EpaperLHR_21-12-22 by Pakistan Today

Wednesday, 22 December, 2021 I 17 Jamadi-al-Awwal, 1443 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XII No 174 I 12 Pages I Lahore Edition

Imran Khan lInKs decIsIon to joInIng war on terror wIth greed for ‘dollars’ g

PM lauds role of fo, security forces on successful convening of oic suMMit on afghanistan

ISLAMABAD Mian abRaR

riMe Minister imran Khan tuesday minced no words to denounce the country’s decision to join the socalled war on terror in afghanistan some 20 years back, saying that the decision was not made in the public interest but for want of ‘dollars’. speaking to officers at the foreign office (fo) after it the successful holding of of the 17th extraordinary session of the organisation of islamic cooperation’s (oic) council of foreign Ministers last sunday, the premier said he was close to decision-makers back when it had to be decided whether Pakistan should join the ‘war on terror’.

“and so, i am well aware of what considerations were behind the decision. unfortunately, the people of Pakistan were not a consideration,” he added. “rather, the considerations were the same as was in the 1980s, when we participated in the afghan jihad,” he said, referring to the soviet-afghan war. terming the war a ‘self-inflicted’ wound for Pakistan, Prime Minister imran went on to say that Pakistan could not blame anyone else for this outcome [of the decision].” “We ourselves are responsible … as we let [others] use us, sacrificed the reputation of our country for aid and made a foreign policy that went against the public interest [and was devised] for money.” Khan, however, congratulated and ap-

coronavIrus In

PaKIstan

preciated the foreign office (fo) for hosting the oic session on afghanistan last week in an admirable manner, and said that the response to the summit showed that Pakistan’s image had improved globally. noting that the fo had organised a summit of such a scale after a long time, the premier commended it and said it was the result of teamwork with a significant contribution from law enforcement agencies. envoys from 57 islamic nations as well as observer delegations had participated in last week’s summit. “the attendance at the summit and the appreciation of Pakistan’s stance [at the moot] reflected that the country’s image had improved,” the premier said, adding that “we have achieved the objective behind hosting the conference.” Prime Minister imran said Muslim countries’ stance on the afghan situation had become a “universal” stance now. “look at statements by europeans, they are standing with us and the un, too, has a clear stance.” Khan also credited his government for the “improvement in Pakistan’s image”. “We faced the biggest financial crunch in Pakistan’s history. i don’t think any other government was handed down such wide fiscal and current account deficits and then there was also the corona[virus pandemic],” he said. “yet, if you compare where Pakistan stands today [globally] to where it stood three years ago, if you conduct a survey, you will see that the country’s image has improved”. on the situation in afghanistan, the premier said, “it is a big atrocity on the human level that a man-made crisis is being created” in the war-torn country.

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Fawad says ‘religious extremist’ parties like TLP, JUI-F will harm Pakistan information Minister fawad chaudhry stated on tuesday that “religious extremist” political parties such as the recently unbanned tehreek-i-labbaik Pakistan (tlP) and the Jamiat ulema-i-islam would ultimately harm the country. he further added that Pti was the only “national party” in the country. chaudhry while speaking to the media after a meeting of the federal cabinet, said that the recently concluded local government elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa did not come under discussion. “today was a meeting of a the federal cabinet, not a meeting of the Pti’s core committee. We will talk about this at a meeting for the core committee,” he said when asked about his concerns over the results of the polls. it is pertinent to note that fawad was speaking to media a day after the Pti faced a major upset in the first phase of KP local body polls, while the Jui-f bagged the highest number of mayor/chairman seats.

Pakistan test fires cruise missile with 900 KMs range: ISPR

CONFIRMED CASES:

1,291,737

the minister went on to state that the reason for the ruling party’s failure in the polls was “clear”. “When three to four candidates from the same party contest the polls in the same constituency, then they will [inevitably] lose the election. this is what happened in most of the areas,” he said, adding that the party’s Mnas and MPas were also not happy. “each constituency needs to be managed, and we lost most of the contests due to these management issues,” he said. however, this just proves that the Pti is a national party, he said, adding that the rest were merely “local parties”. “if the Pti did not exist then there would be no national party in the country.” While talking about the Juif, he said that the party had ruined the education and finance sectors in KP in 2002. “it is unfortunate that, due to our mistakes, such a political party has been noticed [by the people],” he said. newS deSk

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more inside

Commerce ministry finally notifies trade policy 2020-25 STORY ON PAGE 02

LAST UPDATED AT 10:05 AM ON DECEMBER 21, 2021

DAY'S DEATH TOLL:

NEW CASES:

270

RECOVERED:

DEATHS:

1,253,298 28,882 SINDH:

PUNJAB:

479,481

444,267

KPK:

BALOCHISTAN:

181,023

33,587

AJK/GB:

ISLAMABAD:

34,642/10,429

108,308

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

the military test-fired a homegrown Babur cruise missile on tuesday that has a range of more than 900 kilometres (560 miles), twice the distance of an earlier missile of the same model, an inter-services Public relations (isPr) statement said. the missile’s extended range further enhances the nuclear-armed nation’s military capability. the missile, dubbed the Babur cruise Missile 1B, is domestically developed, said the military statement. an earlier version had a limited capacity to travel just 450 kilometres (280 miles).

according to the agency, strategic Plans division (sPd) director general lt gen nadeem Zaki Manj congratulated the scientists and engineers on achieving excellence in the domain of cruise missile technology. he also expressed his full confidence that this test would further strengthen Pakistan’s strategic deterrence. President arif alvi, Prime Minister imran Khan, Joint chiefs of staff committee chairman gen nadeem raza and services chiefs also congratulated the scientists and engineers on conducting the successful launch, the statement added. the Babur series cruise missiles have better manoeuvrabil-

ity and terrain hugging capability. Because of their capability to make a flight at low altitudes, high manoeuvrability, and preprogrammed flights, cruise missiles are considered important in evading the deployed early warning systems and missile defence systems. Pakistan and india, which also has a nuclear arsenal, have a volatile relationship, having fought three wars against each other. the military buildup of both countries is closely watched by a nervous international community as india and Pakistan have come dangerously close to a fourth war at least twice over the last two decades.

Pac urged to exempt projects like Kartarpur from audit list STORY ON PAGE 03

Cabinet approves STPF to increase trade competitiveness, ensure product diversification STORY ON BACK PAGE

Wednesday, 22 December, 2021 | LAHORE

NEWS

CommeRCe miniStRy FinAlly notiFieS tRAde PoliCy 2020-25 IsLAMABAD

ghulam abbaS

HE Ministry of Commerce (MoC) on Tuesday finally notified the Strategic Trade Policy Framework (STPF) 2020-2025 following the policy’s approval by the federal cabinet on November 9. According to sources, the file was pending in the Prime Minister’s Secretariat for over a month due to needing the PM’s signature as minister in charge. Under the five year trade policy, approved by the Cabinet after a delay of over two years, the country aims to enhance exports to $57 billion by 2025. According to the Ministry of Commerce, the policy aims to enhance the ability of Pakistani enterprises’ capacity to produce, distribute and sell products and services

more efficiently than their competitors. The commerce division had notified three policy frameworks for 2009-12, 201215, and 2015-18, but none could achieve its objectives, especially export targets, for various reasons. The previous frameworks which expired in 2018 also failed to alter the export paradigm. Documents available with this scribe show that priority sectors have been identified under the STPF after studying international demand trends along with the capacity and capabilities of various traditional and developmental export sectors of Pakistan. The former includes textile and apparel, leather, surgical instruments, sports goods, carpets, rice and cutlery, while developmental export sectors comprise engineering goods including auto parts, pharmaceuticals, marble and minerals,

Fatima Fertiliser looks to acquire majority shares in Samba Bank kARACHI Saad tanviR

Fatima Fertilizer has confirmed its intentions to acquire Samba Bank Limited. According to an announcement made by Arif Habib Group, the consortium comprising management of Samba Bank Limited, Fatima Fertilizer company Limited and Gulf Islamic investments LLC, has publicly announced its intention to purchase majority shareholding in Samba Bank Limited from the Saudi National Bank. The consortium shall acquire 852,040,531 shares aggregating a total of 84.51% shareholding in the bank. On Monday, Fatima Fertilizer Limited had announced that the company has acquired an in-principle approval from its board of directors to acquire 84.51% stake in Samba Bank Limited, a subsidiary of the Saudi National Bank, whereby the company is approved to conduct the necessary due diligence for the potential acquisition Earlier in September, the Saudi National Bank (SNB) announced its plan to divest its investment in Samba Bank by stating “SNB is considering all its strategic options in relation to its shareholding in Samba Pakistan, including potential mergers, acquisitions, divestment and/or restructuring.” Incorporated in December 2003 as a joint venture between two major business groups in Pakistan namely, Fatima Group and Arif Habib Group, Fatima Fertilizer Company Limited is the first and the only green field project which has materialized under the 2001 Fertilizer Policy of the Government of Pakistan. Samba Bank may be a profitable target for Fatima Fertilizer as it made record profits of Rs1 billion for the year ended 2020. It has also announced its plans for divestment and is open for offers.

SAARC boss due today MONItORING RePORt South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Secretary General Esala Weerakoon will arrive in Islamabad Wednesday (today) on a fourday tour. This will be Weerakoon’s maiden visit to Pakistan after assuming office in March last year. According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), Weerakoon will call on Prime Minister Imran Khan and Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi during his visit and will also hold meetings with other high-ranking officials. “The visit is an opportunity to reiterate Pakistan’s commitment to the objectives and principles of SAARC, share our perspective on various aspects of cooperation with SAARC, and highlight Pakistan’s efforts for promotion of peace, security and development in the region,” the statement added. The ministry further expressed the resolve that Pakistan, being a founding member of the body, was fully committed to advancing the objectives of SAARC as enshrined in its charter, and has always played an active role in the SAARC processes and activities. “Pakistan has contributed significantly to the realisation of SAARC objectives of cooperation, mutual trust, economic integration and social and cultural development in the region,” the communique added.

processed food and beverages, footwear, gems and jewelry, meat and poultry, and chemicals. The main focus of the latest STPF will be on geographical and product diversification, manufacturing cost reduction through tariff rationalisation, pursuit of regional connectivity, including the Look Africa and Silk Route Reconnect policies, as well as enhancement of market access through Free Trade Agreements (FTA) and Preferential Trade Agreements (PTA). Likewise, it will also focus on the facilitation of logistics and tracking under the International Road Transports (TIR) convention and enhancement of regional connectivity for access through Central Asian Republics (CARs), Turkey and Iran, to Europe and Russia. In a statement, the Ministry of Commerce said that the new STPF is

dynamic in nature and it will be subject to course correction based on constant monitoring and evaluation. There shall be an institutionalised mechanism for robust monitoring and implementation of the STPF in order to minimise policy implementation gaps, which have traditionally remained a weak link due to multi-organisational roles in the export ecosystem, the statement said. The statement added that a cross functional National Export Development Board (NEDB) has already been constituted under the chairmanship of the prime minister and comprising senior public sector officials of relevant organisations and private sector representatives to oversee the policy’s implementation and that this board holds regular meetings to fulfil its purpose. The approved STPF 2020-2025, which is the fourth policy framework, projects the country’s exports to be at $31.203bn during the current fiscal (FY22), $37.883bn by FY23, $45.816bn by FY24 and $57.028bn by FY25. Furthermore, exports projections for STPF 2020-2025 are based on a sound econometric partial equilibrium model. The explanatory variables used in the model include world GDP, Pakistan’s GDP and real effective exchange rate.

Oil prices climb but worries over Omicron linger sINGAPORe agencieS

Oil prices rose on Tuesday, though investors remained worried about the rapid spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant globally, prompting countries to consider more restrictions potentially denting fuel demand. Brent crude futures increased by 59 cents, or 0.8%, to $72.11 a barrel by 0418 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose by 73 cents, or 1.1%, to $69.34 a barrel. “After a rough couple of days, crude prices are rebounding as much of the COVID wall of worry has been priced in,” said Edward Moya, senior analyst at OANDA. “The short-term hit to economic growth from border closing is still unknown and oil prices will remain sensitive to any stricter requirements with travel.” New Zealand delayed the planned reopening of its international border because of the sweeping spread of Omicron around the world on Tuesday, as several other countries reimposed social distancing

measures. Many nations are on high alert just days ahead of Christmas and New Year celebrations, with Omicron infections multiplying rapidly across Europe, the United States and Asia, including in Japan where a single cluster at a military base has grown to at least 180 cases. Still, Moderna Inc said on Monday that a booster dose of its COVID-19 vaccine appeared to be protective against the fastspreading Omicron variant in laboratory testing, providing some hope to investors. On the supply front, OPEC+ compliance with oil production cuts

rose to 117% in November from 116% a month earlier, two sources from the group told Reuters, indicating production levels remain well below agreed targets. In the United States, crude oil inventories were expected to have fallen for a fourth consecutive week, while distillate and gasoline stockpiles likely rose last week, a preliminary Reuters poll showed on Monday. The poll was conducted ahead of reports from the American Petroleum Institute, an industry group, due on Tuesday, and the EIA, the statistical arm of the US Department of Energy, due on Wednesday.

Dr Tahir Shamsi passes away in Karachi stAff RePORt Renowned haematologist Professor Dr Tahir Shamsi passed away in Karachi on Tuesday, a week after suffering brain haemorrhage and being admitted to a hospital. Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Secretary General Dr Qaiser Sajjad told a news outlet that 60year-old Shamsi died at 7:20am Tuesday after being put on a ventilator at the Aga Khan University Hospital a few days ago. “Dr Tahir Shamsi’s death is an irreparable loss for the community. He did an excellent job of establishing a bone marrow transplant [facility] in the country,” he said. Meanwhile, President Dr Arif Alvi expressed grief over the death of Shamsi. Alvi prayed for the high ranks of the departed soul and expressed sympathy with the bereaved family, said a news statement from his office. The president said Shamsi had rendered valuable services in health and medical research sectors. Shamsi had introduced bonemarrow transplants in Pakistan in

1996, performed such 650 transplants and written over 100 research articles. In 2011, Shamsi had established the National Institute for Blood Disease (NIBD) for the treatment of blood-related diseases. He was the director of the Stem Cell Programme at NIBD as well. During the first wave of

coronavirus, he had come up with the idea of treating Covid-19 patients using the plasma of those who recover from the viral infection. In 2016, the Dow Graduates Association of North America had honoured him with a lifetime achievement award in recognition of his services.

To project future exports, three scenarios have been constructed, the difference between which are domestic prices of Pakistan which reflect the competitiveness and cost of doing business in the country. It is assumed that effective government interventions in terms of STPF, national tariff policy, trade facilitation, technology upgradation, easy financing and other on-going ease of doing business (EODB) initiatives will have an impact on competitiveness and thereby enhance exports. The first scenario assumes that government interventions under the STPF and other initiatives would be minimal while the prices and cost of doing business would follow a status quo trend. Therefore, for FY21 prices have been taken at 10.8 per cent growth (actual value) followed by 8pc in FY22, after which it will follow a CAGR (6.5pc) from FY23 to FY25. The second scenario assumes that government’s interventions would reduce the growth in domestic prices and therefore, the price increase would be 8pc in FY21, 6.5pc in FY22, and followed by 6pc between FY23 and FY25. The third scenario, an optimistic one, assumes that growth in domestic prices would be 7.2pc in FY21 and then will remain at 5.5pc from FY22 to FY25.

