business to business) would remain fully operational. The company went on to say that it had started its

journey in July 2019, driven by the mission of “solving a major problem that all of us face and live in every day”. Swvl promised that having reliable, comfortable, and affordable means of transportation is not something fictional. We believe that every Pakistani should have this right, the right to commute safely every day. The announcement comes as the government has increased the prices of petroleum products by Rs30 per litre in a move aimed at placating the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for an economic bailout.

comprising 1,674 for construction of export indices and 3,311 items for import indices in rebasing trade statistics from 1990-91 to 2017-18. The current count was 632 and 1,124 for export and import indices respectively. As per the PBS report “Methodology of Trade Indices Base Year 2017-2018”, released recently the Governing Council of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics in its 5th meeting in 2014 issued a policy directive to rebase the National Accounts after every ten years. As a result, the National Accounts base year was changed from 2005-06 to 2015-16, the trade statistics also changed its base year from 1990-91 to 2017- 18. The data collection strategies and computational methodologies of trade indices introduced under the new base will improve the quality of trade statistics and will enhance the scope and effectiveness of policies by providing efficient statistics collected in line with international best practices.

Saudi Arabia unveils visit visa for Umrah News Desk Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Tawfiq AlRabiah on Thursday announced the launching of an electronic service to apply for Umrah visa for individual from outside Saudi Arabia. “The visit visa for Umrah will be issued now within 24 hours. Applications for Umrah visas can be submitted from outside Saudi Arabia, away from Umrah campaigns,” he said. Al-Rabiah said the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 aims to facilitate the reception of Umrah pilgrims in larger numbers, Saudi Gazette reported. The minister said one million people will perform Hajj this year. The pilgrims include 850,000 (85 percent) foreign pilgrims and 150,000 (15 percent) domestic pilgrims. He said the ministry and other related agencies are working to ensure the health of Hajj pilgrims. “The Hajj smart card will be implemented this year,” he said while noting that digital technologies would help organize this year’s Hajj in the perfect manner.

Miftah for expediting process of importing edible oil APP Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Miftah Ismail here on Thursday directed for expediting the process of importing edible oil from Malaysia and Indonesia to ensure smooth supply of the commodity to the consumers and stabilize its price. The minister was presiding over a meeting of the Committee on edible oil availability, at Finance Division, according to press statement issued by the finance ministry. The minister also directed for taking required measures to enhance the local production, so that impact of edible oil imports on foreign exchange reserves could be minimized. Among others, the meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Industries and Production, Syed Murtaza Mahmud, Federal Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training, Rana Tanveer Hussain, Secretary Ministry of Industries & Production, Chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and senior officers.

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Friday, 3 June, 2022 | LAHORE

04 NEWS

HaNIf reSIGNS froM cabINeT afTer IHc INcaPacITaTeS HIM ISLAMABAD

Staff rePort

AKISTAN Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hanif Abbasi resigned from the government on Wednesday, two weeks after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) barred him from temporarily discharging his duties as special assistant to the prime minister on a petition moved against his appointment by Awami Muslim League (AML) president Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed. In his letter addressed to Shehbaz Sharif on June

Shifting Yasin to isolated cell in Tihar jail deplorable, says Mushaal ISLAMABAD INP

Mushaal Hussein Mullick, the wife of jailed Kashmiri Hurriyat Leader Yasin Malik, condemned shifting of her husband to an isolated cell in notorious New Delhi’s Tihar jail. Mushaal, while talking to media along with Speaker National Assembly Raja Pervaiz Arshaf, expressed apprehension that her husband could be silently killed because notorious Narendra Modi government scared of lion of Kashmir even in jail. The hurriyat leader said that Yasin’s activities were being monitored through close circuit cameras in the isolated cell. Mushaal lamented that the authorities were using all brutal tactics to silence the voice of the chairman Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front after their failure to buy his consciousness. She said that the symbol of resistance was caged in a small isolated cell just to make him psychological patient. Mushaal said that level of brutalities of Indian fascist authorities could be judged from the fact that his mother and sister have been denied access to Malik in jail. She appealed to the international community, human rights organisations and OIC to take cognizance of the victimization of Malik by the Indian government to ensure protection of his life as his life was in danger. She also asked the NA speaker to raise voice for the release of her husband in international forums.

Pakistan to strengthen relationships to boost economic development: minister ISLAMABAD MoNItorINg rePort

Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said the country would further strengthen relations with its strategic partners including China to boost the economic development of Pakistan. Addressing a conference organised by the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), the minister said China brought investment to Pakistan in the hardest of times under the framework of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project of its Belt and Road Initiative. “When no one in the world was ready to invest even a single penny in Pakistan, China came forward and made investments worth billions of dollars under CPEC, bringing socio-economic development for the country,” the minister said. Iqbal said Pakistan is taking special measures to make the most of CPEC, adding that the pace of work on the CPEC projects is being accelerated for their early implementation. Commending China’s model of economic development, he said the achievements made by China over the last few decades are extremely remarkable and Pakistan should learn from them. To be able to develop economically, the minister further said that Pakistan needed to maintain political stability, continuity of policies and rule of law, viewed as common traits among the countries that were developing fast.

1, Abbasi said he won’t be able to “perform at present” and requested the prime minister to accept his resignation. Subsequently, on Thursday, a Cabinet Division notification said Sharif accepted the resignation under Schedule V-A of the Rules of Business, 1973, and removed Abbasi from the office with immediate effect. Abbasi — who was convicted and prisoned for life by an anti-narcotics court in July 2018, just days before the general elections, in a case related to the supply of ephedrine to a drug smuggler — was made minister days after Shehbaz Sharif assumed the top

office on April 11. He, however, wasn’t assigned a portfolio. Days after his appointment, Ahmed moved the high court against the development, observing it was “illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional and violative of the principles of good governance and the rule of law”. During the last hearing in the case on May 17, IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah expressed hope that Abbasi would not discharge his duties as minister until the next hearing. “If somebody is a convict, he ceases to hold a public office,” he remarked.

PTI’s financial expert briefs ECP about party funds ISLAMABAD INP

A financial expert of PTI on Thursday continued his briefing as a three-member bench of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) resumed hearing of the foreign funding case. “Brief only about the accounts, details of which were not given to the scrutiny committee,” Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja told financial expert Najam Shah. “Clarify about six to seven accounts,

which are disputed,” the CEC asked. “Don’t repeat which has already been described as repeating of a matter creates confusion,” the CEC added. The financial expert said that the record of individually opened accounts could not be submitted to the scrutiny committee. “The party’s central finance committee could not receive record of such accounts,” Najam Shah said. Najam Shah said that there is a difference of over 310 million rupees in PTI record and report of the scrutiny committee. “The committee has made

310 million rupees overstatement in PTI funds,” he stated. “A narrative is being floated that the PTI received funds over two billion rupees,” the expert said. “I want to give details of accounts, which the State Bank has attributed to the PTI,” he said. “According to the State Bank, the PTI had 26 bank accounts during 200913, while the party’s central finance wing had collected funds from overseas in nine bank accounts. The committee had pointed out 836 million, which

Article 63-A challenged in Supreme Court ISLAMABAD INP

A petition was filed in Supreme Court against Article 63-A of the Constitution which is related to the status of defecting lawmakers. The petition, which was filed on Thursday by Advocate Zulfiqar Bhatta, stated that Article 63-A of the Constitution is against democratic norms and freedom of expression. The federal government and law ministry were made respondents in the petition. “The SC verdict regarding the interpretation of Article 63-A of the Constitution has put an end to the democratic process of no-confidence motion,” the petition read. The petitioner pleaded with the apex court to restore the de-notified lawmakers until decision on the plea. Earlier, the SC had announced its verdict on the interpretation of Article 63-A, declaring that defective votes

XINhua

Khalid Bux, a farmer from Sindh, is worried about the fate of his sugarcane and cotton crops as onethird of the plants are drying up due to the unavailability of water from canals. “Even last year I couldn’t get the expected yield due to water issues, but this year it’s a real crisis. Canals are running dry and we do not have any resources to water our crops.” If the situation persists, local farmers will definitely be devoured by economic burden, he said. Residents of Sindh and other parts of the country are living under extremely hot weather conditions with mercury surpassing 50 degrees Celsius, and water woes are making the situation worse as clean drinking water and resources to water the crops are diminishing. In a conversation with Xinhua, Manzoor Wassan, advisor to the chief minister of Sindh on agriculture, said that the water scarcity is affecting almost all agriculture products in the province and the situation is feared to get worse in the coming days. “Sindh is rich in production of cereals, mangoes, peppers, cotton, rice, wheat, and sugarcane among others, but due to water shortage the

Ghulam Nabi Memon appointed Sindh IGP KARACHI INP

will not be counted in the Parliament. The CJP had observed that

changing loyalties in the Parliament damages the integrity of democracy.

Water shortage worsens scorching heatwave impact in Pakistan ISLAMABAD

could not be proved,” he said. “PTI didn’t describe the source of several funds,” ECP member Nisar Durrani remarked. “The party’s central finance wing had no record of individually opened accounts,” the PTI expert said. The commission directed the PTI financial expert to conclude his briefing within five days. “We will demand details in case of any question”, the CEC said. The election commission directed the PTI lawyer to conclude his arguments within two days and adjourned further hearing of the case until June 7.

already standing products are in crisis whereas sowing of rice is facing delay,” he said. The water shortage led by extreme weather conditions is also expected to result in a food shortage in Pakistan as the area of cultivation and annual yield is facing a decrease with every coming year, he added. At a recent media briefing, Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman warned of a 50 percent decline in the production of mangoes in the country due to water shortage. She said Pakistan ranks 5th in the world in producing mangoes, but this year severe water shortages and rising temperatures are expected to take a toll on the production of juicy fruit. Water Shortage is also leading to many health issues including water-borne disease, heatstroke, and kidney issues among the residents of the country. According to a report from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), an estimated 70 percent of households in Pakistan drink bacterially contaminated water. The current heatwave has worsened the situation. A worse outbreak of cholera in Balochistan left several kids killed and thousands of others infected, and stomach diseases in Punjab and Sindh occurred due to drinking con-

CMYK

taminated water. In the Cholistan desert of Punjab, over 50 cattle perish due to water shortage while wildlife is also affected. In a conversation with Xinhua, rescue workers from the non-government organisation AlKhidmat Foundation shared horrendous tales from the area where people suffered due to the wrath of climate. “The Cholistan is already a very poor area, but what happened to them this year can not be explained. Very lean and malnutrition kids had to walk miles in search of drinking water, but many wells were dried up. People had to see their cattle, which was the only source of income for them, die of thirst to save water for their kids,” Umar Ahmad, a rescue worker, told Xinhua. According to weather experts, the heatwave is likely to continue in June, but the water crisis will be averted during the monsoon season which starts around mid-July every year. Measures are also being taken to mitigate climate change, including a drive to plant 10 billion trees in the country. Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has recently organised a task force to prepare a comprehensive strategy to reduce the impact of climate change and deal with the issue of water and food shortage.

The federal government has approved the appointment of Ghulam Nabi Memon as inspector general (IG) of Sindh Police, ARY News reported on Thursday. According to details, the federal government has appointed Memon as IG Sindh on the provincial government’s recommendation. Memon is currently serving as additional inspector general (AIG) in Karachi. He has also served as AIG in special branch. It is to be noted that Kamran Afzal was appointed as IG Sindh a few days back. However, the Sindh High Court (SHC) had stopped him from working after he failed to present Dua Zehra, who had run away from her home to Lahore. The SHC had issued a show-cause notice to Kamran over the police’s failure to recover Dua Zehra. Dua Zerha had released a video message claiming that the police are harassing her and her husband.

Friday, 3 June, 2022 | LAHORE

NEWS

IMRAn SeCuReS InteRIM bAIl In lonG MARCh-lInKed CASeS peSHAwAr Administrator DHAI-R opened the "POSSESSION OF PLOTS" Sector A, B & C, Phase 4. Secretary DHAI-R along with senior officials were also present at the occasion. It was attended by a large number of respected members and real estate community. Pr

Pakistani doctors treat 915 Afghans at Kabul free eye camp kABuL APP

A team of Pakistani doctors has treated around 915 Afghan patients during a three days free eye camp set up at Al-Noor Hospital in Kabul. A large number of patients in Kabul have benefited from the eye camp organized by Pak-Afghan Cooperation Forum, which runs in the Afghan capital from May 30 to June 22. The camp has witnessed a large number of patients with different eye complications, who were given proper medical treatment including eye checkups, examinations, and surgeries. The doctors have so far performed 135 cataract surgeries, and five each vitreoretinal and oculoplastic surgeries.

