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g CONDEMNS MISINFORMATION DRIVES WITH UNITY OF THOUGHT AND ACTION, GOVT WOULD RESOLVE ALL CHALLENGES BEING RUN ON SOCIAL MEDIA BY FACED BY COUNTRY: PREMIER SHEHBAZ ‘EXTERNAL AGENTS AND ENEMIES OF STATE’

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Rs 20.00 | Vol XV No 179 I 8 Pages I Karachi Edition

ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

RIME Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Friday stated that the time has come to eliminate the conspirators and their facilitators who are plotting against Pakistan, highlighted the security challenges facing the nation, particularly the threats from hostile elements operating across the borders.

Addressing a meeting of the National Action Plan Apex Committee, PM Shehbaz said: “The agenda of Pakistan’s progress and prosperity that we discussed yesterday can only be realised when all of us not only improve law and order across Pakistan but also the time has come to completely wipe out the TTP.” The prime minister stressed that the federal government, the provinces and all relevant stakeholders should make a comprehensive plan in collaboration with the security forces.

He pledged that with unity of thought and action, the government would implement such plans in letter and spirit, to resolve all challenges faced by the country.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, the federal cabinet members, chief ministers of all provinces, Army Chief General Asim Munir, the heads of intelligence agencies, the Director-Gen-

eral of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and other high officials.

The premier referred to a recent attack from across the border, which was swiftly repelled by Pakistan’s security forces.

He also pointed out the foreign support behind certain elements conspiring against Pakistan, especially in regions like Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

The prime minister reiterated that achieving national progress and prosperity was contingent on maintaining peace and order across Pakistan’s four provinces, as well as in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

He further stated that the time had come to completely eliminate the threat

Govt, PTI deny any offer to relocate Imran Khan to Banigala or elsewhere ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

The government and PTI representatives on Friday denied reports suggesting an offer to transfer Imran Khan from Adiala Jail to Banigala or another location, amidst ongoing negotiations to de-escalate political tensions in the country. These reports follow claims by Imran Khan’s lawyer and sister suggesting such an offer was made, which the PTI founder rejected.

PTI lawyer Faisal Chaudhry claimed that Imran said he was offered a deal to be relocated to his Banigala residence. Rumours regarding the alleged development have also been circulating in the media. Imran’s sister Aleema Khan similarly said last month that he had rejected offers of house arrest in Banigala.

Last month, Imran established a five-member committee to hold talks with “anyone”, signalling a shift in PTI lawmakers’ stance in parliament. In response, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also formed a committee with ruling coalition members. The first meeting between the two sides took place on December 23, while the second one occurred yesterday (January 2). So far, the two sides have not made significant headway, as the PTI leadership sought frequent meetings with Imran to finalise their list of demands. The government and the opposition will meet again, possibly next week.

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, in an interview, categorically rejected the allegations of an offer to relocate Imran Khan, stating that the former Prime Minister considers his imprisonment illegal and would not accept any such deal.

He further clarified that the current committee-based negotiations are the only official channel of communication, denying the existence of any back-channel discussions, except for a period before November 26th protests in Islamabad. He attributed the cessation of that previous contact to Imran Khan’s subsequent arrest. PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui echoed these denials, asserting that no such offer was made by any member of the government’s negotiating team, either officially or privately. He challenged Imran Khan to provide evidence supporting his claim.

posed by extremist elements, referring to the ongoing issue of terrorism and sectarian violence.

The Prime Minister stressed the importance of a coordinated plan between the provinces, federal government, and defense institutions to strengthen national security.

He emphasised that the government would support any such initiative that aligned with Pakistan’s national interests and contributed to the country’s betterment.

Shehbaz Sharif also addressed the growing digital threat, particularly the online propaganda against Pakistan.

He condemned the misinformation campaigns being run on social media by

external agents and enemies of the state.

He noted that such campaigns, fuelled by false narratives, were designed to undermine Pakistan’s image and create doubt about the country’s stability.

The Prime Minister specifically pointed to recent false narratives spread on social media following the attack on Islamabad, warning that failure to address this challenge would render all efforts futile. Shehbaz Sharif also emphasised the sacrifices made by Pakistan’s security forces and reaffirmed that their efforts would not go in vain.

He urged all citizens to remember the importance of unity and collective action in overcoming challenges and ensuring Pakistan’s continued progress.

The Prime Minister also emphasised the need to confront the growing threat posed by digital media, particularly the spread of fake news and misinformation on social media platforms.

He termed this challenge as crucial for the elimination of terrorism and extremism from Pakistan. The Prime Minister highlighted the role of certain foreign elements in spreading venom against Pakistan via social media.

“On the digital front, the venom against Pakistan is being spitted through social media by some elements abroad.

This is a significant challenge, supported by distorted facts and twisted reality,” he said.

‘Misguided policies’ after Imran Khan’s ouster behind rise in terrorism: KP CM ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Friday claimed that terrorism incidents have intensified after the fall of Imran Khan-led government, criticising the Centre for “misguided policies” that led to the rise in terrorism.

“Since Imran Khan’s government ended, terrorist incidents have increased and misguided policies have led to such outcomes,” he said while speaking to the media in Islamabad after the Apex Committee meeting.

CM Gandapur said that discussions with Afghanistan through a tribal jirga could help improve cross-border relations.

He urged the federal government to grant provincial leaders the authority to mediate talks, emphasising their readiness to involve local tribes to foster peace.

Discussing the Apex Committee meeting, the chief minister highlighted the need for clear action to recover missing persons and condemned the federal government for dismissing political grievances.

He also called for a commission to probe the events of May 9.

CM Gandapur said security responsibilities in border regions fall on the federal government and military.

He noted that military opera-

ATC grants bail to 250 PTI protesters, denies to 150 others in Nov 26 protests cases ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Islamabad on Friday granted bail to 250 individuals arrested in connection with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protests held on November 26. The court granted bail to the 250 persons in 13 cases registered across 10 police jurisdictions in the federal capital, against surety bonds of Rs5,000 each.

However, the court rejected the bail applications of 150 other accused involved in the same protests.

Around 18 detainees linked to the Bani Gala case were granted post-arrest bail. In a case registered at Kohsar Police Station (case number 1033), the court denied bail to all accused, while 43 individuals in another related case were granted bail.

In other cases, nine individuals in the Shahzad Town police case were granted bail, while one plea was rejected. At Noon Police Station, 17 individuals secured bail, but one bail application was denied.

The Aabpara police case saw 70 individuals granted bail, with 25 applications rejected. In the Margalla police station case, 13 individuals received bail, while two bail pleas were dismissed.

Meanwhile, the court denied bail to 120 individuals linked to two Secretariat police cases, but granted bail to 10 others. Bail applications from other police stations, including I-9, Shams Colony, and Sihala, largely saw approval, leading to a mixed outcome for PTI members involved in the protests.

PTI presents two key demands in second round of talks Yesterday, the second round of talks between the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the government have kicked off, with the opposition party presenting two of its major demands ie the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the events of May 9 and November 26, as well as the release of all political prisoners, including the party’s founding chairman Imran Khan.

A PTI delegation arrived at the Parliament House for talks, which included party leaders, including: Omar Ayub, Allama Raja Nasser Abbas, Asad Qaiser, Sahibzada Hamid Raza, and Salman Akram Raja.

CJP convenes JCP to finalise additional IHC, BHC judges’ appointment ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

tions in the merged tribal districts have failed to yield significant results, and alternative measures should be explored.

The chief minister reiterated his commitment to peace and vowed to continue efforts to counter terrorism.

‘925 terrorists killed, 59,000 operations conducted’ In 2024, Pakistan’s security forces and law enforcement agencies conducted an impressive 59,775 counter-terrorism operations across the country, resulting in the death of 925 terrorists, according to the Interior Ministry and the ISPR. The operations, which were primarily intelligence-based, marked a significant achievement in the fight against terrorism.

The authorities also apprehended hundreds of individuals, further dismantling terrorist networks and their support systems.

The operations were part of a coordinated effort to tackle the growing security challenges, especially in regions where extremist elements have been active. A large portion of these successful missions targeted terrorist hideouts, training camps, and key facilitators.

The year saw a strong focus on high-value targets, with 73 of the killed terrorists classified as being among the most wanted. These included notorious figures such as Fida Rahman (known as Lala), Ali Rahman, and Abu Yahya.

Notably, the year also witnessed the capture of two suicide bombers, an operation that likely saved countless lives.

These captures, along with the neutralisation of several terrorists, were part of daily operations, with the country’s security apparatus maintaining a relentless pace of 169 operations per day.

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Yahya Afridi has convened four separate meetings of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) for the appointment of additional judges in high courts. It reports in media that CJP will convene a meeting on January 17 to review appointments of additional judges for Islamabad and Balochistan High Courts. The commission will consider nominations for four positions in the Islamabad High Court and three in the Balochistan High Court.

The Sindh High Court’s session is set for January 23 to deliberate on 12 additional judge nominations.

Similarly, the Peshawar High Court will hold its meeting on February 1, focusing on nine nominations.

The Lahore High Court will conclude the series with a meeting on February 6, discussing 10 additional judge appointments. 20 names sent to JCP for appointment of seven additional judges in IHC, BHC A total of 20 names have been sent to the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) for appointment of seven additional judges in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) and Balochistan High Court (BHC).

