Thursday, 23 September, 2021 I 15 Safar, 1443 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XII No 84 I 12 Pages I Islamabad Edition
‘Fake threat’ to New ZealaNd team origiNated iN iNdia, probe FiNds
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he “fake threat” to New Zealand’s cricket team that prompted them to call off the tour of Pakistan minutes before the first game came in an email that originated in Mumbai city of India, a preliminary investigation found. New Zealand’s cricket squad arrived home on Wednesday after abandoning their tour of Pakistan last week citing a security threat. New Zealand Cricket said they were aware of a “specific and credible” threat but refused to give details. Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said the threat had come via an email. “This email was generated from India through a VPN showing the location of Singapore,” Chaudhry, who was flanked by Minister for Interior Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed, told a press conference. Chaudhry added that the West Indies team, due to arrive in December, had also been sent a threat that he said was fake. Shunned by all after a deadly 2009 attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore,
Pakistan have been trying to woo back top international teams. New Zealand’s withdrawal dealt a massive blow to Pakistan’s hopes of staging regular international cricket, with england subsequently calling off their men’s and women’s tours. Chaudhry said a fake social media post with former Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan commander ehsanullah ehsan’s name on it was shared with NZC in August, warned it against touring Pakistan. “The post stated that New Zealand cricket team should not go to Pakistan as ISIS would attack it.” The minister warned that Pakistan was facing an intense hybrid and fifth-generation warfare through a network of Indian propaganda-peddling entities targeting Islamabad. An article was published in The Sunday Guardian, a New Delhi-based publication and no connection with Guardian newspaper of the United Kingdom, two days later on August 21. Authored by one Abhinandan Mishra, the paper’s bureau chief, revolved around ehsaas’s post and propagated the same fake threat: The New Zealand team might
come under attack in Pakistan. “Interesting, this Mishra has close connections with former Afghanistan vice president Amrullah Saleh whose anti-Pakistan views are no secret,” he said. On August 24, five days after the publication of the article, a threatening email was sent to cricketer Martin Guptill’s wife from an account posing to be Tehreek-eLabbaik [the hardline religious group]. The email delivered a death threat to Guptill’s spouse, warning that he would return “in coffin”. “Prepare for funereal [sic].” After we investigated the account, we found that it was created on August 24 at 1:05 am while the email was sent at 11:59 am the following day, he said. The email was sent using ProtonMail, an encrypted email service. Chaudhry said Pakistan has asked Interpol to assist it in probing the email and apprehending its sender. however, despite the “fake threats”, the visitors did not cancel their tour and arrived on September 11. It was not until 10:30 am on September 17 that the Black Caps received information about a potential threat from their government. “The New Zealand team itself was not influenced by the threat as the ground [Rawalpindi Stadium] and the hotel were secure.” Chaudhry then revealed the contents of a second email that was sent to the touring team at 11:25 pm the same day, after the tour was cancelled, from an account posing to be one hamza Afridi. Its content read: “Dear New Zealand cricket, you did wrong to Pakistan and now see what happens to you.” “Your cricket team is not going anywhere now […] in every places the bombs will be placed from the hotel to your flight. And my men’s [sic] will not forgive you […] they are coming [to] New Zealand.” “#PakistanZindabad […] Allah hu Akbar.” The Afridi email was traced to a “device based in India”, he said. “The IP address was changed through a VPN to show the location in Singapore.” “Further probe revealed the device was being used to operate 13 other email accounts.” “All accounts were generated on the names of Indian [film] and television [actors],” he added.
COAS stresses greater synchronisation to tackle battlefield challenges RAWALPINDI staff report
Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Wednesday inaugurated the state-of-the-art Center of Integrated Air Defence Battle Management (CIADBAM) and said there was a need for greater cooperation, integration and synchronisation to tackle complex and fluid future battle field challenges. Commander Army Air Defence Command Lieutenant General hamood Uz Zaman Khan briefed the COAS regarding Air Defence battle management procedures and complete functioning of newly built CIADBAM, said an Inter-Services Public Relations media release received here. Commending Pakistan Army Air Defence which has progressed phenomenally over the years and was ready to take on any misadventure by the enemy in aerial frontiers of Pakistan, the COAS appreciated their professionalism, expressing complete satisfaction on operational readiness. It added that Pakistan Army Air Defence was equipped with sophisticated, highly accurate and
lethal long range weapon systems. CIADBAM will provide an integrated environment for synchronised and effective articulation of Air Defence battle from top tier of command down to individual weapon system. Simulator complex in the facility is capable of projecting various dynamic scenarios which can be configured and developed as per the latest intricacies and challenges of Air Defence Battle. Separately, ISPR announced that that the trilateral exercise, Three Brothers – 2021, culminated at Baku, Azerbaijan. Special forces of Pakistan, Turkey and Azerbaijan participated in the exercise. The two weeks long exercise was focused on the capability to counter regional terrorism threats in a hybrid scenario, fostering combined force interoperability, joint force integration and enhance capabilities in amphibious operations. The chief guest of final exercise was Azerbaijan Minister of Defence Zakir hasanov. Also in attendance were Services Chief of Azerbaijan, Commander of Special Forces Azerbaijan, General
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Thursday, 23 September, 2021
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IMrAN ASkS CAbINet to Set perforMANCe beNCHMArkS for reMAININg terM ISLAMABAD
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ERMING good governance the key to the success of a government, Prime Minister Imran Khan urged his cabinet to stay focused on achieving the targets and make the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf party stronger through service delivery. “We are ensuring that during our tenure, all the promises [in our manifesto] are met and all services delivered to the people,” the prime minister said while addressing the members of his cabinet at the signing of twoyear performance agreements (2021-23) on Wednesday.
The signing was part of the prime minister’s comprehensive civil service reforms agenda, under which the government initiated a management system that brought together all the components of the federal government through a single implementation tool of “performance agreements”. Speaking on the occasion, Khan said only the performance delivery in the next two years will ensure the government succeeds in securing another five-year term in the 2023 general elections. “I want our party to achieve a standard where an MP wins not on the basis of disbursement of development funds, but on the performance of his government,” he said.
Khan asked the ministers to achieve the goals by setting high aspirations and evaluating the highs and lows of their work. He noted his government effectively tackled the simultaneous challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic and its consequences for the economy. He expressed confidence that his team would continue to work at full throttle. He mentioned as the “biggest challenge” the persistent fight with the “mafias” that wanted to sustain the status quo for their vested interests. “Now the mafia has started opposing the use of EVMs [Electronic Voting Machines] in the elections because it is the beneficiary of the incumbent system through the use of money and influence,” he said.
After the 1970 elections, every poll in the country was regarded as controversial but, still, nobody wanted to resolve the root cause of the problem. Adviser to the prime minister on the establishment, Shehzad Arbab, said 41 ministries had proposed 1,100 projects for the next two years. Of these, 426 will be completed by June 2022 and 488 by June 2023. While the remaining 176 that are already in progress will supplement the overall delivery of those ministries until the elections and beyond. He said the agreements had been finalised after a rigorous process of review and evaluation. Arbab said the exercise not only allowed the government to implement its agenda
SC lashes out against Sindh govt during hearing of Karachi nullahs case ISLAMABAD inP
The Supreme Court came down on the Sindh government Wednesday morning over delays in the compensation for the people who lost their homes through forced evictions at the Orangi and Gujjar nullahs. “Shame on you [Sindh government],” Chief Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan said. At a hearing in the top court’s Karachi registry, the judge asked the Sindh AttorneyGeneral for updates on the land being compensated to over 6,000 affectees. “The government has finalised 250 acres of land and over 6,500 houses will
be built on it,” the AG replied. “The construction will begin once we get Rs10 billion from the Bahria Town funds.” This irked the Supreme Court. “What do you mean? Why does the government link everything with the Bahria funds?” “The Sindh government has a shortage of funds and is facing financial constraints,” the attorney-general argued, “The province has a right over the money”. “But you have already recovered your money. Why are you claiming this amount,” Justice Ahsan asked. “The decision regarding these funds will be taken when a commission is formed.” He retorted that the government has
money to pay salaries and buy cars but when it comes to compensating poor people, their pockets go empty. “Are cities run this way? Is this your system?” If you don’t have money, take these affectees to the chief minister and governor’s houses or the assembly buildings, the chief justice said. “Go to World Bank and IMF for money. You do that for other things too right?” The attorney-general replied that the government borrows money for development projects that are already underway. The top court said that action is never taken against officers involved in illegal allotment of land. “Your priorities are
something else and compensation for the nullah evacuees isn’t one of them. You have a budget of trillions of rupees but you don’t have money for 6,000 people?” Justice Ahsan said that Sindh is the second-largest province in the country, according to population, but it’s in shambles right now. Karachi has been turned into a garbage can. All the buildings here are illegal, the stormwater drain overflow at a single drop of rain, the roads are in terrible condition, and there’s no greenery at all. “Go look at other provinces. Learn something from them. You’re punishing the people of Karachi. Shame on Sindh government.”
PM imran gives tips to national cricket team ISLAMABAD aPP
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday advised the national cricket team to inculcate a team spirit, adopt aggressive posturing and play with a sole
passion to win. The prime minister, who had captained Pakistan’s 1992 World Cup wining team, met the national cricket team here and gave tips while sharing his success story. Special Assistant to PM Dr Shahbaz Gill, Senator Faisal Javed and Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Ramiz Raja also attended the meeting. The prime minister said that Allah has defined truthfulness and honesty as the principles of success. One could change his fate through hard work and struggle, he added. The prime minister called for opting the
course of earning respect, not money, advising the players to play for the team and Pakistani people, who have their eyes on the team’s performance. He said that the whole nation wishes for their success because of them being the representatives of Pakistan in the world. “You have no dearth of talent as the whole world recognises the talent of Pakistanis,” he remarked. Referring to the Islamic history, the prime minister exemplified the defeat of a huge army by 313 Muslims in the Battle of Badr and conquering of huge empires like Rome and Persia just within 13 years. Urging the players to inculcate team spirit, PM Imran told the players to enter the ground with full confidence and a passion to win. The team playing to avert defeat can never win, he remarked.
Recalling his cricketing career, he said that they had steered the Pakistan cricket from decrepitude to win the world cup. “You have to play offensively. The team playing in defensive mode can never win. It were we who had introduced attacking technique in cricket,” the prime minister commented. He said that every successful individual has to meet failure which became a source for his learning. The prime minister called for team’s nerve strengthening and guidance so they could enjoy taking pressure instead of getting frustrated. He also guided the team to focus on taking wickets which is different from run blocking. He also advised the players to emerge as a strong team as the whole nation has pinned hopes on them.
PML-N’s Narrative coNfLict
Maryam vows to keep Nawaz’s anti-establishment narrative intact LAHORE Mian abrar
The controversy over the party’s narrative took a new turn on Wednesday as Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Vice President Maryam Nawaz rejected the portrayal of party president Shehbaz Sharif, arguing that there could be no narrative if Nawaz Sharif’s narrative is not accepted in the party. “If Nawaz Sharif’s narrative is not correct, then is it right to violate the constitution, steal elections, put pressure on judges and media,” remarked Maryam Nawaz while addressing a party meeting chaired by party chief Nawaz Sharif who attended the meeting through video-link. PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif and his son, Hamza Shehbaz, were notably absent from the meeting. Those who attended included Rana Sanaullah, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Ahsan Iqbal, Owais Leghari, Ayaz Sadiq, Zeeshan Rafique, Nuzhat Sadiq, Shahnawaz Ranjha, MNAs, MPAs and other party officials. “When they fail to break the PML-N, it is said that the party has been a divide between followers of two and three narratives. If Nawaz Sharif’s narrative is not
correct, then whose narrative would prevail,” said Maryam Nawaz pointing fingers at Shehbaz Sharif. She added that no one can rig the elections in future and now the state institutions will have to retreat back. “The result of the rigging is that Pakistan is suffering today. Now [dissenting] voices are being raised from within the [state] institutions. When they fail to divide the PML-N, they say that there are two or three narratives in the PML-N,” said Maryam Nawaz. Referring to her failure during the campaign in the Azad Kashmir elections, Maryam Nawaz said that her father Nawaz Sharif and uncle Shahbaz Sharif had tasked her to lead the party’s campaign in Azad Kashmir elections. “Due to our extraordinary campaigning, the PML-N bagged unprecedented popularity. Despite all their power, the rulers got six lakh votes while the PML-N bagged five lakh votes. This was unprecedented in history,” said Maryam Nawaz who had been blamed by Shehbaz Sharif for running a failed campaign in Azad Kashmir polls. “In an environment of oppression where rigging, intimidation and the use of force by the rulers, our party got this success despite being selectively targeted from top to bottom. Despite this oppression and rigging, the PTI badly lost the cantonment elections,” she said.
more effectively but also helped the ministers and their secretaries to track progress within their divisions and objectively assess the performance of their staffers. Under the agreements, all ministries have prepared work plans with a set of initiatives and quarterly targets to be achieved by 2023. These plans have been reviewed by a Peer Review Committee — comprising senior officials of cross-sectoral ministries — for improvement and feedback submitted by the ministries was incorporated before its submission to the Prime Minister Office. The process of quarterly performance review will enable the prime minister to keep track of his government’s performance. This system will not only help all divisions set their annual targets but also create space to embed the reform agenda into the government’s system. The targets collectively reviewed quarterly through a digitised platform will play a key role in identifying bottlenecks and addressing cross-ministerial coordination challenges.
HC hears bail plea of Zahir Jaffer’s parents in Noor Mukadam murder case ISLAMABAD news Desk
A bench of Islamabad High Court on Wednesday ordered the Islamabad police chief and the investigation officer to appear before the court in person in the Noor Mukadam murder case hearing as it resumed hearing of bail petitions of prime suspect Zahir Zaffer’s parents in the high-profile murder case. Justice Aamir Farooq of the IHC heard the petitions moved by Zakir Jaffer and Asmat Jaffer. The government counsel said that the case should be heard by a division bench of the high court. “How the case can be referred to a division bench if the charge-sheet has been submitted to a division bench,” Justice Aamir Farooq questioned. “You are a young man, tell the Advocate General to appear and give arguments in the case,” Justice Farooq further said. “In a high profile case, which has been under debate for three days, you are saying this,” the court said. Moreover, the IHC granted respite to the lawyers of Therapy Works’ employees for preparation in the Noor Mukadam murder case after hearing their plea, asking for more time to prepare a case. Meanwhile, an additional sessions judge approved the bail of six suspects after submission of surety bonds worth Rs500,000. The court had also ordered the six suspects, who are employees of Therapy Works, to appear at the next hearing, Advocate Raja Rizwan Abbasi had informed the court that he would move a plea seeking an in-camera hearing of the case, to which the judge remarked that he would decide it as per law after it is filed. Yesterday, Therapy Works CEO Zahoor moved an application seeking to become a party to the case. The court issued notices to the accused’s lawyer, and other respondents to file their reply to the plea. The prime suspect’s parents, who have been nominated as accomplices in the murder case, have approached the Islamabad High Court after a local court rejected their bail petitions on August 5. Zahir Jaffer has been found guilty in the case challan with his parents and Therapy Works CEO and employees named accomplices.
