OGRA notifies gas price hike for captive gas plans; retains rates for other consumers
ary 1, 2025, the gas sale price for General Industry (Captive) has been revised from Rs 3,000/MMBTU to Rs 3,500/MMBTU However prices for all other consumer categories including Domestic Special Roti Tandoor General Industry (Process) Commercial, CNG, Cement, Fertilizer, and Power, remain unchanged This revision was officially published in the official gazette and is also available on OGRA s website Earlier OGRA had recommended a significant gas price hike to the federal government to recover Rs 847 33 billion during the current fiscal year and address the growing circular debt in the gas sector The regulator proposed an increase of Rs 142 45 per MMBTU for Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) consumers and Rs 361 per MMBTU for Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL) consumers The recommendations outlined a flat rate of Rs 1 778 35 per MMBTU for SNGPL consumers, up from the current Rs 1,635 90, and Rs 1,762 51 for SSGCL consumers, up from Rs 1 401 25 These adjustments equate to an 8 71 % increase for SNGPL consumers and a 25 78 % hike for SSGCL consumers Under the amended OGRA law, the federal government is required to issue category-wise consumer rates without altering the overall revenue requirement calculated by the regulator Despite OGRA s proposal the government has opted to maintain existing rates for most consumer categories while implementing a targeted increase for the captive sector
Vehicle impor ts surge as
Surge
An awareness session titled Business Development Grants under UNIDO’s PAIDAR Programme” was held at the Hyderabad Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industry (HCSTSI) where speakers highlighted the availability of grants ranging from €11,000 to €200,000 (approximately Rs3 million to Rs60 million) These grants, backed by the European Union (EU), aim to support entrepreneurs in establishing or expanding businesses in Sindh s districts including Sujawal Thatta Badin Tharparkar and Larkana
UNIDO National Programme Officer Baddarul Islam elaborated on the objectives of the PAIDAR programme, emphasizing its focus on alleviating poverty and fostering the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in rural Sindh While the programme primarily targets Sindh, entrepreneurs from across Pakistan can also
g SeSSion ShedS light on eU-b acked bUSineSS de velopment gr antS for Sindh'S rUr al diStric tS
apply if they commit to business operations in the designated districts
Grant Specialist Babar Aziz explained that the grants operate on a cost-sharing basis, with male entrepreneurs required to contribute 50% of the project costs, while female entrepreneurs benefit from a favourable 30-70 cost-sharing arrangement
Entrepreneurs interested in the programme can apply via UNIDO s official website under the Get Involved in Procurement section Detailed eligibility criteria, expenses covered, and evaluation stages are outlined to assist applicants
HCSTSI Senior Vice President Ahmed Idrees Chohan commended the initiative, describing it as a significant step towards empowering small enterprises with financial support and ad-
vanced technologies He encouraged HCSTSI members to capitalise on this opportunity to align with global business standards and expand their ventures
The grant amounts range from €11,000 to €200,000 (Rs3 million to Rs60 million) that will be disbursed 5050 for male entrepreneurs and 30-70 for female entrepreneurs
The grants are open to entrepreneurs across Pakistan establishing businesses in these districts The PAIDAR programme, supported by EU funding, is poised to transform rural Sindh by boosting small businesses reducing poverty and creating sustainable economic opportunities The session reinforced the importance of leveraging these grants for a lasting impact on the region s socioeconomic landscape
AUDIT HIGHLIGHTS FINANCIAL MISMANAGEMENT IN DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS
Sialkot s leading industrialist and Epic Sports Managing Director (MD) Chaudhry Muhammad Amjad Shahzad has said that the city stands as a shining example of how industrial innovation entrepreneurship and craftsmanship can transform a region into a global export hub
Talking to APP during the inauguration of his new industrial unit at Aimenababad Road, Sialkot, which was attended by a large number of local and international businesspeople he said that Sialkot is an important economic hub from where 99 percent of products were exported to various parts of the globe He said the district was contributing over 2 5 billion dollars annually to the national exchequer through exports and was playing a pivotal role in promoting business and trade activities in