For additional judges’ appointment in the IHC, 19 names are sent to the JCP for four positions, including three District and Sessions judges — Raja Jawad Abbas Hassan, Azam Khan and Shahrukh Arjumand— and Additional Sessions Judge Humayun Dilawar.

Negotiations to go on even if Imran Khan is sentenced on Jan 6: PTI ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary Information Waqas Akram Sheikh on Friday said that the party’s negotiation process will continue even if founder Imran Khan is sentenced on January 6 Al-Qadir Trust corruption reference.

He clarified that negotiations with the government would not be linked to any court decisions. “We are not seeking deals with the government but demanding justice,” he asserted.

Sheikh Waqas also reaffirmed that the release of the PTI founder, Imran Khan would only happen through the legal process.

“The first phase of civil disobedience campaign is going on, which is, in fact, contingent upon the demands raised during the govt-opposition negotiations”, Sh Waqas Akram said while addressing media here on Friday.

On Dec 23, an Islamabad accountability court postponed until January 6 its verdict in £190 million Al-Qadir Trust corruption reference against ex-premier Imran Khan and his spouse Bushra Bibi.

The PTI spokesperson highlighted the adverse effects of internet shutdowns, noting that millions of dollars in remittances have been halted due to the disruptions. He accused the government of violating the Constitution and the law, claiming that there is no peace and order.

He described the civil disobedience movement as a stand against a corrupt system and expressed confidence that the success of the movement would become evident within a couple of months.

He emphasized that overseas Pakistanis have been fighting for their rights for decades and are now demanding their right to vote.

“Currently, the first phase of the movement is underway, targeting Pakistanis living abroad”, the PTI leader claimed, adding that these expatriates’ families are being threatened, and the full impact of the movement will be assessed within the next three months.

The PTI spokesperson clarified that the civil disobedience movement is not aimed at the country, but rather at the “bogus” government and what he described as an “incompetent” prime minister. He also acknowledged that PTI’s leadership is aware

of the hardships the movement might impose on the public.

Sh Waqas Akram criticised the current government, asserting that those without a public mandate have been allowed to rule, leading to widespread human rights violations and the military trial of civilians.

He stressed that PTI is a political party, not an armed group, and reaffirmed that the civil disobedience movement will continue without compromise as long as its demands remain unmet.

Addressing speculation, Sheikh denied any arrangement regarding the release of PTI workers from military courts, stressing that their release should not be misconstrued as a goodwill gesture.

In conclusion, he stated that Imran Khan should not face a sentence on January 6, but reiterated that the negotiation process would continue regardless of the court’s decision.

The Islamabad Accountability Court had reserved its verdict in the £190 million AlQadir Trust corruption reference against expremier Imran Khan and his spouse Bushra Bibi and is set to announce the verdict on January 6.

The court had reserved the verdict on December 18, saying that it would be announced on December 23.

However, while presiding over the hearing, Judge Nasir Javed Rana said, “The ver-

dict will not be announced today; [winter] vacations are coming and there is also a course at the high court.”

Officially, the court went on winter vacation from (December 24) until January 1.

LAHORE

talks will be a threat to democracy. “Let the talks take place, whether the government meets the time or not is a matter of time”, he said.

The PTI leader said that Imran Khan’s thinking and decision is in the interest of the country, adding that PTI has started the process of talks in good faith.

The proponents of democracy should seriously move forward”, he stressed.

“We don’t have any demands for political prisoners and they should be released in align with the law and constitution, adding that bail is granted to the murder accused, but their cases are yet to be heard by the court of law.

Talks are not PTI but necessity of Pakistan: Qureshi STAFF REPORT

Incarcerated former foreign minister and PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Friday declared that talks are not the PTI but the need of Pakistan and its failure will be a threat to democracy in the country.

Speaking to the media at the Anti-Terrorism Court Lahore, Qureshi asserted that Pakistan was at a critical juncture, and he pray the talks reach the logical conclusion because Pakistan needs talks, not the PTI. The former FM said that the talks should go to a positive result otherwise the government will be shaken as failure of the

02 NEWS

PAKISTAN, IRAN EXTEND POWER SALE AGREEMENT FOR BALOCHISTAN BORDER AREAS WITH REVISED PRICING

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Saturday, 4 January, 2025 | KARACHI

mula tied to global crude oil prices.

Additionally, line loss-sharing mechanisms for the Polan-Jiwani and Pishin-Mand interconnection lines, established in August 2023 and June 2024, respectively, have been incorporated into the agreement.

The updated agreement is expected to provide continued electricity supply to Balochistan’s border areas while formalizing long-standing trade arrangements between the two countries.

ElEcTRiciTy pRicE sET BETwEEn 7.7 To 11.45 cEnTs pER kwh; agREEmEnT includEs linE loss-shaRing mEchanisms following successful negotiations between Central Power Purchasing Agency-Guaranteed (CPPA-G) and Iranian company Tavanir, according to a news report.

Pakistan imports 100 megawatts (MW) of electricity from Iran to supply bordering areas of Balochistan. The import amounts to approximately 18 million units annually, with the electricity priced at over Rs 27 per

PROFIT

MoNitoriNg Desk

AKISTAN and Iran have finalised an extension of their electricity sale agreement for Balochistan’s border areas, with revised pricing set between 7.7 and 11.45 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh),

vanir delegation and CPPA-G officials in Islamabad on December 26-27, 2024, to finalise the amendment terms. A record note of the discussions has been submitted to the Prime Minister’s Office for review.

Key elements of the agreement include a minimum take-or-pay clause, which requires the buyer to pay Rs 30 million on all interconnection lines, and a new pricing for-

unit—higher than the cost of electricity generated from imported coal and RLNG. Payments have traditionally been made through informal channels or barter trade arrangements.

The previous agreement, which expired on December 31, 2024, has been updated under Amendment No. 10.

Negotiations were held between a Ta-

Submarine cable damage slows internet speed across Pakistan PROFIT

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News Desk

Internet speeds slowed significantly across Pakistan on Friday following damage to a submarine cable, disrupting connectivity for broadband users nationwide.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) confirmed that the AsiaAfrica-Europe (AAE-1) submarine cable was damaged near Qatar, impacting internet services managed by the Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd (PTCL).

PTA issued a public notice, advising that repair efforts were underway and updates would follow.

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Major General (retd) Hafeez Ur Rehman recently dismissed the notion that sharks were responsible for

KPRA revenue surges by 45%, collects Rs24.2b in six months

damaging submarine cables.

Speaking at a Senate Standing Committee on Information and Technology, Rehman clarified that wildlife, including sharks, cannot damage submarine cables, and the issue likely stemmed from technical factors.

PTA Chairman informed the committee that Pakistan currently relies on seven submarine cables for internet services, with an additional “2 Africa” cable expected to improve connectivity soon.

PTCL, which manages three submarine cables — AAE-1, SMW-4, and IMEWE — relies on auxiliary connections to maintain connectivity inthe country,

Rs18.15 billion generated from sales tax, Rs6.07 billion from infrastructure development cess PROFIT

News Desk

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Revenue Authority (KPRA) has achieved a revenue collection of Rs24.2 billion in the first half months of the financial year 2024-25, reflecting a 45% increase compared to the Rs16.7 billion collected during the same period last year.

This Rs7.5 billion growth highlights the authority’s robust performance, according to details shared by KPRA’s media wing. The breakdown of the collections shows that Rs18.15 billion was generated from the sales tax on services, while Rs6.07 billion was collected through the Infrastructure Development Cess (IDC). Compared to last year, sales tax collections rose by 24% from Rs14.6 billion, and IDC collections surged by 189% from Rs2.1 billion. KPRA Director General Fouzia Iqbal attributed this strong performance to the dedication and strategic efforts of the authority’s team. She expressed confidence that KPRA would not only meet its annual revenue target but significantly exceed it. “With the same level of commitment and our strategic approach, I am confident that we will surpass this year’s target,” said DG Iqbal, emphasizing the authority’s focus on sustainable growth and effective revenue collection measures.

Telecom sector earns Rs2.52 trillion in 10 years, pays Rs764b in taxes PROFIT

News Desk

aaE-1 faulT nEaR QaTaR disRupTs connEcTiviTy, pTcl and pTa woRking on REsoluTion

Pakistan’s telecom sector generated a combined revenue of Rs2.521 trillion over the past decade, with three major operators contributing Rs763.81 billion in taxes. From fiscal year 2013-14 to 2022-23, Jazz led the industry with earnings of Rs1.663 trillion, contributing Rs502.51 billion in taxes. Zong followed with Rs821.54 billion in revenue, paying Rs248.88 billion in taxes. Nayatel, a relatively smaller player, recorded an income of Rs37.6 billion and paid Rs12.42 billion in taxes during the same period. The figures highlight the critical role of telecom operators in supporting Pakistan’s economy through substantial tax contributions while catering to the country’s growing communication and connectivity needs.

with all three cables landing in Karachi.

SMW-4 and IMEWE have landing points at Hawksbay Beach, while AAE-1 connects via Clifton Beach.

Additionally, Transworld Associates operates two submarine cables — SMW5 and TWA-1 — linking Pakistan with international internet hubs in the Gulf.