India forcing Kashmiri Pandits to migrate to pave way for Muslims’ genocide The Indian government, like it did in the decade of 1990s, was again forcing the Kashmiri Pandits to migrate from the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), and the blame for this migration was once again being put on Pakistan and the Kashmiri freedom lovers. According to credible information reaching here, after getting the occupied valley free from Hindu Pandits, a plan of Muslims’ genocide would be implemented. The plan was aimed at trying to artificially alter the demography of Muslim population in the occupied valley. The Indian government was implementing a plan to settle the Pandits at separate colonies on Israeli pattern. However, the Kashmiri Pandit community was protesting over the BJP government’s discriminatory treatment. With Kashmiri Pandits already unsatisfied over failure of fulfilling the promise of providing security and the poor law and order situation in the valley, efforts were also being made by the Indian government to create hatred between the Kashmiri Pandits and Muslims. According to the information, the talks of atrocities on Hindu Pandits in IIOJK were nothing but mere lies and propaganda. Since the civilians were never ever targetted in the Kashmiri freedom struggle, the claim of targeting Pandits was also incorrect. India has been portraying since decades the Kashmiris’ freedom struggle as terrorism. Under a planned strategy, India through buying some people in IIOJK promoted them as militant organizations and defamed the original freedom struggles. Hurriyat leadership, which never forced the Kashmiri Pandits to leave IIOJK, was even today ready to take responsibility of protecting Hindu Pandits. Muslims, who were in favour of the Kashmiri Pandits’ presence in IIOJK, also wanted their participation in the Kashmiris’ self-determination. The illegal Indian act of August 5, 2019 not only made the life of Kashmiris miserable but also turned the whole region into destabilization and unrest. According to the information, contrary to Indian claims that the situation in IIOJK was returning to normalcy was, in reality, a rhetoric and lie for the outside world. The real situation in IIOJK was altogether different. APP

sTAff rePorT

HE Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Thursday granted transit bail to former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan until June 25 in all 14 cases registered against him in connection with the long march on Islamabad. After Khan called off his march, he and members of his party were booked in cases registered at police stations across Islamabad over allegations of arson and vandalism in the capital. Following the complaints, he petitioned the court through his counsel Babar Awan. He also appeared before the court as Chief Justice Qaiser Rashid Khan took up the petition. The judge approved Khan’s request for bail and subsequently forwarded the orders to an additional sessions judge in Islamabad. On May 26, a first information re-

port (FIR) was registered at the Kohsar police station at the complaint of SubInspector Asif Raza under Sections 109 (abetment), 148 (rioting armed with a deadly weapon), 149 (unlawful assembly), 186 (obstructing public service), 188 (disobedience), 353 (assault on public servant), 427 (causing damage) and 435 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to

cause damage) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). The second FIR was registered on the same day at 3:20 am on the complaint of Sub-Inspector Ghulam Sarwar. On May 28, 11 more cases were registered against the top leadership, including Khan, and activists of the party under different sections by the Loi Bher, Secretariat police, Aabapra

Pakistan sends 50-member team to Kabul to discuss TTP ceasefire ISLAMABAD The AssociATed Press

The government on Wednesday sent a 50-member delegation of tribal elders to Kabul to negotiate an extension of a truce with the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) that expired this week, two security officials said. Talks between the two sides that led to ceasefires in the past have been mediated by the Taliban in Afghanistan. The TTP are a separate group but allied with the Afghan Taliban, who seized power in their country last August, as the U.S. and NATO troops were in the final stages of their pullout from Afghanistan. The TTP has been behind numerous attacks in Pakistan over the past 14 years and has long fought for stricter enforcement of Islamic laws in the country, the release of their members who are in government custody and a reduction of military presence in the former tribal regions. The development comes after the latest ceasefire expired on Tuesday. A similar truce between the TTP and Pakistan, brokered by the Afghan Taliban last November, lasted a month. However, none of the cease-fires have paved the way for a more permanent peace agreement. Both sides have remained silent about earlier talks in Kabul, the sticking points between them and also about the chances of an extension to the latest cease-fire. Analysts say a more permanent deal could be possible if either side is willing to show flexibility on what is or isn’t acceptable to them. Two senior TTP members who are close to the negotiations also confirmed the arrival of the 50member team in Kabul. They told The Associated Press that a truce extension is linked to a “positive response” from Pakistan. They declined to elaborate and like the two security officials, spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to talk to the media about the negotiations. There was no official comment from the Pakistani government or the Taliban in Afghanistan. The group uses neighbouring Afghanistan’s rugged border regions for hideouts and for staging

cross-border attacks into Pakistan. They have been emboldened by the return to power of the Afghan Taliban, who last ruled Afghanistan in the late 1990s when they imposed their harsh edicts and interpretation of Islamic law, severely restricting the rights of women and minorities. In Pakistan, the TTP insurgency has been centred in the remote former tribal region, now the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, bordering Afghanistan. Mahmood Shah, a security analyst, said Islamabad sent tribal elders to Kabul as intermediaries because, under Pakistan’s constitution, the government cannot negotiate — at least not directly — with those waging an insurgency against it. The authorities want an extension of the cease-fire in order to continue the talks, he said. Shah served as a local official in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa when the military launched operations there after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States, closely liaising between the military and the government side, which allowed for first-hand knowledge of operations against the TTP and other militant groups. The negotiations in Kabul are difficult, he told the AP, because, for the military, any “government-level talks with TTP are equal to converting the military victory into a defeat.” The officials say the talks with the TTP are being overseen by Lt. Gen. Faiz Hameed, a former spy chief who is now the top commander in Peshawar. According to the two TTP members, the group asked the elders during Wednesday’s meeting in Kabul to scrap a 2018 law that did away with the semi-independent status of the former tribal regions that dates back to British colonial rule. Islamabad is unlikely to give in to such a demand as the law paved the way for granting equal rights to millions of residents in the restive areas once they were incorporated into Pakistan’s authority as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. TTP also wants troops to pull out of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, release all the TTP fighters in government custody and revoke all the legal cases against them.

police, Golra police, and Bhara Kahu police, among others. Meanwhile, former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser and former minister Hammad Azhar also applied for protective bails in the FIRs registered by the Punjab police. Former minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi also sought bail in six cases registered in different police stations. Islamabad High Court (IHC) on the other hand granted protective bail to PTI leader Umar Amin Gandapur till June 13 in an FIR registered in Mianwali. Moreover, District and Sessions Judge Kamran Basharat Mufti granted interim bail to Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed against Rs10,000 surety bonds till June 13. The IHC has barred police and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) from arresting Qaiser in cases related to harming government properties during the protest march. Qaiser approached IHC to seek protection against arrest after multiple FIRs were registered against him.

Govt jacks up petrol price by another Rs 30 contInueD froM pAge 01 Finance minister said that Hammad Azhar wrote a letter to Russia and when Imran khan returned back to Pakistan they wrote a letter for asking gas as well as wheat on discount but Russian never replied so far. Pakistan would be open to buy Russian oil at cheaper rates if the opportunity arises, provided that no sanctions are imposed because of the deal, he maintained.

Pakistan-born artist Shazia Sikander wins Fukuoka’s Arts and Culture Prize 2022 newS DeSk Shazia Sikander, a Pakistan-born miniature artist, has won Fukuoka Prize in Arts and Culture for introducing innovation in the traditional art forms using the latest digital technology of miniature painting, which follows conventions dating back to the Mughal Empire. According to a press release issued here on Thursday by the Embassy of Japan in Islamabad, Japan’s Fukuoka Prize Committee announced the Fukuoka Prize 2022. Fukuoka Prize is awarded in three categories: Grand Prize, Academic Prize, and Arts and Culture Prize. Besides, Shazia Sikander, this year’s Prize laureates include Japanese Taiko Drummer Hayashi Eitetsu for Grand Prize and Historian Prof. Timon Screech from the U.K for Academic Prize. In September this year, the laureates will officially be invited to Fukuoka, Japan, to receive their respective awards. There were three Pakistani recipients of the Fukuoka Prize in the past. Late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, the legendary qawwali maestro, Dr Uxi Mufti, a specialist in preserving folk heritage; and Yasmeen Lari, architect, architectural historian, and heritage conservationist. Born in Lahore, Shahzia Sikander earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1991 from the National College of Arts (NCA) in Lahore.

Government taking measures to improve performance of Railways, Senate told ISLAMABAD APP

Minister of State for Law and Justice Shahadat Awan on Thursday informed the Senate the government is taking steps to improve the performance of Pakistan Railways and would provide maximum facilities to the people. Replying to supplementary questions during question hour, he expressed the hope that there would be an outstanding performance of railways in future, adding that the last three years’ performance of PR was in front of us as a number of tragic accidents took place. Awan said that ministry had purchased 20 locomotives in 2017, adding that at present all the DE locomotives are in working

condition.“The reliability and availability of this particular fleet have mostly remained above 95 percent against the bench mark of 85 percent,” he added. Awan said the Railways infrastructure in Balochistan is being maintained as per available resources in order to provide safe and secure travel to the passengers. He said that Railway track in Balochistan consists of Sibi Quetta-Chaman, Spezand-Taftan and Sibi-Hurnai and some portion of Jacobabad Sibi Section. He said that improvement of passengers’ amenities has been carried out by providing washroom, drinking water and renovation of waiting rooms at various station buildings. In addition, Shahadat Awan said that ten stations buildings have been renovated and

rehabilitated on Sibi Harnai-Khc section, along with the repair of 25 bridges. Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Javed Abbasi said that the contract for rehabilitation of track between Sama Satta-Bahawalnagar on the Sama Satta-Amruka section has been awarded to M/s FWO, adding that the contract agreement was signed on March 19, 2021. He said that the total cost of the contract of rehabilitation of track between Sama Satta- Bahawalnagar awarded to FWO is Rs.7735.000 million. He said that the government would work on the proposal under consideration of the government to upgrade and rehabilitate the Narowal-Kartarpur railway track.

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06-07 Comments - 3rd June 2022_Layout 1 6/3/2022 12:53 AM Page 1

Friday, 3 June, 2022

06 COMMENT

Getting the sequel ready

Imran Khan and the future of Pakistan Hallucinations caused by loss of power

Can Imran reproduce the 2014 dharna?

frustrated imran khan has presented a nightmarish scenario about the future of the country while talking to a tV journalist. as he put it the country could be bankrupt and divided into three parts, there could be a civil war and the loss of nuclear assets. Mr khan has been frustrated and angry since he lost his job. He planned to lead the largest protest march in history but managed to collect hardly a few thousand on May 25. Finding that he could not create an impact with a humble gathering, he canceled the plan to camp in islamabad and immediately returned to Peshawar. He promised however to return with a large crowd within six days. the hope that the supreme Court would instantly issue orders to deter the unity government from creating hindrances in the protesters’ way was dashed to ground when Pti’s application was returned with objections. While hearing another case related to the azadi March a sC bench observed that peaceful protest was a constitutional right but it must be exercised subject to permission by the state. this must have come as a damper to Mr khan who wanted unrestrained freedom. a member of the sC bench even supported contempt proceedings against the Pti chief. another source of frustration for Mr khan is the PML(n)-led government which is consolidating itself. it has made legislation to change the naB law, appointed two missing eCP members and passed electoral reforms rejecting the use of eVMs and refusing to give the right of vote to expatriates through electronic voting. Fearful that he might be arrested on the basis of FiRs registered during the azadi March, Mr khan has chosen to live in kP. Pakistan faces serious economic problems. these need to be tackled by the government seriously. What is required meanwhile is maintenance of social peace in the country. it is simply rubbish to talk about civil war or danger to nuclear assets. Mr khan sought the establishment’s support to come to power and agreed to share power with it. For nearly three years the Pti boasted of being on the same page with the establishment. Mr khan cannot absolve himself by claiming that he was powerless to stop the persecution of free media, media trial and incarceration of political opponents, false cases against Justice Faez isa and his wife and countless enforced disappearances. He should display moral courage to own these decisions.