India’s hegemonic designs major threat to regional connectivity, trade and development: NSA ISLAMABAD Mian abrar
National Security Adviser Dr Moeed Yousaf on Wednesday said that India has become a threat to the entire region due to its hegemonic designs and maltreatment of its neighboring countries. Addressing a seminar, Dr Yousuf said that the world will soon realise the threat posed to the region by India’s hegemonic designs under the RSS-led regime ruling India. He said that the main objective of the national security paradigm is to provide Pakistanis with the means of livelihood and make them feel safe and that is why Prime Minister Imran Khan wanted to develop Pakistan as a welfare state on the pattern of the State of Madinah. “All our leadership speaks of the transition of permanent Pakistani thinking from a geopolitical to a geo-economic landscape, which in fact reflects a change in our thinking. Over the past 70 years, we have been saying that our geographical location is unique,” he said and added that Pakistan is an important strategic asset. “Due to Pakistan’s strategic location in the past, we have been the center of world wars and proxy wars. For the last 40 years Afghanistan has been the best example of this.
Thursday, 23 September, 2021
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US fAIleD to ACkNoWleDge pAkIStAN’S SUpport IN AfgHANIStAN: QUreSHI NEw YORk
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AKISTAN Tuesday regretted the United States failed to recognise the support it lent during the latter’s efforts to secure a peace deal with the Taliban and its subsequent withdrawal from Afghanistan, wondering if Islamabad’s aid of Washington would ever be “enough”. “No matter what we do. It’s never enough,” said Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi during a press engagement arranged by the Foreign Press Association, a New York-based not-forprofit organisation. The briefing was moderated by FPA
president, Ian Williams. Asked by a reporter if Washington was still pressing Pakistan to “do more”, he responded: “Unfortunately, we have not been recognised for having done what we have done [in Afghanistan to facilitate the US and instead] fingers have been pointed at us.” When, in 2018, the Trump administration wishes to enter negotiations with the Taliban, it asked Pakistan and [we] helped and brought the group to the negotiating table, he noted. “When they wanted safe passage for [their] people to leave Afghanistan safely — we helped [ensure this],” he said. Pakistan was also willing to assist in the proposed distribution of humanitarian aid to the people of Afghanistan. “We are willing
[to do so], we will be offering to help […] Pakistan can be that hub for the distribution of assistance.” “Tell us, what more can we do, that we have not [already] done,” an exasperated Qureshi questioned. “For far too long — and believe you me, it is not helpful for someone who is trying to build a healthy bilateral relationship,” he said, underscoring Pakistan’s importance for the US. “How many friends do they have in that [South Asian] region — just look around and see — and it’s Pakistan that has been supportive and helpful [to the US],” the foreign minister said. “If you keep pushing us into the corner, then a [time] will come when the people of Pakistan [will] feel that no matter what we do, it’s impossible to please them, as they keep
changing the goalposts. And let that sink in. It wouldn’t be helpful for the relationship.” Replying to a question about the Taliban’s nomination of their spokesperson Suhail Shaheen as Kabul’s ambassador to the UN, Qureshi said the issue will be decided by the UN Credentials Committee, as the interim Taliban government is yet to secure international recognition. He also pointed out that Afghanistan’s incumbent UN representative to the world body, Ghulam Isaczai, appointed by the Ghani regime and accredited by the UN, is not recognised by the Taliban government. “So it’s a fairly complicated situation,” he said. “It’s an evolving situation, and a decision will have to be taken by the appropriate committee — the Credentials
NAB recovers pay orders worth Rs1bn from Eden management LAHORE shahab OMer
The National Accountability Bureau has recovered pay orders worth Rs1 billion from the management of the notorious Eden Housing Society involved in real estate fraud with the people. According to the details, NAB Lahore had started an inquiry against the management of Eden Housing Society in January 2019 on hundreds of complaints of fraud and deception by the public against the management of the society. However, the number of complaints later increased and when thousands of complaints were received from the victims, the scandal was brought under investigation by the NAB Lahore and a total of Rs1 billion worth of claims were submitted by 11,888 victims during the investigation.
The NAB spokesperson informed that as per the directions of NAB Chairman Justice (r) Javed Iqbal, the ongoing probe into the Eden Housing Scandal by NAB Lahore was expedited to a logical conclusion. “In October 2019, the claims of 11,888 victims were made part of the reference and a reference worth Rs25 billion as per the total market value of the properties was filed in a Lahore accountability court. “In the reference, [late] Dr Amjad and his wife Anjum Amjad along with Murtaza Amjad and Mustafa Amjad were nominated as accused and according to the reference details, projects like Edenabad, Eden Residencia, Eden Gardens, Eden Gardens (extension) and Eden Villas were introduced by Eden administration from 2008 to 2015 and in Lahore and Faisalabad, huge investments
were collected in instalments by tricking the public into booking plots and houses in the name of the said projects,” he informed. The spokesperson further informed that despite the passage of a long time, the administration did not provide plots to the victims, nor did they return their houses and their investments. “Similarly, funds were illegally collected from the victims by the Eden administration even though the land for the projects was not available. During the investigation, the accused managed to escape abroad,” he added. Meanwhile, in March 2021, the Accountability Court Lahore issued orders to sell the properties owned by the accused. The accused, Dr Amjad, had filed an application with the Lahore High Court seeking conditional bail, number 36151/2021.
“On the bail application of the accused, the Hon’ble Court had on June 3, 2021, issued orders to the accused and his wife to deposit Rs1 billion in the official account of Chairman NAB as surety,” he added. According to the spokesperson, all the properties owned by Eden Housing Limited and its owners were still frozen by NAB which could not be sold or transferred without the permission of NAB. “The NAB deems it necessary to clarify that the first priority of the NAB is the interests of the people and the public, the protection of which will not be compromised. NAB chairman and Lahore NAB director-general are personally monitoring all the developments in the Eden scandal and are also issuing orders from time to time in this regard.
experts urge Pakistan to review amnesty offer to banded TTP TerrorisT TTP would be eradicaTed wiThin nexT six monThs’Time, say exPerTs ISLAMABAD Mian abrar
Counter-terrorism experts and diplomats on Wednesday urged the federal government to review its amnesty offer to the banned terrorist outfit of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), saying that the terrorist outfit would be eradicated within next six months’ time. These views were expressed at a webinar titled “Evolving Situation in Afghanistan: Imperatives for Sustainable Peace” organised by an Islamabad-based think tank, Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS). Former Pakistani high commissioner to India, PICSS President Ambassador (r) Abdul Basit, Lt Gen (r) Naeem Lodhi, Prof Dr Tahir Hijazi, Muslim Youth University Vice Chancellor Air Commodore (r) Khalid
Journalist Waris released hours after being ‘abducted’ NEwS DESk Journalist Waris Raza was allegedly abducted from his residence in Karachi in the early hours of Wednesday before being released in the evening, his colleagues and news outlets reported. Waris’s brother Arif Raza confirmed to a media outlet that he had returned home in the evening. Earlier, in a tweet, Waris’s daughter Laila Raza had alleged that her father had been abducted by “law enforcement agencies”. “They want to suppress all progressive voices! My father has done nothing but speak truth to powers that be!” she wrote. According to his friends, Waris, having over 30 years of experience in print and electronic media, is currently working as a columnist for Urdu daily Express. As per report published on Dawn, Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) General Secretary Fahim Siddiqi said that law-enforcement agencies personnel had arrived at Waris’s home in Sahafi Colony in Gulshan-iIqbal at around 2:45am and taken him away.
Iqbal, former consultant (IPRI) and former assistant chief of air staff of Pakistan Air Force, Mr Khurram Saeed, Dr Syed Muhammad Ali, director (CASS), Dr Lutufur Rehman, assistant professor in the IR department of Muslim Youth University and Abdullah Khan, the managing director of PICSS addressed the Webinar along with other dignitaries. While addressing the webinar, Ambassador (r) Abdul Basit emphasized that Pakistan should avoid issuing contradictory statements on Afghanistan. “A lot of contradictory statements are being made on Afghanistan but issues like Kashmir are being ignored. The government first issued a statement that a government made by force will not be recognized in Afghanistan. Then Taliban conquered Kabul by force and made all member of previous regime irrelevant,” he said.
Ambassador Basit said that he believed that Pakistan should not press for inclusive government in Afghanistan. “Why should Taliban include people like Hamid Karzai or Abdullah Abullah in their government,” he argued. Former defence minister Lt Gen (r) Naeem Khalid Lodhi said that TTP will be eliminated within six months and gradually Afghan Taliban will have comlete grip over the Afghan government. He said that Taliban will act against all the militants who would target interests of other countries. He also said that the notion that we move from Geo-Politics to Geo-Economics is a misplaced notion as geo-strategy, geo-politics and geo-economic are intertwined and cannot be separately pursued. He said that geoeconomics does not function in a vacuum. Air Commodore (r) Khalid Iqbal said that Afghanistan was inching towards a human crisis in terms of economic and medical spheres.
Pakistan calls for finding ‘creative ways’ to elicit taliban cooperation NEw YORk anaDOlu agency
Pakistan has said that mere “coercion” will not work to force the Taliban to honor their pledge of not allowing Afghanistan’s soil to be used against any other country again. “While we should expect the Taliban to honour their pledge and not allow terrorist groups to use Afghan territory to attack any other country again, we have to find more creative ways to elicit their cooperation on a sustainable basis,” Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Tuesday (early Wednesday in Pakistan) at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York. “Just coercion will not
do,” he opined, urging the world to be vigilant against “regional spoilers who were opposed to the Afghan peace process and are clearly disappointed that Afghanistan seems to have averted a long and bloody civil war for now.” Qureshi, who is New York to attend the 76th session of the UN General Assembly, insisted that an “inclusive end state” in Afghanistan remains the international community’s best counterterrorism investment. “We should continue to pursue it.” Supporting the US and NATO pullout from the war-wracked country, he said: “The speed of the (Ashraf) Ghani regime’s collapse proved that President (Joe) Biden had
made the right call,” as continuing the war in Afghanistan would not have changed the outcome. Commenting on the ongoing debate “who lost Afghanistan?”, Qureshi opined: “The international coalition did achieve its mission in Afghanistan: Al Qaeda is a shadow of what it was on the morning of September 11, 2001, and the US mainland has not been attacked again. These are clear successes— successes that, let me repeat, were achieved with Pakistan’s cooperation.” Pakistan and the US, he said, shared the same objectives in Afghanistan, “even if we did not always see eye to eye on how to achieve them.”
Committee”. During the briefing, he also urged the international community to engage with the Taliban to encourage progress towards a more inclusive government in Kabul. While the Taliban should be held to their commitments on counter-terror, human rights, and political inclusivity, the immediate priority must be to help the people of Afghanistan as they confront a potential humanitarian crisis, Qureshi said. ‘NO THREAT’ TO NZ, ENGLAND TEAMS: Meanwhile, interacting with the member of the US-based Pakistan community in New York, Qureshi dismissed the impression cricket teams of New Zealand and England backed out of respective tours out of the fear of security threats.
girls’ school damaged in IeD blast in tank NEwS DESk An under-construction girls’ middle school in the Tank district was partially damaged when an improvised explosive device planted by unknown miscreants went off on Wednesday. Local police said the IED was planted near the boundary walls of the middle school which exploded with a big bang and damaged the walls and a room of the school. Soon after receiving information, Tank police cordoned off the area and started a search operation to nab the perpetrators involved. District Police Officer Tank said five to seven kilograms of explosive was used in the IED blast. In July this year, a grenade was hurled inside a school for Afghan children in Peshawar’s Tajabad area. However, no one was hurt as no student was present there. No damage was caused to the building of Khushal High School either, a police official had said. In the same month, an explosion took place at a girls’ school in the Haider Khel area of North Waziristan tribal district when the students were taking their intermediate examination.
overseas pakistan Welfare Commission observes Defence Day The Overseas Pakistan Welfare Commission held a grand reception at Slough to observe Defence Day. According to Spokesperson of Prime Minister on Trade & Investment in UK & Europe Sahibzada Jahangir, large number of dignitaries, including Pakistan High Commissioner Moazzam Ali Khan, defence attaché, military attaché, members of House of Lords, members of parliament, lord mayors, counsellors, representatives of all political parties and leaders of the Pakistan Community attended the reception. news Desk
Thursday, 23 September, 2021
04 NEWS
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IncReAsed demAnd, PRIce RecoveRy ReBound cemenT secToR In 4QFy21 KARACHI
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ROFITABILITy of the KSE-100 Index cement sector (ex-Pioneer Cement Limited) arrived at Rs9,294 million in 4QFy21 against a loss of Rs857 million in the same period last year (SPLy), according to a report issued by Arif Habib Limited on Wednesday. The report said that a stunning turnaround in earnings was owed to strong cement demand and recovery in prices. This took the bottom-line in Fy21 to Rs40,582 million against a loss of Rs1,982 million in Fy20.
Revenue of the sector grew by 74 percent on a year-on-year (yoy) basis to Rs58 billion in 4QFy21 attributable to a sharp recovery in retention prices (price hike in north coupled with cut in FED), alongside a 31 percent yoy jump in total offtake to 14.1 million tonnes (local dispatches depicted a growth of 27% yoy to 11.9 million tons amid boom in construction and low interest rate environment, while exports jumped up by 55 percent yoy to 2.2mn tons led by improvement in offtake to Afghanistan which opened up as Covid-19 infection eased. Pertinently, rebound in retention prices, volumetric growth and rupee appreciation
Tax ordinance to help increase revenue: FBR chief Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Dr Ashfaq Ahmed has said that the presidential ordinance will help increase tax revenue as the FBR will send notices to those who conceal taxable income. During his briefing to the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Finance, the committee members belonging to the opposition parties protested against the remarks of the chairman FBR, to which he said, “Our good deeds and increase in revenue should be commended.” Opposition committee member Naveed Qamar said, “We have asked a question and it is necessary to get an answer.” Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz MNA Ali Pervaiz said that the chairman FBR is joking on the question of the former finance minister, it should not happen, and the question must be answered. Ayesha Ghous Pasha said that not everything is going well at the moment. Responding to this, the chairman FBR said that his job is not to formulate policy but to implement the policy. Ayesha Ghous Pasha further said that customs duty was increased by 47 percent due to increase in imports. She said the increase in tax revenue from the increase in imports is not good, but worrying. Responding to this, Dr Ashfaq said that the tax rate on diesel is low which will reduce the tax revenue, and the tax revenue from petroleum products will be reduced by Rs150 billion. He said that mobile phone SIM cards will be blocked of those hiding their income. NEWS DESK
0.3m social security cards issued to Punjab labourers: minister Punjab Labour Minister Ansad Majeed Khan has said that 300,000 social security cards have been issued to the labourers during the last three years and the government is devising a mechanism to ensure Sehat Card facility for every labourer. The provincial minister said this during a meeting with labour leaders on Wednesday, wherein he assured them to resolve their issues on priority basis. The minister said that a memorandum of understanding would also be signed with the financial institution for ensuring labour card facility. He further said in order to protect the financial interests of the labourers, their salaries would be ensured through their bank accounts which would also be helpful to ensure at least minimum wage for the labourers. He said that school transport facilities to the children of labourers would continue as the workers welfare fund had issued tenders to obtain the transport facility from the private sector. The minister directed the disposal of welfare grants applications received from 2017 to 2019. He issued instructions to the factory owners and workers for corona vaccination and no unvaccinated labourer would be allowed to work after 30th September. He directed the concerned authorities to give admissions to the children of labourers in schools on the basis of provisional certificate and school fee would be paid by the Labour Department. NEWS DESK
Asad vows to play role for early construction of Rawalpindi industrial zone Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar has assured businessmen that he will talk to the prime minister regarding early construction of an industrial zone in Rawalpindi. The minister said this while talking to a delegation of Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), which led by Mohammad Nasir Mirza called on him, said a statement issued on Wednesday. The delegation included newly-elected RCCI President Nadeem Rauf, Senior Vice President Osman Ashraf, Vice President Shahraiz Malik and others. Asad Umar said that the government is pursuing a comprehensive policy to control the Covid-19. In cities where the number of vaccinated people is higher and the rate of corona cases are lower, the Covid-19 restrictions will be gradually relaxed, he said. NEWS DESK
offset higher coal prices, and hence, sectorwide gross margins depicted a drastic accretion of 20ppts yoy to 24.2% (4QFy20: 4.4%), said the report. DGKC and MLCF remained clear outliers with both the players managing to turn around losses to a profit. DGKC’s revenue displayed a surge of 66% yoy to Rs12.36bn in lieu of a significant improvement in retention prices alongside volumetric growth (24% yoy to 1,786k tonnes). Gross margins in 4QFy21 expanded to 17.6% yoy (4QFy20: 6.8%) given strong topline growth which offset the impact of higher coal prices.