Meanwhile, Cyber Internet Services Ltd manages the PEACE cable, which originates in China, terminates at Misri Shah in Karachi, and connects onward to Europe.

He also addressed the PTA’s role in regulating social media, revealing that the authority receives around 500 complaints daily. He noted that approxi-

mately 80% of flagged content is removed from platforms, while the remaining 20% stays accessible.

A key point of discussion was the PTA’s authority to impose regional internet shutdowns. Senator Kamran Murtaza questioned the legal basis for such actions, as there is no explicit provision in the law permitting regional restrictions.

An official from the Ministry of IT clarified that the Ministry of Interior directs such shutdowns when deemed necessary, a practice in place since 2016.

The PTA Chairman acknowledged that internet restrictions have also been enforced following directives from the Supreme Court and High Court. He emphasized that targeted internet shutdowns to address specific content issues could be carried out legally under government orders.

Up to 125% hike in rent ceiling for federal employees proposed g

pakisTan puBlic woRks dEpaRTmEnT sEnds iTs REcommEndaTions To housing minisTRy afTER maRkET suRvEy ing would go up from Rs10,980 to Rs24,705, and Rawalpindi’s from Rs9,654 to Rs21,722.

For employees in Grade 7 to 10, a 100% increase has been proposed. In Islamabad, the rental ceiling would rise from Rs16,403 to Rs32,804, while in Rawalpindi, it would increase from Rs14,682 to Rs29,364.

For Grade 11 to 22, a 60% hike has been recommended. The proposed ceilings are as follows:

PROFIT

News Desk

The Pakistan Public Works Department (Pak PWD) has recommended a significant increase in the rental ceiling for federal employees, proposing hikes ranging from 60% to 125% across various pay scales.

The proposal, prepared after a detailed market survey, has been sent to the Ministry of Housing and Construction for approval. For employees in Grade 1 to 6, the recommendations suggest a 125% increase. In Islamabad, the rental ceiling for Grade 1 and 2 employees would rise from Rs7,029 to Rs15,815, while in Rawalpindi, it would increase from Rs6,591 to Rs14,830.

For Grade 3 to 6, Islamabad’s ceil-

Grade 11 to 13: In Islamabad, Rs24,744 to Rs39,590, and in Rawalpindi, Rs21,462 to Rs34,339.

Grade 14 to 16: In Islamabad, Rs31,085 to Rs49,736, and in Rawalpindi, Rs27,134 to Rs43,414.

Grade 17 and 18: In Islamabad,

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Rs41,147 to Rs65,835, and in Rawalpindi, Rs35,898 to Rs57,437. n Grade 19: In Islamabad, Rs54,704 to Rs87,526, and in Rawalpindi, Rs46,816 to Rs74,906. n Grade 20: In Islamabad, Rs68,700 to Rs109,920, and in Rawalpindi, Rs59,079 to Rs94,526. n Grade 21: In Islamabad, Rs82,261 to Rs131,618, and in Rawalpindi, Rs71,107 to Rs113,771. n Grade 22: In Islamabad, Rs98,444 to Rs157,510, and in Rawalpindi, Rs98,444 to Rs142,768.

The proposed revisions aim to align rental ceilings with current market rates and accommodate rising housing costs in the twin cities. The final decision now rests with the Ministry of Housing and Construction.

KSE-100 index rises by almost 500 points in volatile trading session PROFIT

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News Desk

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed a mid-session recovery on Friday, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index rebounding over 200 points after earlier selling pressure.

The index opened negatively, touching an intra-day low of 115,580.01, before buying interest in the second half lifted it to 117,586.98 points by the close, marking an increase of 321.96 points or 0.27%.

Key sectors, including automobile

Buying RETuRns TowaRds End afTER iniTially dRopping 1500 poinTs aT sTaRT of TRading sEssion

assemblers, cement, chemical, commercial banks, and oil and gas, initially faced selling pressure, with heavyweights such as HUBCO, PSO, MARI, and UBL trading in the red.

However, market sentiment improved as investors capitalised on attractive valuations.

“Equities, particularly cyclicals, present attractive opportunities for investors as the country gradually transi-

tions from stabilisation to growth,” noted Intermarket Securities.

Most traded stocks included WTL, CNERGY, FCCL, FFC. Meanwhile the day’s top gainers included Tri-Star Power, Deewan Textile, Asim Textile, and Pak Gulf Leasing.

The previous session on Thursday saw the KSE-100 close nearly flat at 117,119.65 points, a gain of 111.57 points, after a volatile trading day.

Punjab govt extends deadline for agricultural tube well solarisation applications PROFIT

News Desk

The Punjab government has extended the application deadline for its agricultural tubewell solarisation program. The provincial government has allocated Rs9 billion for converting 8,000 agricultural tube wells to solar energy. Subsidies include Rs500,000 for tube wells up to 10kW, Rs750,000 for those up to 15kW, and Rs1 million for capacities up to 20kW. Farmers owning at least one acre of agricultural land are eligible to apply and can submit applications online by downloading forms from designated websites. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif reiterated her government’s commitment to supporting the agricultural sector. “Every promise made to the farmers will be fulfilled, and their prosperity will contribute to Punjab’s progress and development,” she said.

Highlighting the financial relief for farmers, the chief minister stated, “The solarisation of agricultural tube wells will reduce the burden of high electricity bills. Whenever the PML-N government is in power, the welfare of farmers remains a priority.”

SECP withdraws notice about cancellation of broker licenses

Reinstates broker licenses of four TRE certificate holders PROFIT

News Desk

In a major reversal, the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has reinstated the broker licenses of four TRE Certificate Holders, including First National Equities Limited. The SECP had previously cancelled the securities broker licenses of First National Equities Limited, First Choice Securities Limited, Surmawala Securities (Private) Limited, and Falki Capital (Private) Limited on January 1, 2025, citing regulatory breaches and failure to apply for license renewal. For some firms, the inability to voluntarily surrender their TRE Certificates also contributed to the initial cancellation decision. While details on the reinstatement are yet to emerge, the move is expected to provide relief to the affected entities and restore confidence among market participants. The SECP’s initial action had raised concerns regarding regulatory compliance within the brokerage sector.

Pakistan’s cotton arrivals plunge by 33% YoY g

dEclinE ExacERBaTEs challEngEs foR TExTilE ExpoRTs PROFIT

MoNitoriNg Desk

Cotton arrivals in Pakistan fell sharply by 33% as of December 31, 2024, compared to the same period last year, according to data from the Pakistan Cotton Ginners’ Association (PCGA). Total arrivals stood at 5.452 million bales, down from 8.171 million bales a year earlier—a shortfall of 2.719 million bales.

The fortnightly report showed a slight 2% improvement from mid-December, when arrivals totalled 5.367 million bales.

The sharp decline in cotton, a critical input for Pakistan’s textile sector, has

added pressure to an industry already grappling with diminished demand and escalating energy costs.

“Poor farmer economics and delayed planting of the cotton crop are key reasons behind this decline,” noted Arif Habib Limited in a research note.

Sajid Mahmood of the Central Cotton Research Institute highlighted that only 1.974 million hectares were cultivated in 2024—just 63% of the 3.118 millionhectare target.

Both Punjab and Sindh reported significant declines in cotton arrivals. Punjab registered 2.659 million bales, down 35% from 4.079 million bales last year. Sindh

reported 2.793 million bales, a 32% decrease from 4.092 million bales year-onyear. Despite these declines, marginal

fortnightly increases were recorded, with Punjab seeing a 3% rise and Sindh a 1% uptick compared to mid-December.

Govt shelves privatisation of Pakistan National Shipping Corporation g

pnsc classifiEd as sTRaTEgic sTaTE-ownEd EnTERpRisE duE To naTional sEcuRiTy concERns PROFIT

MoNitoriNg Desk

The federal government has decided to abandon plans to privatise the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) through a public offering, citing its strategic importance to national security and the economy.

PNSC, established under the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation Ordinance 1979 and listed on the Pakistan Stock Ex-

change (PSX), is 87.56% owned by the government, while the public and PNSC Employees Empowerment Trust hold the remaining 10.87%.

The proposed privatisation aimed to generate funding by increasing private shareholding for fleet expansion.

During a high-level meeting, it was informed that PNSC’s classification as a stateowned enterprise (SOE) under the State-Owned Enterprises (Ownership and

Management) Policy, 2023, was reviewed by its board of directors. In its May 2024 meeting, the board resolved that PNSC should be retained and categorised as a “strategic state-owned enterprise.”

The board highlighted that PNSC is a profitable entity providing vital services to state institutions, ensuring supply chain schedules, and serving as a second line of defence during conflicts and crises.

The Ministry of Maritime Affairs also

raised concerns about the ageing fleet, recommending privatisation through the stock exchange to fund fleet expansion.

However, ministries consulted on the matter opposed privatisation, emphasising PNSC’s role in maintaining sea lines of communication, reducing war risk surcharges, and transporting sensitive cargo during crises. They argued that privatisation would compromise national security and economic stability.

In September 2024, the Cabinet Committee on State-Owned Enterprises (CCOSOEs) reviewed the case and declared PNSC a strategic SOE, directing it to explore alternative funding sources for fleet expansion. The task force on the maritime sector also endorsed this decision during its October 2024 meeting.

