time He said Pakistan Stock Exchange and other sectors are showing upward trend due to better policies of the present government
For mer GB CM sentenced to 34 years in jail in hate
The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Gilgit on Tuesday handed down a 34-year jail term to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former Chief Minister GilgitBaltistan Khalid Khurshid for hurling threats at state institutions at a party rally in July GB ATC Judge Rehmat Shah sentenced Khalid Khurshid to 34 years in prison and fined him Rs600 000 for threatening security institutions including the chief secretary and chief election commissioner during a party rally on July 26 at Ittehad Chowk, Gilgit The Judge also ordered the GB inspector general of police to arrest Khurshid and ordered the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) director general to block his national identity card The ATC pronounced his verdict in a case registered at the Gilgit City Police Station under various sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) the Anti-Ter-
speech case
rorism Act According to the First Information Report, registered at city Police Station Gilgit, Khurshid hurled threats at Security Agencies and used indecent language against the Chief Election Commissioner during a public gathering at Ittehad Chawk on May 26, 2024 Earlier in April, a senior civil judge issued an arrest warrant against Khalid Khurshid Khan in a fake degree case Senior Civil Judge Hidayat Ali issued a bailable arrest warrant
of the former chief minister of Gilgit Baltistan over his continuous absence Khalid Khurshid was charged with getting a lawyer s license from the Gilgit-Baltistan Bar Council by submitting a ‘fictitious University of London law degree and an affidavit to the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Islamabad to obtain an equivalency certificate The Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Court in July 2023 disqualified Khalid Khursheed Khan in a fake degree case as a three-member bench announced the verdict on a petition filed by a member of the GB Assembly Shahzad Agha The petitioner had argued that Khursheed’s law degree was fake and he
Govt, PTI ‘ flexing muscles’ for 2nd round of negotiations tomor row
ISLAMABAD
S TA F F R E P O R T
National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz
Sadiq has formally convened the in-camera seesion of the committees representing the government and the PTI on Thursday (tomorrow) at the parliament house
According to a notification issued by the NA Secretariat the crucial meeting between the ruling alliance and Imran Khan-founded party will be held at parliament house on Thursday at 11am
According to the notification, Mr Sadiq will chair a 2nd meeting (in-camera) on negotiations between Treasury and Opposition on Thursday at 11:30am at the Parliament House Meanwhile the PTI has decided to limit itself to two initial demands in the talks – the release of under trial political prisoners and the formation of a judicial commission to probe the events of May
NEPRA REPORT HIGHLIGHTS POWER SECTOR CRISIS, URGENT REFORMS ESSENTIAL
TNational Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has released its State of the Industry Report (SIR) 2023-24 detailing severe inefficiencies across Pakistan s power sector and calling for urgent systemic reforms to address mounting financial and operational challenges
The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) conducted a public hearing on the monthly Fuel Charges Adjustment (FCA) for November 2024 at its headquarters The hearing, chaired by NEPRA Chairman, addressed a range of critical issues, including proposed tariff reductions transmission inefficiencies and challenges in coal supply The Central Power Purchasing Agency Guarantee Limited (CPPA-G) submitted a request for a reduction of Rs0 63 per unit under the FCA NEPRA clarified that the proposed adjustment would apply to all consumers of distribution companies (DISCOs), excluding lifeline customers, agricultural users, prepaid customers, and electric vehicle charging stations Additionally the adjustment would not be applicable to K-Electric consumers During the proceedings NEPRA expressed serious concerns about repeated delays in completing the Lahore North Transmission Line project It ordered an inquiry into the matter after revealing that the High-
highlighted the persistent delays in expanding local coal mining operations which hinder the availability of affordable electricity
S tate Bank injec ts Rs575.8b
Anaemic growth
h
TTh i s afternoon i went for a walk and noticed that a homeowner had recently placed a sign on their front lawn it simply read i stand with israel if this had been 400 or so days ago, i would have thought nothing of it Back then, supporters of israel were still reeling from the shock of the October 7th attack and felt a need to express themselves But it s not December 2023 it s 14 months into this nightmare The decision to now place this sign on their front lawn, raises a troubling question exactly what, in the current context, does stand with israel mean? in just the past week, Us media have featured a number of well-researched reports on israel’s efforts to secure their hold on Gaza through: the mass demolitions of homes hospitals schools and infrastructure; the forced transfer of the remaining Palestinians in the north of Gaza; the fact that israeli snipers have made a sport of killing
stories on the continuing lack of medical services food water sanitation and shelter for the two million Palestinians crammed into Gaza s south
Added to this are developments in israel After a long hiatus, protests against Netanyahu’s government have continued some are objecting to his callous disregard for
than a year: namely that genocide is being committed in their name just across the border One of these is by the brilliant commentator B Michael Writing in the israeli daily Haaretz he walks his readers through the legal definition of the term
“genocide ” Michael notes that the convention against this crime lists five actions any one of which is sufficient to consider a state or people perpetrators of genocide Michael goes on to demonstrate that israel can be shown guilty of four of the five he concludes, Feigning innocence isn t admissible as a defense Nor will claiming that it was done “in good faith, or purely for reasons of self-defense ” And so at this point what exactly does “stand with israel mean?