At Penpoint M A NIAZI

He Pti’s Long March was supposed to have led to a sit-in, but it didn’t. in a way, iit was a double failure, for it not only showed that imran khan did not have as much support as he thought, but that he did not have the support he thought he had from the establishment, which had made the 20124 sit-in such a success. in 2014, he did not get the dissolution he demanded. However, the prolonged sit-in allowed to propagate his views and his anti-government narrative, in a widespread fashion, that was effective as never before. the most important factor was the media-freshness: this was the first D Chowk sit-in covered so extensively. there was some pressure from the establishment, but basically, the coverage made good journalistic sense. indeed, when the sit-in was called off, because of the aPs Peshawar massacre, the media was about as stuck as imran, because the coverage was not getting the sort of viewership that justified it, and imran was running out of things to say. that sit-in set a bar for the future, which meant that imran would somehow have to outdo it. if indeed he could bring the two million people he said he would, or even a tenth of that number, he would have gathered a really humongous crowd, thus showing that his narrative was really reaching out to people. However, the crowd that turned up was not that large, and was less than the 2014 effort. the result was that he did not stage a sit-in. as in 2014, the sit-in was for those who had come from out of town. He, himself a bonafide islamabad resident, went to his Bani Gala residence, where he rested, spent the night, and came back the next date, announcing that there would be no sit-in. While he gave a six-day ultimatum to the government to announce elections, he fudged, perhaps deliberately, what would happen if the government failed to announce elections. Would he give another call? the supreme Court had allowed the rally, upholding the citizens’ right of assembly, but said that it could not gather at D Chowk. there had been incidents of arson, and the police had resorted to teargassing the crowd. the supreme Court had said they had the right to assemble, but at the H9 park, now the D Chowk. imran took that as a blanket permission to go to D Chowk. When a contempt petition was moved the next

Shehbaz in Turkey

MuhAMMAd ZAhId RIfAt

akistan was most affected due to regional greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). Pakistan has less than one percent GHG emissions but the developed world has neglected the country despite its increased burden on natural disasters. Pakistan has seen as many as 152 extreme weather events in the past 20 years. the United nations has put Pakistan among the top 23 most drought- hit countries and is among the top ten countries affected by climate change. the heatwave almost all over the country has spiked up and gained longevity, and the glaciers in the north are melting rapidly because of the prolonged and extreme temperature spike in the country. Pakistan has been in the grip of severe heatwave for the last couple of months and the traditionally spring months of March and april have been turned into the hottest months in most parts of the country. March 2022 remained the hottest recorded month since 1961. During the past two months or so, people in both india and Pakistan have experienced levels of heat higher than national and global records. the Meteorological Department of Pakistan has already hinted at the current heatwave persisting till June 2022. Pakistan thus has entered for the first time into the summer without any spring season and if adequate measures for appropriate preparedness were not taken in a timely way, then it may occur again in the next year due to global warming. Prime Minister shehbaz sharif has constituted a task Force on Climate Change in view of the country’s currently facing a heatwave and the melting of glaciers. the task Force so formed has been tasked to develop a comprehensive strategy on priority basis

Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor

Yousaf Nizami Umar Aziz

Joint Editor

Executive Editor

Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

The writer is a member of staff

This year was only the beginning

Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami

M. A. Niazi

Imran must have realised by now that there is a difference between going to see him at a rally, and braving police lathis to do so. He must also have realised that while the Supreme Court might protect his rights, it will not twist the law to favour him.

Heatwave hazards

inisteR shehbaz sharif’s touching base with turkey will not have yielded the sort of help that he and his government most urgently need, which is hard cash, mainly because turkey itself is facing difficult economic conditions itself and has little or nothing to spare. However, Mr sharif did point the way forward in their relations when talking to potential investors. He pointed out that there were many opportunities in Pakistan, particularly in the energy sector, particularly hydropower and renewable energy. the last time turkish President Recep tayip erogan visited Pakistan, the two countries had agreed to increase bilaterral trade to $ 5 billiion a year. as it is, at present it stands at $1.1 billion a year. One of the freedoms Pakistan enjoys with turkey is that there are no restricted areas, something which is emphasized by the military equipment cooperation between the two, which is exemplified by the Pakistan navy’s purchase of turkish-made corvettes and the turkish air Force’s purchase of Pakistan-made super-Mushak trainer turboprops. Pakistan and turkey continue to coordinate in various international organizations, such as the OiC, where turkish support has become necessary to ensure OiC support for the kashmiri freedom struggle, and FatF, where turkish support has been instrumental in defeating indian machinations to get Pakistan placed on its black list. turkey has played an instrumental part in the afghan issue, and will continue to do so. Recent linkages which are being developed, turkey being the western terminus of the new silk Road, draw it eve4n closer to Pakistan. Mr sharif will have not found the economic relief that he has been seeking wherever he has been going. He may be pleased to learn that China will redeposit the $3 billion it had earlier withdrawn from the state Bank of Pakistan, but turkey was not in a position to provide such concrete hekp. However, Mr sharif’s visit provided him an important opportunity to interact with one of Pakistan’s most constant friends.

Editor Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

day, the supreme Court took a forgiving view, and said that imran had probably not been conveyed the order properly. it was assumed that this meant that the supreme Court had a soft spot from imran. that might well be so, but it was also true that contempt is a kind of discretionary prerogative of the court. Being issued a contempt notice means that the contemnor has been found guilty. the only answer to such a notice is to throw oneself on the mercy of the court. Of course, one may attempt a defence, such as the Court having misunderstood what one said. a common example is that it is contemptuous to say that a judgement was given under influence or because of a bias or a bribe, but it is not contemptuous to criticize a judgement for being wrongheaded or ignorant. Disobeying a court order is contempt, and many lawyers have profited from preferring petitions that their client’s opponents had been contemptuous by, say, moving a boundary six inches where the judgement had said eight. that is how imran is supposed to have been contemptuous, by holding his rally where the Court had said he couldn’t. it might be said that he had committed what is called contempt by scandalizing the court by implying that it was ancillary to the conspiracy he claims removed him from office. the court has not responded to that with contempt notices. that shows there has been an advance from the time that there was a protest on Lahore’s Mall Road by the tenants of the Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court, who owned land in Faisalabad district. the publisher and editor of the newspaper which reported the incident were charged with contempt (which meant conviction) for ‘scandalizing the court’. the supreme Court may try to avoid criticism by giving the Pti the decisions it wants, but it cannot provide the Pti the crowds that imran wants. though it is now suggested that the ix-day limit is not so much to get a date for new elections, as to get time for a fresh Long March. the conventional wisdom

was that a protest could not be launched in summer, in the middle of the hot weather; that seems correct. Was this merely the proverbial shot across the bows? there are two parallels to be drawn, one being the start of his period in government, the second being the end of imran’s cricketing career. First, as he himself has said, there was no transition, and not just he, but his entire team, had to learn on the job. it seems that the same principle is being applied to the Long March; and the first one took place without preparation, while the next will be better prepared. that brings to how imran’s cricketing career ended. the last match he played for Pakistan, say the record books, was the World Cup final against australia. However, he did not retire after that. it was assumed that he would continue, and captain Pakistan in the upcoming tour of england. there was then a team rebellion led by Javed Miandad, and imran was then dropped from the tour by the selectors. there is no Miandad-like figure at present, waiting in the wings to take up the leadership. there can’t really be, for the selectors have not really had the time to build up any figure. that might be one reason for the present neutrality. it should not be forgotten that imran was not the first person to be selected. so were Zulfikar ali Bhutto and Mian nawaz sharif. it is safe to assume that there are other possibilities, not yet matured, waiting in the wings. However, such a personality would take time to be put on a trajectory that would lead to the Prime Minister’s office. imran is moving towards political irrelevance. His supporters have taken a leaf out of his book, and do not accept the blame for his poor showing on March 25, but it is possible that, even with full supreme Court support, his call for a second round will be answered with even louder silence.at the moment, Pti supporters tell one another that the might of the state was at work, but even if that might is held back, a lot of people will not take the risk of its being unleashed on the day. imran must have realised by now that there is a difference between going to see him at a rally, and braving police lathis to do so. He must also have realised that while the supreme Court might protect his rights, it will not twist the law to favour him. He might have benefitted once from the mercy of the court. He should not expect it to have infinite patience.

Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

to mitigate the effects of climate change in the country and to prevent incidents such as the glacier incident in Hunza. Quite appreciably, the Prime Minister has directed all the concerned ministries and agencies concerned at the federal and provincial levels to take immediate measures for preventing food and water shortages and ensuring conservation of water and forests in the country. Pakistan is the third most water-stressed country in the world and most unfortunately its status is gradually shifting from water-stressed to water-scarce nation, which will obviously have a huge adverse impact on the country. a recent glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) incident occurred due to a melting glacial lake formed at shisper Glacier that partially damaged the karakoram Highway. according to the figures available from official sources there are 30-31 potential lakes to outburst out of 3044 total serious glacial lakes. shisper Glacier was formed in 2018 which is a surging glacier which was visited by some senior officials in February 2021 to observe the situation. First warning for a GLOF at shisper was received on March 16. if there have been no life and livestock losses reported, this was mainly due to the early warning and preparedness by the agencies concerned at Gilgit-Baltistan and Hunza. Federal Climate Change Minister senator sherry Rehman along with senior federal and provincial officials concerned as well as the Chairman of the national Disaster Management authority (nDMa), highlighted various aspects of the onrushing climate change, global warming and prevailing heatwave in most parts of the country while addressing a new conference some days back in islamabad. a Climate Change Ministry senior official said on the occasion that in Pakistan climate science was a matter of decades to come, and the scientific models predicted for 2030 have already started activating 10 years prior to the projected timelines. it is good to note that in view of prevailing severe

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

heatwave in most parts of the country, the Federal Climate Change Ministry has already established more than 1000 heatwave centres each in sindh and Punjab provinces and the Ministry was also issuing advisories to the provinces in this regard regularly. Back in 2015, an extended heatwave in the subcontinent had resulted in more than 2500 deaths in india and over 1200 in Pakistan, mostly in karachi. according to Climate Change’s 6th assessment Report, cities like karachi in Pakistan are most likely to experience conditions equivalent to the 2015 heatwave on a basis of an increase of temperature by 1.5°C above the pre-industrial levels, the goal for limiting global warming under the 2015 Paris agreement. Population density, the scale of economic activity and rapid urbanization in the region all make the indian subcontinent more vulnerable to extreme weather events, according to the weather and global warming experts. Heatwaves are prolonged periods of excessive heat with temperatures more than 10 degrees higher than normal. according to the World Health Organization (WHO), exposure to high levels of heat can cause exhaustion, heat stroke and hyperthermia. Deaths or hospitalization are likely to occur either immediately or after some days of exposure which can also worsen chronic illnesses including cardiovascular, respiratory and diabetes-related conditions. the human body has limited ability to adapt to heatwave-like temperatures, a term that accounts for both heat and humidity. around 95°F is considered the upper limit that human beings can survive above which prolonged exposure can prove fatal, the experts have duly warned. save yourself and your families from heatwave hazards, take preventive measures, avoid avoidable and non-essential exposure in excessive heat and remain alive and healthy while praying to the almighty for the safety of all around you, in the country and the world.

Save yourself and your families from heatwave hazards, take preventive measures, avoid avoidable and non-essential exposure

Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

The writer can zahidriffat@gmail.com

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

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06-07 Comments - 3rd June 2022_Layout 1 6/3/2022 12:53 AM Page 2

Friday, 3 June, 2022

COMMENT 07 Editor’s mail Send your letters to: Letters to Editor, Pakistan today, 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah, Lahore, Pakistan. E-mail: letters@pakistantoday.com.pk Letters should be addressed to Pakistan today exclusively

Is Pakistan capable of a second-strike?

A peek into India’s IB and RAW New books reveal horrific picture

AMjed jAAved

nDia’s prime minister narendra Modi granted a year-long extension in service to retiring heads of india’s intelligence bureau (arvind kumar) and the Research and analysis Wing (samant kumar Goel). Both officers are specialists in the art of disinformation and insurgency. they masterminded the so-called Balakot strikes inside Pakistan. Besides, they mounted a world-wide Pakistanbashing campaign that resulted in Pakistan’s isolation in the comity of nations. Pakistan’s FatF woes could veritably be attributed to the machinations of the said two officers. they are protégés of india’s national security czar ajit Doval. Doval himself boasts of having carried out covert activities in Pakistan for about 11 years. He did not care a fig for violating the diplomatic norms while posted in Pakistan. the common belief is that the iB and the RaW have separate domains. But, in actual fact, both organizations coordinate their activities. Like the RaW, the iB also has its offices abroad. in his book, RAW: A History of India’s Covert Operations, Yatish Yadav makes startling disclosures about activities of india’s intelligence agencies. in a chapter titled “Hunting the RAW traitor”, he reveals that a RaW officer Rabinder singh sold national secrets to the Cia for money. singh was outwardly a religious person who had a penchant for quoting from the Hindu religious book Bhagwad Gita. although given asylum in the Usa, he was soon forsaken by the Cia and met with an unexplained road accident there. the accident was masterminded by the RaW. initially, the iB was responsible for india’s internal and external intelligence.in 1968, it was bifurcated and left with internal intelligence only, while its external branch was handed over to the newly-created Research and analysis Wing (RaW). RaW provides intelligence to policymakers and the army and it keeps a close eye on the activities of the neighbouring countries (China, Pakistan, sri Lanka, Myanmar, amon others) of the nation. the main functions of the iB include counterintelligence, counterterrorism, ViP security, anti-secession activities and intelligence collection in border areas. RaW on the other hand collects secret information about the activities of neighbouring countries. iB functions under the governance of the Ministry of Home affairs, while RaW has been placed directly under the indian Prime Minister’s Office. iB gets its employees from the indian Police service, law enforcement agencies and the military, while RaW has its own service cadre known as the Research and analysis service (Ras).