Similarly, MLCF’s topline displayed a robust jump of 58% yoy during 4QFy21 led by a significant jump in retention prices alongside a 12% uptick in total offtake (1,183k tons vs. 1,059k tons). Consequently, margins turned green in 4QFy21 to 24.9% (4QFy20: -2.1%) amid strong retention prices, volumetric growth and rupee appreciation which offset the impact of augmented coal prices. Also noteworthy was the finance cost which depicted a decline of 48% yoy to PKR 280mn in 4QFy21 owed to lower interest rates. Meanwhile LUCK (unconsolidated) posted a profitability at Rs2.4 billion, under-
Punjab to hold business conference in Dubai to fetch investment: Aslam NEWS DESK Punjab Minister for Industries and Commerce Mian Aslam Iqbal has said that holding of an international business conference by the provincial government during the Dubai Expo in November will bring new investment to the province. The provincial minister said this while chairing the fourth meeting of a steering committee on Wednesday to review the departmental arrangements for the Dubai Expo. He said that Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Bazdar will be the chief guest of the international business conference and the chambers of commerce and industry and the business community will be fully represented in this conference. He said that departments concerned should prepare high quality documentaries and materials to make Dubai Expo 2020 fruitful.
He said that the Dubai Expo will highlight Punjab’s investment potential globally. Aslam said that investors will be made aware of the steps taken to expedite the process of industrialisation in Punjab through the expo. He directed that the provincial departments participating in the Dubai Expo would complete their arrangements soon. He said that the Punjab government would showcase its cultural and trade activities in the expo. He asked all the relevant departments to finalise their arrangements, saying seminars, panel discussions and other events would also be organised in the Dubai Expo. The meeting also reviewed the matters related to sending an advance team to Dubai, financial matters and other issues. Chief Secretary Kamran Ali Afzal, Secretary Industry and Commerce Dr Wasif Khurshid, Chief Executive Officer Punjab Board of Investment Dr Erfa Iqbal and officers of relevant departments attended the meeting.
Christians mourn lives lost in All Saints Church attack LAHORE STAFF REPORT
The leadership of the Church of Pakistan on Wednesday urged the government to ensure the security of the Christian population and protection of their worship places. Christians across Pakistan and in other parts of the world observed the eighth anniversary of the terrorist attack on the All Saints Church in Peshawar, in which over 100 worshippers, including several children, were killed and dozens others were wounded. In a joint press statement, the senior leaders of the Church of Pakistan, including Moderator/President Bishop Dr Azad Marshall, Bishop of Peshawar Diocese Humphrey Sarfaraz Peter, Bishop of Sialkot Diocese Alvin Samuel, Bishop of Multan Diocese Leo Roderick Paul and others said that the terror attack is still fresh in the minds of Pakistani Christians. “Today, we remember all our brothers, sisters and children who were killed and injured in the suicide bombings on the congregation of the All Saints Church in Peshawar in 2013.” “It is our firm belief that the victims are resting in eternal peace. However, the wounds of losing their loved ones are still fresh in the minds of the victims’ families. We will continue to keep them in prayer every day so that God’s grace may bring peace and comfort to their mourning hearts,” said Bishop Marshall. He added that special prayer services were held at the All Saints Church in Peshawar and the Praying Hands Cathedral in Lahore for the victims of the attack and their survivors.
The CoP president urged the federal and provincial governments to expedite the implementation of a Rs200 million endowment fund for the victims of the church attack, under which a monthly stipend would be provided to orphaned boys until they are 18, and to orphaned girls even after they turn 18, if they are unmarried. Widows would receive a lifetime stipend until they remarry. “We acknowledge the governments’ instant compensation package for the victims but a lot more needs to be done for the victims’ families,” he stressed. The senior church leader also called on the global Christian community to remember, pray, and speak up for those affected by the bombing and other instances of persecution. In his message, Bishop of Peshawar Humphrey Peter said that the government must honour and protect the identity, existence, dignity and the basic constitutional rights of the Pakistani religious minorities. Meanwhile, in a separate message on the occasion, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby recalled “the astonishing grace and courage of the survivors [of the church attack] I met”. “They still struggle with pain, grief and trauma. My heart breaks as I pray daily with thanksgiving for Pakistan, its churches, its people and its government,” the archbishop stated in his statement. The leader of the Anglican Church called on the British government to renew its commitment and action in support of freedom of religion and belief. “While enjoying the freedoms we treasure here in the UK, let us also defend the rights of all faiths,” he said.
going a surge of 6x yoy in 4QFy21. Gross margin underwent a significant jump to 27% during 4QFy21 (4QFy20: 16%) largely led by strong topline growth, rupee appreciation against the USD, as well as improved efficiencies from the new line. Bottom-line was also aided by a massive jump in other income (+3x yoy) attributable to an improved cash balance. However, gross margins of the sector observed a decline of 5ppts on a QoQ basis (3QFy21: 29.4%) in lieu of a 4% dip in offtake (3QFy21: 14.7mn tons) alongside higher coal prices which counterbalanced the impact of improved retention prices.
dollAR ReAches Rs168.68 As RuPee sheds 16 PAIsAs NEWS DESK Pakistani rupee struggled against the US dollar in the inter-bank on Wednesday and depreciated by 16 paisas (-0.09 percent). According to the State Bank of Pakistan, the US dollar opened at Rs168.52 and closed at Rs168.68. Within the open market, the rupee was traded at Rs1689/170 per dollar. The Pakistani rupee shed Rs0.51 during the last three days against the US dollar, while depreciation during the fiscal year 2021-22 has been Rs11.26. The local unit has shed Rs8.41 against the US dollar in the current year 2021. The local currency has maintained a downtrend after it touched 22-month high of Rs152.27 in May 2021, losing a cumulative Rs16.37 in the past four months to date. According to currency dealers, the demand for external payment kept the market under pressure. They said that due to the quarter closing on September 30, 2021, the dollar demand is higher for import and corporate payments. They added by every quarter-end, foreign entities operating in Pakistan repatriate profit and dividends to their parent companies abroad. They also said that widening deficits of the current account and trade are also major concerns for the rupee stability. The local currency has been under pressure since the start of the current fiscal year. It hit an all-time low of Rs169.12 against the dollar last week.
Gold PRIce suRGes FoR 4Th dAy To Rs96,600 PeR 10Gm NEWS DESK Gold prices inched up for the fourth day in a row on Wednesday as investors turn cautious ahead of the Fed monetary policy decision. At 1315 hours GMT, gold in the international market was available at $1,778.30 per ounce after gaining $3.20. Meanwhile, the price of 10 grams of yellow metal in Pakistan increased to Rs96,600 after gaining Rs300. The closing prices of the yellow metal in the country remained Rs96,300 on Tuesday last. The increase in local gold prices was also due to depreciation of the Pakistani rupee against the US dollar. According to experts, there is an increased expectation that the US Federal Reserve could offer a tapering timeline. If the Fed refrains from making any announcement on tapering, gold prices could see buying resurgence, although the gains could be capped by the calm from China Evergrande and risk-on action in the US stocks. They said the risk-on impulse – as depicted by a strong rally in the global equity markets – acted as a headwind for the safe-haven gold. This, along with expectations for an imminent Fed taper announcement, triggered a fresh leg up in the US Treasury bond yields and further collaborated to cap gains for the non-yielding yellow metal, they added. TLTP
Samsung to set up TV line-up plant in Karachi: Dawood NEWS DESK Adviser to the PM on Commerce and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood has said that Samsung Electronics in collaboration with the local partner will establish a TV line-up plant in Karachi. In a tweet on Wednesday, Abdul Razak Dawood said that he has been informed that Samsung Electronics is in the process of establishing their TV line-up
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plant in collaboration with the R&R Industries in Karachi. He said that the plant will become functional in the 4th fourth quarter (October-December) of 2021 and is expected to produce 50,000 units annually. This is a vindication of the Ministry of Commerce’s “Makein-Pakistan” policy for industrialisation via rationalisation of input costs and other incentives, he further said. Samsung represented 32.9 percent of the global TV market in terms of sales revenue in the January-March pe-
riod, its largest share for the first quarter, according to the data from industry researcher Omdia. Samsung was followed by its South Korean rival LG Electronics with 19.2 percent and Japan’s Sony Corp with 8 per cent. Samsung is already set to begin the manufacturing of its cellphones in a joint venture with the Lucky Motor Corporation. Lucky Motor Corporation has entered into an agreement with the Samsung Gulf Electronics to produce Samsung mobile phones at its automobile plant at Port Qasim.
Thursday, 23 September, 2021
ISLAMABAD corporate corner TPL Insurance and MediQ to digitize healthcare for customers
NEWS
PAKISTAN RETAINS GSP PLUS STATUS WITH ADDITION Of SIx NEW CONvENTIONS
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KARACHI: An MoU signing ceremony was held at the TPL Insurance Head Office located at SMCHS, Karachi, where TPL Insurance, Pakistan’s leading Insurtech, has entered into a strategic partnership with MediQ, Pakistan's first virtual hospital. The partnership provides complete online healthcare solutions to TPL Insurance customers. Press releAse
Bagallery partners with L’Oréal and Modiface to launch virtual try on for beauty products KARACHI: Bagallery, in association with L’Oreal Pakistan, has launched a Virtual Try-on for Makeup powered by Modiface. This partnership is the first venture of its kind in Pakistan, which enhances consumer shopping experience from the comfort of their handheld devices. Modiface’s virtual try-on service enables consumers to experience L’Oréal Paris, Maybelline New York and NYX Professional makeup products through live video or photo-sharing directly on the web. Press releAse
Standard Chartered Bank donates PKR 23.29 million to Mayo Hospital Lahore
LAHORE: Standard Chartered Bank has donated PKR 23.29 million to MayoHospital Lahore through Sightsavers International. Through this amount, Mayo hospital will purchase 24 cardiac monitors and 25 high-flow nasal canulas. As most of the patients being admitted during the fourth wave are at critical stages, there is a need for this equipment which will help Mayo hospital manage critical COVID-19 patients being admitted in ICUs and High Dependency Units (HDU). Press releAse
IMC Wins the Annual Environment Excellence Award 2021
AKISTAN’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP+) status was extended by the European Union on Tuesday with the addition of six new conventions. According to the statement issued by the European Commission, the new conventions pertain to greater accessibility for people with physical disability, the eradication of child labour, and environmental safety. The continuation of Pakistan’s GSP Plus status will provide a major boost to an economic decline that had begun in 2017. The Commission, which re-
viewed the status of Pakistan, mentioned that talks will continue with the EU-Pakistan Joint Commission. "In the latest review, Pakistan's individual status was not discussed," it said, adding that the discussion revolved around "new conditions" in GSP Plus, which include the six new aforementioned conventions. The commission also mentioned, “We have taken note of the matters raised and the issues highlighted in the EP Resolution on Pakistan (29 April 2021), which has received significant coverage also in Pakistan. We have discussed it and its content with the Pakistani
COAS stresses greater synchronisation to tackle battlefield challenges contInueD froM pAge 01 Hikmat Mirzayev along with observers from Kazakhstan and Major General Mumtaz Hussain From Pakistan. The august gathering witnessed final phase of joint training that included live fire of different weapons including Kamikaze drone, helicopters and small arms. In addition sea assault, fast rope and close interdiction by Azerbaijani Air Force and Air Defence was also part of the joint exercise. Moreover, it said that the opening ceremony of the exercise Peace Mission under the ambit of
HBL is proud to be associated with the Pakistan Pavilion at Dubai Expo 2020 KARACHI: HBL is the supporting partner of the Pakistan Pavilion at the Dubai Expo 2020. This initiative is in line with the Bank’s continuous support of the Government of Pakistan’s vision to promote trade, commerce, investment and tourism. The Dubai Expo 2020 will run for six months, starting on 1 October 2021. The event is about celebrating culture, collaboration and innovation. A state-of-the-art facility has been set up for the event hosting 192 country pavilions. The Pakistan Pavilion has been designed and curated by leading architects, designers, visual artists and researchers. It presents the hidden treasures of Pakistan through an immersive, multi-sensory experience to explore the country’s cultural diversity, craftsmanship, economic potential and dynamism of its people. HBL is Pakistan’s leading, largest and oldest bank. The Bank firmly believes in Pakistan’s growth potential and investment opportunities. HBL continues to work towards a sustained economic and social uplift of the country. The Bank is confident that the Dubai Expo 2020 will attract investors to come and explore the untapped business and tourism potential of Pakistan. Press releAse
SCO platform held at Donguz training area, Orenburg Region, Russia. Colonel General Alexander Pavlovich Lapin Commander of Central Military District Russian Armed Forces was the chief guest at the opening ceremony. Troops from all Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states are participating in the exercise under extremely challenging field environment. Belarus is taking part in the exercise as an observer. Tri Services contingent of Pakistan Army is participating in the exercise. The exercise is focused on anti-terrorist operations and best practices in the counter-terrorism domain.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa govt, Nestlé Pakistan & World Bank conduct wastemanagement training in Swat under TREK ISLAMABAD: Nestlé Pakistan, in collaboration with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s Tourism Department, conducted extensive two-day training on waste management and sustainable tourism in Swat as part of TREK’s community engagement initiatives. Earlier in December 2020, Prime Minister Imran Khan had unveiled the logo for TREK, which is part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Integrated Tourism Development (KITE) project and has been listed amongst the federal government’s key achievements of 2020. Addressing participants of the training, Tashfeen Haider Additional Secretary Tourism Department, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa said, “TREK is an initiative under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Integrated Tourism Development (KITE) project being implemented in partnership with the World Bank Group and Nestlé Pakistan.” “Activities within TREK include the provision of solid waste management equipment, awareness campaigns for tourists, and training of local communities on waste minimization that we just concluded under KITE,” he said. Press releAse
Govt partially exempts LNG procurement from PPRA rules ISLAMABAD AHMAD AHMADANI
KARACHI: Indus Motor Company (IMC) won the Environment Excellence Award for the year 2021, at the 18th Annual Environment Conference & Excellence Awards 2021 ceremony, hosted by the National Forum for Environment & Health (NFEH), at Karachi. The award was presented by Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Minister for Local Government, Government of Sindh, to IMCs, Asad Abdullah, Head CSR and Media Management. This is the fifth year running for IMC to have won the title and the eleventh time since 2004, it has been complemented by the NFEH, for its contribution towards achieving a carbon-neutral environment. Press releAse
authorities, through our delegation and here in Brussels.” “Although GSP monitoring missions to Pakistan are not foreseen at the moment, our engagement with the authorities continues by all other means possible. For example, the joint EU-Pakistan joint subgroup on human rights was held on June 1, and covered a broad range of human rights issues, including freedom of religion and of expression.” A European Commission official informed that they were satisfied with Pakistan’s progress on legislation on the security of labour and efforts on environment protection. NeWs DesK
The government has granted partial exemption from applicability of Public Procurement Rules, 2004 to the procurement of spot cargoes of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) by Pakistan State Oil (PSO) and by Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL) till December 31. According to sources, the federal cabinet has taken this decision while considering a summary titled ‘Grant of Partial Exemption under Section 21 of the PPRA Ordinance, 2002 from Applicability of Rule 13 & 35 of Public Procurement Rules, 2004 for Reduction in Timelines Specific to the Procurement of Spot Cargoes of LNG by PSO and by PLL dated 10th September 2021, submitted by the Cabinet Division. As per details, the cabinet division requested the federal cabinet to consider grant of partial exemption under Section
21 of the PPRA Ordinance, 2002 from the applicability of the Rules 13 & 35 of Public Procurement Rules, 2004 to PSO and PLL for procurement of LNG through spot procurement of three cargoes for PSO and thirteen cargoes for PLL till December 31 to the extent of relaxing the duration of response time to three days, and the reasonable period between the announcement of evaluation report and award of contract to the successful bidder, subject to the condition that fair opportunity shall be provided to potential bidders and to ensure the redressal of grievances if any. The cabinet division also informed the cabinet that the PPRA board, in its 53rd meeting held on August 12 has directed the PPRA management to recommend exemption to PSO and PLL. The PPRA board, in its decision, said that partial exemption may be granted.