Covid-19: Punjab lifts time-related restrictions on commercial activities News Desk Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department (PSHD) has announced lifting all time-related restrictions on commercial activities across the province. According to a notification issued on Tuesday, businesses and markets in the province can operate 24/7 while adhering to Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs), including maintaining social distancing, wearing of facemasks and use of hand sanitiser. PSHD Secretary Imran Sikandar Baloch said the notification came into force with immediate effect in all 36 districts of the province and instructed local administration and law enforcement agencies to ensure implementation of the SOPs. Meanwhile, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) announced a new travel policy for passengers travelling directly from the United Kingdom to Pakistan. According to the revised policy, all passengers arriving from the UK via direct or indirect flights will undergo a rapid antigen (RAT) test upon arrival, in addition to the mandatory vaccination and negative PCR test preboarding protocols already in place, said NCOC Deputy Director Abdul Qadeer Awan. The NCOC also announced to lower the age limit for the administration of Covid-19 booster jabs. Individuals aged 30 years and above are now eligible for the administration of a Covid-19 booster dose and can get a booster shot of their own choice from January 1, 2022.

Food exports surge by 26.68% to $1947 mln in 5 months IsLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

The food exports from the country surged by 26.68 percent during the first five months of the current fiscal year as compared to the exports of the corresponding period of last year, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported. The food group exports during July-November (2021-22) were recorded at $1947.414 million as against the exports of $1537.317 million in July-November (2020-21), according to PBS data. The commodities that contributed in positive growth of food group trade included, rice, the exports of which grew by 13.07 percent, from $730.703 million last year to $826.216 million during the current fiscal year. Among the rice commodities, the exports of Basmati rice increased by 32.99 percent from $196.534 million to $261.364 million and other rice commodities by 5.74 percent, from $534.169 million to $564.852 million. Likewise, the exports of fruits increased by 27.69 percent, from $138.859 million to $177.316 million, vegetables by 31.47 percent ,from $77.146 million to $101.423 million, tobacco by 26.96 percent, from $12.744 million to $16.180 million whereas the exports of spices went up by 29.63 percent, from $31.357 million to $40.648 million. The exports of oil seeds, nuts and kernals also went up 478.77 percent from $22.476 million to $130.085 million whereas the exports of meat and meat preparations increased by 0.10 percent, from $133.575 million to $133.714 million and other food items by 65.95 percent, from $223.755 million to $371.330 million. The only food product that witnessed negative growth in trade included fish and fish preparations, the exports of which declined by 9.72 percent, from $166.702 million to $150.502 million.

Wednesday, 22 December, 2021 | LAHORE

Govt to File AnotheR CASe AGAinSt ShehBAz ShARiF: ShehzAd AkBAR

NEWS

PAC urged to exempt projects like kartarpur from audit list IsLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

IsLAMABAD

Staff coRReSpondent

DVISER to the Prime Minister on Accountability Shehzad Akbar on Tuesday challenged opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif to file case against him in any court of Pakistan or abroad. Addressing a press conference here, Shehzad said that he will appear before the court with evidence against PML-N president if he receives a legal notice.

Adviser said that Shahbaz Sharif lied to the nation, adding that another case is being filed against the leader of opposition in National Assembly. “The younger Sharif’s assets increased by Rs 7 billion between 2008 and 2018,” he said and added FIA has submitted detailed challan. Shehzad Akbar said that Maryam Aurangzeb was angry over the new audio of Maryam Nawaz. He went on to say that 28 benami transactions took place in the name of 14 employees of Ramzan Sugar Mills, adding that money laundering of more than Rs 16 billion was done in the name of employees.

Imran to ‘personally oversee’ campaign in second phase after KP elections upset IsLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Prime Minister Imran Khan, whose Pakistan Tehreeki-Insaf (PTI) faced an upset on multiple seats in the first phase of local government elections in the home turf of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, conceded Tuesday his party “made mistakes” but asserted the ruling party will emerge “stronger” in the second phase. Provisional results of the first-ever local government elections in the border province following the 2018 merger of tribal districts showed the PTI losing ground to the opposition parties — especially rival Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) that managed to grab 15 seats, the highest, of mayors/chairmen in Sunday’s elections for 63 tehsils. The results of 39 tehsils declared by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Monday showed the hardline party also gave a stiff competition in many other tehsils where its candidates stood as runners-up. In Peshawar alone, the JUI-F stunned the PTI by securing a definitive lead in the contest for the prized office of the city mayor. Its candidate Haji Zubair Ali secured 62,388 votes against 50,659 secured by Rizwan Bangash of PTI. Of the remaining six tehsil chairman seats in Peshawar, the JUI-F managed to clinch four while the

PTI could bag one seat of tehsil chairman. “Wrong candidate selection was a major cause” of defeat, the prime minister said. He also announced to personally oversee the party’s election strategy in the second phase of elections, and subsequent local government polls across Pakistan. FIRST PHASE: In the first phase, 17 districts — Peshawar, Nowshera, Charsadda, Khyber, Mohmand, Mardan, Swabi, Kohat, Karak, Hangu, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Haripur, Buner and Bajaur — went into the elections which were held after a period of six years and marked by scattered incidents of violence. Over 12.6 million registered voters — 7 million male and 5 million female voters — decided the fate of 37,752 candidates contesting for various seats. The voting was postponed in three tehsils — located in Swabi, Bannu and Darra Adam Khel — due to disturbances, including an explosion in Bajaur, purported abduction of polling staff in Bannu, a clash in Karak and a mob attack on the car of Minister for Science and Technology Shibli Faraz in Kohat. Over 2,000 contestants have been elected unopposed in the elections. 217 candidates on general seats, 876 on women and 285 on farmers seats were elected unopposed. An additional 500 youth and 154 minority candidates were also declared successful.

Stringent security arrangements were adopted. 77,000 policemen and law-enforcement personnel were deployed outside polling stations and booths for the security of voters. CCTV cameras were installed at sensitive locations and it was prohibited to carry weapons or electronic devices in all polling stations. As many as 19,285 people contested for general seats of the village, and neighbourhood councils, 3,870 for women, 7,428 for farmers and labour, 6,011 for youth and 293 for minorities. 676 candidates contested for 65 seats of the city mayor and tehsil chairperson. Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) is the only party that fielded candidates for all 65 seats. JUI-F fielded 59 candidates, ANP was in the third spot with 55, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) 51, Jamaat-i-Islami 47, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) 43, Qaumi Wattan Party (QWP) 14 and 305 independents are hoping to secure victory. Every voter was allowed to cast six votes, the colour of the ballot paper was different for different seats, the white ballot paper was used for city mayor/tehsil chairman. Silver colour had been allotted for the general seat of the neighbourhood/village council. Local government elections in 35 districts were scheduled to be held in two phases.

Dar gets two months to take Senate oath as SC bins disqualification request IsLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition against former finance minister Ishaq Dar seeking his disqualification from the Senate on account of being an absconder in multiple graft cases registered against him. Dar, a senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader who is in self-exile since 2017, was elected in absentia as a senator on a technocrat seat from Punjab in March 2018 but did not take oath due to his stay in London. The Supreme Court disqualified him from office in July 2017 after an investigation into the undisclosed wealth of now-deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family. In May 2018, the apex judicial form suspended his membership of the House over his failure to appear in court despite repeated summons.

He, however, later informed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) he was ready to take the oath but the only hurdle in doing so was the apex court’s suspension of his election. During the hearing on Tuesday, Justice Ijaz ul-

Ahsan observed the petitioner failed to appear before the bench and Dar has also skipped the proceedings since the beginning. Therefore, the court was dismissing the petition. In view of today’s ruling, the notification for Dar’s election is expected to be issued that will allow him to take oath within two months. A similar reference was also filed with the ECP earlier this month. The petitioner requested the commission to disqualify him as a member of the Senate. He said a court declared the opposition senatorelect as a defaulter in the case of appointment of columnist Atta ul-Haq Qasmi as the managing director of state-run Pakistan Television Corporation. The Senate chairman is bound to send a disqualification reference to the Commission under Article 63 of the Constitution but he has failed to do so, he lamented.

ECO summit gave new impetus to Pakistan ties: top Turkmenistan diplomat ANkARA anadolu agency

A summit last month gave new impetus to the partnership between Pakistan and Turkmenistan, covering the multifaceted range of engagement with the support of the nation’s leaders, said Turkmenistan’s top diplomat on a visit to Islamabad on Tuesday. Rashid Meredov made the remarks during a meeting with President Arif Alvi on Tuesday to discuss bilateral relations, according to a statement from Turkmenistan’s Embassy in the Turkish capital Ankara. The 15th Summit of Heads of State of the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO), held in the Turkmen capital Ashgabat on November 28, should help strengthen a mutually

beneficial partnership between the two countries, Meredov said. As the countries near the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations, he said these ties are “steadily developing in all directions, expanded and enriched with new forms and content.” Moreover, he said, with the support

of the countries’ leaders, bilateral cooperation spans the whole range of political, trade, economic, cultural, and humanitarian interactions. “The dialogue between the two countries at the highest political level creates a solid foundation for strengthening and further expanding

bilateral relations,” he said, adding the parties are “making significant efforts to develop effective Turkmen-Pakistani economic cooperation, the strategic basis of which is a partnership in the energy sector.” The leaders went on to underline the importance of intensifying joint action on implementation of the TurkmenistanAfghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) transnational gas pipeline project, as well as power transmission and fiberoptic communication lines along the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (TAP) route. The sides also voiced gratitude for the consistent development of the two countries’ cooperation in the fields of education, science, medicine, and health care, as well as in the cultural and humanitarian spheres.

Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Tuesday was urged to drop strategic projects like Kartarpur Corridor from audit procedures applicable to normal developmental projects. Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) Director General Major-General Kamal Azfar also proposed allowing special rates for projects he identified as “strategic projects” with national interest attached to them. In his briefing to the committee on the Kartarpur project, the DG FWO suggested that in order to bring relaxation in the procedure, certain rules should be enacted and set in place that differentiated projects of “national interest” from others as “this [Kartarpur] project was first of its kind in the last 70 years”. “Accelerated cost of a project with no upfront financial support from the client should not be viewed/audited/compared in line with the project executed through the normal course of business/procedures,” the DG stated. Azfar also said that a minimum of 25 per cent of the estimated cost should be arranged for projects of strategic significance as mobilisation advance, revealing that money was borrowed to complete the Kartarpur project due to the delay in the disbursement of funds by the government. However, the PAC chairman along with committee members raised objections to the recommended changes on the grounds that granting special concessions on the basis of the said features and definition ran the risk of setting a precedent for all other projects in the future as it generalised it for all projects. “To exempt such projects from audit would not be an appropriate thing to do,” PAC Chairman Rana Tanveer Hussain said. JUI-F’s Shahida Akhtar Ali also cautioned not bringing it under audit procedure would become a precedent for all future projects. The audit must be conducted, she added. Appreciating the completion of the Kartarpur project within a set timeframe, Senator Talha Mahmood said that he wanted to commend ex-CM Punjab Shehbaz Sharif’s Rawalpindi metro project, which he said was also completed within a very short period of time. Secretary Defence Lt Gen (retd) Mian Hilal Hussain said that the Kartarpur project was completed within 10 months even though NESPAK gave the project timeline of 2.5 years. The defence secretary invited the committee to visit Kartarpur, saying the committee members can go for a technical audit of the project during their visit. The committee was also told that a special audit was conducted of the project but neither was it discussed nor was it presented before the committee. Meanwhile, PTI MNA Noor Alam Khan raised a few questions concerning the project’s completion, questioning “how many laws were broken while completing the Kartarpur project and who was responsible for broken bridges and roads in Gwadar?” He also questioned the quality of work at M1 and M2 motorways, saying there was not a single bump on these motorways in the past but now the quality and condition of work was “pathetic”. On the revelation that FWO generals were also working on projects abroad, Noor said that the generals were hired to do their job at home and not for going abroad to complete projects. “Don’t you think we are exposing our general,” he questioned, “under what law they can work abroad”. Referring to the broken bridges and roads in Gwadar, Noor asked the FWO officials about the accountability mechanism, saying public money was spent on the projects and every single penny must be accounted for. He also lamented that FWO officials overcharge and misbehave with people at the toll plazas. PML-N’s Khawaja Asif lamented that the Sialkot-Lahore motorway (M-11) was also a substandard road and its surface was uneven. Expressing concerns about the performance of NESPAK, PTI’s Munaza Hassan added that she gets nervous every time she hears NESPAK’s name attached to any project, especially after witnessing the condition of the Islamabad Airport project where NESPAK was the consultant. Replying to the questions, the DG FWO while refraining to comment on projects abroad, said that FWO only looks after 1816km of the roads and the rest of the roads were with NHA, adding FWO only looks after KarachiHyderabad, Lahore-Islamabad, Lahore-Sialkot and Swat motorways and trying its best to ensure that there was no compromise on the quality of the roads. While apologising for the misbehaviour of the FWO officials at toll plazas, he clarified that FWO doesn’t charge a single penny more than permitted under the law. On broken bridges and roads in Gwadar, the DG recalled that he got a text message from the DG ISPR at midnight carrying a tweet showing a truck hanging half on the broken bridge and half in the air, saying he could not reveal what was stated in the tweet.

Wednesday, 22 December, 2021 | LAHORE

04 NEWS Imran urged to ‘look around’ for people maximising wealth while in office isLamaBad news desk

A ruling MP has criticised the prime minister for what he claimed was overlooking the people around him involved in accumulating dirty money. Urging Imran Khan to “open his eyes”, Noor Alam Khan, a member of the House from NA-27 (Peshawar-I), Tuesday said he “should look at the people on his right and left to confirm about their assets and how they multiplied their wealth while in office”. “If the prime minister closes his eyes, it will not set the affairs in order. He will have to solve the problems of inflation, power outages and gas shortage,” Khan told host Shahzeb Khanzada on his programme Aaj Shazeb Khanzada Kay Sath.

PTI to change strategy to win next phases of lg elections: shibli news desK Federal Minister for Science and Technology Syed Shibli Faraz has said that the Pakistan Tehreek-iInsaf (PTI) would come up with a new strategy to clinch the next phases of local government elections with thumping majority. He said this while expressing his views over the results of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) local government polls, in which the JUI-F had emerged victorious, bagging majority seats. There was a need to bring improvement in the campaign, he said, adding that it was the first phase of the Lg elections in KP. He said the current wave of inflation and weak election drive could be the reasons of such results. We will rectify the mistakes and move forward with better mechanism to win the next phases of Lg elections and general polls 2023 with thumping majority, he stated. Meanwhile, according to a news outlet, provincial minister Shaukat Ali Yousafzai cited price hikes as a major reason for PTI’s subpar performance in the polls.

TurKey-Iran-PaKIsTan cargo TraIn resTarTs afTer 10-year halT KaraCHi

AnAdolu Agency

OLLOWINg a 10-year hiatus, a freight train service between Turkey, Iran, and Pakistan was re-launched on Tuesday in a major boost for trade among the three countries and within the region. The Istanbul-Tehran-Islamabad (ITI) cargo train was started in 2009 but suspended in 2011 due to several delays in Pakistan. It can complete the journey between

the three countries in about 14 days, much faster and less costly than the alternate sea route. The train departed from Pakistan’s capital for Europe’s largest city with dozens of containers. It will cover 1,990 kilometers (1,235 miles) inside Pakistan, before crossing through the Taftan border for a 2,603kilometer (1,620 miles) stretch in Iran. The train will travel some 1,850 kilometres (1,150 miles) in Turkey, passing through the capital Ankara before reaching its final stop in Istanbul. Turkey, Pakistan, and Iran are founders of the

Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO), a 10-member regional cooperation bloc that was established in 1964 as the Regional Cooperation for Development and renamed ECO in 1985. The decision to resume the ITI cargo train service was taken at a ministerial meeting of ECO member states in 2020. At Tuesday’s ceremony in Islamabad, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi hailed the “historic” development as a step that will open new avenues for trade and business in the region and beyond. He said an ITI passen-

ger train could also be launched in the future to further enhance regional connectivity and economic integration. Mustafa Yurdakul, Turkey’s ambassador to Pakistan, said the resumption of the cargo train service is an important move part of the ECO framework and vision. “This project has been on the agenda for a long time. It is a step that will improve bilateral cooperation and bolster economic and commercial exchanges between our countries,” he said, emphasising that the rail link should be extended further to other parts of Europe.