RaW stoked the insurgency in east Pakistan that led to dismemberment of Pakistan. the indian army and other agencies acted in tandem. indian diplomats developed deep ingress in islamabad. On 29 May 1988, a senior official of the Pakistan intelligence Bureau was abducted in islamabad by the inter-services intelligence Directorate (isi). the abducted, a RaW agent, revealed the location of a secret telephone exchange that was monitoring calls made by Zia-ul-Haq. kulbushan Jhadav’s story speaks volumes on how india utilises even its serving officers to carry out sabotage and subversion in Pakistan. RaW is a master of ‘disinformation’ (Russian dezinformatsiya). Dsinformation is a concept that finds mention in sun tzu’s Ping Fa (Principles of War). even before sun tzu, kautilya in Arthashastra supported disinformation as a civil and military warfare tool within his concept of koota yuddha (unprincipled warfare as distinguished from dharma yuddha, righteous warfare). eU Lab belatedly discovered an india-sponsored worldwide network that spread disinformation against Pakistan. even prestigious indian newspapers sometimes publish reports or articles that smack of being pieces of state-sponsored disinformation. Harvard’s criteria for detecting fake news could be applied to disinformation bloomers. Harvard suggests `everyone should vet a publisher’s credibility first and then check all the sources and citations’. James Carson offers tips in his article `Fake news: What exactly is it – and how can you spot it‘? (telegraph, 31 January, 2019).Disinformation camouflaged in op-eds is hard to detect as they do not usually quote their sources of information. RaW officers speak many languages such as Chinese, Russian, arabic, sinhalese, German, Polish and Urdu. By the time of Morarji Desai, RaW had a staff of “more than 5000 on its payroll”. RaW “recruited trained and deployed informers and covert action teams in the Usa, iran and several european countries as well as in india’s immediate neighbourhood. it also employed analysts, polygraph examiners, cartographers, linguists, economists and political analysts to defend the country from internal foes and external enemies.” in Bangladesh, RaW combated the influence of the Cia and Pakistan. the assassination of sheikh Mujibur Rahman was a big blow and a much-chastened RaW regrouped to regain its lost influence in Bangladesh. By november 1988, RaW’s station head, code-named krishna Patwardhan, had set up the necessary network in Bangladesh, to target elements that were hostile to india. RaW saw spectacular action in other theatres as well. On March 20, 1988, RaW operative anupam Malik began to carry out Mission Fiji’, “aimed to disrupt and dismantle Fiji’s military regime” that threatened to upset the ethnic balance in Fiji. attempts were being made by this regime to deny political rights to ethnic indians, most of whom had been immigrants to the

country during the British Raj. Deporting all ethnic indians to india’ was a distinct possibility. By the 1990s sitiveni Rabuka, the strongman, was honey-trapped and compromised by RaW agents in Fiji and had to abdicate political power. similarly, RaW’s involvement in afghanistan, began with the UssR’s invasion of the country. the agency’s operatives carried out missions right through the chequered regimes of taraki, amin and karmal, encountering opposition from Pakistan’s Zia ul-Haq and the taliban at different times. in sri Lanka, RaW propped up the Liberation tigers of tamil eelam (Ltte) and had to follow the contradictory path of support and opposition following the dictates of the political masters in Delhi. in the chapter titled “shadowy War in Washington”, we see the RaW operative code-named ‘Blue sky’ tracked down the khalistani leader Jagjit singh Chouhan and successfully penetrated the World sikh Organisation, the international sikh Federation and the Babbar khalsa international. in nepal, the RaW bankrolled the opposition to topple prime minister Oli’s government. RaW’s cover officers, including Rk Yadav and B. Raman, make no bones about india’s involvement in Bangladesh’s insurgency. they admitted that india’s prime minister indira Gandhi, Parliament, RaW and armed forces acted in tandem to dismember Pakistan. Raman reminds us that the indian Parliament passed a resolution on 31 March 1971, to support the insurgency. in order to sabotage the China Pakistan economic Corridor (CPeC), the RaW has set up a cell ‘under the supervision of the indian Prime Minister’. Yet another book (Terror in Islamabad) has been published by an officer amar Bhushan who happened to have served as a diplomat at the indian High Commission islamabad. Before being posted to islamabad, Bhushan had served as an officer of india’s premier intelligence agency Research and analysis Wing, Border security Force intelligence, and state special Branch for a quarter of a century. His book mentions another RaW officer, amit Munshi (real name Veer singh) posted as Cultural attaché. Bhushan’s book reveals that singh’s assignment was to “identify potential Pakistanis for subversion”. the familiar elements of intelligence craft are espionage, sabotage and subversion. india added one more element “insurgency” to the intelligence craft. the RaW officer B. Raman, in his book The Kaoboys of R&AW: Down Memory Lane makes no bones about india’s involvement up to the level of prime minister in Bangladesh’s insurgency.

In order to sabotage the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the RAW has set up a cell ‘under the supervision of the Indian Prime Minister’. Yet another book (Terror in Islamabad) has been published by an officer Amar Bhushan who happened to have served as a diplomat at the Indian High Commission Islamabad.

The writer is a freelance journalist, has served in the Pakistan government for 39 years and holds degrees in economics, business administration, and law. He can be reached at amjedjaaved@gmail.com

in great international power politics, nuclear weapons have repudiated the concept of real wars. instead, it focuses on upgrading state capabilities to deter the adversary state from the consequences of the first strike. second strike capacity is the capacity of a state to answer an atomic assault through an atomic counter. However, the credibility of a second strike is attained when the adversary state accepts that attacking will eventually result in massive retaliation or mutual-assured destruction. Pakistan had attained its nuclear license in 1997 and, since, developed its atomic technology to keep its flag high in international relations. Recently, Pakistan with turkey is manufacturing the Babur-3rd class guided missile heavy corvette. according to the Pakistan strategic Forum, “the class of four Babur corvettes are being built under the joint venture MiLGeM project between Pakistan and turkey, with 2 ships being built in istanbul, turkey and 2 in karachi, Pakistan at a cost of around $1.5 Billion to the Pakistan navy. the Babur Class Corvettes are 3,000-tonne multimission platforms, equipped for anti-ship warfare (ashW), anti-submarine warfare (asW) as well as anti-air warfare (aaW)”. the Babur-3 guided corvette missile which Pakistan will officially announce next month holds the accurate precision power in the 9,300kilometre range. this is a great instant boost in Pakistan’s second-strike capability including up-gradation to continental, aerospace and maritime security dimensions. Babur Cruise Missile is another medium-range turbojet engine Pakistani missile with a range of 900-kilometre (2021 model). shaheen iii is Pakistan’s land-to-land highest range of 2750-kilometres ballistic missile tested on 9th March 2015. afterwards, the Pakistan intercontinental Ballistic Missile (iCBM) with an expected range of 7000-kilometre is under-development. the manufacturing of this missile will give Pakistan a strong hold over its nuclear attainments. However, right now, Pakistan does not have an atomic controlled submarine. nuclear powered Ballistic submarine (ssBn) is specially designed for long-range rockets and holds the capacity to be immersed underwater for a longer time and cannot be recognised by radars and projectors. Diesel-electric submarines, notwithstanding, are a long way from being strong, as they are not tranquil and along these lines can be recognized, undermining their endurance and thus the believability of the subsequent strike. a state balance of power in the context of second-strike capability can be categorized in two short ways; a state’s internal capabilities in terms of military, politics and national elements and a state’s external stance in international relations. the state goodwill in using nuclear weapons depends both on internal and external stances and neglecting any element can result in fierce economic and political sanctions. in recent years, Pakistan has been tilting toward China while trying to not worsen its relations with the Usa as well. in the past decade, Pakistan had notably increased military ties with turkey, Russia, Ukraine and China. China is linked with Pakistan in interest to its Road and Belt initiative Project. Gwadar Port is the main object for the successful completion of China’s project. Pakistan is effectively utilizing these opportunities to build economic and political ties with China which is going to enhance Pakistan’s second-strike capability in context to the external goodwill in international relations and more nuclear advancement, especially in nuclear ssBn submarines. BURHAN AHMED LODHI ISLAMABAD

The management of Toshakhana tHe use of precious gifts from the toshakhana repository by a galaxy of our ex-rulers or by our present rulers is morally reprehensible; this endeavour should be brought to an end. in future, i would like to recommend the following rules and regulations to operate our toshakhana in an honourable manner: 1.) the receipt of a “gift” by the head of state, the head of government, governor, provincial chief minister, chief justice, justice, or any other public service functionary, should be deposited in the toshakhana forthwith. 2.) the recipient, however, would be allowed to receive or retain a beautifully adorned pictorial memento of the receipt of a “gift”. 3.) each “gift” belongs to the nation; once it is deposited in the toshakhana safe, it would be subject to sale via auction within a reasonable period of time; the minimum reserve price of the article’s sale should be its current market value. 4.) Funds received from the auction would be spent on charitable projects across all 5 provinces, such as supporting sundas Foundation or siUt, widows, orphans, destitute people, dialysis centres, and marriages of orphan or destitute girls, or rehabilitation centres for drug users, etc. ABBAS R SIDDIQI LAHORE

Stunted growth in Pakistan eaCH year we hear about the high level of stunted growth among children in Pakistan but it is unfortunate that the previous governments have not been able to reduce stunted growth by utilizing local industry. the easiest method for reducing stunted growth is by providing multivitamin medicines to the public. Pakistan has over 750 pharmaceutical manufacturers that can provide multivitamins easily and cheaply to Pakistanis. the government of Pakistan has imposed a ban on the price increases of multivitamins by pharmaceutical companies, forcing them to stop the production of these essential medicines in Pakistan. the government has allowed non-multivitamin herbal nutrients medicines to charge rates of their own choice. in such a condition the pharmaceutical real multivitamins cannot compete or even recover the costs of expensive imported chemicals. the public is denied a way to reduce stunted growth among children. i therefore request the current government of Pakistan to allow pharmaceutical companies to charge their own rates on multivitamins, with 750 companies competing in the market will ensure low rates and steady supply to everyone. SHAHRYAR KHAN BASEER PESHAWAR

08 WORLD VIEW 3rd June 22_Layout 1 6/2/2022 9:52 PM Page 1

Friday, 3 June, 2022

08 WORLD VIEW

‘Hindutva pop’: tHe singers producing anti-MusliM Music in india BEHIND THE RISING ISLAMOPHOBIA IN INDIA LIES A NETWORK OF HINDU RIGHT-WING ARTISTS COMPOSING SONGS PLAYED DURING HATE CAMPAIGNS Al JAzeerA QurAtulAin rehbAr

“i

nsaan nahi ho saalo, ho tum kasaayi; Bahut ho chuka Hindu-Muslim bhai bhai” – You are not human, you are butchers; it’s enough of Hindu-Muslim brotherhood. These are the lyrics of a ‘bhajan’ (devotional song) that singer Prem Krishnavanshi posted on YouTube three years ago and has been viewed thousands of times since. Triggered by contemporary hate politics, Krishnavanshi’s song is a part of a new mass culture in india where anti-Muslim songs are played in rallies by Hindu supremacist groups, mainly in what is called the country’s “Hindi belt” northern states. Dozens of such music videos can be found on YouTube and other social media platforms, with the supporters of the Hindu far-right loving and sharing them for their messages of hate, abuse and even threats of genocide targeted at the Muslim minority. Krishnavanshi, an engineering graduate from lucknow, capital of Uttar Pradesh state, wanted to be a Bollywood singer. But it was too competitive. so he turned to live shows and events to make a living. The turning point came in 2014 when the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power. The arrival of a new government headed by Prime Minister narendra Modi saw an unprecedented polarisation of indian society, with hate attacks on india’s minorities, mainly Muslims, becoming a near-daily affair since. in such a scenario, cultural products such as music, poetry and cinema also became the tools by which this politics of hatred is sustained. in the past few months, india witnessed religious violence in several states during Hindu festivals when right-wing groups held marches in mainly Muslim neighbourhoods and played loud music laced with islamophobic lyrics outside mosques. Krishnavanshi sings in Hindi and Bhojpuri languages. His fan base is mainly in Uttar Pradesh, india’s

most populous state with nearly 205 million residents, governed by the BJP’s saffron-robed Hindu monk, Yogi adityanath, who is known for his anti-Muslim rhetoric and policies. in many of his songs, Krishnavanshi suggests Muslims are “anti-nationals who should go to Pakistan”. One of his songs says: “Muslims will eventually force Hindus to pray namaz if they don’t wake up soon”. But the singer claims they are not hate songs.. “i don’t think my music is islamophobic. My music signifies truth and if someone thinks it’s islamophobic, i can’t stop them from feeling that way,” he told al Jazeera. recently, the Uttar Pradesh government gave him an award for his song praising the state’s hardline chief minister, adityanath. Many of these hate songs are also tributes to Hindu nationalist politicians such as Modi, adityanath and other top BJP leaders. The songs also talk about the Mughals and other Muslim rulers of the subcontinent, calling them “invaders” who spread islam through violence and threats. Their music videos feature Hindu men sporting vermillion on their foreheads and brandishing swords, tridents and pistols. ‘HINDUTVA POP’: Born in a middle-class family in Bhopal, the capital of central india’s Madhya Pradesh state, laxmi Dubey grew up listening to Hindu devotional songs from her late grandfather who was a musician. Back then, she said she used to sing songs of Muslim-Hindu brotherhood and religious coexistence in school events. Dubey, 31, started her career as a part-time reporter in a local newspaper she did not want to name. But, like Krishnavanshi, things changed for her with Modi’s rise as prime minister in 2014. “i don’t belong to any party, but i thank Modi for everything he has done for the Hindus,” Dubey told al Jazeera. When Dubey performs with vermillion on her forehead and a marigold garland around her neck, the listeners groove to her “Hindutva pop” songs. “Hindutva” is a Hindi word that refers to the Hindu supremacist movement. One of Dubey’s more popular songs says: “agar Hindustan mein rehna hoga, To vande mataram kehna hoga” (if you want to stay in india, praise the motherland). “Vande Mataram”, a song written in sanskritised Bengali by writer Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, is patronised by india’s Hindu right for its nationalist imagination that borrows heavily from the Hindu religious pantheon.