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corporate corner MOU signed between Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Rafi Group Land Development
LAHORE: Lahore Chamber of Commerce signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the renowned land developer of Pakistan, Rafi Group, for investment in the latter’s premium housing project in Gwadar, Green Palms Housing Project. Signed by President Lahore Chamber of Commerce Tariq Misbah & Chairman Rafi Group Imtiaz Rafi Butt, MOU states that Rafi Group will set aside a residential block in Green Palms Housing Project, Overseas District where members and employees of Lahore Chamber of Commerce can invest. Press releAse
Metro installs the firstever electric vehicle charging station
LAHORE: In another first, METRO Pakistan reaffirms its commitment towards “Environment Sustainability” and being a responsible business by installing the first-ever Fast Charging Station for Electric Vehicles (EV) at any retail store in Pakistan. The Electric Charging Station was inaugurated by Marek Minkiewicz, Managing Director, METRO Pakistan Private Limited and Ahmad Najeeb, Chief Executive Officer, Albario Engineering Private Limited (AEPL) at METRO Thokar Niaz Beg Store in Lahore. Press releAse
Byco wins 18th Annual Environment Excellence Award KARACHI: Byco Petroleum Pakistan Limited (BPPL), Pakistan’s largest oil refining company by capacity, has won the Environment Excellence Award at the 18th Annual Environment Excellence Awards held at a local hotel in Karachi. The chief guest on the occasion was the provincial Minister for Public Health Engineering and Local Government Nasir Hussain Shah, who presented the Environment Excellence Award to Manager Byco Environment Health & Safety, Atif Waheed. The National Forum for Environment & Health thoroughly assessed and examined Byco’s operations and facilities. Press releAse
Thursday, 23 September, 2021
06 COMMENT
Creating space for Overseas Experts
Major parliamentary breakthrough Or an unpredictable move?
The overseas experts have contributed immensely to the country
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T a time when relations between the PTI-led government and opposition are marked by total confrontation, any sign of willingness to discuss how the next elections are to be held needs to be welcomed. Suddenly, surprising even some opposition leaders, the government side and the opposition have agreed to set up a parliamentary committee comprising legislators from both the National Assembly and Senate to discuss electoral reforms. This is so far no more than an agreement in principle. With the devil lying in the details, it remains to be seen how far it can go. The question becomes all the more relevant as on the same day Prime Minister Imran Khan has fired a salvo on the opposition, saying that only those benefitting from a corrupt system are opposing the electronic Voting Machines that he is completely sold on. It appears however that the government has forgone, at least for the time being, the option of steamrollering its electoral reforms bills through a joint session of Parliament which would have added more fuel to the fire. The meeting where the agreement was reached comprised the National Assembly Speaker, two PTI ministers, two PML(N) parliamentarians and one each from the PPP and the JUI(F). The easy part of the job has been done, with the mechanics of forming the committee agreed. It was decided that motions would be moved in both houses for the constitution of the committee. It was also decided that the National Assembly Speaker would be authorised to nominate members of the committee in consultation with the parliamentary leaders. There was an agreement on the committee’s scope also: evaluation of the shortcomings of previous elections, making recommendations to ensure that elections are free, fair and transparent, drafting legislation, or constitutional amendments if required, and recommending ways and means to improve the electoral system including adoption of the latest technology available for holding elections. So far so good But then there are difficulties ahead stemming from persisting suspicions, bitter rivalries and fixed positions. Which side, government or opposition, will have a majority of seats in the committee? If equal, which side will hold the committee chairman’s slot? PML(N) senior vice president Khaqan Abbasi wants a parliamentary committee that does not have Treasury members in majority. Again, will there be more agreements than disagreements in the report prepared by the committee?
Dr FariD a Malik
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BDULLAh Gul, the former President of Turkey, during his last visit lamented the fact that despite having overseas experts in all fields, Pakistan has not been able to turn around. In Turkey he said, they had identified areas which needed guidance from overseas experts. The local managers were tasked to follow their guidelines, and the results were phenomenal. Pakistan needs to create space in order to benefit from the expertise of its gems who have solid credentials in their field. Business as usual cannot produce results, and there has to be a change of approach which must be recognised and then corrected for the country to move forward. Several success stories come to mind. After partition in August 1947, the Quaid-e-Azam personally sought the best available talent. he wrote to Professor ernest Rutherford, one of the top physicists of the world, seeking his help in identifying local experts. Dr Rafi Chaudhry was discovered, who was teaching at the Aligarh University at that time after completing his PhD from Cambridge University. Dr Chaudhry then joined Government College Lahore where the first high Tension Physics Laboratory of Asia was built. It was under his guidance that top scientists were produced who then played a key role in the country’s nuclear programme. Another son of the soil, the unsung hero of our nuclear success, was engr. Munir Ahmed Khan who was working for the International Atomic energy Commission (IAeC) in the 1960s. he kept a close eye on the Indian advancements in this area, and finally he convinced Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, who was the Foreign Minister at that time, to build an atomic bomb to counter the enemy threat. A presentation was
Afghanistan’s anti-Pakistan sentiment Mending ties and building better relationships
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AKISTAN’S diplomatic relationship with Afghanistan throughout the Ashraf Ghani regime remained tumultuous to say the least, littered with verbal spats and a never-ending blame game accusing each other of allowing terrorists to use their respective territories to attack one another. Following the Taliban takeover, the PTI government and Pakistan’s security agencies have displayed a sense of relief that perhaps a more amenable setup would now be in place, eager to mend ties, start afresh and maintain a mutually respectful and beneficial relationship going forward. however, this is hardly what has transpired owing to an obvious anti-Pakistan sentiment still prevalent in Afghanistan, as evidenced by the anti-ISI protests that were held in Kabul demanding a separate Balochistan soon after the Taliban took control, where order had to be restored through force. A few days back one of the many container trucks carrying food and medical supplies was stopped and vandalized as it had Pakistan’s flag pasted on it. These incidents are part of a pattern that is hard to notice and therefore requires investigation, understanding and resolution to avoid a situation where even the new Taliban government is unable to effectively work with Pakistan due to pressures emanating from within that want the exact opposite to happen. One rationale that is understandable is Pakistan’s outright support to US and NATO forces in the War on Terror during the Musharraf years, some of the wounds of which are still fresh and may never fully heal. Another element is the fact that Pakistan’s enemies, chief among which is India, still has their tentacles deeply rooted within Afghanistan’s intelligentsia, which continues to unjustifiably spew venom against Pakistan. So far, Pakistan’s efforts to create regional cooperation and include the Taliban in the process whereby they are part of the solution rather than the problem have been partly successful. It is imperative at this stage of the political, social and economic transition taking place in Afghanistan that Pakistan is not only tangibly doing all it can to help but is also perceived as a neighbouring country that is friendly, trustworthy and dependable. Unless the reasons for our severe unpopularity are not narrowed down and the sentiments behind those not fully understood, these presumed misconceptions will remain unresolved. A serious conversation along these lines must be had between the civilian and military setups of the country to reach some concrete conclusions worthy to be acted upon.
The developed countries must take the lead ZEESHaN aHMaD kHaN
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he triple planetary emergency – climate change, natural degradation and pollution– poses an unprecedented adverse impact on the planet, resulting in aggravation of poverty, fluctuation in economic growth, increase in food insecurity and worsening health risks. Needless to say, climate-related incidents such as floods, storms, excessive droughts, sweltering heat and erratic weather patterns are the grave outcomes of global warming. These climate-related disasters hit hard with unpredictability as well as with ferocious intensity. A recently released report of the UNeP, titled Making peace With Nature, has clearly mentioned the role of humans behind the ecological crisis. In the words of the United Nation General Secretary, humanity has “left the planet broken.” In the same report, a roadmap is given to heal the wounds inflicted by man on the environment. The report has underscored that all walks of life need to take necessary steps to address climate-related emergencies. Fresh scientific evidence has revealed the devastating consequences of the triple emergency of climatote on humanity and warned of horrible outcomes, if these challenges are not to be tackled forthwith. The global community’s commitments to tackle the issue of climate change are very ambitious. Simultaneously, national governments have also made targets regarding the mitigation of global warming in line with the international accords. except the formulation of targets, no concrete step has been taken yet to turn them into actions. A case study against this backdrop are the Achi biodiversity Targets which have not been achieved in 2020, leaving the earth’s marine ecosystem at the mercy of climate change. Similarly, the future of the Paris Climate accord is also in danger, if countries fail to comply with it. Keeping in view failures in implementation of obligations and pledges with respect to the alleviation of the environment, questions can be raised about withering enthusiasm when the time of practical application comes. There are multiple factors which are creating impediments in the way of effectively implementing the
Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
Yousaf Nizami M. A. Niazi
Umar Aziz
Joint Editor
Joint Editor
Executive Editor
Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965
Unless the Allamas and the Honchos who have been running the show for the last 40 years are shown the door, or given clear instructions to follow the professional directives given by the invited overseas experts, meaningful progress will not be possible. Most experts get frustrated and leave while only a few remain to fight back
The writer is ex-Chairman, Pakistan Science Foundation. He can be contacted at: fmaliks@hotmail.com.
The climate crisis and the urgency of its mitigation
Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami
Editor Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad
arranged for President Ayub Khan in London to get his nod but he shied away. In 1971 India succeeded in breaking up the country. ZAB came into power in what was left of Pakistan. Munir was appointed Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Commission (PAeC). It was under his leadership that the device was built which was designed by Professor Riazuddin of the Quaid-e-Azam University. Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, a metallurgist by profession who is repeatedly misreported as the father of the Nuclear Programme, was also inducted into PAeC as an overseas expert in the uranium enrichment area. Dr Khan was working for Urenco, a company in holland that had developed centrifuge technology for uranium enrichment as a nuclear fuel. In order to create his own space he then convinced ZAB to start the Kahuta Reasearch Laboratories ( KRL ) under his command. It was this facility that provided the enriched uranium fuel for the detonation of the atomic device in May 1998. KRL then started to extend its expertise in several areas. Following Dr Khan’s lead, several scientists of PAeC then started to indulge in other areas like mining and missile technology. First it was the Father of the Nation who understood the need of fresh qualified talent and then ZAB who attracted the best brains and then created space for them to serve the motherland. The country was unable to benefit from the expertise of Dr Abdul Salam, the country’s only science Nobel Laureate. he did work as Adviser with President Ayub Khan and then with ZAB but had to settle down in Trieste Italy where he continued with his research. In 1979 he was awarded the Nobel Prize. Fortunately I had the chance of visiting him then as I was undergoing Industrial Training in Milan. Dr Salam then played a key role in establishing the Ministry of Science and Technology, National Commission for Science and Technology, Pakistan Science Foundation (
PSF ) which I had the opportunity to serve. PSF was formed on the pattern of National Science Foundation (NSF) of the USA. During my stay in the USA, I had the chance to interact with the NSF. Identification of research is taken very seriously there while it is ignored here. To interact with the industry or end-user for applicable research, I formed the Industrial Liaison Group and hired the first MBA of the foundation. Through this group we were able to launch about 40 projects in collaboration with the industry to ensure commercialization of our indigenous research. Unless the Allamas and the honchos who have been running the show for the last 40 years are shown the door, or given clear instructions to follow the professional directives given by the invited overseas experts, meaningful progress will not be possible. Most experts get frustrated and leave while only a few remain to fight back. When I decided to come back and serve the motherland, I also succeeded in convincing some highly qualified professionals to return. Dr Asad Abidi, a Professor of electrical engineering at UCLA, came as Dean to set up the School of Science and engineering at LUMS but lasted for only two years. Dr Adil Najam came as Vice Chancellor at the same institution but could not complete his term. Dr Sohail Naqvi played a key role as executive Director heC but finally landed in Kazakhstan. There are others who tried to serve but then got tired and left (Dr Shahid Bokhari of UeT, Dr Sohail Zuberi of Quaid-e-Azam University to mention a couple). I personally tried to convince all of them to stay but they were burnt out mainly because of lack of space where they could effectively serve. The PM is right, Overseas experts are needed to move the country forward but they have to lead, not submit to the entrenched mafia of the status quo.