PPP lawmakers, foreigners among 23 charge-sheeted in Nazim Jokhio murder case agenCies Police has charge-sheeted 23 suspects, including two PPP lawmakers and as many foreigners, in the Nazim Jokhio murder case after the Investigation Officer (IO) submitted an interim challan to Judicial Magistrate Malir (Karachi) Altaf Hussain on Tuesday. The charge sheet, however, did not specify the role of each of the suspects in the killing of 27-year-old Nazim, who was allegedly tortured to death while in detention at PPP MPA Jam Awais’ farmhouse on the outskirts of Karachi’s Malir. His body was recovered from the farmhouse last month, following which Nazim’s relatives had accused Awais, his brother, PPP MNA Jam Abdul Karim, and his henchmen of torturing

him to death for resisting houbara bustard hunting by the lawmakers’ Arab guests and filming them while hunting in the victim’s village, Achar Salaar village in Thatta. In the interim charge sheet submitted to the judicial magistrate today, the IO named six detained suspects — PPP MPA Awais and five of his employees, Mehar Ali, Haider Ali, Muhammad Meraj, Jamal Wahid and Abdul Razzaq. He also charge-sheeted 12 on-the-run suspects, namely PPP MNA Abdul Karim, two foreigner guests of the lawmaker, four of his employees — Niaz Salar, Ahmed Shoro, Atta Muhammad and Zahim — and five of his guards, whose names are not mentioned in the report. Besides them, five suspects on interim bail — Muhammad Khan Jokhio, Muhammad Ishaq Jokhio, Muhammad

Saleem Salar, Dodo Khan and Soomar Salar — have also been charge-sheeted. The interim charge sheet contained the statements of PPP lawmakers Awais and Abdul Karim, Nazim’s relatives and witnesses, recorded under section 161 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The IO submitted to the judicial magistrate that he had inspected the spot where Nazim allegedly quarrelled with the foreigner guests of the PPP lawmakers and shot their video, which he had uploaded on Facebook and which had gone viral on social media after his murder. Moreover, the IO stated, he had also inspected Awais’ farmhouse and found a club and a wooden board stained with the “victim’s blood”. He said the suspects had burnt Nazim’s clothes and mobile phone and thrown both of his belongings in a well

after the murder. But these items were recovered and, along with digital video recorder (DVR) footage from cameras at Awais’ farmhouse, sent to a laboratory for forensic analysis, he added. The IO said the final report of the body’s postmortem, an histopathology report — which pertains to the diagnosis and study of diseases of tissues — and forensic analysis reports of the DVR footage, Nazim’s phone and a universal serial bus (USB) sent to the Federal Investigation Agency were still awaited. Therefore, he requested the judicial magistrate to accept the interim charge sheet and give him 10 more days to submit the final report. Accepting his request, the judicial magistrate directed the IO to submit the final charge sheet within 10 days.

Fawad says ‘religious extremist’ parties like TLP, JUI-F will harm Pakistan Continued from page 01 He further said that the rise of “religious extremist parties” such as the TLP and JUI-F would ultimately harm the country. Pakistan will be affected if the PTI faces setbacks and such “political dwarfs” get the chance to step into the limelight, he said, adding that PTI leaders needed to strengthen party chief Imran Khan. “Without Imran Khan, politics in Pakistan will scatter into pieces.” The minister said that the PML-N and the PPP no longer had any standing in the political arena, reiterating that the PTI was the only national party. He expressed the hope that the party’s leadership will learn from the current situation. Responding to another question from a reporter, he said that he was “disappointed” at the fact that the JUI-F had

bagged the highest number of seats in the first phase of local government elections in KP. “Such parties are a sign of a retrogressive society and a sign that things in the country are not fine. It is not a reassuring thing for society when people who are against women’s rights, against [basic] freedoms […] come into power,” he said. Earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan stated that his party “made mistakes” but asserted the ruling party will emerge “stronger” in the second phase. Provisional results of the first-ever local government elections in the border province following the 2018 merger of tribal districts showed the PTI losing ground to the opposition parties — especially rival Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) that managed to grab 15 seats, the highest, of mayors/chairmen in Sunday’s elections for 63 tehsils.

The results of 39 tehsils declared by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Monday showed the hardline party also gave a stiff competition in many other tehsils where its candidates stood as runners-up. In Peshawar alone, the JUI-F stunned the PTI by securing a definitive lead in the contest for the prized office of the city mayor. Its candidate Haji Zubair Ali secured 62,388 votes against 50,659 secured by Rizwan Bangash of PTI. Of the remaining six tehsil chairman seats in Peshawar, the JUI-F managed to clinch four while the PTI could bag one seat of tehsil chairman. “Wrong candidate selection was a major cause” of defeat, the prime minister said. He also announced to personally oversee the party’s election strategy in the second phase of elections, and subsequent local government polls across Pakistan.

Punjab revises schedule of winter vacation news desK The Punjab government on Tuesday notified a revised winter vacation schedule, with separate dates for the various districts of the province that are not witnessing particularly high levels of smog. According to a notification by the School Education Department, all public and private educational institutions in Kasur, Sialkot, Narowal, Faisalabad, Sahiwal, gujrat, gujranwala, Pakpattan, Sheikhupura, Okara, Vehari, Khanewal, Lahore, Khushab, Hafizabad, Multan, Lodhran, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Sargodha, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, Nankana Sahib and Jhang will observe holidays from December 23 to January 6, as smog levels in these districts are higher than others. On the other hand, educational institutes in Jhelum, Mianwali, Attock, Muzaffargarh, Chakwal, Bhakkar, Rawalpindi, Rajanpur, Layyah, Rahim Yar Khan, Dera ghazi Khan, and Chiniot, where smog levels are lower will observe winter vacations from January 3-13 and in the meanwhile will continue the ongoing vaccination drive in schools. Earlier in the day, the provincial government announced that winter vacations for universities — public and private

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— across the province would be observed from December 23 to January 6. According to a notification issued by the Higher Education Department, all universities under the jurisdiction of the Higher Education Department Punjab shall follow these dates for holidays. “All the concerned authorities shall ensure 100% vaccination of all teaching and non-teaching staff and students by the opening of institutions in the wake of an increasing number of the Omicron variant of COVID-19,” he notification added added. “Non-vaccinated teaching, non-teaching staff, and students shall not be allowed to enter their concerned institutions,” it warned. Last week, Minister for Education Punjab Murad Raas announced that the winter vacations for schools — public and private — across the province would be observed from December 23 to January 6. The education minister, while announcing the schedule, also advised the masses to get vaccinated and follow government-mandated standard operating procedures, as the new coronavirus variant Omicron has also spread to Pakistan.

FIRST PHASE: In the first phase, 17 districts — Peshawar, Nowshera, Charsadda, Khyber, Mohmand, Mardan, Swabi, Kohat, Karak, Hangu, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Haripur, Buner and Bajaur — went into the elections which were held after a period of six years and marked by scattered incidents of violence. Over 12.6 million registered voters — 7 million male and 5 million female voters — decided the fate of 37,752 candidates contesting for various seats. The voting was postponed in three tehsils — located in Swabi, Bannu and Darra Adam Khel — due to disturbances, including an explosion in Bajaur, purported abduction of polling staff in Bannu, a clash in Karak and a mob attack on the car of Minister for Science and Technology Shibli Faraz in Kohat.

Imran Khan links decision to joining war on terror with greed for ‘dollars’ Continued from page 01 “Even when it is known that unfreezing Afghanistan’s accounts and [infusing] liquidity [into the country’s banking system] will avert the crisis.” The premier said addressing the situation in Afghanistan was important not just because it was Pakistan’s neighbour, but “above all [because] the country was facing a humanitarian crisis”. “We have been saying this from day one, from August 15 [when the Taliban seized Kabul], that whether you like the Taliban government on not, the lives of 40 million people are on the brink of destruction,” he said. The prime minister added that Pakistan would continue to provide assistance to Afghanistan in these difficult times. “Time”, he said, “is of the essence and we must provide aid to Afghanistan expeditiously”.

Wednesday, 22 December, 2021 | LAHORE

NEWS

‘AlteRnAtIve BAnDwIDth chAnnelS ARRAngeD’ AfteR fAult In SuBMARIne cABle: Ptcl

EPORTS of slow internet speed from across the country had been emerging since Tuesday morning. The Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) in this regard has said that it has “arranged for alternative channels for bandwidth” to compensate for a fault in an international submarine cable. “With reference to AAE-1 ( AsiaAfrica-Europe-1) international submarine cable cut, we have arranged alternate channels for bandwidth to meet the requirement of internet usage in Pakistan,” the telecommunications company said in a statement.

It added that the measure had “resulted in improved customer experience, without any major impact on services [due to the cable cut]”. The PTCL assured that the bandwidth capacity would be further increased in the next few days to address the issue. “However, customers might face slight service degradation across the country till the addition of more bandwidth,” it added. It is pertinent to note that the AAE1 is a 25,000km consortium cable system connecting South East Asia to Europe via Egypt.

Sindh announces public holiday on December 27 to mark Benazir Bhutto’s death anniversary The Sindh government has announced a public holiday on December 27, on account of the death anniversary of former PM Benazir Bhutto. According to a notification issued by the Services, General Administration, and Coordination Department of the provincial government, December 27 has been declared a public holiday throughout the province. “All offices, autonomous and semi-autonomous bodies, corporations and local councils falling under the administrative control of the provincial government would remain closed on the day,” the notification read. news desk

Right of vote to overseas Pakistanis is accomplishment of another promise made by Prime Minister Imran Khan; says Senator Ayub Afridi

It connects Hong Kong, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, with Malaysia and Singapore, then onwards to Myanmar, India, Pakistan, Oman, the UAE, Qatar, Yemen, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Greece, Italy and France. The AAE-1 cable system deploys 100 gigabytes per second transmission technology, with a minimum design capacity of 40 terabytes per second. Meanwhile, an official in the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority stated that a CMV4 cable in the AAE-1 system was cut, which had decreased the internet speed by one terabyte. Consequently, the official said that

ATC sends former Orangi SHO to prison on judicial remand An antiterrorism court on Monday sent a former SHO of the Orangi Town police station to prison on judicial remand, in a case pertaining to unlawful use of a weapon that the police claimed to have recovered from a teenage student after killing him in an alleged fake encounter. Inspector Azam Gopang was booked for allegedly foisting a fake recovery of a pistol on victim Arsalan Mehsud. It is pertinent to note that on December 7, Constable Toheed, who was in plain clothes, along with his civilian friend Umair allegedly gunned down Arsalan Mehsud and wounded his friend Yasir near the Qatar Hospital in Orangi Town. On Monday, the investigating officer produced the held police-

man before the administrative judge of the ATCs on expiry of his physical remand and requested for an extension in the same. Opposing the request for remand extension, Gopang’s counsel Abid Zaman requested the judge to remand his client in judicial custody since he was no more required to be probed by police. The IO informed the court that a pistol recovered from the suspect had been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory for a ballistic analysis. Other accomplices of the suspects, who were believed to be at large, were yet to be arrested while vehicles used in the offence were also needed to be recovered, he added. After hearing arguments, the judge sent the suspect to prison

on judicial remand. It is to note that initially, the police claimed that the victim, who was returning from a tuition centre in Nazimabad, was a criminal. But after widespread condemnation on social media and protests by relatives and community members, it emerged that the encounter was fake. Later, the constable and his civilian friend were arrested and a case under Section 302 (premeditated murder) of the Pakistan Penal Code was registered against them. It merits mention that another case was registered on behalf of the state, against Inspector Gopang under Section 24 of the Sindh Arms Act (punishment for possessing arms with intent to use for unlawful purposes). news desk

Hearing in Avenfield House properties case adjourned ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday adjourned the hearing in appeal of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) vice president Maryam Nawaz against her conviction in a reference pertaining to the ownership of four Avenfield House apartments after a National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutor failed to turn up for health reasons. Usman Ghani had requested the court to adjourn the session since he was suffering from a “high-grade fever with excruciating body aches and pains” and experienced a “loss of smell and taste” — symptoms of

ISLAMABAD: Advisor to the Prime Minister for overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, Muhammad Ayub Afridi said that award of right of vote to overseas Pakistanis is accomplishment of another promise made by Prime Minister of Pakistan. He said that it is need of the hour to utilize knowledge, skills and expertise of overseas Pakistanis for betterment of Pakistan. Addressing a ceremony of signing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for establishment of CERTIPORT AUTHORIZED TESTING CENTRE (CATC) at newly established F11 Campus of OPF Girls College Islamabad, the Advisor said that it is really commendable that OPF is doing a magnificent job in providing quality education to the children of overseas Pakistanis and general public throughout Pakistan. He said that the initiative of introducing such IT enabled infrastructure in OPF’s education system is remarkable and it must be expanded to all regions. Managing Director, OPF briefed the Advisor about the project and stated that in this competitive market, it has been witnessed that certifications give an edge to degree holders when they compete for jobs. In recent years, it has been observed that students during their studies also focus upon these certifications in order to enable themselves to compete in a job market immediately after securing their degrees. Certifications are usually awarded by credible organizations such as Certiport. It is a third-party assessment of one’s skills and knowledge for a given subject. He said that the establishment of CATC will help OPF to market these certifications amongst its students. Children of overseas Pakistanis will be offered discounted rates for certifications. Earlier, both the organizations signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for establishment of CERTIPORT AUTHORIZED TESTING CENTRE (CATC) at newly established F-11 Campus of Girls College, Islamabad. Pr

the broadband speed would particularly be affected during peak hours. Earlier, internet users in Pakistan had also faced disruptions in October this year when a submarine cable developed a fault near Fujairah, United Arab Emirates. Prior to that in February, one of the country’s six international submarine cables had developed a fault near Abu Talat, Egypt, causing a degradation in internet services across Pakistan. The fault was later repaired by the Trans World Associates — one of the two licence holders for international landing stations of submarine cables. news desk

coronavirus infection. Therefore, Ghani said, he was advised to avoid travel and “observe bed rest”. For this very reason, he was “unable to travel, personally attend and assist” the bench. A two-judge bench of the court headed by Justice Aamer Farooq took up the petition and accepted Ghani’s request for adjournment. Irfan Qadir, counsel for Nawaz, and NAB Deputy Prosecutor General Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi also appeared in the court. staff rePort

corporate corner

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Human Rights Dr. Shireen Mazari in a meeting with Lord Wajid Khan, member of the opposition in the Lords and Angela Rayner, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, UK to discuss the mutual human rights issues. Pr

AIOu to build campus in Afghanistan ISLAMABAD: Government of Pakistan will provide thousands of scholarships to Afghan students. Allama Iqbal Open University will establish a regional campus in Afghanistan and play a pivotal role in promoting education in Afghanistan along with virtual university, said President of Pakistan, Dr. Arif Alvi in a meeting with the delegation of Ministry of Higher Education, Afghanistan. Earlier, the Afghan delegation also visited Allama Iqbal Open University and requested the Vice Chancellor, AIOU, Prof. Dr. Zia Ul-Qayyum for help in promoting education, rebuilding educational infrastructure and training Afghan teachers. The Vice Chancellor not only offered to assist Afghan universities in the process of digitization and train Afghan teachers but also announced to provide education facilities for Afghan students through the regional offices of AIOU located in the Afghan border areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa / Balochistan. In addition, to provide educational opportunities, Dr Zia also announced scholarships and stipends for poor and deserving students in Afghanistan. He added that preparations have also been completed for setting up a campus in Afghanistan. The campus will be set up after getting permission from the Ministry of Education. It is pertinent to mention here that AIOU can now provide education in any country of the world. University had also offered courses for international students in last semester and many students from different countries including Malaysia, Italy, Canada, Africa and the United States took admission in AIOU. Pr

uow hosts 6th MultiDisciplinary Student Research International conference

FBR Wins Scholarships From CFA Institute, USA

In a landmark development, FBR has entered into an agreement with CFA Institute Virginia, U.S.A on 21st December, 2021 at FBR (HQs), Islamabad for provision of scholarships to its officers. The agreement has been signed by Chairman FBR/Secretary Revenue Division Dr. Muhammad.Ashfaq Ahmed and Mr Abdur-Rehman Warriach, President CFA Society, Pakistan, who represented CFA institute Virginia U.S.A. It is pertinent to mention that CFA Institute is a global, not-forprofit professional organization that provides investment professionals with quality education in finance and accounting. It also aims to pro-

mote the standards in ethics, education, and professional excellence in the global investment industry. The organization offers certification in the Chartered Financial Analyst commonly known as CFA. It also offers Certificate in Investment Performance Measurement known as CIPM, in addition to the Investment Foundations Certificate. Infact, CFA Institute offers scholarships for employees of financial regulators, central banks, securities commissions, stock exchanges and government entities engaged in public finance. Specifically, those public entities which oversee or regulate business operations, ensure implementation of