Brahma Prakash, a professor at new Delhi-based Jawaharlal nehru University, told al Jazeera the music of hate has changed the pattern of religious violence in india. “We know the historical patterns of riots and massacres in india: the leader will give a speech and the riots will spill into the streets. But it seems that the pattern has changed. You don’t need a leader. What you need is a ‘Bhakti vibrator’,” said Prakash. ‘Bhakti’ in Hindi literally means devotion, but is also used to refer to the BJP’s supporters. “You just play the DJ [disc jockey] and it will fulfil its task. it will move the mobs and make them participate in massacre. You don’t need an instigator to incite violence. You set the tone, you set the track and the hate will rock,” he said. Prakash said this form of music has “shocking” parallels with those produced under the nazi regime in Germany in the 1930s. “March band, processional music, repetitious slogans, communal singing, repeated cries of Jai shri ram [Hail lord ram] like ‘Heil’,” he said. “Music stirring the crowds into an emotional frenzy are not just a few resonances. The similarities are shocking.” Dubey’s YouTube channel has nearly 300,000 followers, and her songs have millions of views and hundreds of provocative comments against india’s Muslims. she is often invited by BJP members to perform in their cities. But the singer says she “does not have anything against the Muslim community” but only against those “who are enemies of the country and support Pakistan”. “Will someone from Pakistan just come and attack our country unless they are getting massive logistical support or shelter from anti-nationals of their religion? We have anti-nationals in countries who eat in india but support the neighbour,” she said. in her team, Dubey has a manager, background singers and other people who help her perform. she earns handsomely and claims she spends all her money on the welfare of Hindu widows and the poor. What troubles Dubey, she told al Jazeera, is “love jihad” – an unproven conspiracy theory propagated by the Hindu far-right that alleges that Muslim men form relations with Hindu women in order to marry them and then convert them to islam. Dubey also believes in another right-wing conspiracy theory: that a large number of Muslims practice polygamy to have “a lot of children” and “increase their population”. “Why would they [Muslims] marry Hindu girls and convert them? The minority communities are

doing 5-10 marriages and have 20-50 children. Their population is growing heavily. if our country didn’t support them, would their population grow to this extent?” she said. Uttar Pradesh-based lawyer areeb Uddin says such “hateful songs amount to hate speech”. “it is time that hate speech jurisprudence should take its place and it is time for the courts or the concerned legislative organs to frame guidelines for such cases where hatred is being poured and no action is being taken,” he told al Jazeera. But Dubey claims her songs “spread awareness” among the Hindu community – a work that “makes her proud”. “The youth who used to wear hoodies and torn clothes now proudly wear saffron. They are ready to sacrifice themselves for Hinduism,” she said. “i want to bring Hindus together to create an army.” Dubey lauds Modi for abrogating the semi-autonomous status of indian-Occupied Kashmir in 2019. “We had almost lost indian-Occupied Kashmir, it’s because of Prime Minister narendra Modi that we still have it,” she said. she also thinks the 1947 partition of the subcontinent to form india and Pakistan was not done properly. “When the partition was done on the basis of religion by then stakeholders, Pakistan should have been given to one religion and india to another religion. Then this fight could have been avoided.” india is home to more than 200 million Muslims, the third-largest population after indonesia and Pakistan. But Dubey thinks india should be declared a Hindu nation. singer and songwriter Upendra rana, from Uttar Pradesh’s city of noida on the outskirts of the indian capital, has more than 370,000 subscribers on YouTube. rana used to record devotional music through audio cassettes with a local label. When he started getting fame, he decided to do songs independently and created his own channel. rana’s journey in “Hindutva pop” began in 2017 when he began writing mostly songs about history in which he praised the Hindu rulers of the past, despite historians insist it is incorrect to use the prism of religion to understand pre-modern history. One of rana’s songs says: “Dharm ke naam zameen gayi, islami mulk banaye” (in the name of their religion, we lost our land; they made it an islamic nation). The video of the song was shot at Dasna Devi Temple in Ghaziabad, a district neighbouring noida. The temple is managed by Yati narsinghanand, a controversial Hindutva leader who was recently arrested for his hate speeches against Muslims. The music video features narsinghanand brandishing swords with rana. “Hindu mythology is missing from school curriculum. Through my songs, i want the children to remember Hindu warriors,” he said. academic Prakash says the mass production of “Hindutva pop” is a new phenomenon. “Earlier it used to be done by political organisations. The danger is that now it is becoming a part of the mass culture,” he told al Jazeera.

lula leads, but Bolsonaro could still win re-election in Brazil

Intercept Andrew FishmAn

razilians are preparing for the most consequential and dramatic presidential election in recent history. left-leaning former President luiz inácio lula da silva, known universally as lula, has seen his lead in the polls waver. He still maintains a comfortable edge of 18 percentage points, according to aggregate polling data compiled by the Estadão newspaper, after slipping to 12 points in early May. With months to go before voters turn out in October, the election is far from the guaranteed victory that many of his supporters hoped it would be. The race is now essentially a two-way dispute with far-right incumbent President Jair Bolsonaro, who has gained ground in recent months but is being held back by rising prices and unemployment. The matchup between the hard-line former soldier and the ex-labor leader once imprisoned for leading a strike in defiance of Brazil’s military dictatorship will be a referendum on two substantially different visions for Brazil’s future: Bolsonaro’s embrace of right-wing populist culture wars and unbridled neoliberal economics versus lula’s pitch for a return to social spending to improve conditions for average citizens. if no candidate wins an absolute ma-

jority of votes, a second-round runoff will be held at the end of October. Bolsonaro benefits from the power of his office, his motivated base, and influential political allies. He hopes to sway undecided and anti-lula voters now up for grabs after right-leaning candidates like former Justice Minister sergio Moro and former são Paulo Gov. João Doria dropped out of the race. The president is determined to appeal to Brazilians’ conservative sensibilities, as he successfully did in 2018, and distract from the economic downturn and 666,000 Covid-19 deaths that occurred under his leadership. Most voters said that their economic situation has deteriorated under Bolsonaro and that the economy will have a significant influence on their vote. Bolsonaro’s three and a half years in office have been politically polarizing, defined by his dismantling of many of the most successful social and economic policies that defined lula’s tenure and the acceleration of bloody social conflicts that trace back to Brazil’s colonial days. as president, he has supported illegal mining and deforestation on protected indigenous lands; applauded police and vigilante violence against the poor, minorities, and political foes; and pushed deregulation, privatization, and lucrative tax cuts for corporate backers, arguing that these measures would jumpstart the economy. since 2019, Brazil has had one of the worst performing economies globally in terms of GDP growth, unemployment, and investment. Tens of millions of Brazilians have become food insecure, a problem now affecting more than half the country. Under Bolsonaro, inflation has tripled to over 12 percent, and the country’s currency has performed poorly against the dollar, raising prices on everything from gasoline to beans. By contrast, from 2003 to 2010, lula presided over a period of exceptional economic prosperity and championed measures that reduced inequality. The former union organizer and metalworker left office with an unprecedented 80 percent approval rating. lula’s reputation suffered damage as the economy soured under his successor and a now-discredited anti-corruption crusade by prosecutors saw him jailed for 580 days. still, he remained the most popular politician in Brazil and was leading polls in 2018 before the convictions, which have

since been vacated, made him ineligible to run for office. Four years later, he is campaigning on a message of a return to normalcy, decency, and the good years of his presidency. Or, as he prefers to put it, when average workers could afford to “eat steak and drink beer” on the weekends. regional trends also point in lula’s favor. Dramatic swing elections in argentina, Chile, Mexico, Bolivia, and Peru ended a brief conservative wave that coincided with Bolsonaro’s parabolic rise, and left-leaning presidents now predominate across latin america. leftist Gustavo Petro is favored to win a runoff election in Colombia in two weeks against a radical right-wing populist. in an effort to signal moderation to economic elites, centrists, and repentant Bolsonaro voters, lula has brought on former são Paulo Gov. Geraldo alckmin as his vice presidential running mate. alckmin ran to the right of lula in the 2006 elections. now, he has joined a unity coalition meant to appeal to a broad swath of anti-Bolsonaro voters — a partnership that has rankled some on the left. “i am calm and i am sure that we have all the conditions to win,” lula said in a radio interview last month. But that confidence may have veered into complacency. The 76-year-old candidate decided to fire his two top communications staffers in april after a series of missteps and a sudden decrease in his polling lead. Bolsonaro’s 2018 win was bolstered by an innovative digital communications strategy and, critics have argued, lula’s party has failed to keep up. lula’s lead is most dramatic among women and younger, poorer, and less educated voters, as well as Catholics, unemployed people, and Black Brazilians, who are a demographic majority. Bolsonaro’s highest approval ratings are among business leaders and the wealthiest voters. He has invested heavily in courting the growing conservative evangelical Christian population, but recent polls show the two candidates in a statistical dead heat among these voters. nearly 1 in 5 Bolsonaro voters from 2018 now plan to vote for lula, according to a recent poll. Bolsonaro, however, has locked in political alliances with powerful friends. in Brazil’s complex system, these partnerships increase a candidate’s access to publicly funded radio and TV advertising time, campaign cash, and well-oiled local political machines with established

patronage networks. last-minute party switching among elected officials earlier this year turned Bolsonaro’s liberal Party into the largest bloc in the lower house of Congress, a sign of his continued strength. Meanwhile, in an effort to delegitimize the electoral process, Bolsonaro is again ramping up attacks on the supreme Court and unsubstantiated claims that the country’s electronic balloting system is susceptible to hacking and fraud. new polling found that the majority of Brazilians now have no or little trust in the country’s voting infrastructure. Bolsonaro has repeatedly suggested that if he does not win in October, it would be due to voter fraud and he would not accept the outcome — a position that has earned direct rebukes from Cia Director William Burns and U.s. national security adviser Jake sullivan, as well as criminal investigations ordered by Brazil’s supreme Court and superior Electoral Court. Bolsonaro’s unsubstantiated conspiracy theories mirror Donald Trump’s refusal to accept his 2020 loss in the United states. The threat of violence also looms. “i want every good citizen to have their firearm to resist, if necessary, an attempted dictatorship,” Bolsonaro told a crowd at an agriculture expo last month, repeating a common refrain. His administration has slashed restrictions on gun ownership, causing the number of legal firearms in Brazil to triple since 2018. like Trump, even if Bolsonaro is voted out of office, his influence and ideas will continue to hold sway over a large segment of the electorate and political elite. last month, a group of influential reserve generals with ties to Bolsonaro’s inner circle released a detailed plan for right-wing governance over the next 13 years. “nation Project: Brazil in 2035” proposes to end free universal health care and tuition-free public universities; “limit the interference of the Globalist Movement” in Brazil; and “remove the radical restrictions of indigenous and environmental legislation in areas attractive to agribusiness and mining.” These military hard-liners and their civilian allies are keeping busy across Brazil to elect ideologically aligned candidates to Congress this October, in hopes of keeping Bolsonaro’s agenda alive and lula’s at bay whether or not their president is reelected.