That said those who recently posted this sign in front of their home have the right to express their views, however insensitive or repugnant others might feel them to be Defacing
K u r r a m ’ s p l i g h t
from Parachinar was shot dead by two terrorists of sipah-e-sahaba which nade protests and demonstrations erupt not only in Parachinar but also across the country With the arrival of the Taliban in Afghanistan, many militant groups pledged their allegiance to them The haqqani network, emboldened by the Taliban’s seizure of power in Afghanistan started killing shias in the Kurram agency in 1996 leaving more than 2000 dead Also in 2007 the creation of the TTP by Baitullah Mehsud bolstered the local militants who joined it, further deteriorating the peace situation in the region in April that year, a sunni armed man opened fire on a procession which triggered violence claiming more than 200 lives This event led to the closure of the Thall-Parachinar road the only road connecting Parachinar to other parts of the country for four years The people had to travel to Afghanistan to reach Peshawar, prolonging the 4hour distance to 20 hours in recent times, 2017 marked the beginning of a series of violent events in the conflict-battered region in January of that year an attack was carried out in the local sabzi Mandi leaving more than 25 people killed and 87 injured in June, 25 people died in a car bomb attack near an imambargah in April, terrorists targeted a local bus and killed 14 people The violent backto-back attacks at the Turi market left more than 90 people dead and 300 injured in total More recently in May 2023 a shooting in a school killed 7 people including 5 teachers This event led to another series of clashes until July of that year, when the government brokered a ceasefire for a year The ceasefire ended this July, and it seemed that the people were waiting for it to end On 7 July 2024 another series of clashes erupted killing 49 people in
the month 46 in september and 16 people in October according to news reports The most deplorable of all attacks happened on 21 November when several gunmen ambushed a convoy of vehicles and killed more than a hundred people belonging to the shia sect in retaliation, they set fire to the villages of Bagan and Bacha Kot The clash continues to simmer with no abatement in sight devouring lives every day The Thall-Parachinar road the only road between Peshawar and Parachinar has remained closed in the latest clash, causing shortages of food, medicines, oil, and other basic commodities in the region in short the conflict in Kurram doesn’t seem to have an end The government’s role in addressing the sectarianism in the region is out of sight it is quite ironic when the government says it is trying to bring about a ceasefire is it a war between two countries where a third party needs to broker a ceasefire? The state must maintain its writ, come what may seeking ceasefires and other tactics only damages its credibility in fighting militants and warmongers The only solution to this tribal conflict is the de-weaponization of the region Once the area is de-weaponized, people s only recourse will be government institutions rather than violence and conflict it is about time the government acted on this matter if the government and anti-terrorism forces fail to contain a handful of tribal militants then fighting the TTP and other international militant groups will be a far cry for them in that case, they will need a complete overhaul of their policies and strategies regarding countering terrorism
The writer is a freelance columnist
Foreign banks’ actions
provided sanctuaries to them in the region The arrival of refugees and mujahedeen brought with it the culture of weapons and ammunition The refugees occupied the shia lands in the region, which became the bone of contention for decades between the two major sects of islam in the region
SAJJAD HuSSAIN
Israelis begin to admit genocide
Pakistan’s unmet challenges
Ations against terrorists sanctuaries in Pakistan must be doubled down to deracinate it Third, Pakistan has conveyed its con-
cern to the Afghanistan government to not let its soil be used against Pakistan but the situation has not improved It is high time to implement the National Action Plan and reach out to Afghan government to track down these terror outfits COAS Gen Asim Munir has expressed his commitment frequently to safeguarding Pakistan and will not wind down until the Pakistan Army eradicates terrorism from the country Pakistan s policy Towards Afghanistan will also play a very crucial role in terrorism eradication, as until the Afghan Government is not fully cooperative terrorism in Pakistan cannot end Climate Change: Anthropogenic activities have cost the planet dearly and the upcoming years will bring unimaginable devastating climatic changes especially for the less developed countries if tangible steps are not taken now In Pakistan, there was a marked increase from accidents to breathing diseases in children to economy and education losses via lockdowns and institutions closures when it was worst hit by air pollution recently Pakistan is one of the most vulnerable countries to changing patterns of climate and is still reeling from the devastating floods in 2022 causing huge damage to infrastructure in the region worth $14 9 billion and affecting 33 million lives