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SOPs of the investment management industry and also those which have entered into a program agreement with CFA Institute are accorded priority. It is important to mention that FBR had signed an agreement for scholarships in 2021 cycle with CFA institute that resulted into 10 slots for CFA scholarships last year for FBR officers. It is very heartening to share that in current cycle of 2022, CFA institute has already allocated 20 scholarships for CFA Program and also 10 scholarships, for the first time, are allocated for CIPM. It is positively hoped that the above capacity building scholarship program will significantly contribute to enhancing the knowledge and skills of FBR officers who get selected to join the above said professional education courses under the CFA Scholarship Program through a merit based competitive process. The MoU signing ceremony was witnessed by Ms.Sarwat Ahsan, Executive Director CFA Society Pakistan, Mr.Qaisar Iqbal, Member FBR (IR-Ops), Barrister Nousherwan, Chief International Taxes, FBR, Asad Tahir Jappa, Director Media/Official Spokesperson, FBR and other officers. Pr

University of Wah (UoW) hosted its 6th MultiDisciplinary Student Research International Conference (MDSRIC) jointly sponsored by Higher Education Commission of Pakistan and Pakistan Science Foundation. The key areas of the conference included Basic Sciences, Computer Science, Engineering Sciences, Social Sciences and Humanities. The Conference was attended by a number of renowned national and international speakers including literary delegates from universities across Pakistan. During the two days of the Conference, 72 papers along with an array of keynote speeches from eminent professors and academicians were presented. Prof Dr Jameel-Un Nabi, Vice Chancellor, University of Wah, in his introductory speech, stressed on proactively engaging in research activities for sustainable development in modern world. In his opening remarks, Prof Dr Zulfiqar Ahmad, Director, ORIC highlighted the significance of academic conferences and shed light on how MDSRIC has acted as a platform where academicians and researchers from renowned universities can meet; exchange ideas on their research and can enlighten the participants about future developments in their respective disciplines. The Conference received positive feedback from researchers and attendees who appreciated UoW and ORIC for organizing an informative and insightful event. Participants of 6th Multi-Disciplinary Student Research International Conference (MDSRIC). Pr

06-07 Comments - 22nd December 2021_Layout 1 12/21/2021 11:28 PM Page 1

Wednesday, 22 December, 2021

06 COMMENT

Christmas: Then and Now

Who’s talking to Zardari? PPP’s hunt for electables

hO is former President Asif Zardari talking about when he says he was asked to offer assistance and share some formula but he told them that talks on the matter could be held after the PTI government is sent packing? This could not be the PDM or the PML(N) leadership which are presently at daggers drawn with the PTI leadership. Possibly Mr Zardari is hinting at some signals he might have received from the establishment which reportedly doesn’t know what to do with the PTI’s incompetent government, but having put all its eggs in one basket finds itself in a bind. According to Mr Zardari, “everyone should remember that the people’s vote is ours and the time to come belongs to the PPP.” The claim is presumably meant to rouse the spirit of the PPP workers. Bu tfor a party mostly confined to Sindh with insignificant presence in other provinces, it would be too much to claim that party chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari would become prime minister any time soon. During the elder Mr Zardari’s weeklong stay in Lahore in June, he failed in his mission to attract electables. Similarly, the younger Mr Zardari’s forays in South Punjab too remained unproductive. In the kP local body polls on Sunday the PPP could win only one post of Tehsil Committee Chairman out of 39. keeping in view the PPP’s parliamentary strength, the only way for the elder Mr Zardari to make the younger Mr Zardari PM is by hobnobbing with those who matter and wheeling dealing with Independents and the PTI’s eternally disgruntled allies. What suits him is a hung Parliament where he could indulge in give-and-take. Any government formed through these tactics will bring together parties with disparate agendas tied together solely by self-interest. This explains why the PPP led coalition government during 2008-13 failed to resolve issues that affected common people, like reduction in purchasing power, prolonged power failures and militant extremism. The party’s dismal performance brought down its appeal in various provinces, particularly in Punjab. The party policy after 2013 not to criticize the PML(N) government’s policies till the announcement of elections discouraged the diehard jialas while it failed to attract electables. Numerous prominent PPP activists either joined other parties or said goodbye to politics. The best way is for all the opposition to join hands and struggle to implement a commonly agreed agenda.

How Israeli occupation is worse than Roman

Washington Watch

he Christmas story as it is told in the West contains timeless elements that have shaped our culture in significant ways. As we tell it, year in and year out, the story conveys to those who listen to powerful themes, evoking deep feelings. It is, at its core, the tale of a helpless child born as an outcast whose role became transformative in human history. Unrecognized at first, the importance of this birth was initially only understood by the lowly of the earth— “the shepherds of the field.” Later “kings from the east” came to pay homage by bringing gifts. Their appearance raised the ire of local rulers forcing the baby’s parents to flee in order to save the life of their newborn child. I want to take a moment to reflect on this story, seeing contemporary realities through its prism. Two thousand years ago, Palestine was subject to a harsh occupation, much as it is today. In some ways, though, the conditions back then allowed the residents of occupied Palestine greater mobility than the current inhabitants of that land. As we are told in the bible story, Joseph had to take his expectant wife from Nazareth, where they were living, to Bethlehem, their ancestral village, in order to fulfill a requirement imposed by the author-

Another bad month Current account deficit headed in dangerous territory

The work to be done

muhmmaD ali alvi

eCeNTLy, an alleged vote-buying and selling video surfaced on social media indicating the malpractice that takes the centrestage in every election or by-election. Soon after that, both the contesting parties traded barbs and blamed each other for bribing the voters and taking sworn testimonies. The election Commission of Pakistan took notice of the alleged video and ordered a forensic audit of the video. While both parties blamed each other for buying votes, the authenticity of the video is yet to be found. Irrespective of the outcome of the video scandal and its authenticity, the other aspect that needs to be focused on is the prevalent rigging culture. This is not the first time a rigging video has surfaced and might not be the last one. On one hand, it puts into the spotlight the discrepancies in the electoral process and on the other hand it exposes the vulnerability of a voter. We have heard many stories of voters selling their votes. For example, stories of voters selling their votes in return for cash or even a ‘Biryani’ or voters casting their vote because of group affiliations or personal relations. The first case indicates the economic vulnerability of a voter. And, the second case underlines the lack of voting culture and behaviour among the voters. The economic vulnerability of a voter can be dealt with by economic prosperity while the lack of voting sense and behaviour can be dealt with by inculcating the voting culture and its importance and need to the individuals. The incumbent government managed to pass 33

Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor

Yousaf Nizami M. A. Niazi

Umar Aziz

Joint Editor

Executive Editor

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make such a life-saving flight impossible. Finally, as I reflect on the birth of Jesus, I cannot help but think of the almost 400 babies who will be born, this very day, to Palestinian parents in the West Bank and Gaza. I think as well of the number of those who will perish at birth because of inadequate medical services. (Some babies have been put at fatal risk at checkpoints, because Israeli soldiers would not permit their delivering mothers to pass.) And I think of Mary, 2000 years ago, and am grateful that, despite all she endured, there were no checkpoints blocking her way to Bethlehem. Our traditions tell us that Mary’s joy at the birth of her son was tempered by foresight. She knew her child would grow and endure great suffering. Likewise, the joy that Palestinian parents experience when greeting new life these days must, no doubt, be accompanied by similar concerns. Not only must they question how they will provide for their new child, but they must face down their fears of bringing up a son or daughter under occupation, with its dangers and hardships. From the violence, pressures, and humiliation encountered daily by Palestinians in the West Bank at the hands of the Israeli military and settlers, to the grinding poverty and despair facing those trapped in Gaza, life under hostile foreign rule can drain joy out of even the most blessed events. There is a traditional Christmas carol that asks the question “What child is this?” — the answer, of course, being “Jesus, the son of Mary.” But given the universal message conveyed by the Christmas story we also understand that the child is for us, a reminder of our responsibility to care for the helpless and the unrecognized. And so, when we think of the vulnerable children born today not only in Palestine, but those born anywhere where life is at risk (including here at home), we are not to ask: “What child is this?” — because we know that they are ours — to acknowledge and protect, like the shepherds and kings, enabling all of these children to grow, receive health care, and be educated so that they can grow and help change our world. Because all these children are ours, we have a responsibility to protect and care for them. The writer is President of the Arab American Institute

EVMs are pointless unless they end rigging allegations

AkISTAN’S economy is yet again in the grips of a widening current account deficit with the State Bank of Pakistan reporting the key macroeconomic indicator at $7 billion for the first five months of the ongoing financial year. This is in stark contrast to a current account surplus of $1.64 billion for the same period last year. What is more, the SBP had expected CAD to hover somewhere around four percent of GDP for the current fiscal year but having already reached 5.3 percent, that target is more than likely to be missed. Despite taking several measures to curtail it, the government been unable to stop the continuously increasing import bill that is causing the CAD to widen with each passing month, and if this trajectory holds, it could reach $15 billion by year end. There is an extent to which the government can go to reduce its import bill. Commodities such as oil, which account for most of the country’s imports, cannot be substituted. A significant amount in taxes is also raised through imports of goods and services as well, revenue that the government cannot let go of. Owing to these limitations, there is a need to increase exports and FDI to reduce the gap. At the same time, the rupee is under pressure with foreign exchange reserves, almost entirely made up of borrowed dollars, dropping steadily, indicating reduced inflows. Separately, the IMF is unwilling to budge on key conditions that the government is having a tough time fulfilling. Further hikes in energy tariffs, removal of tax breaks to certain industries and increasing tax revenue are all measures that the IMF is demanding, which will fuel inflation and reduce disposable incomes. The resumption of the Fund’s $6 billion eFF is also contingent upon the satisfactory fulfilment of these inflationary conditions. The government’s inability to take timely measures that would have addressed some of the systemic underlying issues of the economy has landed the country in this mess. Lack of consistency and continuity in the economic team coupled with poor decision making has also made matters worse. As things stand, short of a drastic drop in international commodity prices, which would be a stroke of luck, the external account of the country will remain in the red.

Editor Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

Dr James J. Zogby

ities to register as part of a nationwide census. Today, of course, all of that would be impossible. In the first place, no Palestinian originally from Bethlehem could ever have moved to Nazareth. The occupation and closure of the West Bank makes that sort of movement impossible. Furthermore, Israeli law prohibits an Arab from Nazareth from marrying a Bethlehemite and bringing their spouse across the Green Line to live with them in Israel. Additionally, while thousands of Palestinians in Bethlehem, both Muslim and Christian, can see Jerusalem from their homes, they cannot go to the holy City to pray. And Arab Christians from Jerusalem, likewise, cannot easily go the Christmas services in Bethlehem to pray alongside their co-religionists at the seasonal event. Bethlehem of old was overcrowded and under siege. Today, as well, the city itself is being strangled, hemmed in by settlements that have confiscated the town’s ancestral lands to make way for a 30-foot barrier wall and massive Jewish-only housing colonies that cut the Arab residents off from nearby Jerusalem. The constriction of growth and the lack of economic opportunity have forced Bethlehemites to flee in search of jobs and freedom, with tens of thousands of them and their descendants now living in the USA and the Americas. They can return to visit Bethlehem with difficulty but are not permitted by the occupation authorities to take up permanent residency in the town of their origins. While the kings of old, we are told, were able to travel from afar bearing gifts to honor the newborn child, one can only imagine the difficulties they would encounter today dealing with Israeli soldiers at the Allenby Bridge. having personally endured their interrogations, I can hear the kings answering hours of questions, such as “Where are you from?” “Who are your parents, grandparents?” “Why are you here?” Who are you visiting?” “What are these gifts for?” The questioning is reminiscent of herod’s interrogation of the biblical visitors. In today’s Israel/Palestine, it is doubtful whether those hapless “kings from the east” would have gained entry. That Joseph, Mary, and Jesus were able to flee to egypt to escape herod’s vengeful wrath was possible back then. Today, that option is unlikely. The barrier/wall that encapsulates the West Bank, the hundreds of checkpoints, and the closure of Gaza would

Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

bills during the joint session of Parliament including a bill pertaining to the introduction of eVMs in the next general election and giving overseas Pakistanis the right to vote. It was on the cards that it would be passed during the joint session even though the opposition was against the use of eVMs in the upcoming election. But, the passing of the legislation on the use of eVMs in upcoming elections will not ensure smooth elections alone, there are many more hurdles that have to be overcome with collective efforts. According to a news report, an estimated 400,000 eVMs will be required in the 2023 general elections in case elections are held on the same day across the country and the whole process would need around Rs 50-60 billion. The amount spent by the eCP on the 2013 general elections was Rs 28 billion. So the introduction of eVMs will mean doubling the amount spent in the previous election. This cost must bear fruit and must not go in vain. eVMs introduction is most likely to solve the problem of poll day rigging. For example, the problem of rejected votes, fake votes, spoilage of ballots, and delays in counting and reporting etc. But, the focus will now shift to pre-poll and postpoll rigging. Pakistan is a young country. According to UNDP, 64 percent of the population in Pakistan is under the age of 30 years. Pakistan must engage its youth in the electoral process. According to a report by PILDAT, youth voter turnout in the last elections was estimated to be 31 percent which is 13 percent lower than the average voter turnout in the last eight elections. This may be because they realize that their vote will not make any difference or do not trust the credibility of the elections. The eVMs introduction may inspire the youth to use their right and vote for a better future for the state. Not only youth, but the eVMs introduction should also help inspire the general public who have lost trust in the electoral process. It should help them realise that their vote will be for the one they have chosen and will not be wasted.

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

The next step should be to educate and train the masses to use the eVMs. As the eVMs involve the use of technology and will be used for the first time, it may create difficulties for the voters unfamiliar with technology. There is no point in introducing eVMs without educating and training the masses and removing the oppositions’ concerns because if that does not happen it will not bear fruit and the whole exercise will be worthless with an extra burden on the state. If eVMs introduction goes well, then we might come out of ‘dharna politics’ and the elected governments might work freely instead of forever having to prove their credibility. With eVMs to be used, the focus will be on prepoll activities. There will be a surge in pre-poll rigging activities. The only solution The way forward is to economically emancipate the voters to lessen their vulnerability and to introduce free and fair voting culture among the masses. The introduction of free voting culture has to be at the grassroots level. There is a need to strengthen the Local Governments and to develop a political culture among the public. The introduction of eVMs in local governments is a big plus. The use of eVMs in local elections across the country will not only ensure transparency but also strengthen the political culture at the grass-root level. Lastly, the major hurdle in the effective use of eVMs in the 2023 general elections is the wide political divide on their use. For example, 221 members voted in favour of the amended bill while 203 members opposed it. That the opposition is not too small to be ignored,so it should be handled by achieving a political consensus. Which was not the case before the passing of the law. Lastly, there is a need to apprehend (although visible) the challenges and problems associated with its use and find solutions for them now. Such as software hacking, Machines storage and transportation etc to maximize the potential and minimize the possible inconveniences.