Friday, 3 June, 2022 | LAHORE

NEWS 09 GOvErnOr BalOChIStan, MInIStEr SCIEnCE & tEChnOlOGy dISCuSS utIlIzInG pOtEntIal Of yOuth In BalOChIStan

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OVERNOR Balochistan Jan Muhammad Jamali called on Federal Minister for Science and Technology Agha Hassan Baloch at the Ministry of Science and Technology. The Minister of State for Energy, power division Mr Muhammad Cordoba L Logistics & Ventures L Limited (“CLVL”) L L and foodpanda Pakistan recently signed an MoU under which CLVL L L will facilitate foodpanda riders in acquiring motorcycles on an affordable basis. Picture shows Mr. Muntaqa Paracha (sitting left), Managing Director foodpanda Pakistan and Mr. Zeshan Afzal (sitting right), Chairman of the board Cordoba Logistics L and Ventres Limited along with other senior representatives of both organizations after signing of the agreement. Pr

Hashim Notezai was also present at the meeting. In the meeting, the issues related to developmental projects in the province were discussed. It was stressed upon utilizing the potential of youth in Balochistan province through means of modern education and skills development for the prosperity of the country. The Minister for Science and Technology expressed the resolve of the present government to uplift the liv-

The Pakistan Banks’ Association (PBA) has highlighted the effective and integral role Pakistani banks play as Executing Agents and Collaborating Partners. According to Tawfiq Husain, CEO, Pakistan Banks’ Association, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and the government had initiated various interventions to deal with COVID 19 Pandemic, rolled out the initiative of Roshan Digital Accounts, re-emphasized lending in priority sectors of low

IESCO chief urges consumers to save energy ISLAMABAD: Chief Executive IESCO Dr Muhammad Amjad Khan has urged the consumers to save energy. “Being one nation, we have to face recent power crisis together and for this cause please avoid unnecessary use of electricity in houses and offices, he said and added that due to less power generation having different causes, IESCO is not getting electricity according to its demand. “To cover this gap between demands and supply IESCO is doing load management in region of different duration on different times,” he added. The Chief Executive also passed directives to all field formations that in light of Federal Minister for Energy (Power Division) Engineer Khurram Dastgir Khan and Federal Secretary Power Division Rashid Mahmood L Langrial, IESCO must have to communicate power management plan to valuable IESCO customers well in time and for same use of all plate forms of communication like PITC SMS service, print, electronic and social media be ensured. Chief Executive IESCO directed to all field officers and complaint staff to attend and rectify all individual power complaints without any delay. He said that this is temporary phase and soon we will come out of this difficult time. Crash vocational training programs will be initiated in different divisions of the province and foreign training programs would also be part of this initiative to empower the people and maximize the employment opportunities, he further added Pr

which would be established on a priority basis to provide the state of art higher education facilities and uplift the standard of education in the field of science and technology. Federal Minister for Science and Technology said that soon Pakistan Science Foundation will announce scholarships for the bright students of Balochistan to excel in different fields of life.

Pakistan Banks’ Association highlights eﬀective role of banks as Executing Agents & Collaborating Partners Karachi

Muhammad Azfar Ahsan, Founder of Nutshell Group and Corporate PakistanGroup, called on President of Pakistan H.E. Dr. Arif Alvi, at the Presidency on June 1, 2022. During the meeting, discussion was held around national and geopolitical affairs, investment and business climate of the country, technology and digital economy, global outreach roadmap to attract foreign investment, in addition to portraying untapped potential of Pakistan to the global community. Pr

ing standard of the underprivileged people in the country especially focusing on the educational development of the people of Baluchistan. Governor Balochistan raised the long-pending issue of COMSATS University land in Jaffarabad Balochistan. Federal Minister reassured that the three new campuses of COMSATS University at Quetta, Jaffar Abad and Gawadar have already been approved

cost housing, agriculture finance and SME financing and successfully maintained the momentum that contributed to the growth of home remittances. Expressing his views, he said, “One of the major interventions for COVID relief related to the provision of concessionary financing for setting up of new industrial units. The Temporary Economic Refinance Facility (TERF) provided financing by the banks at a fixed rate for 10 years’ tenor loan. Under this facility, the total amount of loans approved was Rs.435 billion, while the total loans disbursed were Rs.320 billion.”

Askari Bank Signs MoU with Easypaisa Askari Bank Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Easypaisa with an aim to expand its digital banking offerings. Askari bank has always been at the forefront of providing state of the art digital solutions to its customers. Our strategic alliance with Easypaisa is yet another step forward in this direction. This partnership will enable us to provide OTP based Cash in & Cash out services, Biometric services for proof of life for pension accounts and dormant account activation. In-return Askari bank will offer employee banking solution and retailer payment collections through branch banking OTC services, which will be another major revenue stream for the bank. We strongly believe that this partnership will augment our digital presence by creating an interoperable ecosystem in the country. The MOU was signed by Mr. Atif Riaz Bokhari, President & CEO, Askari Bank and Mr. M. Mudassar Aqil, President & CEO, Telenor Microfinance Bank / Easypaisa in the presence of other senior officials from both organizations. Speaking on the occasion,

Mr. Atif R Bokhari, President & CEO, Askari Bank said “Askari bank’s focus is to provide state of the art digital solutions to its customers. Through this partnership we aim to utilize EasyPaisa’s strong market presence to provide multitude of digital services. We are confident that this partnership will play a positive role in amplifying our reach and confidence in the market”. Mr. M. Mudassar Aqil President & CEO, Telenor Microfinance Bank / Easypaisa said "As the leading fintech in the country, we are extremely focused on

collaborating with other players to transform Pakistan into a financially inclusive society. Digitizing Pakistan is a colossal task that cannot be achieved alone. We are proud of our partnership with Askari Bank, which will not only benefit our joint customer base but will also assist users with OTP and biometric verification on cash deposits and withdrawals while also enabling collection of Easypaisa retailer payments at the Bank’s branches. We look forward to collaborating on more avenues as well”.

Islamic revolution in full swing in Iran: envoy Addressing a seminar on the anniversary of Imam Khomeini (RA), the founder of the Iranian Revolution, held at Khanah Farhang, Islamic Republic of Iran, Rawalpindi, the Acting Iranian Ambassador and Special Guest of the event, Mohammad Surkhabi, Acting Iranian Ambassador and Special Guest of the occasion, said that the Iranian Islamic revolution continues in full power despite the evils of the United States and the Zionist regime, and this revolution has always been the voice of the oppressed people of the world. He feathers said that Imam Khomeini was brave and fearless and tried with skill and experience to thwart American conspiracies. Addressing the seminar, Iranian Cultural consulate, Ehsan Khazaei said, Before the Islamic revolution, when Imam Khomeini was asked,how he wanted to overthrow the monarchy and fight the United States, Imam said, by the children of today those will be the youth of tomorrow. Director General Khana Farhang, Rawalpindi Faramarz RehmanZad while delivering the welcome address said that Imam Khomeini (RA) was a great Arif( Sufi) who was able to live with a unique and simple lifestyle as a great leader like the prophets Hazrat Muhmaad(PBUH) and the Ahl al-Bayt(AS) Allama Arif Wahidi, Secretary General of the Shia Ulema Council of Pakistan, while addressing the seminar, said that Imam Khomeini during his simple life only defended Islam and it did not matter to him that his opponent was the United States. Imam Khomeini also called for unity and emphasized Islamic unity between Shiites and Sunnis. Addressing the seminar, Maulana Haider Alvi, a religious scholar, said that Imam Khomeini (RA) had convinced the world through the Islamic Revolution that this revolution did not belong to the East or the West but was an Islamic revolution. He said Iran is the only Islamic country in the world where Islamic law is in force. Razia Naveed, Head of the Women's Department of Minhaj-ul-Quran International, said that Imam Khomeini (RA) did not raise the slogan of neither Eastern nor Western, which caused a stir in the world powers and attempts were made to remove them from the path. Imam Khomeini defeated world powers with his tireless efforts. Press releases

Cutting Through The Noise On Economic Reforms By Taha hashmi There is no denying the fact that Pakistan is in economic turmoil. Inflation for May has climbed to two-year highs of 13.76%, the latest report from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics shows. At the same time, the trade deficit for the first ten months of the financial year has ballooned to $39.3 billion, up from $15.4 billion a year earlier. The Pakistani Rupee lost its value as the exchange rate rose to Rs200/USD for the first time ever. Meanwhile, the country’s foreign exchange reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan fell by $75 million to $10 billion for the week ended May 20, enough to cover imports for just 1.5 months. The government’s economic team is scrambling to improve the country’s financial situation. Measures such as banning imports of all non-essential luxury goods and slashing subsidies on petroleum products are being taken. Finance Minister Miftah Ismail has been trying to resume the IMF program. Pakistan is also seeking financial assistance from friendly countries.

In this difficult time, the petroleum sector, particularly the oil refineries, can play an important role in improving the country’s finances by substantially bringing down Pakistan’s trade deficit, if they are given a favorable environment. Unfortunately, the opposite appears to be happening right now as the oil firms are facing severe financial challenges that might break down the country’s oil supply chain. The oil refineries as well as oil marketing companies are being pushed into a corner due to the reluctance of commercial banks to extend loans. If the situation does not improve, then Pakistan might face a fuel crisis. A nationwide shortage of petrol and diesel will further exacerbate the government’s problems and will put an additional burden on Pakistanis who are already paying recordhigh pump prices. For decades, the oil firms and commercial banks have worked in close collaboration, with the financial sector providing credit facilities to oil refiners and OMCs for buying crude oil and refined products. This is how the petroleum sector operates all over the world, with support from commercial

banks. But after the Hascol scandal, the Pakistani banks are avoiding fulfilling credit requirements of all oil firms. Petroleum companies are finding it almost impossible to open Letters of Credit (LCs) for importing crude oil and refined products. Understandably, a bank would try its best to reduce risk of default on loans. But this can only be done by strengthening credit approval and management processes, not by black-listing an entire sector. If anything, by slashing the credit facilities of oil firms, the banks could create even more problems for themselves. That’s because if the petroleum companies suffer and Pakistan faces a fuel shortage, then the business environment will turn sour and all sectors, including banks, will feel its impact. Remember, the working capital requirements of petroleum companies have increased significantly in the past twelve months due to the depreciation of the Pakistani currency and the surge in international oil prices. In terms of Pakistani Rupee, a barrel of crude oil used to cost approximately Rs. 10,700 a year ago, but now, its price has

more than doubled to Rs. 24,000. This means oil firms have to spend more than twice as much to buy similar volumes of oil as they did a year ago. Ideally, the banks should have expanded the credit limits of oil companies by around 120% in light of the Rupee’s depreciation and high crude oil prices. But instead, the banks have reduced their access to credit. As a result, the oil firms can’t make timely purchases of crude oil and refined products in large quantities anymore. As per recent reports, all of the private sector refineries and OMCs are facing difficulties in importing petroleum and have warned the government about an impending crisis. If these companies reduce their imports to a bare minimum, or worse, stop buying fuel altogether, then Pakistan could face a nationwide fuel shortage. Virtually all sectors of the economy, including banks, as well as the general public, armed forces, and the government machinery rely on petroleum products to conduct their daily activities. If fuel supplies halt, then the country’s economy could come to a standstill.

The above-mentioned catastrophe can be averted if the policymakers and regulators facilitate the petroleum companies and give them easier access to credit so the oil firms can ensure uninterrupted fuel supplies. Moreover, the oil refiners should be encouraged to increase their petrol and diesel supplies, and the policymakers must take tangible steps in this regard. If the Pakistani refineries increase their output, then there won’t be any need to buy expensive fuels from foreign companies. Industry experts believe that if the country’s five oil refineries were to run at maximum capacity, then they could potentially cause forex savings of $1 billion or more, given the high premium at which petroleum and petroleum products are priced right now in the international markets. These noteworthy forex savings – which are equivalent to an IMF loan tranche - could go a long way in fixing Pakistan’s economy. There are numerous economic challenges that Pakistan is facing right now, but a host of issues can be solved by addressing concerns of the petroleum sector and strengthening oil refineries.

Friday, 3 June, 2022 | LAHORE

10 FOREIGN NEWS

Hindu FamilieS Flee Occupied KaSHmir aFter tarGeted KillinGS SRINAGAR

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OrE than 100 Hindu families have fled the occupied region of Kashmir as panic spread after the killing of a Hindu school teacher in the Muslim-majority region, a community leader said on Wednesday. Gunmen on Tuesday shot dead rajni Bala, 36, outside a government school in Kulgam that lies south of Kashmir’s main city of Srinagar — the latest in a spate of targeted killings of Hindus and Muslims. India has been fighting an armed freedom movement in Kashmir since the late 1980s. Avtar Krishan Bhat, president of a Hindu Kashmiri Pandit colony in northern Kashmir’s Baramulla, said that around half of the 300 families living in the area had fled since Tuesday. “They were terrified after yesterday’s killing. We will also leave by tomorrow as we are waiting for a

government response,” he said. “We had asked the government to relocate us outside Kashmir.” residents said police had sealed off a Hindu area in Srinagar and stepped up security around places

Gunman kills four at Oklahoma hospital complex, police say OKLAHOMA CITY

where Kashmiri Pandit government employees live. The local administration did not immediately respond to a request for comment on families fleeing, but the region’s top government official, Lieutenant

Governor Manoj Sinha, last month assured Kashmiri Pandits that measures would be taken for their security. India and its arch-rival Pakistan both claim Jammu and Kashmir — which New Delhi reorganised into two federally administered territories in 2019 — in full but each only controls one part of the Himalayan region. Some 250,000 members of the Hindu clergy, called Pandits, left the Kashmir valley because of a sharp rise in killings of Hindus and attacks on their homes at the start of a rebellion by fighters in 1989. Last month, a Kashmiri Pandit working for the local government was shot dead inside his office, leading to protests by other employees from the minority community who demanded re-location to safer areas outside the Kashmir valley. “We have killed all those militants who were responsible for the earlier killings,” Kashmir valley’s police chief Vijay Kumar told reuters on Wednesday.