Later, the cabinet reviewed a summary submitted by the Maritime Affairs Division but deferred the final decision on PNSC’s status, noting that it would be considered alongside similar cases.

SIFC APPROVES ACTION PLAN FOR SEZS, HAILS IMPROVED ECONOMIC INDICATORS

NEWS 03

Saturday, 4 January, 2025 | KARACHI

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pM vows export-led growth and econoMic stability; arMy chief reiterates Military’s support for govt initiatives ISLAMABAD APP

RIME MINISTER Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif chairs 11th Meeting of the Apex Committee of Special Investment Facilitation Council on January 2, 2025.

The Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) approved an action plan for the optimization of Special Economic Zones (SEZs), aimed at revitalizing Pakistan’s industrial sector. The council also reviewed a proposal for the National Minerals Harmonization Framework, incorporating input from all stakeholders.

The 11th Apex Committee meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, was attended by Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, federal cabinet members, provincial chief ministers, the prime minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, the

Tesla achieves record China sales in 2024 despite global EV challenges

chief minister of Gilgit-Baltistan, and senior officials.

The Secretary of the Apex Committee provided a detailed briefing on SIFC’s strategic initiatives, emphasizing its contributions to the National Economic Transformation Plan 2024-2029, dubbed “Uraan Pakistan.” The committee expressed satisfaction with the country’s improving macroeconomic conditions and stressed collective efforts for sustained economic growth and public welfare.

Key decisions included approving the SEZs optimization plan and reviewing proposals to harmonize mineral policies.

Updates were shared on human resource development initiatives aimed at enhancing skills and accreditation to global standards. Provincial leaders also highlighted ongoing projects in their regions designed to drive economic growth.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif lauded

record china sales highlight pivotal role in tesla's strategy despite global delivery slump PROFIT

Monitoring Desk

Tesla Inc. reported a record-breaking year in China with sales exceeding 657,000 vehicles in 2024, marking an 8.8% increase compared to the previous year. Despite this strong performance in the world’s largest automotive market, Tesla’s global deliveries dropped for the first time, sliding 1.1% year-on-year to 1.79 million vehicles. China accounted for 36.7% of Tesla’s global sales in 2024, underlining the region’s importance to the company’s growth.

In December alone, Tesla delivered 83,000 cars in China, a 12.8% monthly increase, according to Tesla China. John Zeng, head of market forecasts for China at GlobalData, highlighted China’s unique position as a growth leader in the global EV sector. “China accounted for 70% of global EV and hybrid sales in the first 11 months of 2024,” he stated, noting its outsized contribution to global sales growth.

However, Tesla faced intensifying competition from Chinese automakers like BYD, whose global EV sales surged 12.1% to 1.76 million units in 2024. BYD’s passenger vehicle sales jumped 41% to over 4.25 million units, solidifying its dominance in the Chinese market and expanding its footprint overseas.

Tesla has responded to the competitive EV market in China by extending incentives such as ¥10,000 ($1,370) discounts on Model Y loans and zero-interest financing for certain models, aiming to sustain momentum as the price war enters its third year. Meanwhile, BYD encountered challenges abroad, missing its export target of 450,000 units and facing scrutiny in Brazil over labor conditions at its factory construction site. As Tesla navigates a global landscape characterized by waning subsidies, rising competition, and evolving consumer preferences, its record-breaking performance in China underscores the critical role of the region in its strategic outlook.

Sindh Revenue Board’s tax collection rises by 23% in Jul-Dec

srb records 27% growth in revenue collection for december 2024, amassing rs27.03 billion PROFIT

news Desk

The Sindh Revenue Board (SRB) recorded a remarkable 27% growth in revenue collection for December 2024, amassing Rs27.03 billion compared to Rs21.30 billion collected in the same month last year. For the first half of the fiscal year 2024-25, the SRB’s total revenue collection surged to Rs133.14 billion, a 23% increase from Rs108.59 billion in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year. The robust growth underscores the board’s improved tax administration and policy measures aimed at meeting its annual revenue targets, reinforcing fiscal stability in the province.

the economic team for improving macroeconomic indicators, including reducing inflation to 4.1%, increasing remittances by 34%, and raising foreign exchange reserves from $4 billion to $12.5 billion. He noted that the policy rate at 13% could potentially be reduced further due to lower inflation.

The prime minister highlighted the signing of multi-billion-dollar MoUs with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, underscoring the country’s transition from economic stabilization to a growth phase.

“Export-led growth is essential for achieving economic development—we have no other option,” he asserted.

Shehbaz also commended the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for collecting an additional Rs72 billion under the Advanceto-Tax Ratio (ADR), which nearly achieved the December 2024 revenue target. He noted that faceless container inspection facilities had cut inspection times by 39%,

providing 89% relief to businesses.

Discussing smuggling, he reported that sugar smuggling to Afghanistan had been reduced to zero, yielding $0.5 billion from sugar exports. Additionally, rice exports surged to $4 billion.

On national security, the prime minister emphasized that combating terrorism remains critical to achieving economic progress. He praised the agreement between tribes in Kurram for stabilizing the area but expressed grief over the loss of innocent lives.

Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir reiterated the military’s support for government initiatives, assuring unwavering efforts to maintain peace and security.

The meeting concluded with a call for collective efforts across all tiers of government to sustain economic and social progress while addressing security challenges effectively.

Govt misses IMF deadline to amend Sovereign Wealth Fund Act g

delays in law revisions risk breaching coMMitMents under $7b iMf prograMMe

dates with the IMF,” Abbasi said.

The Sovereign Wealth Fund Act, enacted in 2023, allows the government to transfer shares of seven major entities, including Oil and Gas Development Company (OGDCL) and Pakistan Petroleum Limited, to the fund for eventual sale. The IMF insists these entities must fall under the SOE governance framework and that revenues generated through the fund’s operations be deposited directly into the national exchequer.

Disagreements over the mode of amendments—via rules or binding legislation—have contributed to the delay.

The government has argued that some changes can be implemented through rules, a position the IMF has rejected.

The IMF’s programme review, expected this quarter, will evaluate Pakistan’s compliance with the agreed conditions. This is the third missed target after the government failed to meet tax collection goals of Rs6.009 trillion and Rs23.4 billion from traders by December.

PROFIT

Monitoring Desk

The federal government has failed to meet a key International Monetary Fund (IMF) condition to amend the Pakistan Sovereign Wealth Fund Act by December 2024, reported The Express Tribune.

This delay risks straining the ongoing $7 billion IMF programme, which demands governance and transparency improvements in fiscal management.

According to a news report, the Ministry of Finance had committed to the IMF that it would revise the law to address governance structure issues and mandate competitive bidding for state asset sales. However, Ministry spokesperson Qumar Abbasi confirmed that the amendments were not finalized by the December deadline, despite extensive progress on the draft.

“We are finalising the necessary amendments to align the sovereign wealth fund law with international best practices and have been sharing up-

The IMF has pushed for legislative changes to strengthen the fund’s governance, prevent direct asset sales to foreign entities without competition, and ensure compliance with the StateOwned Enterprises (SOEs) Act. The global lender also seeks to prohibit the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) from lending to the fund and restrict the fund from providing loans to government entities.

The Sovereign Wealth Fund currently manages domestic and foreign equity securities, debt instruments, and other financial assets. It is also empowered to participate in privatisation processes and public-private partnerships.

Proposed amendments would terminate these rights, limiting the fund’s role to asset management under stricter oversight.

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, in a prior Letter of Intent to the IMF, had pledged to enhance the fund’s governance as part of broader SOE reforms aimed at reducing losses and improving efficiency. However, the IMF remains firm on ensuring a level playing field for investments through robust governance standards.

CCP facilitates Rs29.6 billion FDI through merger approvals in 2024 g

Major deals span energy, finance, telecoM, and agriculture sectors

the acquisition of Advans Pakistan Microfinance Bank Limited by MNT– Halan Pak B.V., a Dutch-Egyptian financial group. The deal is expected to transform the financial services sector by introducing modern financial technology and enhancing market competition.

The agriculture sector also saw a boost with Euricom S.P.A. acquiring a 50% shareholding in Fatima Euricom Rice Mills (Pvt) Ltd. Approved by the CCP, this Italian investment highlights Pakistan’s untapped agricultural potential and its growing appeal in the global agribusiness market.

In November 2024, the CCP approved the 50% acquisition of Total Parco Pakistan Ltd (TPPL) by Switzerland’s Aquashore SA, part of the Gunvor Group. This deal reflects growing international interest in Pakistan’s energy sector, aligning with the country’s

PROFIT

Monitoring Desk

The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has approved mergers and acquisitions bringing Rs29.6 billion in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to Pakistan during 2024.

The CCP reviewed 64 pre-merger applications across key sectors, including banking, energy, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, agriculture, and telecommunications. One of the standout transactions was Aramco Asia’s acquisition of a 40% stake in GO Petroleum, marking the company’s entry into Pakistan’s fuel retail market. Approved in April 2024, this deal signals Aramco’s confidence in Pakistan’s economic potential and highlights the energy sector’s appeal to global investors.