There is a need to apprehend (although visible) the challenges and problems associated with its use and find solutions for them now. Such as software hacking, machines storage and transportation etc to maximize the potential and minimize the possible inconveniences

Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

The writer is freelance columnist

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

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Wednesday, 22 December, 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

Borrowed growth

Strategic significance of Bay of Bengal and Bangladesh’s ‘Balancing Capability’ How Bangladesh acts to promote its interests Pathik hasan

he name ‘Bay of Bengal’ is a matter of pride for Bengalis! Large cities like Madras (Chennai), hyderabad, Bhubaneswar, in all areas or states, are located on the shores of the Bay of Bengal, but the sea is not named after them. Again, it was not named after a region like the Arabian Sea, but after Bengal or Bengal. That is why the world has to remember the name of Bengal from time to time. In the middle of Myanmar, Andaman Islands, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the vast territory of South India, the reservoir of 2.162 million square kilometers is named after Bengal. It is known to the world as the Bay of Bengal. The Bay of Bengal has now become the centre of international politics due to its economic and strategic importance but in fact it extends to the bottom of Sri Lanka. It is the busiest international shipping route in the world. About 40,000 ships ply this route each year. half of the world’s goods and fuel vessels use this route. Looking at the picture of the Bay of Bengal, it is clear that its all-northern boundary has formed a parallel belt. It is as if a country has a water map in its taxpayer and has extended its exterior. The two sides on the outside have gradually increased and ended in Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. On the other side, the Andaman Islands merge with Sumatra from Myanmar and turn right to join Sri Lanka. Cox’s Bazar, the largest beach in the world, the Sundarbans, the largest uninterrupted mangrove forest, and one of the world’s most delicious fish species, the habitat of hilsa, are linked and associated with the Bay of Bengal. The ports on the shores of the Bay of Bengal bear the imprint of political, religious and economic tensions over the centuries. From ancient times to the Middle Ages, Arab traders and missionaries flocked to the port on the shores of the Bay of Bengal via the Arabian Sea. After the discovery of the Bay of Bengal by Vasco da Gama, Portuguese, French, Danish, Dutch and english companies started coming from europe. They built their respective company’s offices and forts on the shores of the Bay of Bengal. From this time the conflict between the european merchants and the Indian kings began. Towards the end of this conflict, the British east India Company built their two and a half hundred-year empire in India. Now, the Bay of Bengal gets attention from world powers. The USA, the Uk, China, India and Japan have focused their attention on the ‘Bay of Bengal’. That is the strategy. The USA has shifted its policy from ‘Asia-Pacific’ towards ‘Indo-Pacific’ to counter China’s ‘BRI’. Both parties want Bangladesh into their respective blocs. In this regard, Bangladesh is handling this issue tactically. It avoids involvement with the blocs directly. Despite having a request from the USA for years, Bangladesh didn’t show any interest to sign ACSA (Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement) and GSOMIA (General Security of Military Information Agreement)

agreements with the USA. On the other hand, When the Chinese envoy to Bangladesh commented that Bangladesh shouldn’t join IPS this year, Bangladesh strongly protested against the remarks uttered by Chinese envoy saying Bangladesh is capable of forming its own national policy. This is the capability of Bangladesh. Basically, Bangladesh doesn’t like any controversy with anyone. Its aim is very simple and clear which is friendship to all, malice to none. Bangladesh wants and likes to go ahead with all regional and global actors. Bangladesh policy is not towards bipartisan international politics. Bangladesh was an active member of the ‘Non-Aligned Movement’. Bangladesh has no intention and interest to join any bloc. But Bangladesh has intention to be benefitted from the blocs. Bangladesh wants and believes in peaceful coexistence in the region. It always avoids any kind of clash with any actor. Despite having provocation from Myanmar during the Rohingya refugee crisis in 2017, it abstained from using any kind of force. Bangladesh knows the Strategy. Bangladesh is balancing successfully with ‘BRI’ and ‘IPS’. Bangladesh has been exploiting ‘the strategic significance of Bay of Bengal’. Bangladesh W h e t h e r Bangladesh is involved in the US-led Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS) or the Chinese-led Belt and Road (BRI), it must maintain peace and the rule of law in the maritime region to reap the maximum economic benefits from the Bay of Bengal. Bangladesh needs to acquire natural resources as well as the ability to catch fish from the deep sea. If it is possible, it will open the way for Bangladesh to earn huge amount of foreign exchange just like fish and mineral garments. The port plays an important role for connectivity. Bangladesh has three seaports. But due to depth constraints, large vessels (mother vessels) are still unable to accommodate. The establishment of a deep seaport at Matarbari in Cox’s bazar in collaboration with Japan will solve this problem as well as reduce the cost of transporting goods. According to the reports of Bangladeshi media outlets, Bangladesh trades about 9 thousand crore dollars a year by sea. Four and a half thousand foreign ships transport these imported and exported goods to Bangladesh. And Bangladesh has to pay about 900 crore dollars every year for the charter of these ships. Bangladesh has only 60 ships to transport goods at sea. In this case, Bangladesh

has a serious shortage of capacity. Bangladesh needs to increase its capability. The sea border of Bangladesh is 118,000 square kilometers. On the other hand, if all the rivers and haors (a kind of pond originating from and connected with rivers) of Bangladesh are added, it stands at 15,000 kilometers. Bangladesh needs training, education and infrastructure to increase its ability to extract resources from this vast ocean. At present Bangladesh has a Maritime University, the Oceanographic Department and the Oceanographic Research Centre. These institutions should also come forward to expand education in this sector. Drug smuggling, piracy in the Malacca Strait, and pollution from ships or land are destroying the marine environment. effective steps can be taken to address these crises jointly through the Bay of Bengal Initiative for MultiSectoral Technical and economic Cooperation (BIMSTeC), the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASeAN) Bangladesh has made changes in the Maritime Act of 1974. the Marine economy Cell has been formed. Besides, a maritime economy action plan has been adopted. Bangladesh wants to join the ‘Colombo Security Conclave’ now. Its aim is to tackle the maritime threat. Japan attaches great importance to a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Bangladesh is one of the partners of Japan’s Big-B initiative around the Bay of Bengal. Under this, Matarbari in Maheshkhali will be turned into a hub for import and export of electricity and energy, industry and sea. The Rohingya crisis could lead to instability in the region. So, Japan should play a significant role in case of the repatriation of Rohingya, which is a sustainable solution to this crisis. The Bay of Bengal was historically important. Due to geopolitics, its importance has increased since the 1980s. Bangladesh is an important player in these geopolitics. The present government was pursuing a policy of maintaining good relations with all Indo-Pacific countries, avoiding conflict. And because of the balance, Bangladesh is an active partner of the USA’s IPS as well as China’s BRI. Basically, Bangladesh shows the rest of the countries in the region how to balance with big powers simultaneously. Its balancing capability is really praiseworthy and exemplary for many countries. The US-Japan-Australia-India formed ‘QUAD’ to counter China’s ‘BRI’.

The Bay of Bengal was historically important. Due to geopolitics, its importance has increased since the 1980s. Bangladesh is an important player in these geopolitics. The present government was pursuing a policy of maintaining good relations with all Indo-Pacific countries, avoiding conflict.

The writer can be at pathikhasan1141@gmail.com

reached

The politics of relying on someone else’s assistance has always been the central feature of economic management in Pakistan. This politics of borrowing from international lenders and friendly countries to cater to the balance of payments and budget deficits has permitted the country’s governing elite to avoid long-term structural reforms in the economy. however, focusing on quick fixes creates a momentary illusion of good governance. This has led to an exorbitant rise in external and internal debt, which translated into high-rocketing inflation and a storm of indirect tax. Although, getting aid is not something unusual given the economic integration and cooperation between countries. however, the utilisation of aid is what matters. In Pakistan, every government, military or civil, prefers the politics of quick fixes and direct foreign aid towards short-term projects to keep their voters happy. They never utilise this amount in human development projects. Perhaps, they should consider enhancing the outcome of social indicators such as education, health, long-term investment, energy, etc. Moreover, a sharp increase in their consumption to revenue generations and unsustainable resource generation and management has exacerbated the economy. Simply put, if history is a guide, foreign aid and hence a borrowed growth has proved a curse for Pakistan’s economy. Instead of borrowing, the government should bring widespread reforms and broaden the tax net, diversify the export base, and take steps to document the underground economy. Otherwise, the country will remain trapped in a vicious cycle of borrowing, which will put a strain on the long-term growth and development of the country. Shah Fahad Khan ISlamabad

Why Covid-19 only ? TheRe is no denying that our country Pakistan is in the grave of several different problems like hunger , poverty , unemployment and many more . These all issues are very old , still they are deprived from solutions . Furthermore , after the approach of Covid-19 , our government has neglected the all issues are existed in our country since some decades rather they are paying the full attention on Covid-19 crisis . however , hunger virus , empty stomach and homelessness are not less than Covid-19 pandemic ; everyday hundred of thousands people die in Pakistan due to these problems which are just neglected. abdul Rahman ShahbEER KhaIRabad

Next generation IN psychology, It is said that “We are the product of what we see and imitate in our daily life.” when this quote came across my eyes, held me thinking and wondering about the younger generation of ours. Since the arrival of user-friendly technology, we all have been stuck under the piles of fictional fun which has no real value in the world. While being physically suppressed by these so-called technology, we have left one thing and unnoticed “Our children observing us.” In the early age of development (3 to 12 years) children’s brain is more like a photocopy machine. Learning from the environment through observation and what they perceive, it will become the part of their personality. Connecting this theory of psychology with what we have today, you will see a lot of children using smartphone fluently and frequently because they learn it by continously observing their parents and relatives. Although alot of studies have shown the negative effects of frequent mobile usage on child mind yet the parents rather than engaging them in some physical activity and intellectual exercises, they hand them over the mind-numbing device and this made me pondering if this didn’t dwindle, how will we be able to generate athletes, scientists and leaders for future. mIan aIzaz ahmEd ShadaKot

Increasing sexual violence ANOTheR incident of sexual abuse within one month has set a wave of fear and unrest across the district. A minor girl Jamila of around 8 years, daughter of poor labor was subjected to sexual assault by an unknown miscreant in Banu a locality of Taluka Mirpur Bathoro district Sujawal. The girl found semi-unconscious was shifted to civil hospital Sujawal for treatment, where her condition is stated to be stable. Parents of the miseryridden girl have demanded justice while no FIR of the incident has been lodged yet. This case is second of its kind in the district followed by the Ayshiya Themore Rape case that had taken place a month back in a village near Jati. The higher authorities of the districts have opted to remain silent on that ensuing imprecation. It seems that the people of the remote district are unaware of the ferociousness that has started to pullulate in an otherwise peaceful district. Chief Minister Sindh, Chief Justice of SIndh high Court and IG Sindh are requested to take notice of this gruesome incident KamRan KhamISo KhoWaJa SuJaWal

Renewable energy is the answer AT the moment , we have predominantly costly fossil fueled power generation in the energy mix, as a result of which electricity production cost and tariffs are higher, unaffordable and contribute to green house gasses at the same time. The international prices of solar power, in particular , have dropped down dramatically and we need to seize this opportunity by expanding the power system through installation of solar Powerplants (PV operated) as fast as possible harnessing the abundant sunshine in the country and by phasing out and retiring the costly and environment unfriendly fossils powered powerplants. The World Bank (WB) has advised the government to go for solar & wind power to bring down the power prices and at the same time control the environment . It has promised to fund such projects and also to use its influence on other financial institutions to assist in this regard. Our government needs to seize this good offer of the Bank and work on the solar & wind projects jealously for ultimate good of the public and the country by achieving at least 30 percent share of solar power by 2030 in the energy mix . EngR RIaz bhutta lahoRE

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Wednesday, 22 December, 2021

08 WORLD VIEW

gAddAfi is An ideA thAt does not die DICTATORS DON’T CHANGE THEIR SPOTS. IN NORTH AFRICA, GADDAFI IS AN IDEA THAT DOES NOT DIE

Middle eaST MoniTor Dr AmirA Abo EL-FEtoUh

HEN Muammar Gaddafi declared the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya in 1977, he invented a new way for the people to govern themselves. Not through democracy and the ballot box, but by what he called the General People’s Committee, wherein he placed his informants, followers, and supporters. Instead of a president ruling Libya, he said, the Libyan people would govern the country themselves through popular committees; it was enough for him to be Africa’s king of kings. Around the world, he was said to be crazy, and we all laughed at his behaviour, but the truth is that the man was neither mad nor an imbecile. He was fully aware of what he was doing and knew that populism was the best way to preserve his rule and satisfy his authoritarian tendency. This is true of all arrogant tyrants, until the moment of truth arrives and they fall from their thrones; their strength disappears and they beg the people whom they had enslaved to have mercy on them. We saw it with

Ceausescu in Romania, and with Gaddafi in Libya. However, tyrants do not appear to learn from history. We are now seeing the small dictator of Tunisia, Kais Saied, following in Gaddafi’s footsteps, even outdoing him as “the student who has become the master”. Gaddafi rode on a tank, staged a military coup and started to govern Libya. His Tunisian student Saied came in through the 2010/11 revolution that overthrew the dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, adopted a constitution, and established a healthy democracy that allowed him to stand in the presidential election and win through the ballot box. Then, less than two years after he was elected, on 25 July this year, he staged a “coup against the constitution” and the democratic path. He shut down the parliament, removed immunity from its members and imposed a state of emergency in the country. He then passed a number of special laws by decree and abolished all oversight bodies. On 22 September he seized full legislative authority to go with the executive and judicial authority that he had already taken. Tunisia was in his grip. His “emergency measures” now appear to be permanent and it is as if no revolution was staged; Tunisia has re-entered the bad old days of dictatorship. Never mind Ben Ali, we could say that Saied has taken the country back to the Habib Bourguiba era of the 1950s and 1960s, but without any qualifications, abilities or history that he can rely on. Bourguiba’s honourable struggle against the French occupation redeemed him in the eyes of his opponents who forgave many of his mistakes and failings. Moreover, Saied doesn’t possess Ben Ali’s sophistication to allow him to rule on his own. He came from nowhere, from outside the world of politics. It is ironic that he came from the judiciary and the Constitutional Court which he attacked and disrupted. He came out of

the Jasmine Revolution, and yet has destroyed its achievements, without which he wouldn’t have stepped foot in the Carthage Palace. The latest novelty is that he claims to have discovered the cause of Tunisia’s economic woes, to which he alone has the solution. The problem, says Saied, lies in the 2014 revolutionary constitution; the very same constitution that helped to bring him to power. Suddenly, as president, he has decided that it is inadequate and has no legitimacy. If the constitution lacks legitimacy, then his presidency has no legitimacy and he must step down. In his arrogance, though, he has declared that he will supervise the drafting of a new constitution after a public consultation and referendum in time for the new document to be presented next July, the anniversary of his coup. This, he said, will be followed by a parliamentary election on 17 december next year, on the twelfth anniversary of the revolution. Gaddafi’s Tunisian student claims that the people will represent themselves by themselves after eliminating the mediator institutions. According to his speeches, there are good and bad in the country; the “good” are those who support him. He will raise them into a “majority” to represent the people and exploit this to establish his authoritarian rule. In fact, Saied has never disguised his populist tendencies, but no one has noticed them. He was open with his frustration about the partisan parliament during his presidential campaign, which gained him popular support. It is true that the people are fed up with party corruption and conflicts, and have lost confidence in the behaviour of the political parties which were unable to improve their living conditions. The “good guys” have rushed to back his decisions.