the region He said that Sialkot exporters were the “roaming ambassadors of Pakistan” which were not only travelling for fetching the highly valuable foreign exchange for the country but also making efforts to introduce Pakistan through their products
Addressing the participants, he said that Sialkot’s products are synonymous with quality and reliability earning the trust of global brands and customers The city has become a symbol of Pakistan s potential in international trade We have developed this business unit so that our customers are satisfied with our production and we can ensure maximum production and earn foreign exchange not only for ourselves but also for the country and the nation he added Giving the credit for his success and reaching this stage to his elder brother Chaudhry Amjad Hussain, he said that he has reached this stage today due to the guidance of his brother
Epic Sports Marketing Director Kamran Shahid and Production Head Arshad Jawad said that since they started the work they had achieved more than they thought which was due to hard work and dedication The special guest of the event, overseas Pakistani Chaudhry Muhammad Ishtiaq, in a brief but
Cheema (Germany) Bilal Sarwar (Germany) Zubair Tahir (Germany) Babar Sultan (Italy) Chaudhry Imran alias Mani (Germany), Chaudhry Irfan Akram (Germany), Chaudhry Ali Sultan (Italy), Amjad Bhatti and Chaudhry Ilyas Ghuman and others
commodities see price declines due to gaps in enforcement
A survey conducted independently by a private newspaper namely Business Recorder has revealed a decline in the prices of key kitchen items particularly vegetables, compared to the pre-
decline Onions dropped from Rs75100 to Rs60-90 per kg in retail markets, while tomatoes fell from Rs75-100 to Rs50-75 per kg Capsicum prices declined from Rs150-170 to Rs120-130 per kg, and pumpkins saw a drop from Rs70-100 to Rs50-70 per kg However ginger prices surged from Rs320-350
reduction, with wholesale prices falling from Rs6,500 to Rs6,000 per carton bringing retail prices to Rs230250 per dozen down from Rs260-270 Vegetable prices witnessed a sharp
UK’s conservation initiatives have protected millions of hectares of ecosystems demonstrating a commitment to sustainable management and biodiversity conservation Dawson remarked that Pakistan s rich biodiversity, from snow leopards in the north to hog deer in Sindh, is breathtaking “but under threat” He called for collective
COMMENT
A midstream horse change?
Does the PTI’s changing its KP President have to do with the talks with the government?
KP CM Ali Amin Gandapur has been stripped of his position as PTI KP President MNA Junaid Akbar was appointed in his place The official reason given is that Mr Gandapur wants to concentrate on the affairs of the province, which are at sixes and sevens Law and order, in particular, has taken a beating lately with sectarian violence in Kurram a problem while terrorism continues to rock the province However Mr Gandapur and Mr Junaid Akbar have clashed before, most recently over the removal of Mr Shakeel Khan from the KP Cabinet Mr Gandapur has also been the subject of criticism from Mr Sher Afzal Marwat, for his conduct of the campaign to get party founder Imran Khan released from jail That criticism also became widespread within the PTI after his conduct at the November 26 D Chowk rally when he is said to have abandoned the party workers to their fate
Mr Gandapur is supposed to have played a key role in talks with the government, and with the establishment He was the only other person, apart from PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan to meet COAS Gen Asim Munir in Peshawar and is on the negotiation tem talking to the government His removal might well have something to do with the talks with the government, which the PTI has moved away from, but with the Speaker still summoning a meeting on January 28, Mr Khan has summoned the negotiating team to meet him first
Mr Gandapur served in the KP Cabinet in 20132018 before becoming a federal minister in 2018 and being appointed KP President after former CM Mahmood Khan left the party He became CM on this basis Mr Junaid Akbar has always been a national politician, serving as an MNA continuously from 2013, but this sign of Mr Khan’s favour came after he became the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee Chairman ahead of Mr Gohar Khan as well as Opposition Leader Umar Ayub who would normally have got the job The PTI has thus embarked on the KP level with an experiment that has had mixed success in the past, of separating party and government offices When the office-bearers have a history behind them, the chances of people within the party trying to play one off against the other rise exponentially leading to problems Can the PTI afford this in the province where they have been in office since 2013?