According to the Climate Change Performance Index, Pakistan finds itself 31st in this year with mixed ratings high in greenhouse gas emissions and energy use, low in climate policy, and very low in renewable energy If Pakistan wants to get out of this logjam and improve its ranking it will have to work on investing more money into infra-
structure, policy reforms, planning a fossil fuel phase-out enforcing more renewable energy initiatives and implementing mechanisms for national climate policies with unwavering commitment and sincerity The National Climate Change Policy 2021, National Water policy 2018 and Disaster Risk Reduction Policy are some in-depth documents to take help from to find a most appropriate blueprint to conserve Pakistan its nationals and environment from the worsening climatic effects Education Debasement: The youth is in depression Their mental health is seriously at risk and the suicide rate is increasing Millions of young students, holding degrees ranging from bachelors to higher levels from Pakistan s accredited institutions are unable to get employed and paddle their own canoe A whopping amount is dedicated to the education sector by each government but our educational institutions have proved themselves inefficacious time and again A whole new smooth transition of education reforms is overdue to improve the standards of education For reforms at first our curriculum is obsolete and a complete new curriculum must be introduced by the concerned department Rote learning must be discouraged at all levels and replaced by critical thinking, practical solutions and active participation by the students
In addition teachers must be familiarised with international standards of education techniques and technologies and equipped accordingly Furthermore, vocational training is paramount to boosting the confidence and brushing up the skills of the students and personalized panel interview sessions must be conducted to help them better prepare before they enter the job market
Unless these steps are taken, right after some years the new crop of students will be experiencing the same issues thus putting more onus on the government Instead of establishing new institutions the existing ones must be improved and leveraged first Otherwise, the government will continue setting up new schools and universities and the outcome will be the same Political Instability: Dynastic politics has been taking a toll on Pakistan and its economy
Second, the aforementioned lasting issues are not going to be solved by one par ty as these outstanding problems require successive governmentsÊ collaboration, long-term planning , commitment and sincerity No matter who is in power, they must proceed with the decisions taken by the previous governments Lastly, the politicians must direct their attention and energy more towards bringing relief into peopleÊs lives rather than prioritising their own interests
Trickle-down
patients with complex conditions like mine may receive
a country that aspires to fulfil the dreams of its founding fathers? The answer lies quite explicitly in the deficiencies of a healthcare model where the absence of decisive leadership and structural reform at the top continuously fails to address the needs at the grassroots The blockade and the subsequent medical crises serves as a harrowing analogy to a deeply ingrained system of sacrifice A system that thrives on the suffering of vulnerable groups in order to sustain an illusion of control and calm Anthropologists report an archaic tradition from Maya antiquity with similar traits one that symbolized elitist apologism A form of sacrifice embedded in a ritualistic and eschatological system that, in the eyes of the elite justified the murder of the very people it claimed to protect The practice which went by the name of “k’i’ik” or human sacrifice was periodically done particularly during times of crisis such as impending disasters or existing calamities in an effort to restore cosmic balance This duality of claiming to be benevolent while perpetuating violence resonate resoundingly and with a startling familiarity with modern day healthcare in Pakistan Much like the Maya we see the systemic negligence in Parachinar as a reflection of this “sacrificial logic” where the needs of the marginalized are ignored and their suffering becomes a grimly forced reality of a system which just does not work for them Jungian psychology suggests that such archetypes are deeply embedded in the collective unconscious They are transgenerational, and manifest in new forms suited to the 21st century How so? The sacrificial logic of “k’i’ik” where the ends justify the means continues today The frameworks where the destruction of the few is rationalized as integral for the preservation of all society is still disguised within the ideological system which the Pakistani healthcare system operates upon In our hour of independence (circa 1947) the nascent republic inherited a rudimentary healthcare structure, which was predominantly centred on caring for urban populations and ill-equipped to address the issues faced by the large rural populace The justification for such disparate development given as the necessity of proper healthcare