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climate-mitigated goals. Low-income countries argue that their inability to fulfil the goals is due to insufficient technology and meagre financial resources. Under the Copenhagen conference, well-off countries had shown commitments to collect $200 billion by 2020 in order to support low- incomes countries in mitigating the climate crisis. however, the target has not been accompl ished yet. Therefore, low-income countries point out those unfulfilled promises due to which they are incapable of tackling the menace of climate change. Paucity of funds and lack of technologies are the stumbling blocks for poor countries. Another factor that worsens the triple planetary emergency is the inappropriate policies of some rich countries with respective to allocation of unfair subsidies to fossil fuels and agriculture. Moreover, the developed countries are not allowing the transfer of appropriate technologies to poor nations. Such inappropriate attitudes of rich countries have barred the world from implementing the goals. The best remedy to contain every escalating greenhouse gases is a transition towards renewable sources of energy. Decarbonisation can be achieved by large and small economies through this method. Many developed and developing countries are still producing electricity from coal, which is the major reason of global warming. In this regard, solar and wind power is the only option to produce electricity from clean technology. Those countries which border the sea have abundant tidal energy which can tackle climate change. The Report of the IPCC has warned that the climate temperature has risen since the Industrial Revolution, which has thawed glaciers. It is predicted that by
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2100, all the major glaciers will have melted, changing the pattern of climate and topography. Besides, rising sea levels can result in creating many problems for those countries which are near to coastal areas. Those countries’ areas are threatened with being submerged if steps are not taken properly. Counter carbon is the best solution which can yield good results. After the Industrial Revolution, a race to become superpowers worsened this scenario where countries have combusted coal to fulfil their needs to run their industries. This revolution has undermined the existence of human beings, creating a number of problems for developing and poor countries especially because they do not have resources to counter this menace. In this way, the Kyoto Protocol findings must be implemented to make a carbonfree world. The covid-19 pandemic provides opportunities for countries to switch from carbon-intense industries to investments in green technologies. Reports from various different organizations show that the global community has failed to harness this golden opportunity. Time is running short. To avert untoward circumstances, strenuous efforts are required to solve the issue of climate change. In this regard, it is incumbent on major economies to play a leading role. The climate crisis is a transnational issue so all governments must collaborate with one another. Moreover, restructuring of the existing coal-based economies is the need of the hour. Meanwhile, carbon taxation on goods that have a carbon footprint is another possible step to cut down greenhouse gases emissions. The UN chief has urged the world to turn words into actions and underlined the gravity of the situation.
To avert untoward circumstances, strenuous efforts are required to solve the issue of climate change. In this regard, it is incumbent on major economies to play a leading role. The climate crisis is a transnational issue so all governments must collaborate with one another.
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The writer is a freelance columnist
Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk
Thursday, 23 September, 2021
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
Bags not tools ACCORDING to Wikipedia,“Child labour refers to the exploitation of children through any form of work that deprives children of their childhood, interferes with their ability to attend regular school, and is mentally, physically, socially or morally harmful.” Knowing the consequences of child labour, UNICeF declared 12 June as “World day against child labour” Still, in our country child labour is quite common. Children, who are the future of Pakistan, are holding tools instead of bags. According to a survey conducted by the Federal Bureau of Statistics and the National Child Labour, approximately 19 million children below 14 years of age are working as child labourers in Pakistan due to poverty. They are deprived of their due rights along with education. If our youth is going to be uneducated and engaged in work, how will the country progress? The government must make sure that every child must be a student rather than a labour. AFroz MJ TurbAT
WHO warning
Survival Game
Dr aSiM Farooq
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AKISTAN’S economy has been muddling through transitions for decades, and each year the deficit increases. There are only two million taxpayers in the country, of which 70 percent are of the salaried class, while the domestic investment rate (DIR), is below 16 percent. According to the World Bank guidelines, if the DIR is below 22 percent, then you have a chance of a 6 percent increase in the country’s GDP. The Subcontinent’s economy was destroyed through a well-planned agenda in the 17th century when Britain first came to it. At that time 37 percent of the world GDP was only generated by the Subcontinent through trade and imports, and today it is only 4 percent. The major GDP contributor around the world is the USA at 24 percent, while China is at 15 percent. The UK contributes 4 percent, India 4 percent, and Pakistan less than 1 percent. During Roman times, Indian textile, and cotton were the finest and most demanded around the world, and it was hard for makers to fulfil the demand. What Britain did with the Subcontinent was disseminate their trade and transportation and convert the indigenous education system to an english-based system and created a society in which those who learned and could speak the language fluently becomes the elite class. This remains so till date, as the elite class became the ruling class of society and find itself above the law of the state, just like the representatives of the British monarch before, Partition, causing a state of injustice in the country. At that time around, indigenous education was conveyed in 67 languages, supported by the local communities. Singapore, a country without natural resources (no water, mineral, gas, and agriculture etc), has a GDP of about $312 billion a year. In 1964 the Singaporean PM Lee Kuan Yew was briefed about the country’s situation, that in future it may face huge issues in terms of job creation and even to feed the people. The Singaporeans focused on population development and introduced four pillars of a knowledge economy: education, Skilled manpower, ICT (Internet continuation technology) and Innovations. Singapore implemented the four-knowledge pillar model, and now the education rate in the country is 99 percent, whereas in Pakistan it is less than 9 percent, which means over 90 percent of people are far away from development. The per capita income in Singapore is about $50,000, while in Pakistan it is about $1500,
where Pakistan has four seasons, contains raw materials, resources and minerals, and the import is about $25 billion. Another example is of South Korea, where alone Samsung has a turnover of 5 percent of Pakistan GDP, while only Silicon Valley in South Korea produces 30 percent of US GDP. In 1960 Pakistan, India and South Korea were almost at the same level, the per capita income was about $150, $97 and $160. We made a mistake during that time; Pakistan went for export industrialization, where still we are dependent on most of the countries for almost 90 percent of the equipment, materials, and raw items. South Korea, Malaysia and Singapore went for the import industrialization concept. After analyzing many studies, financial reports, R&D and capability of import and industries, the conclusion in Pakistan is that the graduates are without skills and technical knowledge, which shifts the country’s growth engine to the backyard. Apart from many reasons, the integral element of the state failure is no coherent policy to promote education, health; the country’s 0.26 percent GDP is assigned for higher education, one can imagine the ultimate result. The country’s planners need to revise their strategy for the better future of the country. education has never been a state priority subject since 1947, and even the selected ministers were those who couldn’t fit in anywhere else, and were given the education, IT, health, and such portfolios. All of Pakistan’s mega-projects were awarded to foreign companies because the country lacks the technical capabilities to execute these projects, and a whenever they tried they have failed miserably Sher Shah Bridge Karachi, Neelum-Jhelum hydropower Plant, Muzaffarabad and partial demolition of Baloch Colony Bridge in Karachi are fine examples. After 75 years of independence, Pakistan has observed the way of moving forward is leading them towards destruction, after the hard work of Dr Atta-ur-Rehman and the execution of Dr Nasir Ali khan (Project Director) & Dr Mujahid (Rector) have invented and introduced education with skills for the first time within the country. The decision and action were taken very late, but it’s never too late to make the right decision. In a joint venture between Pakistan, Austria and China, the education concept introduced through Pak-Austria Fachhochschule: Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology (PAF-IAST), where around 180-plus new industries will be built under the CPeC projects, with a few already functional. PAF-IAST is a novel and holistic approach, with a focus on “skilling Pakistan” to create a high-quality technical human resource development. The world Fachhochschule is borrowed from the Austrian/German Schooling system, where the schooling system is divided into Kindergarten (early Childhood education), Grundschule (Primary education), Realschule (Secondary education), and Fachhochschule (Applied Sciences Universities), at this stage the student selected based on his grades and overall performance to select among Fachhochschule or Universitat (University). The unique educational institution is collaborating with Austrian and Chinese Universities, to create and elevate the technical skills of graduates across the country. CPeC (China Pakistan economic Corridor) will be a real game-changer for the country in the coming two decades. The country can get the maximum benefit from the CPeC if the endowment of the young and energetic population is properly trained, equipped and
skilled in modern technology. The 21st century could be a gamechanger for Pakistan, which must work hard to boost its economy and focus on import-based industry revaluation through CPeC. The university introduces the system where the technology, skill, and science will be parallel, and each student and faculty member shall work under the triple helix model. Where government, academia and industry work together to boost the economic and social development, in order to generate the knowledge-based economy and society. PAF-IAST aims to become a world-class educational institution for imparting knowledge, skill development and focus on applied research to provide the solutions of the existing problems in multidisciplinary fields. Through the applied institute which is the first ever step towards export-based industry, and a technology-based economy, where the professionals trained in Austria and China to guide the enrolled students to convert the pure idea to applied basic knowledge (Output-based education and training concept). China is an exemplary model for all the countries undergoing rapid development and economic stability. In a key example. China also applied the same four-pillar model and made its economy the second-largest in the world. It focused on education, research and development, ICT and infrastructure building. Now they are leading many megaprojects around the world and focus on their import economy along with moving and shifting attention toward themselves. Pakistan is a dynamic country of humann resources but needs to be translated into actions for a better future, but they didn’t transform themselves in seven decades. Pakistan and China have interdependency, but China is keen to invest and boost Pakistan’s economy. Projects initiated under CPeC such as changing the main distribution lines to reduce the electricity losses, railway line upgradation from Kashgar to Gwadar, where they will spend $7 billion, and are also keen to improve the maritime industry of Pakistan as well. China is interested in relocating around 800 Chinese units, but the response and feedback are not encouraging, while the graduates produced in the country are not capable of handling and executing the projects smoothly. Now the question is, can we survive in the long term? The answer is conditional and depends on the state, of which the policies from the last 74 years have almost failed, and not a single unit in the state is earning and collaborating in the economy. The state needs to invest and prioritize human Resource development, Skill development, focus on an export industry strategy, consistency in policy, document the economy and assign ministers and secretaries with relevant knowledge or experience of the ministry. Pakistan has to make important strategic choices to ensure sustainable growth in the manufacturing sector in a rapidly changing and challenging international competitive environment, which requires massive structural changes along with dedication, focus and smart decisions to shift the prediction paradigm to technologybased industries. The writer holds a PhD in Transportation Engineering and works as a Head of Department at the Centre of excellence in Transportation Engineering at Pak-Austria Fachhochschule: Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology, Haripur Pakistan.
IT’S an horrifying fact that the sheesha smokers are not well perceived about the damaging effects of “sheesha” to the health.It is proved that smoking of sheesha is worse than cigrattes. In a hour long session of smoking sheesha contain 200 puffs while cigrattes contain only 20. When one smokes it, it not only effect him but also the people around him gets terribly effected without even smoking it.The world health organisation (WhO) had published a report in 2005 mentioning that smoking of sheesha is hazardous for health. Sheesha cafes must have been banned but still there’s no action took regarding this. But now one must understand that a health is above all and sheesha is a silent killer. FIzA NASIr TurbAT
What a day in Karachi AFTeR meeting and touching situation of Karachi, A sudden accident or natural disaster wreaked havoc the whole joints of Karachi. There is a multitude of people who faced the music. especially those penury people who unable to survive their live in this hot and heavy issue. I may say, a natural disaster is a benediction from Almught Allah, but to sort out this dilemma is responsibility of All people, whether they are in the government sector or private sector.. The whole political leaders as well as ministers of Sindh have carte blanche to overcome this hit potato which has been hocked a person of Karachi. This terrifying gloom is not only faces of middle-class neighbourhood, but also elite class. Furthermore, This monstrous world already as been faced the music DUe TO COVID-19, A DOZeN OF PeOPLe has LOST TheIR LIVeS AT The DROP OF hAT. It was a setback to this world. Most of the sudden, an incident can be occurred to you at any time. SAMe AS Natural disaster which is an inevitable. Recently, I have seen the whole enchidela of the of cities where Rainwater was stagnant on road of each city of Pakistan especially, Lahore and Karachi. Regarding this natural occurrence, everyone has arisen heap of cinders regarding CM Sahab. Some of them, defamed his reputation in writing words servely. We know that, CM is final and absolute authority to wipe out all daunting tasks from the city, but It is a not only dilemma of Karachi to spick and span the water from the roads but also the others cities are still remaining. This monstrous society is plenary of pompous ass people. We always see our interests and benefits. We take up-turned and some time, we depart from our right principles. So We’re being selfish and rapacious regarding our monetary interest and other one. . A hallmark mark quoted can be stated here. this maxim can be infallible at some angles, but not completely top-notch to sigh. So to mock at others, or musterjocular expression, or your facial expression toward personality personality which feels a vestige of degrading our authority concerned who fought with this pandemic situation and tried to prevent us from this baneful disease. Who took such miraculous and effective steps to desist this disease from occurring again and again, but this society still opposed against him in lieu of extolling. In the nutshell. There is a sophist who depicts that. Same situation happens above given sweeping statement; Try to Change, TRY TO use creativity to your life, Try to be mature, do not change your paths, where you feel under the weather, try to stand at one’s feet, Try to love choose loved ones leader and proponent him inwardly and outwardly. Because of Public. They are nothing, but you must take action or protest regarding any illicit act and you do not allow to defame charming personality at any cost. NIrMAl oAD SHIkArPur
Punishment and discipline DISCIPLINe is the practice of training to obey rules or using punishments to correct disobedience. It is the teaching of the boundaries. The teaching of what is right and what is wrong. Discipline can be both “positive and negative” For example the positive discipline is admiring children for doing something “Good”, or stopping them for doing wrong by counseling. Negatives can be like smacking and threatening them for doing something inappropriate. Some Parents and most of the Teachers in school believe that they do well by punishing them or “safe smacking”, Whereas the actual discipline is helping them to understand why certain behaviour is unacceptable. Sometimes after getting smacked children (students) get impinge and start to think that it is alright to beat others. Punishment is not the way to motivate them in order to behave more properly. Yes! Sometimes somewhere it is right to punish but many times the best way is to understand what was the reason behind the aggressive reaction, behaving in an inappropriate way or doing an offence . After this if they are wrong, the better way is admonishing them to make them stop from doing something unacceptable! Not using corporal punishments. ArIFA SAEED lArkANA
Thursday, 23 September, 2021
08 WORLD VIEW
The AfghAnIsTIsATIon of AmerIcA MILLEY SHOULD EITHER DENY THE WOODWARD CHARGES AND DEMAND A REAL APOLOGY OR RESIGN IMMEDIATELY. HE HAS VIOLATED THE LAW GOVERNING THE CHAIN OF COMMAND, MISUSED HIS OFFICE OF CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS AND POLITICIZED THE MILITARY
american GreatneSS
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VIcToR DaVIS HaNSoN
HE United States should be at its pinnacle of strength. It still produces more goods and services than any other nation—China included, which has a population over four times as large. Its fuel and food industries are globally preeminent, as are its graduate science, computer, engineering, medical, and technology university programs. Its constitution is the oldest of current free nations. And the U.S. military is by far the best funded in the world. And yet something has gone terribly wrong within America, from the southern border to Afghanistan. the inexplicable in Afghanistan—surrendering Bagram Air Base in the middle of the night, abandoning tens of billions of dollars of military equipment to the taliban, and forsaking both trapped Americans and loyalist Afghans—has now become the new Biden model of inattention and incompetence. Or to put it another way, when we seek to implant our culture abroad, do we instead come to emulate what we are trying to change? COVID CHAOS: take COVID-19. Joe Biden in 2020 (along with Kamala Harris) trashed trump’s impending Operation Warp Speed vaccinations. then, after inauguration, Biden falsely claimed no one had been vaccinated until his ascension (in fact, 1million a day were being vaccinated before he assumed office). then again, Biden claimed ad nauseam that he didn’t believe in mandates to force the new and largely experimental vaccinations on the public. then, once more, he promised that they were so effective and so many Americans had received vaccines that by July 4 the country would return to a virtual pre-COVID normality. then came the delta variant and his self-created disaster in Afghanistan. to divert his attention away from the Afghan morass, Biden weirdly focused on an equally confused new presidential COVID-19 mandate, seeking to subject federal employees, soldiers, and employees of larger firms to mandatory vaccinations— right as the contagious delta variant seemed to be slowly tapering off, given the millions who have either been vaxxed, have developed natural immunity, or both. Consider other paradoxes. American citizens must be vaccinated, but not the forecasted 2 million noncitizens expected to cross the southern border illegally into the