In March 2024, the CCP approved

energy diversification goals.

In another significant deal, Wafi Energy Holding Limited, a UAE-based subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Asyad Holding, acquired a 77.42% stake in Shell Pakistan Limited. Approved in July 2024, the acquisition strengthens ties between Pakistan and Gulf countries while advancing the energy market.

The CCP is currently conducting a second-phase assessment of a highstakes deal involving the acquisition of Telenor Pakistan (Private) Limited and Orion Towers Private Limited by PTCL. This complex merger is expected to reshape Pakistan’s telecommunications sector, impacting market competition and consumer dynamics.

Beyond these mergers, the CCP granted 56 exemption certificates in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, automotive, consumer goods, food & beverage, telecommunications, and transport.

These exemptions aim to encourage market competition, promote technological innovation, and deliver broader economic and consumer benefits.

Weekly inflation eases by 0.26%, year-on-year rise at 3.97%

weekly inflation dips slightly, but prices of key essentials continue to rise PROFIT

Monitoring Desk

The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) for the week ending January 2, 2025, showed a slight week-on-week decrease of 0.26%, while year-on-year inflation rose by 3.97%, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). The index tracks the prices of 51 essential items across 17 urban centers. During the week, prices of key food items fluctuated significantly. Tomatoes experienced the steepest decline, dropping by 13.48%, followed by electricity charges for Q1, which fell by 7.48%, and potatoes, which decreased by 5.59%. However, prices of chicken surged by 10.28%, onions increased by 4.93%, and bananas rose by 1.68%. Sugar prices continued their upward trajectory, climbing by 0.95% for the fifth consecutive week. Non-food items also showed mixed trends. Diesel prices rose by 1.18%, while firewood saw a 0.55% increase. However, LPG prices declined by 0.18%, reflecting some relief for consumers.

Year-on-year trends highlighted significant price increases for several essential commodities. Tomatoes saw a staggering 77.84% rise, followed by ladies’ sandals with a 75.09% jump, and potatoes, up by 66.63%. Conversely, wheat flour prices decreased by 36.12%, while electricity charges dropped by 13.92%. The PBS report also noted disparities in price impacts across different income groups. The lowest expenditure group witnessed a 0.51% weekly decrease in SPI, while the highest group experienced a 0.10% decline. On a yearly basis, inflation for the lowest income quintile rose by 3.72%, marginally lower than the 4.15% increase for the highest income quintile. The volatile pricing trends underscore persistent challenges in Pakistan’s inflationary landscape, with significant variations in food and energy costs impacting consumers differently across income brackets.

SBP injects Rs2.43 trillion in the market KARACHI APP

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) injected Rs2,429.65 billion in the market through reverse repo purchase and Shariah Compliant Mudarabah based Open Market Operations (OMO) on Friday. The SBP conducted Open Market Operation, Reverse Repo Purchase (Injection) on January 03, 2025 for 7-day and 28-day tenors and, as per results issued, accepted an amount of Rs2,245.65 billion offered through 23 bids. The central bank received 10 bids for 7-day tenor cumulatively offering an amount of Rs1,455.8 billion at the rate of return ranging between 13.04 to 13.09 percent while 13 bids were received for the 28-day tenor offering an amount of Rs1,145.65 billion at the rate of return ranging between 13.04 to 13.08 %. The central bank accepted an amount of Rs1,100 billion offered through 10 quotes for 7-day tenor at 13.04% rate of return.

Total amount offered at 13.04% was Rs427 billion, out of which SBP accepted Rs100 billion on pro rata basis. The SBP also accepted all the 13 quotes offered for 28day tenor amounting to Rs1,145.65 billion at 13.04% rate of return. Meanwhile, SBP also conducted Shariah Compliant Mudarabah based Open Market Operation for the 7-day and 28-day tenors and injected Rs184 billion into the market while accepting the 5 quotes offered. The central bank received 4 bids for 7-day tenor quoting an amount of Rs179 billion at the rate of return ranging between 13.08 to 13.10 % and one bid for 28-day tenor amounting to Rs5 billion at 13.08% rate of return. The SBP accepted all the 5 quotes for 7-day and 28-day tenors with the entire offered amount at 13.08% rate of return.

Exchange companies manage $7b in forex transactions in 2024 g

contribute $3.85b to interbank Market and $3.15b to open Market transactions PROFIT

news Desk

Exchange companies in Pakistan have handled an impressive $7 billion in foreign exchange transactions during 2024, significantly supporting the country’s economic stability and growth.

Zafar Paracha, Secretary General of the Exchange Companies Association of

Pakistan (ECAP), revealed that exchange companies injected $3.85 billion into the interbank market to bolster Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves.

An additional $3.15 billion was managed in the open market to facilitate international travel, including Hajj and Umrah, overseas university fees, family assistance, and medical treatments abroad.

“These figures highlight the pivotal role exchange companies play in facilitating international trade, remittances, and currency exchanges,” Paracha said.

He noted that the sector has proven its resilience and efficiency by navigating fluctuating market conditions and addressing the diverse needs of businesses and consumers.

Paracha commended the collabora-

tive efforts of law enforcement agencies and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) in ensuring the sector’s regulatory compliance and operational success.

He particularly praised the SBP’s introduction of an updated framework for exchange companies, which aims to enhance operational capabilities, safeguard customer interests, and curb illegal trading in the gray market.

Tax Bar Association urges larger bench to resolve tax disputes over foreign property income g

conflicting rulings create uncertainty for pakistani residents owning properties in uae and uk PROFIT

Monitoring Desk

The Pakistan Tax Bar Association (PTBA) has called for the formation of a larger bench to address inconsistencies in rulings on the taxation of foreign property income, a matter affecting Pakistani tax residents with properties in the UAE and the UK.

In a letter to the chairman of the Appellate Tribunal Inland Revenue (ATIR), the PTBA highlighted contradictory decisions by different divisional benches of the tribunal. While the Lahore Registry ruled in 2022 and 2024 that income from UAE and UK properties is not taxable in Pakistan, the Islamabad Registry decided in November 2022 that similar income from UAE

properties is taxable.

“This divergence in rulings has created significant legal uncertainty for taxpayers, impacting proper tax compliance and administration,” the PTBA stated, urging swift action to clarify the matter.

To resolve the issue, the PTBA has formally requested the formation of a larger bench under Rule 3(2) of the ATIR (Func-

tions) Rules, 2023. The association cited a 1997 precedent where conflicting decisions by benches of equal strength led to complications and confusion in tax administration.

Last month, the Appellate Tribunal Inland Revenue ruled that rental income and capital gains earned by resident Pakistanis from the UAE and the UK are not taxable in

Pakistan under the tax treaties with these countries.

The tribunal upheld that taxing rights for such income rest exclusively with the country where the income originates.

The PTBA emphasized the urgency of resolving this matter, noting that an increasing number of Pakistani tax residents now own properties abroad, particularly in the UAE and the UK. Clear guidelines, it said, are essential to ensure taxpayers can meet their obligations without ambiguity.

04 COMMENT

Trump predicts Canada as the 51st State

Saturday, 4 January, 2025

Sugar industry

U

The government tackles the sugar industry sympathetically

Canada’s economic problems cause renewal of an old debate

RBAN legend has got the sugar industry, or rather the ‘barons’ who are supposed to run it, as responsible for the woes of the country.

They evade excise by fudging production figures, and blackmarketing the sugar they have under-reported.

They first encourage farmers to grow sugarcane, even though there is not enough water for it, and then delay paying them for that cane; thus they have ruined the agriculture of the entire country. Most damagingly, they export their product and create a domestic shortage, forcing the government to import it, thus upsetting the balance of trade. Its status as a staple means that it is a politically sensitive subject. There is a kernel of truth in all the accusations. The sugar lobby is politically very powerful, and has a firm presence in every government, every political party. It can be considered part of the ‘deep state’, so ubiquitous is its presence. As one of the highest payers of income tax and sales tax, the government has to give it due considertiom However, for all its power, it has got a lot of bad press. The industry finds itself tarred with the same brush. Therefore, the industry deserved the setting up of a Committee on Sugar Stocking, Forecasting and Export, and that the industry should be represented on the committee. The issue is that of exports. While millers naturally seek to sell abroad if they can earn more money than at home, this hs created a shortage at home, forcing up the price. By looking at the proposal of a decade to deregulate the industry, the committee was also looking to more freedom to export. However, as the Minister pointed out, there was a need to improve productivity. It is only when Pakistani sugar is both cheaper and better that it will create sufficient demand for itself.

While productivity will only be improved at the level of the mills and farmers, it is up to the government to take the steps necessary to ensure that increase in productivity. It will have a greater need of ensuring correct and plentiful data before any decisions are made. After all, sugar is a staple, and has been treated as such since at least World War II, when it was rationed for the first time. It is important for the industry to carry out research on minimizing water use, including examining alternatives such as sugar-beets.

For that, the government must step up to the plate.

M

Qamar Bashir

ACOMB, Detroit, Michigan-The notion of the USA annexing Canada has recently gained attention, primarily due to remarks by the US President-elect Donald Trump. During a dinner at Mar-aLago, Trump reportedly joked about Canada becoming the 51st state, causing nervous laughter from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his delegation.