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
ON March 11 it will be five years since the declaration of covid-19 or novel coronavirus as a pandemic by World Health Organization, and when it was announced by WHO on 5 May 2023 that The head of the UN World Health Organization (WHO) has declared “with great hope” an end to COVID-19 as a public health emergency stressing that it does not mean the disease is no longer a global threat it was announced in the same statement that the cumulative cases worldwide now stand at 765,222,932, with nearly seven million deaths
During the heyday of the pandemic, voices were raised for a ‘new normal’, which meant, among other things that countries should not follow ‘market fundamentalism where production and consumption decisions totally depended on price signals while much-needed economic resilience was not prioritized ahead of short-term profit mindedness Hence, all along roughly two decades before the coronavirus became a pandemic, it erupted in quite significant manner in the shape of SARS and later on as MERS yet being an epidemic it was largely ignored while investments in the health sector kept on following mainly facial creams and the like where pharmaceutical companies found greater profits, instead of developing vaccines, and other needed materials like more effective and low-priced masks to contain the virus to the epidemic level and to reduce its presence from that situation Hence at the time of firstly the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) of 2007-2008 and then all the more when the covid-19 pandemic hit the assault of Neoliberalism had been significantly exposed, especially in the detrimental way of low level of price controls to increase economic resilience, by not following market fundamentalism Moreover another consequence of this neoliberal order in the shape of too much protection provided to companies especially in cases where the nature of the problem otherwise required less protection in the shape of virtually no intellectual property rights walls by World Trade Organization (WTO) –for instance against knowledge sharing for keeping price low and for creating universal access for covid-19 vaccines and related medical equipment –yet vaccine
Automation and robotics’ revolutionar y potential
apartheid was practiced both under IPRs protection and through practice of vaccine nationalism– where countries in which vaccines were produced kept many times more than needed vaccine doses as precaution, while in the global South, especially in Africa, there was very little provision of vaccines, and that too at a very slow pace Therefore it was declared by voices from many corners– from multilateral institutions to policymakers to intellectuals to politicians– that there was need for revision of policies away from Neoliberalism, and which also meant as a consequence that a Bretton Woods 2 0 was needed, where multilateral institutions like the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the World Trade Organization needed to be brought into the 21st century and shun their mindsets from the otherwise strong imprint of Neoliberalism; especially since the fast-unfolding of climate change crisis, and the associated Pandemicene was strongly keeping the door open for more frequent and more intense climate catastrophes, on one hand, and for likely more pandemics Yet calls for a ‘new normal’ have unfortunately taken a downhill momentum as time has passed with regard to the covid-19 pandemic A 30 December 2024, Project Syndicate (PS) published article Covid s lessons have all been forgotten pointed out in this regard ‘The virus illuminated the character of the “commons,” blurring the line between individual and shared interest It posed a collective-action problem that only a coordinated effort could address Briefly the widespread confrontation with death seemed to bring out a kinder gentler side of society But a scientific breakthrough abruptly
ended this moral state of exception As the economic historian Adam Tooze argued the mRNA vaccine allowed global capitalism to escape a reckoning once again The pandemic clearly demonstrated that our current economic systems with
o n l y c o n t i n u i n g t o r e m a i n s i g n i f i c a n t , b u t i n p r o b a b i l i t y l i k e l y i n c r e a s i n g w i t h t h e f a s t - u n f o l d i n g o f c l i m a t e c h a n g e c r i s i s , a l l
c a l l f o r r e m i n d i n g o u r s e l v e s o f t h e s t r o n g n e e d f o r b r i n g i n g
a b o u t a  n e w n o r m a l Ê . H e n c e , t h e l e s s o n s f r o m t h e t i m e o f t h e
c o v i d - 1 9 p a n d e m i c , a n d t h e u n d e r l y i n g c a u s e s o f b o t h t h e p a n d e m i c , a n d t h e c l i m a t e c h a n g e c r
Parked profits
more Robots reduce human exposure to potentially fatal conditions by doing risky duties Automation systems incorporate stringent safety procedures and predictive maintenance to support this safety improvement and guarantee operational dependability But there are certain difficulties in integrating these technology In several industries automation is replacing manual labour raising concerns about job loss Despite these concerns, robotics usually enhances human labour rather than replaces it, automating repetitive and routine jobs so that workers can concentrate on more valuable cognitively challenging tasks Furthermore there is a growing need for specialized knowledge in programming robotics engineering and system maintenance as a result of the extensive use of automation and ro-