United States over the current fiscal year. Soldiers who bravely helped more than 100,000 Afghan refugees escape must be vaccinated, but not the unvetted foreign nationals from a premodern country? Scientists now are convinced naturally acquired COVID-19 immunity from a previous infection likely provides longer and better protection than does any of the current vaccinations. Yet those who suffered COVID-19, and now have antibodies and other natural defenses, must likewise be vaccinated. that anomaly raises the obvious logical absurdities: will those with vaccinations—in reciprocal fashion—be forced to be exposed to the virus to obtain additional and superior natural immunity, given the Biden logic of the need for both acquired and vaccinated immunity? TRIBAL LANDS: We have Afghanistanized the border as well, turning the United States into a pre-state whose badlands borders are absolutely porous and fluid. there is no audit of newcomers, no vaccinations required, no COVID-19 tests— none of the requirements that millions of citizens must meet either entering the United States or working at their jobs. Our Bagram abandonment is matched by abruptly abandoning the border wall in mid-course. Yet where the barrier exists, there is some order; where Joe Biden abandoned the wall, there is a veritable stampede of illegal migration. third-World countries suffer military coups when unelected top brass and caudillos often insidiously take control of the country’s governance in slow-motion fashion. the latest Bob Woodward “I heard,” “they say,” and “sources reveal” mythography now claims that General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, discussed separating an elected commander-in-chief from control of the military. Woodward and co-author Robert Costa also assert that Milley promised his Chinese Communist military counterpart that he would tip off the People’s Liberation Army of any planned U.S. aggressive action—an odd paranoia when Donald trump, of the last five presidents, has proved the most reluctant to send U.S. troops into harm’s way. If that bizarre assertion is true, Milley himself might have essentially risked starting a war by eroding U.S. deterrence in apprising an enemy of perceived internal instability inside the executive branch, and the lack of a unified command. (So, Woodward wrote: “‘General Li, I want to assure you that the American government is stable, and everything is going to be okay,’ Milley said. ‘We are not going to attack or conduct any kinetic operations against you.’ Milley then added, ‘If we’re going to attack, I’m
going to call you ahead of time. It’s not going to be a surprise.’”) More germanely, when Milley called in senior officers and laid down his own operational directives concerning nuclear weapons, he was clearly violating the law as established and strengthened in 1947, 1953, and 1986 that clearly states the Joint Chiefs are advisors to the president and are not in the chain of command and are to be bypassed, at least operationally, by the president. the commander in chief sets policy. And if it requires the use of force, he directs the secretary of defense to relay presidential orders to the relevant theater commanders. Milley had no authority to discuss changing nuclear procedures, much less to convey a smear to an enemy that his commander in chief was non compos mentis. Milley has been reduced to a caricature of a caricature right out of “Dr. Strangelove”—and is himself a danger to national security. After Milley’s summer 2020 virtue-signaling “apology” for alleged presidential photo-op misbehavior (found to be completely false by the interior department’s inspector general); after leaked news reports that Milley considered resignation (promises, promises) to signal his anger at trump in summer 2020; after his dismissal of the 120 days of rioting, 28 deaths, 14,000 arrests, and $2 billion in damage as mere “penny packet protests”; after his “white rage” blathering before Congress; after the collapse of the U.S. military command in Kabul; and after his premature and hasty assessment of a U.S. drone strike that killed 10 innocent civilians as “righteous,” Woodward’s sensationalism may not sound as impossible as his usual fare. Milley should either deny the Woodward charges and demand a real apology or resign immediately. He has violated the law governing the chain of command, misused his office of chairman of the Joint Chiefs, politicized the military, proved inept in his military judgment and advice, and may well have committed a felony in revealing to a hostile military leader that the United States was, in his opinion, in a crisis mode. Yet, Milley did not act in isolation. Where did this low-bar Pentagon coup talk originate? And who are those responsible for creating a culture in which unelected current and retired military officers, sworn to uphold the constitutional order and the law of civilian control of the military, believe that they can arbitrarily declare an elected president either incompetent or criminal—and thus subject to their own renegade sort of freelancing justice? As a footnote, remember that after little more than a week of the trump presidency, Rosa Brooks, an Obama-era Pentagon appointee, published in Foreign Policy various
ways to remove the newly inaugurated president. Among those mentioned was a military coup, in which top officers were to collude to obstruct a presidential order, on the basis of their own perceptions of a lack of presidential rectitude or competence. We note additionally that over a dozen high-ranking retired generals and admirals have serially violated the uniform code of military justice in demonizing publicly their commander in chief with the worst sort of smears and slanders. And they have done so with complete exemption and in mockery of the very code they have sworn to abide. two retired army officers, colonels John Nagl and Paul Yingling, on the eve of the 2020 election, urged Milley to order U.S. army forces to remove trump from office if in their opinion he obstructed the results of the election—superseding in effect a president’s elected powers as well as those constitutional checks and balances of the legislative and judicial branches upon him. We know that these were all partisan and not principled concerns about an alleged non compos mentis president, because none of these same outspoken “Seven Days in May” generals have similarly violated the military code by negatively commenting publicly on the current dangerous cognitive decline of Joe Biden and the real national security dangers of his impairment, as evidenced by the disastrous skedaddle from Afghanistan and often inability to speak coherently or remember key names and places. In short, is our new freelancing and partisan military also in the process of becoming Afghanized—too many of its leadership electively appealing to pseudo-higher principles to contextualize violating the Constitution of the United States and, sadly, too many trying to reflect the general woke landscape of the corporate board to which so many have retired? Like tribal warlords, our top brass simply do as they please, and then message to us “so what are you going to do about it?” How paradoxical that the United States has sent teams of constitutional specialists to Iraq and Afghanistan to help tribal societies to draft legal, ordered, and sustainable Western consensual government charters that are not subject to the whims of particular tribes and parties. Yet America itself is descending in the exact opposite direction. Suddenly in 2021 America, if ancient consensual rules, customs, and constitutional mandates do not facilitate and advance the progressive project, then by all means they must end—by a mere one vote in the Senate. It is as if the centuries of our history, the Constitution, and the logic of the founders were analogous to a shouting match among a squabbling taliban tribal council of elders. Junk the 233-year-old Electoral College and the constitutional directive to the states
to assume primary responsibilities in establishing voting procedures in national elections. End the 180-year-old Senate filibuster. Do away with the now bothersome 150-year nine-justice Supreme Court. And scrap the 60-year-old tradition of a 50-state union. Impeachment was intended by the founders as a rare reset of the executive branch in extremis. Now it is to be a pro forma attack on the president in his first term by the opposite party as soon as it gains control of the House—without a special counsel, without witnesses and cross-examinations, without any specific high crimes and misdemeanors or bribery and treason charges. And why not from now on impeach a president twice within a year—or try him in the Senate when he is out of office as a private citizen? When private citizen Joe Biden is retired from the presidency, will his political enemies dig up his sketchy IRS records alleging that he never paid income taxes on the “big guy’s” “10 percent” of the income from the Hunter Biden money machine? AMERICAN TRIBES: We may think virtue-signaling pride flags, gender studies, and George Floyd murals in Kabul remind the world of our postmodern sophistication. Yet, in truth, we are becoming far more like Afghanistan in the current tribalization of America—where tribal, racial, and ethnic loyalties are now essential to an American’s primary identity and loyalty—than we were ever able to make Afghanistan like us. When we read leftist heartthrob Ibram X. Kendi’s endorsement of overt racial discrimination or academic and media obsessions with a supposed near-satanic “whiteness,” or the current fixations on skin color and first loyalties to those who share superficial racial affinities, then we are not much different from the Afghan tribalists. We in America apparently have decided the warring badlands of the Pashtuns, tajiks, Hazaras, and Uzbeks have their advantages over a racially blind, consensual republic. they are the model to us, not us of the nowdiscredited melting pot to them. How sad in our blinkered arrogance that we go across the globe to the tribal third World to teach the impoverished a supposedly preferrable culture and politics, while at home we are doing our best to become a third-World country of incompetency, constitutional erosion, a fractious and politicized military elite, and racially and ethnically obsessed warring tribes. Victor Davis Hanson is a distinguished fellow of the Center for American Greatness and the Martin and Illie Anderson Senior Fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution. He is an American military historian, columnist, a former classics professor, and scholar of ancient warfare.
How to give away a million dollars THERE ARE CHARITIES THAT OFFER EXTRAORDINARY VALUE FOR MONEY IN ALLEVIATING EXTREME POVERTY Project Syndicate
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PETER SINGER
t was recently announced that I am the winner of the 2021 Berggruen Prize for Philosophy and Culture, an annual $1 million award for “major achievements in advancing ideas that shape the world.” I am, of course, delighted that my work has been recognized as doing what I have always hoped it would do: change the world for the better. I am honored to be joining eminent previous winners, of whom the most recent are Martha Nussbaum, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Paul Farmer, and I am thankful to Nicolas Berggruen for his interest and support — all too rare among wealthy investors — of philosophy and ideas. Once the excitement of the news died down, I began to think about what I would do with the money. It did
not take me long to decide to give it away. First, my wife and I recognize that we have enough money to live comfortably and do the things that really matter to us, and we feel that our children are in a similar position. It helps, of course, that they live in Australia and, unlike much of the world, have safe drinking water, free or affordable health care and free education for their children. Moreover, I am well-known for arguing that just as it would be wrong to leave a child drowning in a shallow pond because you did not want to ruin an expensive pair of shoes, so it is wrong to spend money on luxuries that could prevent children from dying of malaria or other common conditions that each year cause the deaths of millions of low-income children. Given that, how could I justify using the prize money to buy luxuries for me or my family? About 10 years ago, I founded the Life You Can Save, a charity that spreads the message that it is surprisingly easy for most people in affluent countries to make a huge difference to those in extreme poverty in low-income countries. the Life You Can Save currently recommends 23 charities that have been independently assessed as offering extraordinary value for
money in saving and improving the lives of people in extreme poverty. I have decided to give half of the prize money to the Life You Can Save. I am doing this because over the last three years, each dollar spent by the Life You Can Save: generated an average of $17 in donations for its recommended nonprofits. (to forestall the cynics, I will add that I have never taken a cent from the organization.) But I am not giving all of the prize money to help people in extreme poverty. More than 50 years ago, I learned that many of the animals whose flesh I was then eating were condemned to miserable lives crowded into the dim sheds of factory farms. I became a vegetarian and wrote “Animal Liberation,” which in turn contributed to the rise of the modern animal rights movement. Factory farming remains a horror, ruthlessly exploiting tens of billions of land animals every year and vast numbers of fish, too. Animal production is also a major contributor to climate change and adds to the risk of pandemics. So I plan to donate more than a third of the money to organizations combating factory farming, and which is recommended as effective by Animal Charity Evaluators. there will still be some left, and for that, I invite you
to help me decide on the distribution, on the basis of the ethical approach outlined in “the Life You Can Save” — available as a free e-book and audiobook on the organization’s website — where you will be able to tell me what you think. What about other options? Should I donate to organizations advocating a more rapid transition to net-zero greenhouse-gas emissions? I thought of that, but decided that the number of organizations working on that already reduced the chances of my contribution making a significant difference. Some thoughtful effective altruists urge us to focus on reducing the risk of extinction. But the uncertainties about how to achieve that objective are so great that I prefer to donate to projects for which the odds of accomplishing something positive are vastly higher. I am confident that donating to save lives, restore sight, or enable a family to escape extreme poverty does more good than donating to a museum or opera. Other comparisons are more difficult. How does saving a million hens from lives crammed into bare wire cages rank against lifting a dozen families out of extreme poverty? In the end, there are several causes that it would be good to support. I can claim no more for mine than that they are among the best available. Peter Singer is professor of bioethics at Princeton University. His books include “Animal Liberation,” “Practical Ethics,” “The Life You Can Save,” and “Ethics in the Real World.”
Thursday, 23 September, 2021
bUSinESS 09
iSlAmAbAd After smartphones, Samsung to manufacture TVs in Pakistan South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics is in the process of setting up a television line-up plant in Karachi, the Prime Minister’s aide on Commerce and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood said on Wednesday. “I have been informed that Samsung Electronics is in the process of establishing their TV line-up plant in collaboration with the R&R Industries at Karachi,” he wrote on his official Twitter handle. “This is a vindication of MOC’s “Make-in-Pakistan” policy for industrialisation via rationalisation of input costs and other incentives,” he added. Earlier in August, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) issued a local firm the license to manufacture Samsung smartphones locally. The company had applied for authorisation to set up a mobile device manufacturing plant in Karachi. “In accordance with Mobile Device Manufacturing (MDM) Regulations 2021, PTA has issued MDM authorisation to Lucky Motor Corporation Limited for manufacturing of Samsung brand mobile devices,” read a statement issued by the regulator. Lucky Motor Corporation, a subsidiary of Lucky Cement Ltd (LCL), has signed an agreement with Samsung Gulf Electronics Co, FZE for producing Samsung mobile devices in Pakistan. MOnITORInG RePORT
Tarin announces cut in edible oil, sugar, flour prices ISLAMABAD sTAFF RePORT
Minister for Finance and Revenue Shaukat Tarin Wednesday said the government had decided to provide tax relief in edible oil to bring the prices down by Rs40 to Rs50 per kilogramme. “After providing tax relief we will ensure the price reduction in cooking oil and ghee by Rs40 to Rs 50 per kg,” he said while addressing a press conference flanked by Minister of State for Information, Farrukh Habib, and Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on National Food Security and Research, Jamshed Iqbal Cheema. Likewise, the sugar would be available at Rs89.75 per kg whereas per kilogramme flour would be available at Rs55. He said that the government would also provide cash subsidy to poorest of the poor to buy essential food items including sugar, flour, pulses and ghee. The finance minister said despite a big increase in international prices of palm oil by over 50 per cent, the government was looking to decrease the prices to provide maximum relief to the masses. He said food inflation had witnessed a big jump in across the world during last couple of years which was the highest in over 4 decades, adding that in the international market, the price of palm oil has increased from $760 per MT to $1136 per MT, while in Pakistan the prices of cooking oil increased by 33pc. Tarin said food inflation in the country slowed down during previous 2,3 months as the urban and rural food inflation in July was 15pc and 17pc which had been decreased to 9.1pc and 10pc, respectively. "The government is also building strategic reserves of pulses and onions to help streamline prices," he said. He that the CCP has also been directed to take measures against the cartelisation of ghee manufacturers, vowing that in the medium and long term, the government would build commodity warehouses, cold-storages so that farmers and purchasers are linked directly without involving a middleman. In a question, the finance minister replied, "We are monitoring the fiscal side and the government has decided to impose a 100 per cent duty on non-essential items besides, also levying regulatory duty on selected items in order to curtail the current account deficit (CAD)." Talking about the increase in petrol prices, he said that the government is providing Rs123 per liter of petrol. "I would like to mention that petrol in India is being sold at Rs250 per litre but we are providing cheaper petrol than all the countries in the region," he added. He further said that there is a target of 600 billion petroleum levy in the budget out of which the government has not collected a single rupee so far. To another question, he replied that he is not "going anywhere and I believe in PM Imran Khan who has assured me that I would be made a senator soon." Speaking on the occasion, Farrukh Habib said the government was striving to pass on maximum relief to masses by mitigating impact of rising prices of commodities in international market.