excluding those unable to afford care Decentralization through the 18th Amendment further entrenched these disparities as provinces with limited budgets failed to meet healthcare demands Currently systemic inequalities and profit-driven models continue to dominate this public good, perpetuating elitist frameworks This elitism manifests in narratives where the poor are blamed for their healthcare challenges, echoing the Jungian archetypes of sacrificial logos Just as the Maya elite justified k i ik by attributing cosmic imbalances to the failings of the marginalized modern elites justify systemic neglect by framing poor health on poor s own behavior
Factors such as a lack of education, poor hygiene, or failure to seek care are all cited whenever discussion arises on increasing funding towards healthcare or improving policies For instance in Tharparkar where child malnutrition and maternal deaths are alarmingly high narratives are often framed around the local population s unwillingness to modernize or superstitious reliance on traditional healers This deflection is glaringly obvious and a gross misrepresentation of the true issue, better policy-making and governance
It is here that we arrive at the central thesis of this article the need for change to come from the top To evaluate the potential success of this strategy it is essential to look at analogous scenarios in the Pakistani context where top-down strategies have successfully transformed structures for the better
One of the most successful top-down reforms in Pakistan’s history was the Green Revolution in the 1960s Spearheaded by the then President Ayub Khan the government introduced several high-yielding varieties of crops modernized our irrigation system and provided extensive agricultural subsidies to farmers
This initiative revolutionised our agricultural sector significantly reduced food scarcity, and stimulating economic growth in low-income regions Another notable example, the National Immunization Program (NIP), has been hailed as the most successful public health initiative undertaken by Pakistan Started by the Federal Government this program combatted preventable diseases by widespread vaccination campaigns nationwide
According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), the polio incidence dropped by over 99% from 1988 to 2019 Similarly, the introduction of the Measles Catch-up Campaigns reduced measles mortality by more than 90% since their inception with the UNICEF reporting a notable decline in cases across the country
History shows us repeatedly that by improving structures at the top, such as law-making, governance and ministerial bureaucracy, the overall effectiveness and scope of public health initiatives did improve and will improve in future, in terms of positive outcomes for the poorest To improve the impact of such programs several key proposals can be considered First and foremost the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) Ordinance requires extensive updates to align with contemporary practices and ethical standards For instance, updates are needed in areas like orthopaedics where surgical techniques, diagnostic methods, and post-operative protocols have significantly advanced yet remain poorly represented in the curriculum Furthermore the PMDC should adopt stricter protocols for clinical training ensuring that students are exposed to modern techniques and surgical procedures
Outdated curricula and surgical stagnation are prevalent, creating a gap between medical education and the evolving demands of healthcare I personally experienced the consequences of this during my struggle with a degenerative condyle condition
Despite visiting several specialists in Pakistan I found no real solutions or treatments partly due to the limited knowledge and outdated practices of the doctors which I now realize stem from a lack of comprehensive medical education This deficiency ultimately means that
incorrect or insufficient treatment