cutting expenses enhancing product quality and more successfully satisfying client needs when they incorporate these technologies into their operations more and more By doing this, companies are expanding into new markets and improving their operational efficiency, both of which support the expansion of the world economy Automation and robots give businesses a competitive edge that helps them prosper in a global economy that is becoming more interconnected by the day Beyond their effects on the economy, automation and robotics have a profound impact on how society develops A new generation of innovators and problem solvers is inspired by these technologies which are essential to the advancement of STEM (science technology engineering and mathematics) education Students gain technical proficiency and critical thinking skills through robotics contests, educational initiatives, and experiential learning opportunities, equipping them to succeed in a technologically advanced environment Additionally automation has transformed healthcare by providing groundbreaking technologies like precise diagnostics robotic-assisted surgery, and assistive technology for those with impairments These developments raise the standard and accessibility of care while also improving patient outcomes Automation and robots are now essential to enhancing ease and personalization in day-today living These technologies which range from driverless cars to smart home systems, offer customized solutions that improve comfort and effectiveness in daily tasks, entertainment, and transportation For example, driverless cars promise to revolutionize mobility by providing safer and more effective modes of transportation while personalized entertainment algorithms use automation to curate material that suits individual preferences These developments highlight how automation and robots have the power to improve human experiences and promote social progress To guarantee fair and moral integration however there are urgent issues that must be resolved as automation and robotics become more widely used Proactive steps, such as reskilling
programmes and social safety nets are necessary to support impacted workers due to worries about job displacement and the possibility of economic inequality Furthermore, careful thought and regulation are required due to ethical concerns about the use of autonomous systems data privacy and decision-making algorithms Realizing the full potential of automation and robots without sacrificing society values requires striking a balance between ethical responsibility and technological innovation The future of automation and robots is unquestionably bright, notwithstanding these obstacles These technologies will open up new avenues and push the limits of human accomplishment as they develop further Societies may create a future where efficiency and creativity coexist peacefully with human prosperity by embracing automation and robotics In order to shape a future that uses these technologies for the greater good, it will be imperative to address issues of employment displacement moral quandaries and equal access In the end automation and robotics are essential to realizing human potential propelling development and building a more equitable and sustainable world Robotics and automation mark a radical change in how we work and live Their capacity to improve safety innovation and production has a profound impact on industries economies and society as a whole These technologies have the potential to revolutionize the human experience in previously unheard-of ways by promoting developments in STEM education, healthcare, and everyday living It is crucial to resolve the related issues and make sure that their integration complies with moral standards and societal demands in order to fully realize their potential By achieving this we may open the door to a future in which robotics and automation are effective instruments for human advancement, opening the door to a more productive, innovative, and prosperous world
The writer is currently working as a researcher in NCRA-CMS Lab Mehran UET Jamshoro He can be reached at: yaqoobalibaloch4@gmail com
Robotics and automation mark a radical change in how we work and live Their capacity to improve safety, innovation, and production has a profound impact on industries, economies, and society as a whole These technologies have the potential to revolutionize the human experience in previously unheard-of ways by promoting developments in STEM education, healthcare, and everyday living
seriously damaging the beauty and flora of those parks Moreover, the adjacent roads often become congested due to parked vehicles and wedding-related activities, which creates problems for commuters and area residents One wonders who has given the PHA the mandate to rent out public parks for wed-dings Is the PHA authorised to allow someone to use a particular road for wedding-related activities? Why has the government turned a blind eye to this practice that is seriously hurting the aesthetic and environmental value of Lahore’s parks? ATIF KHALID BUTT LAHORE
Avian surprise
NESTLED in the heart of Sindh, the Mehrano wildlife sanctuary is a unique, lush green haven of perennial shrubs and deep-rooted old woody trees that glorify its beauty and attract wildlife enthusiasts and researchers for exploration During a recent nature excursion, wildlife researchers from Sindh made an extraordinary discovery for the first time in Pakistan; the blue-and-white flycatcher
Four flycatchers were spotted enjoying their meal The striking features of the birds are their unique royal blue upper- parts, white belly, and black face and throat This migratory songbird is predominantly found in East Asia, with its breeding range extending across Japan South Korea north-eastern China and parts of Russia During winter, it migrates to Southeast Asia, including the Philip- pines, Indonesia and Malaysia
This notable record adds a significant new chapter to the avifaunal diversity of Pakistan and enhances our understanding of bird migration patterns in the region The flycatchers preferred habitats include forests, woodlands and gardens, making Mehrano an ideal sanctuary for them
Mehrano sanctuary serves as a refuge for rare mammals such as the elusive fishing cat, leaping black buck, shy hog deer alongside reptiles and diverse bird species, thriving across a rather pristine landscape The recent discovery high-lights the global significance of the area reinforcing its status as a hotspot for biodiversity The blue-and-white flycatcher s arrival in Sindh is more than just a scientific miles-tone; it is a call to action to protect and explore the natural wonders of the region
YAQOOB ALI BALOCH
Changing ever ything
Can Trump Halt the Yuan’s International Rise?