ADB ProjecTS PAkiSTAn’S economy To grow By 4Pc in Fy22 ISLAMABAD
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sTAFF RePORT
AKISTAN’s economic growth rebounded to 3.9 per cent in the previous fiscal year (FY21), ended June 30, and is expected to reach 4.0pc in the current fiscal (FY22) as business activity gradually resumes in the second year of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said in a report on Wednesday. According to the Asian Development Outlook (ADO) 2021 Update, the bank’s annual flagship economic publication, Pakistan’s economy is expected to continue recovering in the ongoing fiscal year, supported by stronger private investment, improving business activity, a steady vaccine rollout, and economic stimulus measures for FY22. However, significant uncertainty clouds the economic outlook over the course of the pandemic in Pakistan and worldwide. “Pakistan’s economy is on the path to recovery, supported by promising growth in the industry and services sectors,” said ADB Country Director for Pakistan Yong Ye. “The continued rollout of the Covid-19 vaccination programme, structural reforms, and the expansion of social protection programmes are all key to ensuring inclusive and sustainable growth. Fiscal incentives and policies to boost export competitiveness, bolster the performance of the manufacturing sector, and augment private investment will continue to play an instrumental role in strengthening the economic outlook.” Pakistan’s economic growth in FY21 was supported by improved Covid-19 containment strategies through the second and third waves of infections and continued accommodative fiscal and monetary policies that
REPORT PROJECTS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR'S INFLATION AT 7.5PC accelerated the recovery across all sectors. Growth in industry, predominantly construction and small-scale manufacturing, and services are forecast to improve in FY22. Agriculture is also expected to continue supporting GDP growth. While inflation declined to 8.9 per cent in FY21, food price inflation remained high due to supply chain disruptions, increased prices for wheat and sugarcane, and an extended wet monsoon. Rising international oil prices boosted energy price inflation. Yet, inflation for other goods eased thanks to the appreciation of the Pakistani rupee and a postponement of planned hikes for electricity tariffs and domestic fuel prices, the report stated. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) maintained its policy rate at 7pc to support economic recovery. Investment is expected to strengthen as global sentiment improves and the International Monetary Fund (IMF)-supported stabilisation programme continues to progress. On the other hand, the report has projected Pakistan’s inflation to slow to 7.5pc in FY22, unchanged from the forecast in ADO 2021, as food prices moderate with supply chain improvement and production increases facilitated by the government’s Agriculture Transformation Plan (ATP). Price rises for other goods are expected to be moderate due to tax relief in the FY22 budget. It said that inflationary pressures will likely come from ongoing economic recovery and rising global oil prices but should be tempered by expenditure reform and the government’s commitment not to borrow directly
from the central bank. Risk of inflation higher than forecast derives from any unusual increase in oil prices or from potential currency depreciation in the wake of any early winding down of the ongoing IMF programme. The fiscal deficit is forecast to narrow to the equivalent of 6.9pc of GDP in FY22, which is still higher than the target set earlier under a medium-term fiscal consolidation programme supported by the IMF whereas growth in revenue is projected to accelerate with the rapid pickup in domestic economic activity and higher imports. Further bolstering revenue growth, are the introduction of new tax measures under the Finance Act, 2021; a renewed focus on streamlining tax exemptions, and additional policy and administrative measures to broaden the tax base. Expenditure is also projected to rise in FY22 as the government has budgeted substantial increases in subsidies and in social and development spending to protect the vulnerable and fortify growth and economic recovery. The regional development bank's data shows that Pakistan’s public debt outlook is sustainable in the medium term. With primary and fiscal deficits, high borrowing costs, and currency depreciation, public external debt reached $95.2 billion in FY21. However, the government has been implementing a medium-term debt strategy for FY20–FY23. The maturity structure of public debt has improved by reprofiling public debt into longer-term instruments. With strong economic growth prospects for FY22 and beyond, public
debt remains on a downward path over the medium term. As domestic demand picks up and international oil prices rise, the current account deficit is seen widening to the equivalent of 1.5pc of GDP in FY22, which is a smaller deficit than forecast in ADO 2021 in line with the FY21 deficit being smaller than projected. Export growth is expected to accelerate, supported by a projected upturn in economic activity in Pakistan’s major trade partners. Exports will further benefit from continued initiatives to reduce the cost of doing business and especially from the government’s newly introduced export facilitation scheme, which allows the duty- and tax-free acquisition of inputs including intermediate goods, plant, and machinery. Moreover, imports are expected to rise in response to domestic economic recovery, higher international oil prices, and rationalisation of custom and regulatory duties in the FY22 budget. The report also adds that remittances are likely to remain elevated, supported by the Roshan Digital Accounts initiative, and will continue to narrow the current account deficit. Meanwhile, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib on Wednesday welcomed the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) forecast about sustainable economic growth in Pakistan. In a series of tweets, he said like other international financial institutions, the ADB’s forecast about Pakistan’s economy was welcoming. The minister said the opposition has been calling for a complete countrywide lockdown from the day one of pandemic, but, he added, it was Prime Minister Imran Khan who had opted to the best policy against the coronavirus to save lives and livelihoods simultaneously.
KSE-100 plunges over 1,000 points in intra-day trading LAHORE sTAFF RePORT
The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) endured another round of battering on Wednesday, with the benchmark KSE-100 index falling below 45,000 level for the first time since May. According to details, the PSX plunged over 1,000 points in intra-day trading as hike of 25 basis points in the benchmark interest rate by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to 7.25 per cent dented investor sentiments. In addition, the market expects further monetary tightening in Pakistan as signaled by the central bank
in its monetary policy announcement on Monday. Moreover, the slide in global markets on the back of possible default by China’s property giant Evergrande also contributed to the dip. At 1:07 pm, the KSE-100 index was trading at 44,909.1 points after a fall of 1,099.75 points of 2.39pc. Overall market volumes inched up from 325.80m shares in last session to 583.45 m shares. Highest volumes were witnessed in Worldcall Telecom (WTL 4.18pc), Worldcall Telecom (ANL -6.67pc) and Hum Network Limited (HUMNL -6.58pc). The scrips had 91.05m shares, 36.19m shares and 34.08m shares traded, respectively.
Sectors dragging the benchmark KSE 100 index lower included Technology and Communication sector (76.55 pts), Oil & Gas Exploration sector (39.77 pts) and Textile Composite sector (38.29 pts). Company-wise, TRG Pakistan Limited (TRG 37.82 pts), Systems Limited (SYS 37.74 pts) and Habib Bank Limited (HBL 24.77 pts) were top negative contributors. The Refinery sector lost 4.96pc from its cumulative market capitalisation. Attock Refinery Limited (ATRL 4.40pc), Pakistan Refinery Limited (PRL 4.87pc), National Refinery Limited (NRL 5.83pc) and Byco Petroleum Pakistan Limited (BYCO 4.68pc) all closed in red.
Public offering regulations amended for SPAC framework The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has amended the Public Offering Regulations, 2017 to introduce a regulatory framework for Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPAC). The introduction of SPAC in Pakistan’s market is expected to boost up activities in the primary market, encourage new listings and help companies to tap capital for large-scale merger and acquisition transactions. It would also enable investors/public to co-invest with sophisticated, highly experienced managers and benefit from the appreciation in the share value of acquired units. Under the proposed regulatory framework, SPAC shall be a public limited company having a paid-up capital of not less than Rs10 million. The SPACs promoters/sponsors, directors and CEO shall meet the fit and proper criteria. To safeguard the interests of shareholders, SPAC is required to keep 90 per cent of the funds raised through IPO in an escrow account managed by the custodian. Those funds can only be utilized for merger or acquisition transactions within a permitted time period of three years. news desk
UAE ranks first in Arab region among emerging economies DUBAI AGenCIes
The UAE ranked the first Arab country and third among 27 emerging global economies, and 23rd globally among 123 countries in the Future Readiness Index report, issued by the Portulans Institute in partnership with Google. The report aims to provide countries with a valuable tool to measure their future readiness and serve as a guide to their strategic choices and policy decisions. Results of the Future Readiness Index were announced during a virtual session titled “Innovative Tools to Improve a Digital Future”, held as part of the 11th edition of the Concordia Annual Summit 2021. The session witnessed the participation of Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi, Minister
of State for Government Development and The Future, along with Tan Kiat How, Minister of Communications and Information – Republic of Singapore; Kent Walker, Senior Vice President of Global Affairs – Google; Kate Wilson, CEO of Digital Impact Alliance at the United Nations Foundation; and moderated by Bruno Lanvin, Co-founder of the Portulans Institute. Speakers highlighted the most pressing challenges and opportunities in the post-COVID-19 era, and the need to enhance readiness and agility of digital transformation through adopting modern technology, attracting and growing talent, and driving innovation. Ohood Al Roumi: Comprehensive review of frameworks, legislations and policies Ohood Al Roumi stressed that the UAE’s high performance on the future
readiness indicators reflects the ambitious vision and philosophy of the UAE’s leadership to prepare for the future and embrace innovation as the cornerstone of comprehensive development. Accelerating digital transformation has played a critical role in ensuring business and services continuity amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, providing a new array of innovative services, she added. She said that the current trends in digital transformation require a comprehensive review of government work, the legislative and legal system, and related infrastructure. She explained that the UAE has announced the “Principles of the 50” and “Projects of the 50” as part of its sustained efforts to promote future-readiness. The 10 principles act as a roadmap for the future and focus on building the best and most dynamic econ-
omy in the world, investing in human capital, developing the educational system, recruiting talent and continuously building skills, as well as promoting digital, technical and scientific excellence of the UAE. Top Ranks on Future Readiness Indicators The report commended the UAE’s performance on the future readiness indicators, where it ranked third among 27 emerging economies representing the best performance on the overall index. The index measures four main pillars namely, institutions and infrastructure, technology, talent, and innovation. The main pillars include 15 sub-pillars that monitor governments’ ability to prepare for the future, embrace digital transformation, invest in human capital, attract talent, and invest in research and development, among others.
The UAE secured leading positions on the main pillars of the index and ranked among the highest performing economies in all pillars and sub-pillars. It ranked third globally in the pillar monitoring skills and the use of modern technologies, fourth globally in attracting talent, and sixth globally in growing talent. It also ranked among the top 30 countries worldwide in 10 sub-pillars focusing on readiness, agility, technology, digital transformation, and investment in human capital. Compared to the 27 emerging economies on the index, the UAE achieved leading positions in the four main pillars, ranking second in both “Institutions & Infrastructure” and “Talent” pillars, third in “Technology” and fourth in “Innovation”, making it ahead of China, Russia and India.
Thursday, 23 September, 2021
10 FOREIGN NEWS
ISLAMABAD
RaRe austRalIa eaRthquake tRIggeRs panIc In MelbouRne SYDNEY/MELBOURNE
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MAGNITUDE 6.0 earthquake struck near Melbourne on Wednesday, Geoscience Australia said, one of the country’s biggest quakes on record, causing damage to buildings in the country’s second-largest city and sending tremors throughout neighbouring states. The quake’s epicentre was near the rural town of Mansfield in the state of Victoria, about 200 km (124 miles) northeast of Melbourne, and was at a depth of 10 km (six miles). An aftershock was rated 4.0. Images and video footage circulating on social media showed rubble blocking one of Melbourne’s main streets, while people in northern parts of the city said on social media they had lost power and others said they were evacuated from buildings. The quake was felt as far away as the city of Adelaide, 800 km (500 miles) to the west in the state of South Australia, and Sydney, 900 km (600 miles) to the north in New South Wales state, although there were no reports of damage outside Melbourne and no reports of injuries.
More than half of Australia’s 25 million population lives in the southeast of the country from Adelaide to Melbourne to Sydney. “We have had no reports of serious injuries, or worse, and that is very good news and we hope that good news will continue,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison told reporters in Washington. “It can be a very disturbing event, an earthquake of this nature. They are very rare events in Australia and as a result, I am sure people would have been quite distressed and disturbed.” Quakes are relatively unusual in Australia’s populated east due to its position in the middle of the Indo-Australian Tectonic Plate, according to Geoscience Australia. The quake on Wednesday measured higher than the country’s deadliest tremor, a 5.6 in Newcastle in 1989, which resulted in 13 deaths. The mayor of Mansfield, Mark Holcombe, said he was in his home office on his farm when the quake struck and ran outside for safety. “I have been in earthquakes overseas before and it seemed to go on longer than I have experienced before,” Holcombe told the ABC. “The other thing that surprised me was how noisy it was. It was a real rumbling like a big truck going past.”
He knew of no serious damage near the quake epicentre, although some residents reported problems with telecommunications. No tsunami threat was issued to the Aus-
tralian mainland, islands or territories, the country’s Bureau of Meteorology said in a statement. The quake presented a potential disruption for anti-lockdown protests ex-
pected in Melbourne on Wednesday, which would be the third day of unrest that has reached increasing levels of violence and police response.