Third Palestinian in 24 hours killed by Israel army: health ministry WEST BANK

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A man armed with a rifle and a handgun killed four people inside a medical building in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Wednesday before fatally shooting himself, police said, in the latest of a series of mass shootings to rattle the United States. Police arrived at the St. Francis Hospital campus three minutes after receiving a call about the shooting on Wednesday afternoon and followed the sound of gunfire up to the Natalie Building’s second floor, Tulsa deputy police chief Eric Dalgleish told reporters. The officers made contact with the victims and the suspect five minutes later, Dalgleish said. Police responses have come under increased scrutiny after a teen gunman killed 19 children and two teachers in a Texas school classroom last week while officers waited outside for nearly an hour. Asked by reporters whether police had refreshed training or thinking about active shooters after the Uvalde, Texas school shooting, Dalgleish said: “I think that’s probably fresh on everyone’s minds.” “I will say Tulsa revisits that topic regularly. I was very happy with what we know so far regarding the response of our officers,” Dalgleish said. Wednesday’s incident in Tulsa came on the heels of mass shootings that have reignited debates about gun control. Two weeks before the Uvalde shooting, a white gunman killed 10 people at a supermarket in a Black neighbourhood in Buffalo, New York. Police in Tulsa said they were trying to determine the suspect’s identity, who they estimated was aged between 35 and 40, and had no details yet on his motive. The Natalie Building contains doctors’ offices including an orthopaedic centre, Dalgleish said, adding he believed the victims included employees and patients.

Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian during a clash in the West Bank on Thursday, the third Palestinian killed in the occupied territory in 24 hours, the health ministry said. The violence erupted in the Dheisheh refugee camp near Bethlehem, a ministry statement said, identifying the dead man as Ayman Muhaisen, 29. He was the third Palestinian killed in 24 hours after a woman approaching soldiers with a knife was shot early Wednesday, and a man was killed in an Israeli raid in the northern West Bank later that day. The Israeli security forces have stepped up their operations in the West Bank in recent months, carrying out almost daily raids to arrest suspects after a spate of deadly attacks inside Israel. The army said troops had entered Dheisheh to arrest a Palestinian “suspected of terrorist activities” and were met with volleys of petrol bombs and cement blocks. They responded with live rounds. Late Wednesday, Israeli troops mounted an incursion into the village of Yabad outside Jenin to demolish the home of the assailant in a March attack that killed five people in the Tel Aviv suburb of Bnei Brak.

The health ministry said that after that raid a Palestinian man died in a hospital in Jenin. He had been admitted in critical condition, having been “shot by live bullets in the chest and thigh”. Palestinian news agency Wafa said that six Palestinians were wounded in the Israeli raid. The army said it had also arrested the “terrorist’s father.” It said it had informed the family of the shooter, Diaa Hamarsha, on April 17 of the demolition order against the family home. Israel regularly destroys the homes of individuals it blames for attacks on Israelis. The practice, which often fuels tensions, has been condemned by critics as a form of collective punishment. Israel insists it deters attacks. On Wednesday morning, Is-

raeli soldiers in the southern West Bank shot dead Ghofran Warasnah, 31, near Hebron after she “advanced” towards soldiers with a knife, the army said. Nineteen people, mostly Israeli civilians — including 18 inside Israel and a Jewish settler — have been killed in attacks by Palestinians and Israeli Arabs since late March. Israeli security forces have responded with raids inside Israel and the West Bank, particularly in the flashpoint northern district of Jenin. Three Israeli Arab attackers and a police commando have died. Thirty-eight Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank — suspected militants but also non-combatants, including an Al Jazeera journalist who was covering a raid in Jenin and bystanders.

Key Facebook force Sheryl Sandberg steps down SAN FRANCISCO afp

Meta’s second most powerful executive Sheryl Sandberg made the shock announcement Wednesday she will leave after a 14-year tenure that included helping steer scandalprone Facebook to advertising dominance. Sandberg, 52, has been one of the most influential women in Silicon Valley and her departure comes as the social media juggernaut faces an uncertain future and fierce competition. Her exit from Facebook parent Meta will be effective in the fall, she wrote on the platform, adding she planned to remain on the firm’s board. A Harvard-educated executive, Sandberg joined Facebook in 2008 when it was still just a startup, playing a formative role in its development into a multi-billion dollar advertising empire. “14 years later, it is time for me to write the next chapter of my life,” Sandberg said. “I am not entirely sure what the future will bring — I have learned no one ever is.” Her job made her not just a recognisable face in tech but also a household name, particularly thanks to her 2013 book “Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead.” The best seller encouraged women to “lean in” to their careers in order to reach their full potential and overcome workforce obstacles. It has drawn applause from admirers for articulating a new modern feminist vision and sharp criticism from detractors who say her lofty position has made her out-of-touch with the grueling personal cost of combining career and family. The social network has recently rebranded itself in a pivot toward a belief the internet is headed towards becoming an immersive virtual world, referred to as the metaverse. The Silicon Valley colossus has seen its image tainted by accusations it has put profit over user privacy and even the good of society. “Sandberg leaves Meta, and the social media environment that Facebook helped create, in a far worse place than she found it,” said Media Matters for America president Angelo Carusone. “Hers is a legacy of enabling trolling, harassment, and abuse.” Meanwhile, the likes of TikTok, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Twitter and even Apple now vie with Meta for people’s online attention as the Facebook platform is increasingly seen as a place for older people. CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that the role Sandberg held at the company will be re-shaped, with Javier Olivan becoming Meta’s chief operating officer. The next COO will be more traditional, different from the close second-in-command status Sandberg holds, Zuckerberg said. “She has taught me so much and she has been there for many of the important moments in my life, both personally and professionally,” Zuckerberg said in a Facebook post. “I’m going to miss running this company with Sheryl.” Meta shares fell more than two percent on word that Sandberg was leaving, another blow to a stock value that has plummeted on worries that the company’s regular growth was coming to an end. GuidinG hand: Facebook was about four years old when Sandberg came on board as a mature, guiding hand at a tech firm with a motto “move fast and break things.” “I was only 23 years old and I barely knew anything about running a company,” Zuckerberg said. “Sheryl architected our ads business, hired great people, forged our management culture, and taught me how to run a company.” Zuckerberg’s farewell to Sandberg gave Creative Strategies analyst Carolina Milanesi a sense that he believes he has outgrown her.

Depp wins out in bitter ex-wife Heard defamation trial FAIRFAX ReuteRs

Actor Johnny Depp won more than $10 million in damages on Wednesday, achieving a near-total victory in a defamation suit against ex-wife Amber Heard to cap a six-week trial featuring graphic testimony about the stars’ soured relationship. A seven-person jury in Virginia also ruled for Heard on one counterclaim against Depp. The “Pirates of the Caribbean” film star depicted the decision as a vindication, and his former wife said it was “a disappointment.” Jurors awarded Depp $15 million in damages from Heard, which the judge reduced to $10.35 million to comply with state limits on punitive damages. The panel ordered Depp to pay Heard $2 million in damages. Depp, 58, had sued Heard for $50 million

and argued that she defamed him when she called herself “a public figure representing domestic abuse” in a newspaper opinion piece. Heard countersued for $100 million, saying Depp smeared her when his lawyer called her accusations a “hoax.” Depp denied hitting Heard, 36, or any woman and said she was the one who turned violent in their relationship. He told jurors the allegations from Heard, best known for her role in “Aquaman,” had cost him “everything.” A new “Pirates” movie was put on hold and Depp was replaced in the “Fantastic Beasts” film franchise, a “Harry Potter” spinoff. “The jury gave me my life back. I am truly humbled,” Depp, who watched the verdict from Britain, said in a statement. “The best is yet to come and a new chapter has finally begun,” he added, ending with the Latin phrase “Veritas numquam perit.

Truth never perishes.” Heard, seated in the courtroom between two of her lawyers, looked down as the verdicts were read. “The disappointment I feel today is beyond words,” she said in a statement. “I’m heartbroken that the mountain of evidence still was not enough to stand up to the disproportionate power, influence and sway of my ex-husband.” “I’m even more disappointed with what this verdict means for other women,” she added. “It is a setback.” Depp faced a different outcome in Britain less than two years ago, when he sued The Sun tabloid for calling him a “wifebeater.” A London High Court judge ruled that he had repeatedly assaulted Heard. JuRY hEaRS aBOuT COuPLE’S CLaShES: The two met in 2011 while filming “The rum Diary” and wed in Feb-

ruary 2015. Their divorce was finalised about two years later. At the centre of the legal case was a December 2018 opinion piece by Heard in the Washington Post. The article did not mention Depp by name but his lawyer told jurors it was clear that Heard was referring to him. The jury agreed with all of Depp’s defamation claims, which cited a passage in the article and headline that read: “I spoke up against sexual violence — and faced our culture’s wrath. That has to change.” Jurors rejected two of Heard’s three counterclaims. They concluded she was defamed when an attorney for Depp told a media outlet that Heard staged property damage to show to police after an alleged fight. “Amber and her friends spilled a little wine and roughed the place up, got their stories straight under the direction of a lawyer and publicist,” the statement said in part.

During six weeks of testimony, Heard’s attorneys argued that she had told the truth and that her comments were covered as free speech under the US Constitution’s First Amendment. Jurors listened to recordings of the couple’s fights and saw graphic photos of Depp’s bloody finger. He said the top of the finger was severed when Heard threw a vodka bottle at him in 2015. Heard denied injuring Depp’s finger and said Depp sexually assaulted her that night with a liquor bottle. She said she struck him only to defend herself or her sister. Testimony was livestreamed widely on social media, drawing large audiences to hear details about the couple’s troubled relationship. Depp’s lawyers filed the US case in Fairfax County, Virginia, because the Washington Post is printed there. The newspaper was not a defendant.

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Friday, 3 June, 2022 | LAHORE

SPORTS 11

EnGland dEbutant POttS StRikES aS nEw ZEaland SluMP tO 39-6 in 1St tESt

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NGLAND debutant Matthew Potts took three wickets as New Zealand collapsed dramatically to 39-6 at lunch on the opening day of the first Test at Lord’s on Thursday. All of the reigning World Test champions’ top four fell for single figure scores, including captain Kane Williamson — who won the toss — as England made a superb start to life under their new redball leadership duo of skipper Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum, the former New Zealand captain. England great James Anderson’s early double strike on his Test recall left New Zealand two for two before fast bowler Potts followed up with

three wickets for eight runs in eight overs. The only downside to the morning’s play for England was that left-arm spinner Jack Leach, before had bowled even one ball, had to leave the field after landing on his head and neck when stopping a boundary. Leach was later ruled out of the match due to symptoms of concussion, with England summoning uncapped Lancashire leg-spinner Matt Parkinson from Manchester as a concussion substitute. Anderson and Stuart Broad, England’s two most successful Test bowlers of all time, with 1,177 wickets between them prior to this match, had both been controversially left out of a 1-0 series loss in the Caribbean earlier this year. But the 39-year-old Anderson

was soon back in a familiar groove as he struck twice with the help of Jonny Bairstow. Will Young lasted just two balls as he edged the 39-year-old Anderson, with third slip Bairstow — who has spent much of his England career as a wicketkeeper — taking a brilliant one-handed diving catch low to his left. Tom Latham also fell for one to the same duo, with Bairstow holding on at the second attempt. Stokes, renowned as an aggressive all-rounder, stayed true to his attacking instincts by deploying five slips and a gully early on after losing the toss. New Zealand’s Devon Conway had made a double century at Lord’s in his Test debut last year. But he was powerless to stop the slide on Thursday as he too was

caught by Bairstow, off Broad this time, for three.

England’s batting has been a major problem in recent years but

Pakistan’s top paddler Fahad Khawaja to train in Spain for Commonwealth Games NEwS dESk

Ruud reaches first Grand Slam semi-final at French Open PARIS AFP

Casper Ruud became the first Norwegian man to reach a Grand Slam semi-final on Wednesday when he defeated Danish teenager Holger Rune in four sets at the French Open. World number eight Ruud triumphed 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-3 and will meet 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic for a place in Sunday’s final. Rune, ranked 40, had knocked out fourth seed and 2021 runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas in the fourth round. The 19-year-old was bidding to become the first Danish man to reach the last-four in Paris and first at any Slam since Jan Leschly at the 1967 US Championships. However, Ruud overpowered the youngster, firing 13 aces and 55 winners while Rune had to fight off 12 of 17 break points carved out by the Norwegian. Earlier Cilic launched 33 aces and 88 winners past seventh-seeded Andrey Rublev to reach his first French Open semi-final with a 5-7, 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (10/2) win. Friday’s other semi-final will see 13-time champion Rafael Nadal take on Alexander Zverev after his epic quarter-final win over Novak Djokovic.

Real Madrid sign defender Rudiger from Chelsea MAdRId ReuteRs

Real Madrid have agreed a deal to sign Germany international defender Antonio Rudiger on a free transfer with his contract with Premier League club Chelsea expiring, both clubs said on Thursday. Centre back Rudiger will be at Real for the next four seasons, the LaLiga champions said, adding that a presentation ceremony will be held for him on June 20. The 29year-old was a key player for Chelsea since joining the club from Italian side AS Roma in 2017. “I’m super excited for all the challenges ahead and can’t wait to play my first games for this huge club,” Rudiger said on his Twitter account. Chelsea described Rudiger as “as one of the most passionate characters to represent the club in recent memory”. Rudiger played more than 200 times in all competitions for Chelsea and won the Champions League, Europa League, FA Cup, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup with the London club. Rudiger initially arrived at Roma on loan from VfB Stuttgart, where he started his career, in 2015 before making the switch permanent at the end of that season. He has 50 international caps for Germany since making his debut in 2014.