ChinaÊs dominance in global supply chains gives it unparalleled leverag e in international trade . In some capacity, nearly ever y economy in the world relies on Chinese manufacturing infrastructure , secure supply chains, and expor ts If ChinaÊs economic expansion continues at its current pace , the yuan will likely gain prominence as a global reser ve currency at a much faster rate than both the dollar and the euro This shift could significantly reshape the global financial landscape , challenging the long-standing dominance of Western currencies
A major point of discussion was the growing challeng e posed by ChinaÊs yuan to the global dominance of the dollar. For the first time in modern histor y, the yuan is emerging as a serious competitor to what was once the unquestioned status of the dollar as the worldÊs primar y reser ve currency.
migration, and itinerancy Time and time again, through anecdotes of what he sees, hears and witnesses every day he reminds us that this is as much a history of Lahore s past as it is of its present He attempts in this to speak of a Lahore before Pakistan but also of a Lahore in Pakistan A Lahore that, following 1947, was made into a bastion of Pakistani national identity But this, he recalls, was a process underpinned by violence and the violent fissures of memory An erasure that was not simply of the physical landscape of Lahore – the renaming of junctions demolitions of
religious sites literal erasures off the map of minority presences – but of its people
THE MANY LAHORES OF ASIF: Central to Asif ’s book are Lahore’s denizens – its labourers women writers dissidents historians minorities They are his entry point and his subjects into knowing and walking Lahore From the banks of the Ravi, where he follows an Afghani refugee chasing djinns, he takes us to Anarkali Bazaar, Qutubuddin Aibak’s purported tomb, Rang Mahal, Christian cemeteries (now in disrepair) Data Darbar Miyan Mir s shrine Shalimar Gardens In taking us on this walk he defies chronology – you are like the walker left wandering Reading two chapters back to back, you may wonder how you leapt a hundred years But as you read on, you come to understand that that is what it is like to walk in Lahore
The Lahore of Asif is a palimpsest It defies easy categorisation Take for instance the shrine of Madho Lal Hussain It marks the site where Shah Hussain, a sufi, was buried with Madho Lal, a Brahmin boy who he fell in love with For centuries, it served as a pilgrimage site for Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs It was also the place where Mela Chiraghan Lahore s most important public procession would begin In another chapter he recounts how this site is now heavily policed The place which was earlier one of transcendence, where people, despite their gender, age or religion, would come together, was now segregated and subject to curfews But to know this you would have to read back and across His book to that end is not one where you start reading a chapter and come out with absolute knowledge on the subject, but that often gives a teaser, coming back to its fuller history later It is a circular Lahore Both temporally and spatially, he moves across its many places on foot Knowingly or unknowingly he follows in the footsteps (literally) of Maulvi Nur Ahmed Chishti Lahori s history where the history of Lahore begins with the shrine of Madho Lal Hussain (1599) The spiral of Lahore
I also thought of the Indian Coffee Houses in D elhi, Kolk ata and Lahore, which were hotspots for anticolonial intellec tuals and revolutionaries, no less than Manto and Faiz themselves
Trump’s strategy to contain China
R U M P A S KS J O R D A N , E G Y P T
S outh Korea President Yoon indic ted for insurrec tion over mar tial law decree
s
South Korea s prosecutors indicted impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol on Sunday on charges of leading an insurrection with his short-lived imposition of martial law on December 3, Yoon’s lawyers and the main opposition party said Yoon’s lawyers criticised the indictment as the “worst choice made by the prosecution service while the main opposition party welcomed the decision The charges are unprecedented for a South Korean president, and if convicted, Yoon could face years in prison for his shock martial law decree, which sought to ban political and parliamentary activity and control the media His move set off a wave of political upheaval in Asia’s fourth-largest economy and a top US ally with the prime minister also impeached and suspended from power and a number of top military officials indicted for their roles in the alleged insurrection
[The] president s declaration of emergency martial law was a desperate plea to the public over a national crisis caused by the opposition getting out of control,” Yoon’s lawyers said in a statement
The prosecutor s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment The indictment was also reported by South Korean media Anti-corruption investigators last week recommended charging the jailed Yoon, who was impeached by parliament and suspended from his duties on December 14 A former top prosecutor himself Yoon has been in solitary confinement since becoming the first sitting president to be arrested on January 15 after days of defiant armed standoff between his security detail and arresting officials