Following this, Trump’s son, Eric Trump, shared a doctored image on social media depicting his father purchasing Canada, Greenland, and the Panama Canal on Amazon, captioned “We are so back!!!”.

These comments have been met with a mix of concern and dismissal. Carleton University professor Aaron Ettinger described them as “profoundly unserious,” suggesting they are taunts that do not reflect the serious nature of trade discussions between the two countries.

Canadian officials, including Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who was present at the dinner, have characterized the remarks as lighthearted jokes. LeBlanc stated, “The president was telling jokes. The president was teasing us,” emphasizing the informal nature of the conversation.

In a recent interview on Fox Business, Canadian businessman and “Shark Tank” star Kevin O’Leary expressed support for President-elect Donald Trump’s suggestion that Canada could become the 51st US state. O’Leary claimed that “at least half of Canadians are interested” in this idea and proposed visiting Mara-Lago to discuss the potential merger directly with Trump. He outlined a vision of combining the two economies, eliminating the border, adopting a common currency, and creating an EU-like passport system, which he believes would strengthen both nations against geopolitical threats. O’Leary criticized Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government, describing it as “collapsing,” and suggested that Canadians would trust him to negotiate such a deal.

These remarks have sparked significant debate and backlash, with many Canadians expressing strong opposition to the idea and criticizing O’Leary’s stance. The reality is that though the idea of the USA annexing Canada has occasionally been surfacing in historical, speculative, and social discourse, it lacks serious political backing.

Rooted partly in the 19th-century notion of “Manifest Destiny,” this concept has been fueled by

Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor

historical events like the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and brief 19th-century annexation sentiments in Canada, particularly during economic hardship. Modern discussions often arise on social media, driven by online speculation, conspiracy theories about a “North American Union. While some proponents cite economic synergies and political alignment— especially in western provinces like Alberta— critics argue it threatens Canadian identity and cherished systems like universal healthcare.

These ideas are getting media traction and generating heated debate as Canada is currently grappling with several economic challenges, including sluggish GDP growth, rising inflation, financial vulnerabilities, and increasing unemployment. The economy expanded by just one percent in the third quarter of 2024, falling short of forecasts, while GDP per capita declined for the sixth consecutive quarter, signaling worsening living standards. Inflation has risen to 2.0 percent, within the Bank of Canada’s target range, but producer prices have also increased, partly due to a weaker Canadian dollar. In addition, the high household debt levels, among the highest in the G7, remain a significant financial concern, compounded by recent interest rate adjustments, including a halfpoint cut to 3.25 percent in December. Unemployment has risen to 6.5 percent, with layoffs increasing by 20 percent year-over-year and young workers facing significant barriers to employment. Additionally, labour productivity growth has stagnated, with six consecutive quarters of decline, highlighting systemic challenges in economic performance.

Canada’s recent economic challenges have significantly impacted immigration trends, leading to both a slowdown in new arrivals and an increase in reverse migration. In the third quarter of 2024, population growth slowed to 0.4 percent, the lowest since early 2022, as the government reduced immigration targets to 395,000 new permanent residents for 2025, down from 485,000 in 2024. These measures, combined with economic hardships, have prompted approximately five percent of immigrants from the past decade to permanently leave Canada, citing high living costs and employment difficulties. Additionally, 2023 saw the highest number of immigrants leaving the country in over a decade, signaling a troubling trend of reverse migration.

As a consequence of this apparent economic meltdown the social media is abuzz with rumours, predictions, and speculative discussions about the annexation of Canada by the USA. While this idea

Babar Nizami Editor Profit

Modi favours big business

O

ahmad ali

N December 2024, the farmers of Indian Punjab called for a bandh (strike), in protest against the policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. This protest is the latest in a series of farmer-led movements that have captured the attention of the nation. It brings to light a crucial question: Are the policies of the Modi government exploitative? What do these protests signify for the future of India’s social and political fabric? And most importantly, how are these protests affecting the Indian economy?

The Punjab Bandh lies at the heart of a long-standing opposition to the agricultural laws passed in 2020. The Modi government’s thrust toward “market-oriented” reforms, especially in agriculture, has been seen as a mechanism for corporate interests to exploit vulnerable farmers. For instance, the laws allow for contract farming, which critics argue could lead to farmers being forced into unfair agreements with large corporations. With the weakening of the Minimum Support Price system and a push for deregulation, farmers fear that they will be at the mercy of market forces beyond their control.

The Punjab Bandh is a manifestation of this deep-seated frustration. Farmers in Punjab, who have long relied on MSP and state procurement systems, view these reforms as an attempt to dismantle the safety nets that have supported their livelihoods. The state’s large agricultural sector, which has contributed significantly to India’s food security, now faces an uncertain future under these policies. The Modi government’s insistence on pushing forward with these reforms, despite widespread protests, highlights the government’s inclination toward benefiting large agribusinesses at the expense of smallholder farmers.

This approach can be seen as part of a larger pattern of the government’s pro-corporate, neoliberal policies, which tend to favour the interests of large conglomerates rather than the common people. The fundamental issue here is not just the farm laws, but the entire economic

direction the Modi government has taken. The agricultural sector in India is a vital lifeline for the majority of the population, and policies that threaten its survival will have long-term ramifications for the country’s rural economy.

Beyond the economic implications, the Punjab Bandh also points to a much deeper political and social polarization in India. Modi’s government has increasingly been seen as one that caters to the needs of a select elite while marginalizing large sections of society. This is evident in the way it has handled the farm protests. Instead of engaging in meaningful dialogue with the farmers, the government adopted an authoritarian approach, using force and intimidation to silence dissent. The farmers were labelled as “anti-nationals,” and their protests were met with heavy police action.

This confrontational stance has only deepened divisions between different sections of Indian society. The handling of the protests has played into the narrative of Hindu nationalism, with many seeing the government’s indifference to the sufferings of farmers as a reflection of its broader political agenda. While Punjab, with its Sikh majority, has been at the forefront of these protests, the government’s approach has been interpreted by many as one that exacerbates regional, religious, and caste-based divisions in the country.

The economic consequences of these protests cannot be ignored. The agricultural sector, which contributes a substantial portion to India’s GDP, has been hit hard. The uncertainty surrounding the future of agriculture, combined with the ongoing protests, is discouraging investment and crippling productivity. Punjab is one of India’s top agricultural producers, and its farmers play a critical role in ensuring the country’s food security. Yet, the state’s agriculture is in peril due to the government’s policy decisions. In an economy that is already reeling

from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and global economic challenges, these disruptions make it harder to recover.

The Punjab Bandh and the larger farmer protests are not isolated incidents; they are part of a broader pattern of dissatisfaction with the Modi government’s policies. The political polarization in India today is not just limited to the farmer’s protests. The country is witnessing increasing social unrest, fuelled by the Modi government’s divisive rhetoric and its policies that promote religious nationalism. The government’s exploitative agricultural policies, its emphasis on political and social polarization, and the long-term economic ramifications of its actions are creating a volatile situation. The Punjab Bandh and the ongoing farmer protests serve as a reminder of the growing fracture within Indian society. The protests represent the struggles of a marginalized section of the population that feels increasingly alienated from the state.

The writer is a research fellow at Epis Think-tank Germany and an intern at Kashmir institute of International relations. He can be reached at Ali7664556@gmail.com

The Punjab Bandh and the larger farmer protests are not isolated incidents; they are part of a broader pattern of dissatisfaction with the Modi governmentÊs policies. The political polarization in India today is not just limited to the farmerÊs protests. The country is witnessing increasing social unrest, fuelled by the Modi governmentÊs divisive rhetoric and its policies that promote religious nationalism. The governmentÊs exploitative agricultural policies, its emphasis on political and social polarization, and the long-term economic ramifications of its actions are creating a volatile situation.

Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

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Karachi – Ph: 021-32640318 I

The writer retired as Press Secretary the the President, and is former Press Minister at Embassy of Paikistan to France and former MD, Shalimar Recording & Broadcasting Company Limited

Ultimately, the fate of this notion rests on the political, economic, administrative, and collective wisdom of Canadians. It is their responsibility to pull the country out of its current quagmire and restore stability and growth, thereby quelling any interest in annexation.

Punjab Bandh: A crisis exposing India’s deepening divide under Modi M. A. Niazi

Editor Pakistan Today

seems far-fetched and unlikely to materialize in the near or distant future, the combination of a struggling economy and geopolitical concerns— such as Russia’s proximity to Canada via the Arctic— has sparked intense debates and fueled such narratives.

If the annexation of Canada by the USA were to occur, it would dramatically reshape both nations across political, economic, and cultural dimensions.

Politically, Canada’s provinces would likely become U. states, its parliamentary system replaced by the US federal structure, and Canadian laws subordinated to US governance, sparking debates over healthcare, gun control, and environmental policies.

Economically, the Canadian dollar would be replaced by the US dollar, creating a unified market but potentially disrupting social programmes like universal healthcare. Canada’s vast natural resources would bolster US energy independence, while trade barriers would vanish, forming the largest free market globally. Culturally, Canada’s identity, including bilingualism and multiculturalism, could face challenges under increased US influence. Geopolitically, the US-Canada entity would emerge as a dominant superpower, gaining strategic Arctic leverage and unparalleled global influence. However, this union would face significant challenges, including regional resistance, cultural integration, and logistical hurdles, with the ultimate outcome depending on effective management and a balance between preserving diversity and fostering unity.