Iran wants nuclear talks that lead to lifting of US sanctions, president says TEHRAN
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RAN wants to resume nuclear talks with world powers that would lead to the removal of US sanctions, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi told the annual UN General Assembly on Tuesday as negotiations about reinstating a 2015 nuclear pact have stalled. “The Islamic Republic considers the useful talks whose ultimate outcome is the lifting of all oppressive (US) sanctions,” Raisi said in his pre-recorded address. “The (US) policy of ‘maximum oppression’ is still on. We want nothing more than what is rightfully ours. We demand the implementation of international rules. All parties must stay true to the nuclear deal and the UN Resolution in practice,” he said. Iran and the United States in April started indirect talks in Vienna on salvaging the nuclear agreement, but those stopped two days after Raisi was elected as Iran’s president in June. Under the 2015 agreement, Iran curbed its uranium enrichment program, a possible pathway to nuclear arms, in return for the lifting of US, UN and EU sanctions. Former US President Donald Trump quit
the deal three years ago and reimposed harsh sanctions on Iran’s oil and financial sectors that have crippled its economy. Hardline cleric Raisi, who is under personal US sanctions over allegations of human rights abuses in his past as a judge, said the US sanctions “were crimes against humanity during the coronavirus pandemic.” The reimposition of US sanctions by
Trump sues niece, NY Times over records behind 2018 tax story NEW YORK The AssociATed Press
Former President Donald Trump on Tuesday sued his estranged niece and The New York Times over a 2018 story about his family’s wealth and tax practices that was partly based on confidential documents she provided to the newspaper’s reporters. Trump’s lawsuit, filed in state court in New York, accuses Mary Trump of breaching a settlement agreement by disclosing tax records she received in a dispute over family patriarch Fred Trump’s estate. The lawsuit accuses the Times and three of its investigative reporters, Susanne Craig, David Barstow and Russell Buettner, of relentlessly seeking out Mary Trump as a source of information and convincing her to turn over documents. The suit claims the reporters were aware the settlement agreement barred her from disclosing the documents. The Times’ story challenged Trump’s claims of self-made wealth by documenting how his father, Fred, had given him at least $413 million over the decades, including
through tax avoidance schemes. Mary Trump identified herself in a book published last year as the source of the documents provided to the Times. Trump’s lawsuit alleges Mary Trump, the Times and its reporters “were motivated by a personal vendetta” against him and a desire to push a political agenda. The defendants “engaged in an insidious plot to obtain confidential and highly-sensitive records which they exploited for their own benefit and utilized as a means of falsely legitimising their publicised works,” the lawsuit said. In a statement to NBC News, Mary Trump said of her uncle, “I think he is a loser, and he is going to throw anything against the wall he can. It’s desperation. The walls are closing in and he is throwing anything against the wall that he thinks will stick. As is always the case with Donald, he’ll try and change the subject.” A Times spokesperson, Danielle Rhoads Ha, said the lawsuit “is an attempt to silence independent news organisations and we plan to vigorously defend against it.” The Times’ coverage of Trump’s taxes,
Trump in 2018 prompted Tehran to violate the nuclear deal’s limits. Tehran says its nuclear steps are reversible if Washington lifts all sanctions. Raisi, echoing Iran’s official stance for years, said nuclear weapons “have no place in our defence doctrine and deterrence policy.” Tehran signalled on Tuesday that the negotiations in Vienna would resume in a few weeks, without giving a specific date. Despite Iran’s need to bolster its economy by negotiating an end to US sanctions, insiders expect Raisi to adopt a tougher line when the talks resume. Iranian and Western officials have said many issues remain to be resolved before the accord could be revived. A strident critic of the West, Raisi said the United States had “no credibility to enforce its hegemony.” “From the Capitol to Kabul, one clear message was sent to the world: the United States’ hegemonic system has no credibility, whether inside or outside the country,” Raisi said. He was referring to the January 6 assault by Trump supporters on the US Capitol as well as the chaotic withdrawal of US-led forces from Afghanistan after the Taliban seized control of Kabul in August.
she said, “helped inform citizens through meticulous reporting on a subject of overriding public interest.” One of the Times reporters, Craig, responded in a tweet: “I knocked on Mary Trump’s door. She opened it. I think they call that journalism.” Trump is seeking $100 million in damages. Trump filed his lawsuit almost a year to the day after Mary Trump sued him over allegations that he and two of his siblings cheated her out of millions of dollars over several decades while squeezing her out of the family business. That case is pending. Mary Trump, 56, is the daughter of Donald Trump’s brother, Fred Trump Jr., who died in 1981 at age 42. Mary Trump was 16 at the time. Trump’s lawsuit focuses only on the Times’ 2018 story, a Pulitzer Prize winner for explanatory reporting. It makes no mention of another Times scoop on Trump’s taxes last year, which found he paid no federal income taxes in 10 of the previous 15 years. According to the lawsuit, Mary Trump came into possession of more than 40,000 pages of “highly sensitive, proprietary, private and confidential documents” through a legal case involving Fred Trump’s will. The documents including financial records, accountings, tax returns, bank statements, and legal papers pertaining to Donald Trump, Fred Trump and their businesses, Trump’s lawsuit said.
Thursday, 23 September, 2021
SPORTS 11
ISLAMABAD
Man City and LiverpooL through but everton out of League Cup LONDON
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AFP
ANCHESTER City started their bid to lift a fifth successive League Cup with a 6-1 rout of Wycombe, while Japan forward Takumi Minamino inspired Liverpool’s 3-0 victory at Norwich on Tuesday. Everton and Watford were the major Premier League casualties in the third round, losing to QPR and Stoke respectively. City will move past Liverpool onto a record nine League Cup triumphs if they take the trophy this term. The holders made the perfect start to that mission as Pep Guardiola was rewarded for fielding a strong attack featuring Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden, Raheem Sterling, Ferran Torres and Riyad Mahrez at the Etihad Stadium. City, who gave debuts to six academy graduates, were stunned in the 22nd minute as Brandon Hanlan tapped in his first ever goal for third tier Wycombe. But Guardiola’s men equalised seven minutes later when De Bruyne sprinted onto Foden’s pass and slotted into the far corner for his first goal since May. Mahrez fired City in front with a crisp finish two minutes before the break after good work from debutant Josh Wilson-Ebrand. Foden smashed in City’s third seconds later, collecting a short corner and drilling home from 25 yards. Torres got the fourth after 71 minutes with a close-range finish and Mahrez’s tap-in and a first City goal for Cole Palmer capped the demolition. “I just have to say thank you to the academy. They all do an incredible job,” Guardiola said. “I was lucky to grow up in Barcelona. Won the Champions League with seven players from the Barca academy. That is unique. Here, you have the feeling that we have not just one or two potential players but many of them. They have something special.” Liverpool had already won 3-0 at Carrow Road in the Premier League earlier this
season and their reserves managed to repeat that scoreline. Reds boss Jurgen Klopp made nine changes to the side which beat Crystal Palace on Saturday, with Kaide Gordon, 16, and fellow teenager Conor Bradley handed debuts. Minamino, making his first appearance of the season after a thigh injury, fired them into a fourth minute lead as he drilled home from Divock Origi’s header. REALLY GOOD MOMENT: Norwich squandered the chance to level before halftime when Christos Tzolis’ penalty was
saved by Caoimhin Kelleher after Bradley fouled Dimitris Giannoulis. Origi doubled Liverpool’s advantage in the 50th minute, heading in Kostas Tsimikas’ cross for his first goal in 12 months. Minamino grabbed his second goal with 10 minutes left, netting in clinical fashion from close-range. “Footballers want to play, that’s clear. He was with his national team, got injured and was then not fit,” Klopp said of Minamino. “It was not like he didn’t play for 60 weeks. Taki is in a really good moment, training well and deserved the two goals.”
Liverpool’s Merseyside rivals Everton crashed out at second tier QPR, losing 8-7 on penalties after a 2-2 draw. Rafael Benitez made five changes after Everton’s defeat at Aston Villa and Charlie Austin twice put QPR ahead, with Lucas Digne and Andros Townsend equalising for the visitors. In the shoot-out, Tom Davies’ penalty was saved by Seny Dieng and Jimmy Dunne converted the winning kick. Watford paid the price for making 11 changes as the Hornets suffered a surprise 31 defeat by second tier Stoke at Vicarage
Road. Southampton held their nerve to win 4-2 on penalties at second tier Sheffield United after a 2-2 draw. Leeds also survived a shoot-out, beating Championship team Fulham 6-5 after a 0-0 draw. Burnley striker Jay Rodriguez bagged four goals – one more than his team had scored in five league games this season – in a 4-1 victory over Rochdale. Brentford crushed League Two’s bottom club Oldham 7-0 thanks to four goals from Marcus Forss.
New Zealand squad arrives home after Pakistan pull-out WELLINGTON ReuteRs
New Zealand’s cricket squad arrived home on Wednesday after abandoning their tour of Pakistan last week citing an undisclosed “security threat” in the nation. New Zealand’s withdrawal dealt a massive blow to Pakistan’s hopes of staging regular international cricket, with England subsequently calling off their men’s and women’s tours. The 24-strong Black Caps squad landed in Auckland after flying from Dubai and will spend the next 14 days in mandatory Covid-19 hotel quarantine. Tom Latham, New Zealand’s stand-in captain for the cancelled tour, said the squad had a “hectic” 24 hours once they found out they were heading home. “We managed to get to Dubai 24 hours after the decision was made,” he told the team’s in-house media channel. “The guys dealt with it all slightly differently but we stayed tight as a group over there in those 24 hours we had in Islamabad.” The tour was called off on the day the first OneDay International was due to be played after a “specific and credible” threat directed at the New Zealand squad, New Zealand Cricket boss David White said. The withdrawal and England’s subsequent cancellation drew a furious reaction from Pakistan Cricket Board,
pakistan's babar wins silver medal in ibSf 6-reds World Cup NEWS DESK
with chairman Ramiz Raja saying the nation had been “used and binned” by the game’s Western bloc. Latham said it was “naturally very disappointing” for Pakistan and their fans. “It was something they were very proud of,” he said. “It was a historic moment for New Zealand Cricket to be back there 18 years
since they were last there. “To be part of that was going to be something special, but obviously things changed.” Latham thanked Pakistan authorities for keeping the squad safe. “While we were there after the decision, the Pakistan authorities were brilliant,” he said.
Pakistan’s Babar Masih lost to India’s Pankaj Advani in the final of the IBSF 6-Reds World Cup and got a silver medal in Doha, Geo News reported on Wednesday. Babar, who had defeated the German cueist in the semifinal, looked under pressure initially in the final before fighting back but later could not stop his Indian opponent from sailing to the title. Pankaj won the title match by 4213, 14-38, 53-0, 42-19, 01-53, 47-17, 44-00, 36-03, 0-43, 12-46, 15-59 and 53-05. Earlier on Tuesday morning, Babar Masih had defeated Germany’s Richard Wienold 6-4 in the semi-final.
La Liga: Suarez takes Atletico Madrid to top with late double strike against Getafe MADRID AFP
Luis Suarez scored twice, including an injury-time winner, as Atletico Madrid came from behind to beat 10-man Getafe 2-1 and move top of La Liga on Tuesday. Hosts Getafe took the lead through Stefan Mitrovic on the stroke of half-time, but the game changed when Carles Alena was sent off in the 74th minute. Reigning champions Atletico are now a
point clear of city rivals Real Madrid who host Real Mallorca on Wednesday. “In the first half, we had a lack of movement, of dynamism, and the match was flat until the opponents’ goal,” said Atletico coach Diego Simeone. “In the second period, the match had more rhythm, more intensity, we had more efficiency in attack.” A goalless draw with fellow unbeaten side Athletic Bilbao at the weekend saw them drop two points behind Real in the early table and Simeone’s men were far from
convincing again for long stages. A limp first-half display from the visitors ended in poor fashion as Getafe defender Mitrovic headed home. Antoine Griezmann and Suarez, who saw a header strike the crossbar, both went close to an equaliser before former Barcelona midfielder Alena gave Atletico a helping hand. Alena, who had already been booked, was given a straight red card following a VAR review for a poor studs-up challenge on Brazilian international Matheus
Cunha. Suarez made Alena pay only four minutes later, running onto Mario Hermoso’s long pass and lashing a left-footed shot into the roof of the net. The Uruguayan completed the comeback just as the clock ticked past 90 minutes, nodding in at the back post as Getafe goalkeeper David Soria backtracked after initially attempting to collect Sime Vrsaljko’s cross. Suarez, who was making only his third league start in six games this term, has now scored three La Liga goals this season.
Griezmann, though, is still yet to find the net in four appearances since rejoining the club from Barcelona. “He is in the process of adapting to this new Atletico, which is no longer the Atletico he had known,” said Simeone of the Frenchman. “I’m sure he will shine like before, I have no doubts.” Elsewhere on Wednesday, Bilbao lost 21 at home to Rayo Vallecano, for whom Colombian veteran Falcao scored his first goal in memorable style, a winner six minutes into injury time.
Thursday, 23 September, 2021
PRAyER TimiNgS
NEWS
ADB lowers AsiA 2021 growTh ouTlook To 7.1Pc As coviD weighs
T
he Asian Development Bank (ADB) lowered its 2021 economic growth outlook for developing Asia, amid continuing concerns over the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic. ADB forecasts growth of 7.1 percent this year, according to an update of its flagship economic publication, Asian Development Outlook (ADO) 2021. That compares with a projection of 7.3 percent in April. The growth outlook for 2022 is raised to 5.4 percent from 5.3 percent. New Covid-19 variants, renewed local outbreaks, the reinstatement of various levels of restrictions and lockdowns, and slow and uneven vaccine rollouts are weighing down the region’s prospects. “Developing Asia remains vulnerable to the Covid-19 pandemic, as new variants spark outbreaks, leading to renewed restrictions on mobility in some economies,” said ADB Acting
Chief economist Joseph Zveglich, Jr. he said that policy measures should not only focus on containment and vaccination, but also on continuing support to firms and households and reorienting sectors in the economy to adapt to a ‘new normal’ once the pandemic subsides to kickstart the recovery. The Covid-19 cases in developing Asia have risen since the Delta variant of the virus emerged in April. New daily cases peaked at 430,000 in May. More than 163,000 new daily cases were recorded on 31 August. Meanwhile, vaccination progress in developing Asia remains uneven and lags behind that of advanced economies. As of 31 August 2021, 28.7 percent of the region’s population had full vaccine protection, compared with 51.8 percent coverage in the United States and 58 percent in the european Union. The recovery path within the
region remains uneven. east Asia’s growth forecast for this year has been raised to 7.6% from 7.4% in April, as a surge in global demand fuels exports from the region. east Asia’s growth prospects for 2022 are unchanged at 5.1%. Growth projections for the People’s Republic of China, the region’s largest economy, remain at 8.1% in 2021 and 5.5% in 2022. The economic growth outlook for Central Asian economies this year is raised to 4.1% from 3.4% projected in April, amid improved prospects for Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. The subregion’s 2022 outlook has improved to 4.2% from 4.0%. ADB expects economic growth of 8.8% in South Asia this year, compared with the 9.5% forecast in April for the subregion. however, the outlook for 2022 has improved to 7.0% from 6.6%. The projection for India—the subregion’s largest economy—is down-
graded to 10.0% from 11.0% in 2021, while the outlook for next year has improved to 7.5% from 7.0%. The forecasts for Southeast Asia and the Pacific have also been revised downward, as economies in these subregions continue to grapple with new virus variants, continued lockdowns and restrictions, and slow vaccine rollouts. Southeast Asia’s growth projections for 2021 and 2022 have been lowered to 3.1% and 5.0%, respectively, from forecasts of 4.4% and 5.1% in April. The Pacific’s economy is set to contract 0.6% this year, compared with 1.4% growth projected in April, before expanding 4.8% in 2022. Inflation in developing Asia is expected to remain in check, at 2.2% this year and 2.7% in 2022. The current trend of higher international commodity and food prices could stoke inflation in some of the region’s economies. NEWS DESK
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Taliban arrest four border guards for removing Pakistan flags from aid truck PESHAWAR STAFF REPORT
Four Taliban border guards have been arrested for removing the Pakistan flag from the truck which had brought in aid on Sunday, along the Torkham border in Afghanistan, group spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid said on Tuesday. Mujahid said the Taliban condemn the incident which has happened and efforts are put to control the occurrence of such incidents in the future. The truck from which Taliban border guards had removed the flags was carrying aid and relief sent by Pak-Afghan Cooperation Forum, a relief agency. A footage that went viral on social media showed that as soon as the truck, part of a relief convoy of 17 trucks, entered the Afghanistan side of the Durand Line, the security guards started removing the flag from the vehicle. The aid carried by truck included 300 tons of edibles — wheat flour, rice and edible oil. Mujahid while expressing anger over the incident said that the whole Taliban leadership was angry about this incident and those involved would be dealt with severely. Until the formal handing over ceremony, the environment was very friendly, said an office-bearer of the Pak-Afghan Cooperation Forum. Prime Minister Imran Khan on September 17 informed his government has started negotiations with the Taliban to form an all-inclusive government in Afghanistan.
Published by Arif Nizami at Plot # 7, Al-Baber Centre, F/8 Markaz, Islamabad, for PT Print (Pvt) Limited. Ph: 051-2204545. Email: newsroom@pakistantoday.com.pk