Walid Al-Abbasi, of the People’s Movement, said that his party supports what the president said in his speeches regarding broad popular participation so that everyone can vote in the referendum and election. He alleged that some parties have received foreign support and others have broken the law. Meanwhile, the “bad guys” rushed to reject Saied’s decisions and power grab. Muhammad Al-qumani of Ennahda said that what the president announced recently simply strengthened his coup and the movement will work with all national political forces to thwart it. They refuse to take over the popular will, and denounced the attempt to impose one-man rule. The question remains about the referendum that Saied has promised, and what guarantees he will provide to make it free and fair. Referendums are usually conducted according to democratic rules with oversight, transparency and freedom of choice, none of which are available in Tunisia today. Unfortunately, he is also backed by the army, so the consultation process will be controlled by his supporters, making the referendum a farce waiting for the masses to applaud after the curtain comes down. The populists are hiding their authoritarian tendencies with fake celebrations to glorify the dictatorial leader. “The sun of freedom shone over the Arab world from Tunisia in 2010, but the moon escaped and disappeared in 2021 due to the Arab-American-Zionist plots, which refuse to allow the establishment of dignity and freedom for the nations,” I wrote in an earlier article. “Will it shine again?” The answer can be deduced from the Tunisian Gaddafi’s speech, which suggests that the future is even bleaker. Saied would not dare to abolish the constitution and rewrite it himself unless he has the support of several countries, the identity of which is no secret to anyone, with an interest in ending Tunisia’s democratic experience and dragging it towards an army-backed dictator. That way, they protect their own thrones. dictators don’t change their spots. In North Africa, Gaddafi is an idea that does not die.

east Asia’s squid game economies

Lynchings indefensibLe

THE INCREASING FINANCIALIZATION OF EAST ASIA’S ECONOMIES HAS SEEN INEQUALITY RISE TO LEVELS UNSEEN IN DECADES, INSPIRING SUCH DYSTOPIAN VISIONS AS SQUID GAME AND THE OSCAR-WINNING SOUTH KOREAN FILM PARASITE

Mob violence should not be tolerated at any cost

ProjecT SyndicaTe KEUN LEE

qUId Game, a dystopian South Korean drama on Netflix, is one of the world’s most-watched television series. Like Parasite, which won Best Picture at the 2020 Oscars, Squid Game highlights the increasing gap between South Korea’s rich and poor. A similar disparity now exists in many, if not most, developed economies. It may seem puzzling that South Korea is troubled by such inequity, because the country’s previous high growth and low inequality were central to the “East Asian miracle”. In the period from 1960 to 1990, the region’s economies supported the so-called Kuznets hypothesis that economic growth in industrializing countries would initially aggravate inequality but subsequently reduce it amid sustained expansion. But such equalizing growth stopped in the early 2000s, if not earlier. Nowadays, South Korean capitalism seems more noxious – perhaps because it has been converging with the liberal Anglo-Saxon model, which is associated with weak investment, slow growth, and high inequality. In fact, recent data suggest that both South Korea and Japan are converging with the Anglo-Saxon camp. For example, the share of national income accruing to the top 10% has increased globally, but particularly in the United States and East Asia. In the 2010s, the US had the highest such ratio, at over 45%, followed closely by South Korea (45%) and Japan (40%).

Further support for the convergence thesis comes from the World Inequality Report 2022 produced by the World Inequality Lab. According to the report, South Korea’s per capita income (on a purchasing power parity basis) is €33,000 ($37,250) – similar to the United Kingdom (€32,700) and a bit lower than France (€36,300), but higher than Italy (€29,100) or Japan (€30,500). But when it comes to income inequality, South Korea’s top 10% earn on average 14 times more than the bottom 50% – a multiple closer to that of the US (17) or Japan (13) than that of Italy (eight), France (seven), and Sweden (six). Moreover, South Korea’s GdP growth has gradually declined during the last two decades, replicating the Japanese experience. Following expansion of 6-7% per annum in the 1980s and 1990s, the economy’s potential growth rate dropped to about 5% in the early 2000s, and then to 3.7% in the late 2000s, 3.4% in the early 2010s, and 2.8% in the late 2010s. My colleague, Se-Jik Kim, has even posited a “law” whereby South Korea’s potential GdP growth rate decreases by one percentage point every five years. What is driving East Asian economies’ convergence toward the US model? One answer may be financialization, long a key feature of American capitalism, whereby the financial sector accounts for a rising share of GdP and dividend payments exceed reinvested corporate profits. Since South Korea implemented financialization as a condition of its International Monetary Fund bailout during the 1997 Asian financial crisis, the country’s economic model has gravitated toward US-style shareholder capitalism. One of South Korea’s first reforms was a radical opening up of financial markets that lifted the prohibition of share buybacks and encouraged more dividend payments – contrary to the established practice in East Asia of retaining profits for reinvestment. As a result, the share of investment in South Korean GdP has since declined by five percentage points, reducing domestic growth and job creation. Meanwhile, foreign investors’ share of South Korean stock holdings jumped from less than 5% in the mid-1990s to about 40% in the early 2000s. While many long regarded low dividend payments as one reason for “Korea discounts” in company valuations, leading firms such as Samsung are now adopting US practices by paying out about 40% of their net profits to

shareholders. And in 2017, Samsung started to pay dividends every quarter rather than annually – a big change, given that annual dividends were once seen as a virtue of East Asian capitalism over Anglo-Saxon short-termism. But East Asian capitalism now needs rebalancing. Here, policymakers can learn from Europe, which has initiated several reforms to curb the negative influence of shareholder capitalism. In 2015, for example, the European Parliament enacted corporate-governance reforms permitting firms within the European Union to grant more voting rights or pay higher dividends to shareholders who hold their stock longer than two years. Likewise, the US allows newly listed firms to issue dual-class shares that give their founders special voting power. This has enabled many high-tech companies, including Google and Facebook, to take a long-term management perspective and pursue innovative new projects aggressively. Such benefits partly explain why the South Korean e-commerce platform Coupang decided earlier this year to list on the New York Stock Exchange rather than the domestic KOSdAq market. As a result, South Korea’s National Assembly is finally about to pass a long-delayed law allowing start-ups or small and medium-size firms – but not large companies or chaebols – to issue dual-class shares. East Asian countries should see the COVId-19 crisis as an opportunity to reshape their economies by curbing financialization and restoring their manufacturing strength, which previously brought high growth and greater equity. But rather than simply returning to the past, the region’s economies should embrace a hybrid model that includes elements of the shareholder and stakeholder models. Such reform also is consistent with the global adoption of ESG (environmental, social, and governance) principles, which South Korea’s corporate sector strongly supports. While East Asia’s convergence toward Anglo-Saxon capitalism may appear shocking, the data does not lie. But by adopting the right measures, policymakers can help to ensure that the region’s economic future is brighter than its recent on-screen portrayals suggest. Keun Lee, Vice Chair of the National Economic Advisory Council for the President of South Korea, is Distinguished Professor of Economics at Seoul National University.

Tribune, india Punjab has witnessed two lynchings in as many days, both related to alleged sacrilege attempts. Any malicious act intended to outrage religious feelings must be condemned in the strongest possible terms, but the brutal killing of two persons demonstrates blatant disregard for the law. There is certainly no place for bloodthirsty mobs in a civilised society. The accused should have been handed over to the police for the initiation of legal proceedings. In the Golden Temple incident, it seems that the SGPC — which manages the holiest Sikh shrine — failed to handle the situation sensibly and responsibly. Things were allowed to spin out of control, leading to the death of the man who had jumped over the railing in the sanctum sanctorum. In the other incident, no evidence has emerged so far to suggest that the suspect showed disrespect to the holy book or the symbols of the Sikh faith at a gurdwara in Kapurthala district. It’s possible that he was lynched on the basis of unfounded suspicion. In July, an employee of the Border Roads Organisation had been beaten to death after he was wrongly accused of committing a theft at a gurdwara on the Gurdaspur-Pathankot road, while a labourer was fatally assaulted with sharp-edged weapons on the charge of sacrilege at the farmers’ protest site at the Singhu border in October. Sacrilege is an extremely emotive issue in Punjab, which had been rocked by a series of such happenings in 2015. With the state going to the polls early next year, vested interests might go all out to disrupt communal harmony. The onus is on the Punjab government to maintain law and order and crack the whip on anti-social elements. At the same time, leaders of the ruling and Opposition parties should refrain from fanning the flames. Their unwillingness to condemn the lynchings is tantamount to condoning the violence. Lack of political will to curb mob violence is summed up by the fact that the National Crime Records Bureau does not compile separate data of people killed/injured by vigilante groups or crowds in various states and UTs. There is a need to shed such indifference which is fuelling mobocracy at the cost of democracy.

Wednesday, 22 December, 2021 | LAHORE

NEWS

corporate corner NBP joins hands with ICAP to offer training to CA students National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) has entered into an arrangement with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP) to offer articles training to the Chartered Accountancy students throughout the country. A ceremony in this connection was held on December 17, 2021 at the Bank’s Head Office and was attended by existing and past ICAP Council members and CA professionals from industry. Addressing the audience, President of the Bank Mr. Arif Usmani encouraged the idea of promoting professional excellence through extensive training and grooming of young finance professionals as future visionaries and economic leaders of the country. This goes well with the Bank’s Vision to be the Nation’s Leading Bank Enabling Sustainable Growth and Inclusive Development. The Bank has capacity to induct up to 75 trainees at any point in time. Placement will be offered initially at the Bank’s Head Office and then throughout the Country, thus creating a nationwide opportunity for those students who cannot relocate to bigger cities to pursue CA qualification. Extensive learning plans offered by the Bank include rotated placement of trainees in all key functions of the Bank, particularly in Finance, Audit, Risk, Operations, Compliance, Treasury, IT, HR, etc. The Bank will support deserving trainees through reimbursement of the cost of approved study materials as well as examination fees. The arcticleship training programme is regulated by the ICAP to ensure quality & comprehensive training programme for producing talented Chartered Accountants. The audience appreciated this initiative of NBP as an excellent opportunity for young CA professionals, and acknowledged contributions of the Bank towards economic growth in the country over the last seven decades. NBP has recently made considerable progress in its strategy across various businesses and for playing its systemically important role in the economy while maintaining a strong and resilient balance sheet to deliver performance for shareholders. The management is committed to modernizing the Bank to achieve excellence in risk and control environment, business processes and service quality to clients. The Bank’s business strategy will increase its focus on financing and supporting underserved sectors including SME, Microfinance, Agriculture Finance and the PM’s Low-Cost Housing initiative on a priority basis. P r

Telenor Pakistan hosts businesses in Karachi to showcase its #FitForFuture suite of enterprise solutions

PRESIDENT ALvI LAUNCHES NETHERLANDS-BASED GAS TURBINE SERvICES COMPANy IN PAKISTAN

n Saturday 18 December 2021, MFS BV held its launching ceremony of its Pakistan office at the Governor House, Karachi and the President of Pakistan, Dr Arif Alvi was the chief guest of honour. MFS is a netherlands-based gas turbine services company that is headed by Mr Humayun Zubair in Pakistan. The company’s Chairman, Mr Alex Peelen and Chief Technical Officer Mr George Strating were also present at this ceremony and the Chief Guest of Honour in his address the President Dr Arif Alvi said "improving efficiency of under-performing power plants in Pakistan is the key to reducing emission and costs".

Other distinguished guests present at the ceremony were Wasim Akram (former Pakistan Cricket Capt) Lt Gen Moinuddin Haider (former Governor of Sindh), Azhar Farooqi (former IGP), Ms Lianna Houben, Dutch Ambassador to Pakistan. Keynote speakers were Mr Saiyed Asif Mahmood, CEO, Technomen Kinetic Engineering Ltd and Mr Saiyed Moonis Abdullah Alvi, CEO, K-Electric. All participants including the President of Pakistan welcomed the company and highlighted the importance of such a company that can enhance efficiency of power plants in Pakistan as well as develop skilled human resources that can be deployed globally to provide services for MFS or other similar companies. Pr

Zong Sets Up Digital Lab at Pak-China Friendship School, Gwadar Islamabad: Pakistan's cellular and digital services leader, Zong, has teamed up with Pak-China Friendship School Gwadar to establish a digital lab under its agenda of 'Let's Get Digital'. The Pak-China Gwadar Middle School, also commonly known as Faqeer Middle School, is located in Gwadar’s Faqeer Colony. This school is part of a Chinesefunded initiative aimed at developing a high-quality educational system in the area. With the aim to digitally transform the country, Zong continued with the endeavor to provide a computer lab for digital and curriculum learning at the school. The Pak-China Friendship School is one of the first Government schools in Gwadar to have a fully functional computer lab. Zong's digital lab will enable both students and teachers to access digital education and keep up with the rest of the world in terms of modern education. "The digital lab at Pak-China Friendship School aims to bridge the digital divide; that is a significant inhibitor to economic progress. Zong's efforts of digitalizing the underprivileged strata of the country is in-line with the Government of Pakistan and PTA’s agenda of digital and gender inclusivity. This is just one of the numerous efforts we've made and will continue in the future to digitally empower Pakistanis and provide them with opportunities." said Zong's official spokesperson. Zong has increased its efforts in Pakistan to promote digital education. The company recently partnered with the Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF) to develop an online course "How to E-lance" along with the recent inauguration of a computer lab for the students of Maluvi Abdul Haq School, Karachi. The goal is to broaden the reach of digital learning and assist even more young people, particularly females, who face mobility and safety barriers in becoming digitally connected and establishing online careers. Pr

UBL, PPAF partner under the ‘Growth for Rural Advancement and Sustainable Progress’ initiative

KaRaCHI: Forwarding its efforts to make businesses ready for the future, Telenor Pakistan hosted businesses and enterprises in Karachi to showcase its diverse range of solutions that enable businesses to be ready for future. The event featured live demonstrations of Telenor Pakistan’s Internet of Things (IoT), Enterprise Solutions, and Data as Service solutions for its corporate customers. The event was attended by Monis Alvi, CEO K-Electric, Ghias Khan, CEO Engro Corp., Samad Dawood, Vice Chair Engro, DH and Dawood Foundation, Hassan Khan, CEO Trax Pakistan, Mirza Ikhtiar Baig, Hon. Consul General of Yemen and President Consular Cops Sindh, Asif Peer, CEO Systems Ltd, Kamran Nishat, CEO Muller & Phipps and Dr. Amjad, CEO NBP Funds, Duraid Qureshi, CEO Hum Networks and Muddasar Aqil, CEO Telenor Micro Finance Bank among others. Speaking at the event, Irfan Wahab Khan, CEO Telenor Pakistan said “Preparing your business for the future is not just about foreseeing industry trends of digitalisation and automation, but also about allowing change to happen and adopting cutting edge technology to give your enterprise the edge that comes from improving efficiency in a high inflation environment. The businesses that hold the foresight today and equip themselves with latest solutions are destined to remain a step ahead of all uncertainties. The future of business is knocking at the door and it’s time to answer.” “Businesses of tomorrow require greater flexibility when it comes to growth and future-preparedness. Our state-of-the-art business solutions have been designed to enable that flexibility in businesses, allowing complete control and unparalleled peace of mind.” said Omer Bin Tariq, Chief Business Officer Telenor Pakistan. Telenor Business recently launched its array of business solutions including avant-garde solutions utilising IoT, advanced data analytics to make informed decisions and customised enterprise solutions. For more information, please visit https://www.telenor.com.pk/business/. P r

Imran Khan secured largest chunk of votes polled in KP LG polls: Haleem Adil KaRaCHI: Leader of the Opposition in Sindh Assembly, Haleem Adil Sheikh, while addressing a press conference here at Sindh Assembly building, said that Imran Khan secured the largest chunk of votes polled during first phase of local government elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as different candidates contesting elections as independent were actually belonged to PTI and they used pictures of Imran Khan to attract voters. The real contest in KPK local government elections was PTI versus PTI as 5 candidates who returned successful as independent had political affiliation with PTI while many other leading vote gainers were also from PTI, he said adding that various local factors affect the LG polls as well. Admitting to some shortcomings at local leadership level and in distribution of tickets in KPK Haleem Adil said that different factors ranging from national to local level affected the overall results in KPK which also include growing inflation in the global post Covid-19 scenario. Prime Minister Imran Khan has declared that he personally would monitor the upcoming phase of LG polls in KPK, Haleem Adil Sheikh said and hoped that PTI in leadership of Imran Khan would be able to repeat the same performance that was demonstrated in elections of Azad Jammu Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan. Haleem said that PTI has emerged as the only national political party of Pakistan which has deep roots, popularity and vote bank in every federating unit while other parties had been shrunk to certain areas. PPP had lost its vote bank in Punjab and KPK, PML-N and JUI-F had been constrained to Punjab and KPK respectively, he said adding that it was PTI that was confronting all the political competitors in every province and region of the country because Imran Khan’s political strategy and approach is people centric and aimed at conquering the hearts of public. P r