Over the weekend a court twice refused the prosecutor ’s request to extend his detention while they conducted further investigation, but with the charges, they have again requested that he be kept in custody media reports said Insurrection is one of the few criminal charges from which a South Korean president does not have immunity
It is punishable by life imprisonment or death although South Korea has not executed anyone in decades The prosecution has decided to indict Yoon Suk Yeol who is facing charges of being a ringleader of insurrection, Democratic Party spokesman Han Min-soo told a press conference The punishment of the ringleader of insurrection now begins finally
Yoon and his lawyers argued at a Constitutional Court hearing last week in his impeachment trial that he never intended to fully impose martial law but had only meant the measures as a warning to break a political deadlock In parallel with the criminal process, the top court will determine whether to remove Yoon from office or reinstate his presidential powers It has 180 days to decide on that South Korea’s opposition-led
At least 15 killed as Israeli troops stay in Lebanon beyond ceasefire deadline
later
Iran FM arrives in K abul in first visit af ter Taliban’s takeover
T h o u s a n d s o f Pa l e s
r e t u r n t o h o m e i n G a z a
and
recommend introducing both generic and industryspecific OHS training modules via the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) and the Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) Tailored programs will equip workers with essential safety knowledge and industry-oriented skills These programs should be made available to not only the compliance departments, but also to the HR departments of businesses “The PRGMEA also suggests implementing incentive programs for businesses that proactively adopt OHS measures Incentives could include tax benefits reduced insurance premiums or recognition programs to encourage compliance and continuous improvement
International Customs Day celebrated at Customs House Peshawar
A prestigious ceremony was held at the Collectorate of Customs Customs House Peshawar to mark International Customs Day Member Taxpayer Services, Saeed Akram, graced the event as the chief guest Addressing the gathering, Saeed Akram stated that International Customs Day is celebrated every year under the auspices of the World Customs Organization (WCO) Each year a specific theme is introduced which guides global customs
deadline approaches this year Last year government also approached Washington requesting a solution to the lingering imbroglio but received no response Nasrullah Mughal said that we are convinced that Iranian source was the most feasible, financially as well as from the point
vancements in Eye Care - Retina and Diagnostic Technologies Led by the legendary Dr Sharif Hashmani this year s conference hosted speakers
A S H M I R I S M A R K I N D I A ' S
Three workers injured as A JK Speaker’s convoy comes under firing
MUZAFARABAD S ta f f R e p
Three PPP workers were injured when convoy of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly
Speaker Chaudhry Latif Akbar came under fire on Sunday, drawing condemnation from top political leaders, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari According to police, the incident occurred during the AJK Legislative Assembly Speaker visit to Kakliyot village located some 15 kilometres south of Muzaffarabad The police officials said that a ceremony had been planned to welcome several prominent activists of the Muslim Conference (MC) into the PPP in Kakliyot, the speaker s constituency After attending a Black Day function in Muzaffarabad on Sunday, Speaker Akbar headed toward his constituency, informing the administration again about the potential for unrest Around 12:45pm as the convoy of 20-25 vehicles and motorcycles reached Kakliyot gunmen opened fire on the vehicles Three PPP workers travelling in the leading vehicles were injured, Ch Murad Ali, a staff member of the speaker told the media The injured were identified as Mubashir Hussain, who was shot in the head; Muhammad Riaz who was struck in the shoulder; and Adil Imtiaz who suffered an arm injury Prominent lawyer Chaudhry Shaukat Aziz also travelling with the Speaker narrowly escaped harm The injured were rushed to a hospital in Muzaffarabad, where doctors operated on Mubashir Hussain and declared his condition out of danger Despite the arrival of the deputy commissioner, additional superintendent of police and other senior officials after almost three hours authorities were unable to fully control the situation as the firing reportedly continued in their presence leaving the convoy stranded for five hours Murad told Dawn com Addressing his supporters during the standoff, Akbar reiterated his commitment to constitutional principles and the rule of law “I have always practiced politics based on respect harmony and brotherhood My priority is to ease people’s lives not make them more difficult I would never endanger the life of any person whether my supporter or opponent he said As news of the attack spread through social media, PPP workers staged protests across Muzaffarabad, burning tyres and blocking traffic at major intersections such as Chattar and Gojra The attack on Akbar ’s convoy was widely condemned by political leaders In a statement AJK President Barrister Sultan Mahmood termed the attack highly deplorable and called for the immediate arrest of the culprits to ensure justice Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned firing on the convoy of Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly speaker He prayed for early recovery of those injured in the firing incident He said that attack on the Azad Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly speaker and his convoy was a coward act