The process of updating the PMDC ordinance will ensure that medical professionals align their treatment methodology with global standards, are aware of breakthrough advancements and are able to improve patient care Another critical area for improvement is the current bureaucratic hierarchy Delays and miscommunication plague our healthcare departments which need to be addressed urgently A detailed reform would be centred around streamlining these departments by introducing clear role-definitions and performance-based evaluation For instance, key positions such as the Director General Health Services and Secretary of Health should undergo merit-based selection, with clearly laid out prerequisites such as having an educational degree in healthcare or public health policy as well as evaluation of past contributions to healthcare outcomes
Clearer lines of communication between federal health departments and provincial departments is also essential, especially when dealing with national health crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic One proposal is to empower the Health Services Academy to act as a sort of intermediary between different departments allowing for quicker and more seamless decision making and execution Such an approach would help break down bureaucratic barriers and allow for faster implementation of health policies
Additionally, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) Act needs strengthening to ensure better oversight of pharmaceutical products A closer look at current frameworks reveals that unlike more developed nations like the United States Pakistan lacks an independent regulatory body like the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) which comparatively does not just monitor the safety of drug compounds but also oversees clinical trials
Establishing a body akin to the FDA would ensure more comprehensive regulatory controls on the approval, marketing, and post-market surveillance of pharmaceutical products which as of now are barely given due consideration by governmental bodies In particular improving the standards for clinical trials and ensuring that they follow international ethical guidelines would foster greater public trust in both domestic and foreign pharmaceutical products This would be especially beneficial in eradicating taboos and local myths around taking medication as well as reducing proliferation of
Hamza malick
HASSAN EJAZ
H E A D T O B U I L D A S T R O N G C H I N A
Taliban orders closure of all NGOs employing Afghan women
lation s rights are being denied and are living in poverty
Under Taliban rule, women in Afghanistan have been progressively excluded from public life
They are barred from secondary and higher education restricted from most jobs and denied access to parks and many public spaces
The latest move targets the growing number of NGOs, both national and international, that have been instrumental in providing aid to Afghan citizens in need, including women, children, and vulnerable groups IMPACT ON HUMANITARIAN AID
The UN has expressed alarm over the impact that the Taliban s decree will have on its operations in Afghanistan where over half the population lives in poverty and many face a severe humanitarian crisis
policies were undermining humanitarian efforts and deepening the country s crisis NEW DECREE ON BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
In another development earlier this week Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada
interpretation of Islamic law The United Nations expressed grave concern over the announcement, highlighting the detrimental impact it will have on the country s already dire humanitarian situation “This will severely hinder our ability to provide life-saving humanitarian assistance to the Afghan population ” said UN spokesperson Florencia Soto Nino-Martinez We are deeply alarmed by the fact that we are talking about a country where half the popu-
UN
Humanitarian organisations rely on female staff to reach women and children, who make up the majority of those in need of aid The ban on Afghan women working for NGOs will limit the ability of these organisations to carry out vital assistance work particularly in sectors like healthcare and education
Volker Turk the UN s human rights chief condemned the Taliban s decision, saying, I am deeply alarmed at the recent announcement that NGOs will lose their operating licenses if they continue to employ Afghan women This is absolutely the wrong path being taken ” Turk added that the Taliban’s
condemns Taliban ban on Afghan women working at NGOs
KARACHI
S TA F F R E P O R T
The 10th edition of Philip Morris International ( PMI ) s Technovation event was held in Abu Dhabi in December 2024 The event brought together PMI senior management and policy experts, to discuss the transformative role of technology and innovation in delivering a smoke-free future The event showcased PMI s commitment to science-driven tobacco harm reduction and progress towards non-combustible alternatives The event also provided a platform for thought-provoking discussions on the role of smoke-
free alternatives in moving adult smokers away from cigarettes, and on the potential of balanced regulatory framework to harness innovation and social impact