METRO Pakistan Brings Daycare Facility For Its Employees’ Children

United Bank Limited (UBL) and Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) recently signed an MoU to complement the roles of the organizations under Growth for Rural Advancement and Sustainable Progress (GRASP) initiative. GRASP intuitive focuses the underserved areas of Sindh and Baluchistan Provinces. Both the entities, through the institutional understanding and strategy, will combine their potentials to synergize efforts for fast tracked development of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) engaged in the horticulture and livestock sectors, to increase their capacity and competitiveness. UBL and PPAF have agreed to formalize their collaborative efforts by identifying areas of common interest, i.e. access to finance, business development and social mobilization, for the development of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and advancement Rural populace. Mr. Zia Ijaz, GE-Branch Banking & International, UBL along with Mr. Sohail Ahmed Malik, Head SME & Rural Bank and Mr. Abdul Sattar Narejo, Head Rural Bank represented UBL in the MoU Signing Ceremony whereas PPAF was represented by Mr. Irshad Khan Abbasi, Group Head- PPAF and Ms. Robila Agha, Access to Finance Specialist GRASP Project. While highlighting the importance of Rural Development, Mr. Zia Ijaz stated “UBL is a pioneer Institution in Rural and Agriculture Finance. Its extensive network in both the focused provinces would go a long way in achieving the desired goals of GRASP project.” Mr. Irshad Khan Abbasi, expressed his gratitude and said “With the participation of UBL, PPAF team is confident that the grassroots level participation of the Rural masses will be ensured. Both teams will continue their endeavors for the uplift of the targeted areas of Sindh and Baluchistan.”. P r

KaRaCHI: METRO, the leading international wholesale company, gave another reason for its employees in Pakistan, specifically the young mothers, to enjoy their work routine in a relax environment, with its Day Care center & Big Kids room initiative. The facility will look after the kids of working women, with peace of mind and easy access to their young kids, as and when required. The facility is equipped with latest attributes for child development and care. The Day Care Center takes care of children up to 4-years-old, five times a week during the official working hours. The Big Kids room applies to children from 4 to 7 years. The facility is already in service at the METRO Pakistan Head Office and is being extended to its stores all over the country. Sharing his thoughts, Ms. Zahra Hussain, HR Director METRO Pakistan, said, “The purpose of this initiative is to encourage gender diversity, representation, and career growth. All METRO Pakistan women were included in the launching of this programme and asked how it could facilitate their job performance. This programme is a powerful example of diversity & inclusion in action that inspires and motivates us to be a better community for all mothers and kids together.” The employees, particularly the women, have appreciated the decision to facilitate them and shared that earlier, they had to leave the young children at home under the supervision of a babysitter, or family elders. They expressed that now their children would remain in front of their eyes in a safe environment which would help them focus on their work. P r

Wednesday, 22 December, 2021 | LAHORE

10 FOREIGN NEWS

Ex-intEl chiEf confirms israEl’s rolE in solEimani Killing JeRUsALeM

The AssociATed Press

SRAEL’S former military intelligence chief says the country was involved in the American airstrike that killed Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in January 2020. It was the first public acknowledgement of Israel’s role in the operation. Soleimani headed the Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s elite Quds Force and helped orchestrate Iran’s involvement with paramilitary groups abroad. He was killed in a US drone strike at the Baghdad airport in January 2020, an incident that threatened to pull the countries into full-blown conflict. A week after the airstrike, NBC News reported that Israeli intelligence helped confirm the details of Soleimani’s flight from Damascus to Baghdad. Earlier this year, a

Yahoo News reported that Israel “had access to Soleimani’s numbers” and gave that intelligence to the United States. But Maj. Gen. Tamir Heyman, the nowretired general who headed military intelligence until October, appears to be the first official to confirm Israel’s involvement. Heyman’s comments were published in the November issue of a Hebrew-language magazine closely affiliated with Israel’s intelligence services. The interview was held in late September, a couple of weeks before his retirement from the military. The authors wrote that Heyman opened the interview by talking about the American airstrike that killed Soleimani, but in which Israeli intelligence played a part. “Assassinating Soleimani was an achievement, since our main enemy, in my eyes, are the Iranians,” Heyman told the

magazine. He said there were “two significant and important assassinations during my term” as head of army intelligence. “The first, as I’ve already recalled, is that of Qassem Soleimani — it’s rare to locate someone so senior, who is the architect of the fighting force, the strategist and the operator — it’s rare,” he said. Heyman called Soleimani “the engine of the train of Iranian entrenchment” in neighbouring Syria. Israel has carried out hundreds of airstrikes in Syria in the past decade, but rarely publicly comments on them. Israel has said, however, that it has targeted bases of Iranian-backed force and arms shipments bound for Iran’s proxy, the Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah. Heyman said that Israeli strikes had succeeded in “preventing the attempt by Iran to put down roots in Syria.” The Israeli military did not immediately

respond to requests for comment on Heyman’s remarks. The interview was published as world powers and Iran were engaged in negotiations to reach a new agreement to curb Iran’s nuclear program. The previous deal, struck in 2015, unravelled after the United States unilaterally withdrew in 2018 and re-imposed crippling economic sanctions on Iran. On Wednesday, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan was scheduled to meet this

week in Jerusalem with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett to discuss “a range of issues of strategic importance to the US-Israel bilateral relationship, including the threat posed by Iran,” National Security Council Spokesperson Emily Horne said. Israel considers Iran its regional archfoe and says it will take any steps needed to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.

Taliban allow protest calling for Afghan assets to be released AFP

UK court orders Dubai ruler to pay 554 million pounds in settlement to ex-wife Agencies Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has been ordered by the High Court in London to provide a British record of more than 554 million pounds ($733 million) to settle a custody battle with his ex-wife over their two children. The bulk of the massive award to Princess Haya bint Al Hussein, halfsister of Jordan’s King Abdullah, and the couple’s two children, is to ensure their lifetime security, not least to address the “grave risk” posed to them by the sheikh himself, said the judge, Philip Moor. The judge said: “She is not asking for an award for herself other than for security” and to compensate her for the possessions she lost as a result of the marital breakdown. He directed Mohammed to make a one-off payment of 251.5 million pounds within three months to Haya for the upkeep of her British mansions, to cover the money she said she was owed for jewellery and racehorses, and for her future security costs. The sheikh, who is vice president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates, was also told to provide three million pounds towards the education of Jalila, 14, and Zayed, 9, and 9.6 million pounds in arrears. He was also asked to pay 11.2 million pounds a year for the children’s maintenance, and for their security when they become adults. These payments will be guaranteed via a 290 million pound security held by HSBC bank. The final sum, despite being believed by some London lawyers to be the largest public award ever ordered by an English family court, is less than half of the 1.4 billion pounds that Haya had originally sought. During almost seven hours of testimony, Haya, 47, said a large oneoff payment would allow for a clean break and remove the sheikh’s hold over her and their children. “I really want to be free and I want them to be free,” she told the court. Following the ruling, a spokesperson for the sheikh said he “has always ensured that his children are provided for” and asked for the media to respect their privacy. A lawyer for Haya did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The settlement is the latest development in a legal saga that began when the princess fled to Britain in April 2019, fearing for her safety after she began an affair with one of her bodyguards, and a month after she had asked the sheikh for a divorce. Later that year, the London court ruled Mohammed had carried out a campaign of threats and intimidation that made her fear for her life, and that he had also previously abducted and mistreated two of his daughters by another marriage. Earlier this year, the President of the Family Division in England and Wales, a senior judge, also determined that Mohammed had ordered the phones of Haya and her lawyers, one of whom is a parliamentary lawmaker, to be hacked using the sophisticated “Pegasus” state security software. Haya had not asked for any divorce settlement. She did not offer an explanation, but her lawyers said she would have been entitled to seek billions as the ex-wife of one of the world’s richest men. “The mother’s financial claims, and the size of the relief that’s being sought, are quite unprecedented,” the sheikh’s lawyer, Nigel Dyer, told the court during hearings which could not be reported until Tuesday. He said her demands were excessive and she was really claiming for herself under the guise of her children.

Around 200 Afghans marched in Kabul Tuesday to demand the release of billions of dollars of assets frozen by the international community — a rare protest allowed by the Taliban as the country battles a major economic crisis. There were no women in Tuesday’s march, organised by a little-known group called the Afghan People’s Movement which in the past has held peace rallies in the capital. The Taliban have outlawed protests unless approved, cracking down hard on several demonstrations held by women clamouring for the right to jobs and education. Tuesday’s march clearly had the blessing of Afghanistan’s new rulers, with Taliban social media accounts featuring multiple images and video clips saying participants spoke for ordinary

citizens. “Let us eat” read one banner carried by a marcher near a square in central Kabul. “Our main demand is that the United States should release our assets as soon as possible,” organiser Shafiq Ahmad Rahimi told AFP.

“This is the wealth of the nation, not of any single person, group or government,” he said. Since the Taliban’s August 15 return to power, nearly $10 billion of assets have been frozen by an international community loathe to give access to the funds directly to the group.

But the country is in the grip of a major humanitarian crisis and the United Nations says more than half of Afghanistan’s 38 million people face hunger this winter. Western countries have tied the unfreezing of assets to the Taliban respecting human rights — especially with regard to women being allowed to work and girls to attend school. Tuesday’s march comes two days after the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) met in Pakistan and agreed to establish new ways of getting aid to Afghanistan. The country’s economy, already battered by decades of war, went into freefall after the Taliban’s return. Banks have also placed severe restrictions on withdrawals by private customers, and many in the capital have resorted to selling household possessions to buy food for their families.

China slams attempts from UK, others to smear Hong Kong LegCo poll

Agencies China has deplored the comments made by foreign ministers of the UK, the U.S., Australia, Canada and New Zealand on the Legislative Council (LegCo) election in its Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). Secretary of state for foreign, commonwealth and development affairs of the UK on Monday issued a joint statement with the U.S. secretary of state and the foreign ministers of Australia, Canada and New Zealand, expressing “grave concern” over the election results and making irresponsible comments on China’s measures to improve the electoral system in the HKSAR. At a regular news briefing in Beijing on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian strongly denounced “some individual Western countries” for colluding to smear the election. Zhao said there was no such thing as democracy when Hong Kong was under British colonial rule, and no single “socalled democratic country” had voiced concerns over that. “These Western countries should face up to the reality that Hong Kong has returned to China for 24 years,” Zhao

said. Zhao urged them to stop all forms of interference in HKSAR affairs and China’s internal affairs. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the HKSAR government also voiced firm opposition to the five countries’ attempt to smear the LegCo election, accusing them of making up allegations contrary to facts and without basis. “The improvement to the electoral system fully implements the principle of ‘patriots administering Hong Kong,’ ensuring that members of the LegCo are patriotic, love Hong Kong and act in the interests of the country’s development and the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong,” the statement read. “Any external or internal destructive force and political conspiracy trying to interfere with the HKSAR’s democratic development in accordance with the Basic Law will not succeed,” it stressed. As for the allegations pertaining to the national security law, it reiterated that chaos had ceased and stability restored in the HKSAR following the implement of the law. “The four categories of offences endangering national security stipulated under the national security law are clearly defined. Law-abiding people will not unwittingly violate the law,” the statement continued. It also said that actions taken by Hong Kong’s law enforcement agencies are based on evidence, strictly according to the law, for the acts of the persons or entities concerned, and have nothing to do with their political stance, background or occupation. On Monday, the Chinese Embassy in the UK also said in a statement, “The irresponsible comments, distortion of facts and malicious discrediting of the election made by the UK foreign secretary in collusion with the foreign ministers of the other four countries gravely interfered in China’s internal affairs and violated the basic norms governing international re-

lations. The Chinese side expresses firm opposition and strong condemnation.” As the first LegCo election following the improvement of the electoral system, the December 19 election in the HKSAR was “smooth, fair and just,” which ended the “chaos and the viciously antagonistic and divisive campaigns that had plagued previous elections for years,” it said. This election displayed a “rational and constructive culture” and was held with “extensive representation, political inclusiveness, balanced participation and fair competition,” it said. The statement called the election a “successful model of quality and true democracy,” saying it bears important and far-reaching significance to developing a democratic path that suits the real conditions of Hong Kong. “It must be pointed out that Hong Kong residents today enjoy far more rights and freedoms than under the British colonial rule,” the statement read. It reiterated that the core content of the Sino-British Joint Declaration pertains to China resuming sovereignty over Hong Kong. “It does not give the UK

any responsibility over Hong Kong after the handover, nor does the UK has sovereignty, jurisdiction or right of supervision over Hong Kong.” The Chinese government governs the HKSAR in accordance with the Constitution of China and the Basic Law of the HKSAR, not the Joint Declaration, the statement stressed, adding no foreign country has the right to use the Joint Declaration as an excuse to interfere in the HKSAR affairs. Noting the Chinese government remains unwavering in its determination to safeguard China’s sovereignty, security and development interests and oppose any external interference, it warned that attempts to create trouble in the HKSAR or use it to contain China will never succeed. China strongly urges the handful of countries, including the UK, to “take off their mask of hypocrisy,” recognize the reality and major trend, respect China’s sovereignty and unity, and stop any form of interference in the HKSAR affairs, which are China’s internal affairs, the statement added.

Wednesday, 22 December, 2021 | LAHORE

SPORTS 11

MohAMMAd RizwAN is beTTeR cAPTAiN ThAN bAbAR AzAM: shAheeN AfRidi

News Desk

HAHEEN Afridi, who was recently appointed as the new captain of Lahore Qalandars, has revealed that he ranks Mohammad Rizwan as a better captain than Babar Azam. While attending a press conference where Shaheen was officially announced as

the new captain of the Lahore Qalandars team, the left-arm pacer was asked about his opinion regarding Babar Azam’s captaincy. “Babar Azam is my favorite batsman and he is the number one batter as well. He has done fantastically well as a captain for the national team and we are reaching new heights under him,” responded Shaheen. In another question, Shaheen was then

asked to reveal who he believes has been the best captain near him since he started playing. “I like [Mohammad] Rizwan’s personality. I started playing domestic competition with him from KPK’s side and I would rate him as the best. Since Babar has done a fantastic job with the national team, I will rank him second,” said the newly appointed captain of the Lahore Qalandars team.

Shoaib Malik showers praises over Huraira’s triple ton staff RepoRt Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik on Tuesday lauded his nephew, Muhammad Huraira, for becoming the second-youngest Pakistani cricketer to score a first-class triple century after veteran cricketer Javed Miandad. Taking to Twitter, Shoaib Malik said he feels extremely proud of Huraira for this achievement. Saying that there is still much more for Huraira to achieve, Shoaib Malik wished the young cricketer all the best and advised him never to stop working hard and going strong. “I am very proud of you @therealhurraira on becoming the second Pakistani young cricketer to score triple century, you have a long way to go. Keep working hard and and keep going strong, all the best,” Shoaib wrote on Twitter. ‘Over the moon now’ Huraira was ecstatic to receive

praise from star cricketer Shoaib Malik. Pakistan may be about to witness the rise of a new batting talent as 19-year-old Mohammad Huraira reached a milestone on the third day of the Quaid-eAzam Trophy match where Northern is playing against Balochistan. The Sialkot-born top-order batter achieved this feat in his maiden first-class season. He had scored two centuries before this landmark performance. The triple century by Huraira came in only 327 deliveries making it one of the quickest first-class triple centuries. The Pakistani youngster is the ninth teenager in the world to smash a triple ton first-class cricket and the second Pakistani after Javed Miandad to score a triple century at 17. He is also the eighth youngest batter, overall, to achieve this feat.