While the idea of outright annexation of Canada by the USA is likely to remain at the ideological level, continued economic struggles could pave the way for deeper economic, financial, trade, and investment relations between the two nations as a starting point. The idea might gain further traction if the Trudeau administration fails to halt the economic downturn but could fade entirely with the return of prosperity to Canada.

Ultimately, the fate of this notion rests on the political, economic, administrative, and collective wisdom of Canadians. It is their responsibility to pull the country out of its current quagmire and restore stability and growth, thereby quelling any interest in annexation. Conversely, allowing the economy to continue its downward slide could inadvertently fuel these discussions, making it imperative to act decisively to stabilize and strengthen the nation’s economic foundations.

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E-mail: letters@pakistantoday.com.pk Letters should be addressed to Pakistan Today exclusively

Evolving teachers’ roles

IN our society, two figures play a crucial role in shaping the future: the teachers and the religious scholars. Both have the potential to guide and inspire the younger generation, but, unfortunately, many of them lack the skills as well as the will needed to connect with today’s youth.

This disconnect is leading to a loss of respect and influence, as the younger generation often perceives their guidance as outdated or ineffective.

For a change to happen, the process must begin within these two groups. The famous saying, ‘when an egg breaks from the inside, life begins; when it breaks from the outside, life ends’, emphasises that true transformation starts from within. If teachers and religious scholars do not evolve personally and professionally, they cannot expect to inspire change in others. The younger generation will only take them seriously if they see them as role models willing to adapt and stay updated. To bring about positive societal change, it is essential that teachers and religious scholars invest in their own grooming.

Teachers should adopt modern teaching methods and continually update their knowledge to better engage with their students.

Similarly, religious scholars need to understand and address contemporary issues while staying true to the essence of the faith.

Ultimately, the future of society rests in the hands of those who shape young minds. If teachers and religious scholars work on their personal growth and remain relevant, they can influence the next generation in building a society grounded in knowledge, respect and progress.

ASAD ALI KHAN BUNER

Unpaid struggles

I was blessed to have some of the most qualified, dedicated and sincere teachers during my school life. Their efforts for the academic and moral grooming of students cannot be appreciated in words. In 2013, our school was an example of discipline and commitment. Classes were conducted timely, and homework was checked regularly. The morning assembly was a norm, and latecomers were dealt with strictly.

Our remarkable teachers, who were recruited in 2012 under the ‘other cadre’ as primary school teachers (PSTs) and junior school teachers (JSTs) and who served with utmost dedication for three to four years, have yet to receive their rightful salaries. Despite their unwavering efforts, their salaries, status and future hang in the balance. The Sindh government, especially the Education Department, should recognise the services of these teachers and give them their due salaries. It is also important to regularise their employment. The government must also provide resources to facilitate the educators, including professional development opportunities, access to modern teaching tools, and a supportive work environment.

ABDUL WAHEED CHACHAR GHOTKI

Traffic discipline

RULE of law and maintaining discipline should be among the top priorities so that we may have peace of mind. A nation’s behaviour can be judged from traffic discipline. Unfortunately, in the case of Pakistan, the word ‘discipline’ has simply vanished. Lane discipline on the roads is non-existent. Driving on Karachi roads is like playing a violent video game. You never know what will happen next. Breaking the one-way rule is a norm, and violating traffic signals is commonplace. Yet, the ‘efficient’ traffic police officials are seen on the roads facilitating these violators. I have spoken to numerous traffic police constables about their lack of action, and their answer almost always has been that they had orders from their superiors not to issue challan for these ‘minor’ offences. One wonders what the logic is behind this.

YOUSUF AHMAD KARACHI

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COMMENT 05

Why is the ‘nuclear solution’ promised at COP 29 difficult to achieve?

Saturday, 4 January, 2025

T

Discrimination entrenched AnAm murAd KhAn

HE climate talks at COP29 did not accomplish their goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions. An encouraging factor of the COP29 talks is the renewed focus on nuclear use to mitigate the climate change crisis. Proponents of nuclear energy have emphasized its reliability as a low-carbon energy source, positioning it as a viable alternative to fossil fuels.

A total of 31 countries have committed to triple their nuclear capacity by 2050 by achieving net-zero emissions. At Global Stocktake 2023 held by the United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNCCC), both parties and non-parties categorically called for ‘Nuclear Acceleration’ to decarbonize Earth. After that, the unprecedented first Nuclear Energy Summit 2024 was held to expedite those efforts. However, the discriminatory nature of the nuclear governance regime, mainly of the export control regimes, could hinder efforts to use nuclear energy for achieving net-zero carbon emissions and ultimately dampen the climate change mitigation goal.

The obsolete laws governing the ECRs affect the ethical foundation of nuclear energy exploitation. The export control regimes deal with the transfer of peaceful nuclear technologies and, thus control the distribution of nuclear energy. However, the archaic regulations of those export controls impede the exploitation of nuclear energy benefits.

Their static criterion for awarding memberships is based upon their categorization

according to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Article IX (3) of NPT defines a nuclear weapon state (NWS) which detonated nuclear weapons prior to 1967, and all other states were to be regarded as a non-nuclear weapon state (NNWS).

It is unrealistic to expect a de facto nuclear power to give up its nuclear arsenal being acquired for its national interest.

Therefore, the categorical nature of the NPT classification criteria hinders the non-discriminatory provision of advanced nuclear technologies for peaceful purposes, such as Small Modular Reactors. These technologies are crucial for providing clean energy in remote areas with limited grid infrastructure.

If selected states are given access while other states are blocked from accessing these technologies, it hinders their ability to contribute to global decarbonization goals. As a result, many developing states face barriers to acquiring advanced nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. Despite possessing nuclear technical expertise and a proven nuclear safety and security record, Pakistan cannot increase nuclear energy volume in its energy mix, owing to the biased approach of ECRs. This dims the prospects of its energy vision to double the production of nuclear energy by 2030.

The existing global nuclear technology asymmetries make the use of peaceful nuclear technologies for tackling the climate crisis very difficult. The glimpse of discriminatory nuclear nonproliferation Regime has created a ‘nuclear apartheid of peaceful technologies’, where peaceful technologies abound in the global north but are lacking in the hemisphere. This has divided the world into haves and have-nots. There are 349 nuclear reactors in the global north, but 91 in the entire global south. It creates a nuclear north and south divide where the latter lags

the former by 79.3 percent. As illustrated in the graphs, nuclear energy for electricity generation in the global north is greater than the quantity generated in the developing countries or global south.

The reason is the unequal distribution of peaceful nuclear technologies across the globe. Therefore, it is far-fetched to expect much from nuclear technology when nearly half of the globe is deprived of its equitable and fair distribution.

The politicization of the nuclear solution has derailed the achievement of the NetZero emission target. Geopolitically, states are acquiring nuclear technology in the guise of meaningful contributions to carbon reduction while pursuing their ulterior interests disingenuously.

While actively contributing to carbon emissions, India is not only relying on fossil fuel-based systems for electricity generation but also investing more into it. For instance, India’s energy mix is more than 80 per cent of fossil fuel-based sources of electricity generation, which it plans to increase 93 gigawatts (GW) of coal capacity by 2032. But, it is not meaningfully contributing to global carbon reduction despite having secured the unjustified preferential NSG waiver and the US civil nuclear energy cooperation for ‘peaceful’ nuclear energy ambitions. This waiver also underscores the dual standards within the nuclear governance regime, as was granted to a non-NPT NWS whose violation had led to the creation of the very same NSG. Such dualistic precedents are demotivating factors for countries that are striving to legally access peaceful nuclear technology and to switch from fossil fuel-based sources of electricity generation to nuclear-based sources of electricity generation.

The geopolitical factors are also imperil-

After Assad, are the Houthis next?

Syria’s ousting of the Assad regime increases the opportunities for Houthi forces in Yemen to take advantage of regional instability. Will they take the chance?

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NATIONAL INTEREST

Ari heistein And nAthAniel rAbKin

ITH the fall of the Assad regime in Syria and Hezbollah in Lebanon defeated and increasingly isolated, attention turns to the Houthis in Yemen.

Perhaps the strongest remaining Iranian proxy force in the region, the Houthis are certainly the most active in terms of their attacks on Israel and also on international shipping in the Red Sea. With confrontation between the Houthis and Israel, and perhaps America too, seems set to escalate, this will likely raise questions of whether the regime in Sanaa will prove as frail as its former partner in Damascus.

Like Assad’s regime, the Houthis are a corrupt organization representing a narrow segment of the population, leaving the majority mired in poverty. This poverty stems less from war or sanctions and more from systemic corruption, nepotism, and deliberate isolation. These regimes facilitate depredation of the populace via a common tool kit: bribes demanded by underpaid officials, monopolized industries that benefit insiders, and rigged systems for the import of goods, as exports play little role in the ravaged economies of Iran’s satellite states.

Reform of state institutions is implausible, as their dysfunction is a deliberate choice to ensure that the regime’s core supporters enjoy economic and social preeminence.