Pakistan’s ace paddler Fahad Khawaja will be leaving for Spain next week to attend a training programme at San Sebastián de los Reyes, Madrid as part of his preparations for the upcoming key international events. “I’ve got the Spanish visa and will be flying to Madrid on June 6 to attend a one-month training session,” Khawaja told. The two-time South Asian Table Tennis Championship silvermedalist and the reigning national champion, who is the only Pakistan table tennis player to feature in the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, said he was targeting some meaningful results at the event. “No doubt, representing my country at the topflight event is a big honour but my goal is not just to contest but also achieve a respectful result,” added Khawaja, who also participated in the Commonwealth Games in Goal Coast, Australia in 2018. He said that training at the Madrid elite club would help develop his technique, leading to greater accomplishments in the upcoming events. “My first focus is on Commonwealth Games. After spending one month at the club I will fly to Birmingham to participate in the coveted Games. I’ll also be appearing in a few more events in-

Williamson may have been tempted to bat given conditions were likely to become more helpful for spinner Ajaz Patel later in the game. Potts took his first wicket at this level with only his fifth ball when he had star batsman Williamson, whose longstanding elbow injury meant he missed New Zealand’s previous five Tests, edging low to wicketkeeper Ben Foakes. England, with just one win in their last 17 Tests, had now reduced New Zealand to a scarcely credible 12 for four. New Zealand did manage to surpass their 26 all out — the lowest completed Test innings of all time — against England at Auckland in 1955 but they were soon 36 for six, with Potts getting Daryl Mitchell (13) to play on before bowling Tom Blundell (14).

legendary Sl batter names wasim akram as toughest bowler AgENcIES Former Sri Lankan captain, Mahela Jayawardene, has named legendary Pakistani pacer, Wasim Akram, as the toughest bowler he faced throughout his career. While speaking to ICC’s digital show, The ICC Review, Jayawardene stated that Wasim Akram was by far the best bowler he faced in his career. He added that it did not matter what time of the day it was, Akram always used to bring his best to the table. “I made my debut when it was his [Akram’s] peak or the backend of his career. He had a really quick-arm action and he had the ability to beat you any time of the day,” Jayawardene said while speaking on ICC’s digital show.’ The 45year-old praised Akram’s ability to make the ball talk and he further added that pitch conditions became irrelevant when it came to the legendary left-arm pacer and he could pose problems to any batter and not just him.

Manchester united confirm Mata departure LONdON cluding the Islamic Games Asian Games and next year’s South Asian Games in Pakistan. I’m targeting podium finish and want to prepare accordingly,” he added. According to Khawaja world’s best paddlers get training at the Madrid club and he would be trying his best to reap maximum benefits. “I believe this training stint will serve as a great springboard for me to step up my preparations and materialize my dreams to win medals,” he reckoned. The 22-year-old Peshawarborn athlete also asked for finan-

cial support for his campaign in Madrid. “Lack of facilities and financial constraints are a big hurdle in my way. Some very important events are taking place this year and I’ve been training in Peshawar for the past several months along with a group of promising players without a proper coach. “I was scheduled to join the club [at Madrid] on April 25 but I could not proceed earlier due to scarcity of funds,” he said. However, he said the club would bear his all other expenses during his stay in Madrid.

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Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata will follow Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard through the exit door at Old Trafford when his contract expires at the end of the month, the Premier League side announced on Thursday. The Spaniard, 34, moved to United from Chelsea in January 2014 and made 285 appearances, winning the FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League during an eight-year spell. A skilful playmaker, Mata managed 51 goals and 47 assists for United but failed to consistently replicate the form that made him an indispensable part of Chelsea’s attacking set-up. “Thank you for dedicating eight years of your career to United, Juan. Everyone at the club wishes you all the best for the future,” United said in a statement.

Olympic champion Jacobs pulls out of Rome, Oslo Diamond League meets ROME ReuteRs

Olympic sprint champion Lamont Marcell Jacobs has withdrawn from this month’s Diamond League meetings in Rome and Oslo after failing to recover from a muscle injury, Italy’s athletics federation said. The 27-year-old, who became the first Italian to win Olympic 100 metres gold in Tokyo last year, picked up the injury during his victory in the 100m in Savona, Italy in May and also missed the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene last weekend. “Today’s investigations have shown that Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs

has not fully recovered from the muscle problem diagnosed last week,” the federation said in a statement late on Wednesday. Jacobs, who ended his 2021 season early citing exhaustion, said he was hoping to be fit in time for the world championships in July. “I have to skip the next two races in Rome and Oslo […] I will continue with physiotherapy and low-regime training in order to better recover for the World Championships in Eugene in July,” he wrote in a social media post. Jacobs set a European record of 9.80 seconds to win the Tokyo 100m final before picking up a second gold medal in the 4x100m relay.

Friday, 3 June, 2022

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NEWS Imran deems Pak Army guarantee to country’s survival: Shahzad Waseem ISLAMABAD: Opposition Leader in the Senate, Senator Dr Shahzad Waseem has said that Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan has declared Pakistan Army as guarantee to the stability, security and development of the country. He said parties included in the government’s alliance were set to recognize Israel besides boosting ties with India. Speaking during the Senate Session on Thursday, Senator Dr Shahzad Waseem defended the Imran Khan’s statement in which he warned about the country breakup if right decisions not taken and said that the party chief instead of providing cover to issues have exposed them and “underscored the need for immediate mending.” He said that the PTI chief wanted resolution of issues on permanent basis instead of moving ahead leaving them unresolved and blaming formers and leaving them for predecessors. The Opposition Leader in Senate said that the political parties included in the government alliance were set to recognize Israel. On other hand, the government’s allied parties were enhancing ties with India accepting its superiority and in the name of trade relations was enhancing ties with it. staff report

Imran’s breakup comment ‘naked threat’ to country: Sharif ISLAMABAD: A day after former prime minister Imran Khan expressed fear of a recurrence of the 1971-like tragedy if the right decisions were not taken to save the country, his successor, Shehbaz Sharif, warned him not to cross the line by giving such “naked threats”. In an interview with anchorperson Sami Abraham for Bol News, which aired Wednesday night, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman likened the prevailing political situation to the one which had led to the dismemberment of the country in 1971 and urged the military establishment to make the “right decisions”. staff report

NEPRA RAISES PoWER PRIcE by RS7.91 PER uNIT ISLAMABAD

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NFLATION-hit masses should get ready to bear a heavy jolt as the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) on Thursday approved a mammoth hike in the power tariff by Rs7.91 per unit and asked the government to issue notification to this effect. According to NEPRA, the increase of Rs7.9078 per unit is mainly due to increase in fuel prices, capacity cost and impact of rupee devaluation. The tariff hike has been determined for the financial year (FY) 2022-23, which on national average is Rs24.82 per kilowatt hour (kWh), higher by Rs7.9078 per kWh than the earlier determined national average tariff of Rs16.91 per kWh, said NEPRA. The NEPRA added that the uniform tariff so determined by NEPRA after incorporating the amount of subsidy/ surcharges, intimated by the Government of Pakistan (GoP), is forwarded to the GoP for notification. “The tariff once notified is then charged to the consumers,” reads NEPRA brief on power distribution companies (DISCOs) tariff. As per NEPRA, DISCOs including Multan Electric Power Company (MEPCO), Gu-

jranwala Electric Power Company (GEPCO), Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO), Sukkur Electric Power Company (SEPCO), Quetta Electric Supply Company (QESCO), Peshawar Electric Power Company (PESCO) & Tribal Electric Supply Company (TESCO) filed multi-year tariff petitions for the FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25 while Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO), Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) & Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO) filed annual adjustment/indexation request under the already allowed multi-year tariff. Energy Purchase Price is projected as Rs1,152 billion, while capacity charges including NTDC and HVDC cost is projected as Rs1,366 billion and total revenue requirement of DISCOs including DISCOs margin and Prior Year Adjustment (PYA) is projected as Rs2,805 billion with projected sales of 113,001 GWh. It is also learnt that MEPCO, GEPCO, HESCO, SEPCO, QESCO, PESCO & TESCO have been allowed an investment of around Rs406 billion for their distribution investment program for the five years period while DISCOs allowed T&D losses have been reduced from 13.46% to 11.70% for the FY 2022-23.

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Federal govt plans to proceed against Imran Khan under sedition charges Federal government has summoned a meeting to proceed against Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Imran Khan under sedition charges. The meeting will be headed by Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and attended by federal ministers Qamar Zaman Kaira, Azam Nazeer Tarar, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Ayaz Sadiq, and Asad Mahmood. According to sources privy to the development, the meeting would mull over a report regarding Imran Khan’s long march. “It is likely that action will be initiated against Imran Khan under section 124 A of the penal laws that deal with sedition charges,” they said adding that the section deals with anyone blamed for attempting to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards the government. Any trial under the article could lead to life imprisonment. News Desk

PTI chief staunch supporter of strong army: Qureshi ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Thursday said that Imran Khan’s love for the country is known to everyone and he is a staunch supporter of strong army. Former foreign Minister Qureshi said that every citizen of Pakistan can even die for the security and survival of the country and people know when we did mistakes in the past, Pakistan was divided and due to our mistakes from past, Balochistan saw political turmoil and warmongers in past also tried to make ‘Pakhtoonistan’. “People must learn from their mistakes in the past,” he said. staff report

COAS Gen Bajwa lauds eﬀorts of formations deployed across Balochistan RAWALPINDI INp

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa visited Command and Staff College, Quetta, on Thursday. He was received by Corps Commander Lieutenant General Sarfraz Ali. COAS met the faculty and addressed participants of Command & Staff College Quetta. The COAS appreciated faculty members for honing professional skills of students. COAS urged course participants to remain abreast with future battlefield challenges, latest technological advancements and focus on professional pursuits. Later, COAS visited Corps Headquarters where he was given

detailed briefing on security situation in the province and lauded the commendable efforts of formations deployed across the province for

providing secure environment for socio-economic activities, including smooth conduct of Local Bodies elections in the province.

Maryam to Imran: PTI, not Pakistan, going to disintegrate into 300 pieces ISLAMABAD News Desk

PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz on Thursday said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) would go burst and face abrupt disintegration, expressing the optimism that Pakistan would stay fully safe and sound in the hands of leadership, which had made it the first atomic power of Islamic world. “I want to tell Imran Khan that this country is not going to disintegrate as it came into being, after great sacrifices of the Muslims of the Sub-continent and our forefathers.” Addressing a news conference, Maryam Nawaz said: “It is a condemnable statement of Imran Khan that Pakistan, will be divided into three parts,” and questioned on whose agenda he was working? She said the statement was tantamount to disgracing the sacrifices rendered by Muslims for an independent state, Pakistan. With the Grace of Allah Almighty no damage could be done to Pakistan as the country is s in safe hands, she claimed. Maryam Nawaz declared that not Pakistan, rather it is the PTI, which would eventually be disintegrated into three hundred pieces. She said political parties including Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan People’s Party and Pakistan Awami Party did face hardships but they always raised the slogan of “Pakistan Zindabad and Pakistan Khappay”. Maryam Nawaz said former Prime Minister Imran Khan had lust for power and had now resorted to dirty politics to get in the government again. The PML-N leader said it was hallmark of mainstream politicians that they always worked for the greater national unity, not for the division. She also berated Imran Khan for negative remarks

about the rollback of strategic programme of the country. She said Imran Khan in a previous interview with foreign media outlet had said that Pakistan did not need the strategic capability. The PML-N Vice President said that Imran Khan had been issuing such statements since his party contributed nothing in making Pakistan a nuclear power. Maryam Nawaz also criticized Imran Khan for not duly recognizing services of Armed Forces and said security departments were performing their duties in line with the Constitution. She said the PTI chairman was desperate to regain the powers despite the fact that his mandate in 2018election was bogus, adding Imran Khan betrayed everyone whosoever reposed confidence in him. She said the past regime of PTI, under Imran Khan, had ruined the national economy with his sheer incompetence and flawed policies. She called upon citizens, regardless of political affiliation, to play their due part to steer the country out of the present crisis, and asked students, young generation, opinion makers and analysts to stand with Pakistan. “You are not required to support PML-N or the government but need to stand with Pakistan,” she added. The previous PTI government, she said, did nothing for the welfare of the common people, except resorting to political victimization and misuse of official resources for political gains. She said that Imran Khan was the root cause of all the problems presently the country was faced with. To a question, Maryam Nawaz said some lawmakers of the PTI had no intention to resign from the the National Assembly and asked them to distance themselves from Imran Khan’s wrong policies and faulty politics.

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