France flanker Gourdon retires at 31 with heart problem Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to meet Northern in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final web Desk Khyber Pakhtunkhwa beat Central Punjab by 244 runs at the UBL Sports Complex Karachi in the final round match of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy on Tuesday to set up a pink-ball five-day final against Northern at the National Stadium from 25 December. Right-arm fast Sameen Gul took three for 42 while Imran Khan Snr, Sajid Khan, and Iftikhar Ahmed picked two wickets each as Central Punjab were dismissed for 250 after resuming this morning at 123 for no loss and chasing 495 for victory. The openers Abid Ali and Rizwan Hussain fought hard for Central Punjab. Abid scored 61 off 148 balls before retiring out. His partner Rizwan top-scored with 67 off 145, hitting 12 fours and one six. Hussain Talat coming to bat at number-five contributed a 132-ball 46, which included seven fours. At NBP Sports Complex, six wickets from leg-spinner Zahid Mahmood led Sindh to a 48-run win over Southern Punjab. The win didn’t help Sindh to qualify for the final as they finished on the third spot with 143 points. Chasing 232 to win, Southern Punjab were bowled out for 183 in the 55th over. Yousuf Babar batting at number-five top-scored with a 124-ball 57, smashing six fours. Wicketkeeper-batter Azam Khan contributed 25 off 37 balls, which included three fours. Sindh’s Zahid picked six wickets f0r 101 and ended up taking eight wickets in the match. Mohammad Asghar with his left-arm spin bagged three for 35. Earlier, resuming their second innings on 294 for seven, Sindh were bowled out for 306 in the 77th over. Ali Usman picked four wickets for 102. At the conclusion of the tenth and final round matches of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Northern topped the table with 152 points and will face Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the final who finished on the second spot with 150 points.

paRIs AFP

French international flanker Kevin Gourdon has had to end his playing career at 31 following the discovery of a heart problem, his club La Rochelle said on Tuesday. “It’s brutal and sad news, but my health is a priority,” said Gourdon on the club website. “Unfortunately it’s something we can’t control, I’m not in a position to do anything to make the situation different, so I have no regrets.” “Today I have to turn to a new part of my life, perhaps a little sooner than expected, but which will be, I’m convinced, just as fulfilling,” he said.

Gourdon joined La Rochelle from Clermont in 2012 and played 221 games for the club as it went from the second division to last season’s Champions Cup final. He has played 19 times for France. “I’ve been lucky enough to have a busy career, I’ve experienced a lot with Stade Rochelais, the Pro D2, the fight to stay in the Top 14 and then a few years later the final phases. It’s a lot of memories, a lot of emotions”, he said. Gourdon had just extended his club contract for two more years. Club president Vincent Merling praised “the man that Kevin was, his loyalty to the Club, his immense talent […] We will miss him a lot”.

Abid Ali diagnosed with heart condition after experiencing chest pain during match News Desk Pakistan opening batsman Abid Ali has been diagnosed with a case of “acute coronary syndrome” on Tuesday after complaining of chest pain during a Quaid-e-Azam Trophy match between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Central Punjab. The Punjab batter, while batting on the final day of the match, complained about chest pain and significant discomfort. He was then taken to the hospital for an electrocardiogram (ECG). Providing confirmation, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said that Abid left the ground while he was unbeaten on 61 due to chest pain. “He was taken immediately to a cardiac hospital where he was diagnosed as a case of acute coronary syndrome. He is under the care of the consultant cardiologist who is liaising with the PCB medical team regarding further treatment,” the cricket board said. “He is under the care of Consultant Cardiologist who is liaising with PCB medical team regarding further treatment. He is currently stable. It is requested to respect his and the family’s privacy at this time. More details will be provided in due course,” concluded the statement from the PCB. Abid Ali has enjoyed a stellar run in Test cricket in 2021 as he piled close to 700 runs at an average of 49.64. However, this development might hinder his progress as a cricketer but it remains to be seen how serious the precautions will be.

Wednesday, 22 December, 2021

prAyer timings

NEWS

CabInet aPPRoveS StPF to InCReaSe tRade ComPetItIveneSS, enSuRe PRoduCt dIveRSIFICatIon ISLAMABAD

stAff report

He Federal Cabinet on Tuesday approved the Strategic Trade Policy Framework (STPF) till 2025 to enhance the country’s trade competitiveness and also ensure geographical and product diversification of local trade. The STPF 2020-25 aimed to enhance the ability of Pakistani enterprises’ capacity to produce, distribute and sell products and services more efficiently than our competitors, said a press release issued by Ministry of Commerce here. Priority sectors have been identified

under the STPF after studying the international demand trends on one hand and on the other the capacity and capabilities of various traditional and developmental export sectors of Pakistan. The former includes textile and apparel, leather, surgical instruments, sports goods, carpets, rice and cutlery. The developmental export sectors comprise of engineering goods (incl. auto parts), pharmaceuticals, marble and minerals, processed food and beverages, footwear, gems and jewelry, meat and poultry and chemicals. The main focus of STPF will be on geographical and product diversification, manufacturing cost reduction through

India deploys Russian S-400 air defense system on Pakistan border NEW DELHI: India has begun deploying the Russian S-400 air defense missile system in the northwestern state of Punjab which borders Pakistan, media reported on Tuesday. The Indian Air Force (IAF) is deploying the S-400 on the western border to counter possible threats from Pakistan and China, Asian News International reported. The S-400 batteries will be capable of dealing with airborne threats from Pakistan and China, ANI quoted local sources as saying. Russia has started supplying India with the S-400 Triumf, a mobile and surface-to-air missile defence system via air and sea routes that will be promptly deployed in the designated locations, it added. The first deliveries of Russia’s powerful S-400 air defence missile system are expected to be completed by the end of this year, with the unit being operationalized in the next few weeks. The air force will focus on the eastern front after completing its deployment in the Punjab state, according to the report, and provide resources for training personnel in the country. In Russia, several IAF officers and personnel have already gotten training on the system. On December 6, Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said Russia had begun deliveries to the country of the S-400. SpEctEr of US SaNctIoNS: In 2018, India and Russia signed a $5.5 billion contract, putting India at risk of US sanctions. The US has long tried to deter countries from buying military equipment from Russia, threatening them with punitive measures under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), which it has used against Turkey, Iran, North Korea, and Russia. Despite Washington’s warnings, New Delhi moved forward with the purchase, arguing that it has strategic connections with both Russia and the US. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reiterated during his March visit to India that all US allies and partners should shun Russian hardware and “avoid any kind of acquisition that would trigger sanctions.” Turkey has argued that the CAATSA sanctions are unfair, as countries such as Greece have used Russian air defence without any sanctions. Contrary to US claims, the S-400 does not interact with US-made fighter jets and so does not endanger Turkey’s status as a longtime NATO ally, Turkey has also said. AnAdolu Agency

tariff rationalisation, pursuit of regional connectivity including Look Africa and Silk Route Reconnect policies, and enhancement of market access through Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs). It also includes facilitation of logistics and tracking under the International Road Transports (TIR) Convention and enhancement of regional connectivity for access to Central Asian Republics, Turkey and Iran, through them to europe and Russia. The STPF is dynamic in nature and it will be subject to course correction based on constant monitoring and evaluation. There shall be an institutionalized

mechanism for robust monitoring and implementation of the STPF in order to minimize policy implementation gaps, which have traditionally remained a weak link due to multi-organizational roles in the export ecosystem. In order to oversee the implementation, a cross functional National export Development Board (NeDB) has already been constituted under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister, comprising of senior public sector officials of relevant organizations and private sector representatives. Regular meetings of the NeDB are being held in order to ensure the implementation of various policy measures.

Maryam asks PM Imran to quit over defeat in KP LG polls Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday asked Prime Minister Imran Khan to quit over his party’s shameful defeat in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa local government elections, mockingly telling him there will be no applicant for the Pakistan Tehreek-iInsaf (PTI) ticket in the next round of polls, according to a news outlet. Talking to the media in Islamabad, Maryam said what happened in the KP with the ruling party was quite obvious. She said the PTI suffered a dreadful defeat in KP local government elections. Maryam said an election ticket of PTI is actually a ticket of humiliation, adding that the PTI-led federal government is the first in the country’s history to lose all byelections. She said Imran Khan should resign as no power on earth can support his performance. Referring to the PTI leaders, she said that they call KP their home but in the next elections, no one will accept PTI ticket and candidates of the party would have to wear a helmet before going into public. Responding to a question as to who will be nominated as PMLN’s candidate for the slot of prime minister, she said the final decision in this regard will be taken by party supremo Nawaz Sharif. “I will be

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Govt eyes profits from oil, gas entities for circular debt reduction ISLAMABAD AhmAd AhmAdAni

The government is mulling over reducing the circular debt by allocating its profit share from the earnings of Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL), Pakistan State Oil (PSO), Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL), Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL) and others, Profit learnt on Tuesday. According to sources, a high-level meeting under the chair Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Shaukat Tarin will be held on Wednesday to discuss and analyse various issues of the energy sector, including various options to reduce the size of the ever increasing circular debt. The meeting will be attended by federal secretary Finance, secretary Petroleum, AFS-CF, managing director (MD) of OGDCL, chief financial officers (CFO) of PPL, CFO, PSO and the deputy managing director of PARCO. “The meeting will discuss in detail the distribution of the government’s profit earned from OGDCL, PPL, PSO, SNGPL, SSGCL, PARCO, etc. during the last few years to reduce the size of circular debt,” sources said. earlier on December 2, the Ministry of energy had informed a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on energy (CCOe) held under the Chairmanship of Federal Minister for Planning Asad Umar that the country’s circular debt had climbed to Rs2,419 billion by the end of October. The CCoe was also informed that the monthly accumulation had stood at Rs35bn as it went up to Rs139bn during the first four months (July-October) of the current fiscal year 2021-22. Reportedly, total payable to power producers stood at Rs1,420bn, GeNCOs payables to fuel suppliers stood at Rs91bn, the amount parked to Power Holding Company at Rs908bn, making the outstanding amount of circular debt touch Rs2,419bn. Moreover, unbudgeted subsidy for AJK and Ke increased the circular debt to the tune of Rs75bn. As much as Rs292bn is pending in receivables from Ke as of June 2021 due to a subsidy dispute between the company and the government. Stocks of the Power Holding Limited and IPPs also projected adjustments and payments through the federal budget as repayment of Rs130bn PHL debt and the settlement of outstanding arrears of Rs427bn to IPPs in FY22.

ali Raza bhutta tasked to run Petroleum division ISLAMABAD stAff report

happy to see Shehbaz Sharif as candidate for [the post of prime minister] but all party members, including Shehbaz, have given mandate to Nawaz Sharif to make final decision,” she added. Addressing a separate press conference in the federal capital, PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said that Imran Khan was behind the “fabricated story” published against Shehbaz Sharif in Daily Mail back in 2019. “Selected prime minister [Imran Khan] planted that story against Shehbaz through his ‘tout’ Shehzad Akbar,” she said. She claimed that Daily Mail reporter David Rose has failed to

submit any evidence against Shehbaz before the London court in the defamation law suit filed by the latter. She said Shehzad Akbar at the behest of Imran Khan levelled corruption allegations against PML-N leaders, adding that the premier also pressured former FIA chief Bashir Memon into filing false cases against the party leadership. The story appeared in the British newspaper on July 14, 2019 had accused Shehbaz and his family of embezzling millions of pounds out of £500 million aid lent by the Department for International Development (DFID) for 2005 earthquake victims. news desk

The government on Tuesday assigned the charge of petroleum division to Ali Raza Bhutta, a BS-22 officer of Pakistan Administrative Service, with immediate effect until further orders. According to a notification of the establishment Division, Ali Raza Bhutta has been transferred and posted as Secretary, Petroleum Division with immediate effect and until further orders. On December 11, the government had removed Secretary Petroleum Dr Arshad Mahmood, a BS-22 officer of Pakistan Administrative Service and assigned additional charge for the post of Secretary, Petroleum Division to Ali Raza Bhutta, Secretary, Power Division for a period of three months or till the posting of a regular incumbent whichever is earlier, with immediate effect. However, the government on 21st December, 2021 has transferred and posted Ali Raza Bhutta as Secretary Petroleum. It is pertinent to mention here that during the past three years, the government has given the reins of Ministry of energy and its two wings i.e. power and petroleum to federal ministers Ghulam Sarwar Khan and Omar Ayub Khan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) Nadeem Babar, SAPM Shahzad Qasim and SAPM Tabish Gauhar as well as and federal secretaries Irfan Ali, Umar Rasul, Asad Hayauddin and Dr Arshad Mahmood etc to change state of affairs.

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Maryam claims credit of ‘ruining PTI’ through Geo, Dunya TV ISLAMABAD miAn AbrAr

In a new twist to the stories about media management by a PML-N media cell, a new alleged audio clip of PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz Tuesday surfaced on social media wherein she appears to be praising her “media management” skills. In a short clip making the rounds on Twitter, the PML-N leader allegedly says: “Look at my media management. Geo News and Dunya News have ruined them [Imran Khan].” It is unclear when the clip was recorded and to what series of events she was referring to in the five-second clip. However, the audio clip reflects the close nexus between the two major media groups with Sharif family. earlier, a similar audio clip of Maryam issuing instructions to refuse advertisements to certain TV channels had surfaced, which

she admitted was genuine. Maryam, however, remains tight-lipped and is yet to make any comment. Speaking to the media outside the Islamabad High Court on Tuesday, Maryam Nawaz was asked about the alleged audio clip and was asked whether it was actually her voice. “I have already answered this, and clearly given an answer,” she said, moving onto the next question. Maryam, however, did not distance herself from the audio clip. When the reporter continued to ask her for a clear answer, PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb — who was also present — said: “enough brother, she has already answered the question.” Meanwhile, Maryam ignored the reporter’s repeated questioning and simply said: “I have already answered this.” Taking to Twitter, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said that the audio clips of

the opposition leader had exposed the flaws in the country’s media structure. “Successive [leaked] audios of Maryam Nawaz ahve exposed the structural flaws of Pakistan’s media. If the media [industry] is still called free, then what would a slave media? Media freedom is being held captive by the [country’s] mafia groups,” the minister said. Focal Person to the Prime Minister on Digital Media Arslan Khalid said that Maryam’s audios were continuously accusing Geo News and Dunya News of being in the PML-N’s pockets. “The silence of both the channels over these allegations is creating suspicions. Would the journalists associated with these channels like to tell us whether they are all managed by Maryam?” he asked. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Political Communication Dr Shahbaz Gill said that in light of the new audio tape, the two

channels needed to make their position clear. “Maryam’s spokespersons have confirmed the audio. [Therefore], these institutions will have to clarify their position,” he said. MaryaM aDMItS to aUDIo cLIp aboUt rEfUSINg aDS to cErtaIN cHaNNELS: Last month, Maryam had admitted that an audio clip of her issuing instructions to refuse advertisements to certain TV channels was genuine. However, the PML-N had played down her acknowledgement, saying there was no need to kick up a storm because Maryam was talking about her party’s ads. In the eight-second clip, Maryam could be heard saying: “No ad at all will be given to Channel 24, Samaa, 92 News and ARY.” When asked about the authenticity of the clip at a press conference, Maryam admitted that the voice in the clip was hers, saying: “I am not saying it has been compiled from dif-

ferent [separate] occasions. It is my voice.” When asked about the clip again, Maryam said it was an “old” clip from the time she was managing the PML-N’s media cell. But she refused to comment anymore on it, saying she could do an entire press conference on it if she wanted to but that wasn’t the subject of her presser that day. During her father Nawaz’s government, Maryam was heading the then little-known Strategic Media Communication Cell (SMCC) operating out of the Prime Minister’s Office. Set up with the special approval of the then prime minister as part of the information ministry in late 2014, the SMCC quickly evolved into a powerful unit, working under the watchful eye of Maryam. At the time, the then information minister had said that the government would conduct a “serious inquiry” into the whole affair.

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