PMI s Senior leaders scientists and R&D experts highlighted substantial evidence of smoke-free alternatives, including oral smokeless, vapor, and heated tobacco products, underscoring their potential to significantly reduce the risks associated with smoking Attendees also explored how advancements in technology and innovation could address the challenges of smoking and align with global sustainability goals
Ali Takesh Managing Director of Philip Morris Pakistan Limited
stressed the urgency of adopting tobacco harm reduction measures globally stating: “At PMI we aim to leverage innovations based on science and technology to expeditiously reduce the harm of smoking Science and innovation have demonstrated that smoke-free products, such as ecigarettes, heated tobacco or nicotine pouches, can accelerate a decline in cigarette sales compared to traditional tobacco control measures alone The global smoking problem demands effective solutions and success stories from countries like Sweden and Japan validate the potential of these strategies We urge all stakeholders to support these efforts by embracing evidence-based policies ”
Devsinc acquires Alchemative to tap $22B regional
Ministr y invites nominations from low income employees under ‘Hajj Labor Quota’
The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony has called for nominations of low-income employees under the Hajj Labor Quota for the year 2025 According to the Ministry s Spokesperson Muhammad Umar Butt, a total of 300 seats have been reserved in the Hajj Policy 2025 for the labour quota which will be allocated to public and corporate sector employees in grades equivalent to Scale 1 to 9, including labourers, industrial workers, and miners
The spokesperson said the Hajj expenses of low-income employees selected under the labour quota will be borne by their respective organizations as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) Umar said it is mandatory for corporate entities to be registered with the Employees’ Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) and Work-
ers Welfare Fund (WWF) to qualify for participation in this program
He said the ministry has directed interested organizations to submit nominations to the WWF on the prescribed forms by January 15 2025 In a separate notice Umar said federal and provincial ministries have been instructed to forward nominations from their af-
KARACHI S TA F F R E P O R T
The Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) has announced multiple sit-ins in the city amid the ongoing protest of Majlis-e-Wahdatul-Muslimeen (MWM) adding to the woes of Karachiites
The central leadership of the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) announced sit-ins at 60 different locations in Karachi at 3:00pm on Tuesday (tomorrow)
Addressing a press conference here on Monday the ASWJ leaders gave the Sindh government a 24hour ultimatum to meet their demands, threatening sit-ins across the metropolis ASWJ leaders said that they
will start sit-ins from Tuesday afternoon at Liaquatabad, Nazimabad, Hydari Market, Sakhi Hasan Mobile Market, Nagan Chowrangi, 4k Chowrangi Sohrab Goth Karimabad Sharah e Faisal Lasbela Chowk Civic Centre Gulshan Chowrangi Mosmayat Chowk Baloch Colony, Akhtar Colony and other locations if the government fails to meet their demand
On the other hand Karachiites’ suffering continued as MWM protests and sit-ins over the Kurram issue disrupted traffic across the city for the whole previous week
MWM is currently holding protests at 10 different spots in Karachi against the Kurram issue, leading to road closures and frustration among residents
filiated corporations and institutions through their respective ministries to the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony by the same deadline
The spokesperson further mentioned that if the number of applications exceeds the allocated 300 seats, a ballot will be conducted to determine the successful candidates
The protest, caused severe traffic congestion on the roads, and long queues of vehicles resulting in severe hardship for commuters
The ordeals faced by the city dwellers led the provincial authorities to issue a warning to the protesters Karachi Additional Inspector General (AIG) Javed Alam Odho on Tuesday claimed to end the protests but only to be retracted a few minutes later by a spokesperson
AIG Odho stated that the ongoing protest will be cleared before Maghrib today He warned that those refusing to disperse would be removed per the law
The remarks were made during a meeting chaired by the Inspector General of Sindh Ghulam Nabi Memon, and attended by Interior Minister Sindh, Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, AIG Odho, and other senior officials
AIG Odho remarked that the people of Karachi had endured enough for three days and now strict action would be taken He also expressed appreciation for the patience shown by the police and acknowledged the reopening of major roads
Minutes later in a clarification the spokesperson for Karachi Police stated that the Karachi Police Chief did not issue any direct orders to end the protests