ISLAMABAD
S ta f f R e p o R t
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) urged the government to immediately and transparently appoint neutral CEC in consultation with PTI to revitalize the badly tarnished integrity of the electoral watchdog and ensure continuity of democratic processes in the country PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram asserted that the outgoing CEC’s dark era left an indelible mark on the country’s electoral landscape, therefore it was incumbent upon the government to ensure the timely and consensus-based appointments of CEC and other provincial heads of electoral body to shield the institution from further destruction
PTI CIS stated that the outgoing CEC s tenure had severely damaged the reputation of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) thus allowing him to continue in the position would be a gross injustice not only to the institution but also to the nation Waqas emphasized that his controversial tenure has had far-reaching and detrimental
volved in the killing of Sikh leaders in Canada and after covering up its crimes it is busy in doing propaganda against Pakistan He reaffirmed that Kashmiris will continue their struggle for their right to self-determination as enshrined in the UN resolutions He also urged international media to leave dual-standards and expose the atrocities being perpetrated in IIOJ&K Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq thanked Pakistan for continuously extending its moral, diplomatic and political support to Kashmiris He said Pakistan and Kashmir have an eternal relationship On this occasion the participants of rally also chanted slogans Kashmir Banay Ga Pakistan Hum Pakistani Hain and Pakistan Hamara Hy
Pakistan Nav y all set to host 9th AMAN exercise
ISLAMABAD S
Pakistan Navy is set to host AMAN-25; the ninth edition of the multinational AMAN exercise from February 7 to 11
A key feature of this year ’s exercise will be the AMAN Dialogue where Chiefs of Naval Forces heads of Coast Guards and senior leaders from around the world will convene to discuss regional maritime security and devise joint strategies to counter evolving maritime threats, said a news release issued by Director General Public Relations (Navy) Around 60 countries will participate in AMAN-25 contributing with ships aircraft Special Operations Forces (SOF) Explosives Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams Marines and observers
Delegations from across the globe will also attend the inaugural International AMAN Dialogue, which will take place alongside the exercise
The AMAN series has been a hallmark of the Pakistan Navy’s efforts to promote regional peace and cooperation
Launched in 2007 the inaugural exercise saw the participation of 28 countries By 2023 the number of participating nations had grown to 50, including major naval powers The motto of the AMAN series, “Together for Peace,” reflects its core mission, while
this year s theme Secure Seas; Prosperous Future emphasizes the importance of maritime security for global prosperity
During the harbour phase, activities such as seminars, operational discussions, counter-terrorism demonstrations and pre-sail planning of evolutions at sea will be held
The sea phase would include tactical manoeuvres exercises related to maritime security such as anti-piracy and counter-terrorism, search and rescue, gunnery firings and air defence exercises The highlight of the sea phase will be the International Fleet Review, which will be witnessed by national and foreign dignitaries
Parliamentarians meet PM, disc uss issues of their constituencies
LAHORE S ta f f R e p o R t
Member of National Assembly (MNA) Abdul Ghaffar Wattoo
consequences for Pakistan’s democratic processes adding that the government should appoint impartial and competent individual through a transparent and consultative process as mandated by the Constitution to restore the ECP s credibility and integrity He recalled that the Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Omar Ayub and the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Shibli Faraz had already written letters to the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Chairman of the Senate respectively for the immediate appointment of a new CEC Waqas urged that the government should constitute a parliamentary committee without any delay to oversee the appointments as stipulated in Article 213 of the Constitution He noted that the appointment of an impartial and credible person as a new CEC would be the first step towards healing the wounds inflicted on Pakistan s democracy and rebuilding nation’s trust on the electoral watchdog ‘PTI TO FORM GRAND
OPPOSITION ALLIANCE Meanwhile Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf in-
formation secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram has it has been decided that the PTI will not sit with the government on a negotiation table because of its alleged dishonest behaviour adding the party will form a grand opposition alliance While talking to a private TV channel program, Sheikh Waqas Akram said that the government itself called a meeting on Jan 28; PTI did not ask for the meeting; it was PTI that could give opportunity not the negotiation committee that would give opportunity to continue talks We will not invite the PPP for