The high levels of corruption and exploitation made both the Assad and Houthi regimes deeply unpopular, forcing them to depend on brutal security apparatuses to maintain power. Indoctrination through media and education, framing these governments as anti-colonial defenders of national independence, grows less convincing as public suffering at the hands of the regime worsens and as dependence on foreign sponsors, especially Iran, increases.

Despite these parallels, key differences between the Assad and Houthi regimes suggest their trajectories may diverge. The Houthi leadership is younger and more energetic than Assad’s aging cadre. For example, Houthi intelligence chief Abulhakim al-Khaiwani is under forty, while his Syrian counterpart, Hossam Louka, was nearing sixty-five before Assad’s fall.

Moreover, ten years after taking Sanaa, the Houthis remain in the early stages of a revolutionary extremist movement. In contrast, the Assad regime had become a stagnant, ideologically hollow dynasty after fifty years in power.

The Houthi leaders also differ in their likely response to a challenge. Unlike Assad, who ultimately fled to Russia, Houthi leaders may return to guerrilla tactics in Yemen’s mountainous regions rather than abandoning their exile movement. Many senior Houthis have rarely, if ever, left Yemen, probably making them more inclined to resist until the end rather than seek refuge abroad.

While the Houthis’ long-term survival remains uncertain, their regime faces a growing legitimacy crisis. Cracks in its foundations are widening, and the leadership increasingly relies on brutal violence to suppress dissent. Eventual collapse seems likely but is not necessarily imminent.

Decisive action by regional and global actors opposing Houthi terrorism could accelerate their downfall. The U.S., Israel, and their allies should intensify political, financial, and military pressure on the Houthis. Cutting off their ability to divert humanitarian aid would significantly weaken their financial position.

Instead of subsidizing a regime that perpetuates terror and destabilizes the region, the international community should allocate resources to helping its victims and those who are trying to resist it, including Yemeni refugees abroad and Yemeni forces in southern Yemen who are fighting back against the Houthis.

The current crises facing Lebanese Hezbollah and Iran’s Quds Force make this an opportune moment to pressure the Houthi regime. While the Houthis may have once drawn confidence from Tehran’s backing, they are likely re-evaluating that assessment in light of recent events in Syria.

This may create an opportunity to pressure the Houthis into halting their Red Sea attacks. Still, even this would be a temporary respite, not a real solution to the long-term threat the Houthis pose to other states in the region, not to mention their subjects.

This raises the question: How might the downfall of the Houthis occur? Real change in Yemen would require three key developments.

First, change would require a rise in public anger from grievances held by the Yemeni population, probably related primarily to economic conditions but perhaps also to anger at the imposition of their religious views at odds with the beliefs of the majority of the population.

Second, there would need to be a loss of favor or support from key elite constituencies, which could be Houthi bureaucrats or allied tribes on whom the regime relies to suppress dissent.

Third, instability would have to drive a wedge within the leadership class, driven by external pressures on the regime or internal power struggles; power struggles could arise organically within the predatory and secretive regime, but they might be accelerated by sudden, significant events, such as the death or assassination of key figures within its leadership.

Together, these factors would leave the regime in a state of disarray, unable to keep its ruthless hold on twenty million Yemenis. That could, in turn, create a momentum that the regime would find increasingly difficult to reverse.

How this process unfolds is not under the control of anyone and certainly not of any force outside of Yemen. However, the Syrian experience suggests that continued pressure and coordination with opposition forces will be more effective than trying to negotiate with a regime devoted to internal repression and external aggression.

Like Assad, the Houthis will someday lose power, and Yemenis will remember who helped them in their hour of need and who did not. Keeping up the pressure, military, political, and economic, is critical.

Denying the regime legitimacy and opportunities to divert foreign aid is a key component of that effort.

Assad’s experience shows that these tyrants do not last forever and that investing in long-term diplomatic relationships with them is a losing bet.

Ari Heistein is an advisor to Israeli startups seeking to sell to the U.S. federal government, a consultant on issues relating to Yemen, and a nonresident fellow at the Counter Extremism Project. He has previously worked in business development for an Israeli cyber intelligence company and served as a research fellow and chief of staff at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv.

Nathaniel Rabkin worked as an Arabic translator and interpreter for the U.S. military in Iraq’s Wasit province in 2008-2009 and as an analyst embedded with the Department of Defense’s Human Terrain System in Anbar province 2010-2011.

ing the achievement of the nuclear solution.

Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and a group of top ten climate experts revealed the duplicitous role of states and wrote an open letter. They illustrated the host of COP 29 was holding the presidency despite a strong association with the hydrocarbon business. India is trying to host the COP 33 despite the duplicitous domestic energy mix policies mentioned earlier. Similarly, a tugof-war between Turkey and Australia is taking place to host the distant COP 31.

Many other wealthy states showed weak resolve and avoided engagement in climate change negotiations. Argentina called back their representatives in the COP 29 and Saudi Arabia rejected the final agreement for adopting a text criticizing fossil fuels. Meanwhile, the arrival of Donald Trump in the White House also seems to be a bad omen since he has a track record of opposing climate change mitigation talks, such as the Paris Agreement.

Resultantly, COP 29 concluded without any concrete mechanism to decrease the global ‘peaceful nuclear technologies disparities’ among the haves and haves not. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Presidency COP 29 discussed the financing options for low-carbon technologies.

They vowed to ‘accelerate the deployment’ of those peaceful nuclear technology-oriented clean energy sources in developed and developing countries alike, but just on paper.

At the peaceful nuclear technology haves’ p,ole, the European Industrial Alliance on Small Modular Reactors has been formed that facilitates the deployment of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), but only in Europe which already quantitatively surpasses the nuclear reactors in the global south. Whereas the global south has yet to wait for the funding to

adopt this costly SMR technology that has huge cost estimates depending upon their size and shape from $50 million to $3 billion.

Moreover, any financial expectation from the global north would be an illusion considering its track record. The recent study by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the adaptation gap report shows the ignorance of the global north towards their shared responsibility of the climate adaptation fund. The adaptation gap between sending and receiving countries, developed and underdeveloped and more climate-vulnerable states, is 50 percent greater than assumed before the study was undertaken. Due to this reason, COP 29 was regarded by the global south as a ‘betrayal’ due to the escape of the global north from their burden, as the latter is the largest contributor to the climate crisis.

The nuclear solution laid out at COP 29 seems impractical. The existing stagnant regulation policies of the nuclear trade regime are not a good omen for the just and fair usage of peaceful nuclear technology. The global nuclear divide hinders the prospects of equitable distribution of peaceful nuclear gains and the politicization of nuclear energy only widens it. The existing gaps derail the true purpose of nuclear energy and reduce it to a geopolitical tool. With the conclusion of COP 29 without any practical strategies to tackle all those challenges, the nuclear solution for the climate crisis remains a distant dream, at least for some decades to come.

The writeris a Research Assistant at the Center for International Strategic Studies in Islamabad. She secured a BS in Strategic Studies from the National Defense University, Islamabad, where she earned a gold medal.

Global elites – wanted or not – have a lot in common The ailing British monarch’s private fortune is estimated, conservatively, to amount to $2.3bn. Meanwhile, one in three children and a quarter of adults live in poverty on the happy island that King Charles III reigns over One in five British families routinely skips meals because they cannot afford to buy groceries

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AL JAZEERA

Andrew mitrovicA

HO knew that beyond being a homicidal dictator – is there any other kind – Bashar al-Assad also happens to be a comedian.

The world’s most wanted, for the moment, fugitive briefly emerged from his safe house – somewhere in Russia near a store still selling luxury brands that his picky wife, Asma, covets – to clarify the circumstances which led to the sudden flight of Syria’s “first family”.

Al-Assad resurrected his Telegram account to claim that he had remained at the front – helmet on and ready to fight with, no doubt, a bayonet-tipped musket in hand – until that wrenching hour when all was lost. “[My] departure from Syria was neither planned nor did it occur during the final hours of the battles, as some have claimed,” al-Assad wrote. “On the contrary, I remained in Damascus, carrying out my duties until the early hours of Sunday, December 8, 2024.”

The nation’s brave, pencil-thin, commander-in-chief retreated to a Russian military base in the coastal city of Latakia only after “terrorist forces” had occupied the capital. From there, a valiant al-Assad could “oversee combat operations” until, sadly, the base came under sustained drone attacks.

Alas, the phantom resistance proved futile. So, Bashar and Asma grudgingly heeded Moscow’s advice and promptly got out of Dodge before they joined the other, less well-known, martyrs who fought with – to borrow a phrase – the last full measure of devotion for a free Syria. Comical stuff.

But equally farcical is the predictable construct among some Western media that al-Assad’s overthrow was a consequence, in large part, of his family’s longstanding and insatiable avarice at the expense of common Syrians – a signature trait of Middle East henchmen and not, of course, of enlightened leaders of “liberal democracies”.

In this stubborn calculus, the West is synonymous with uplifting egalitarianism, while the Middle East breeds, without exception, crushing despotism.

True to grating form, The Washington Post published the following headline, reflective to the syllable of this haughty attitude: “Assad lived in quiet luxury while Syrians went hungry.”

Now, you and I know that the Post will never pen a headline that reads: “King Charles lives in quiet luxury while Brits go hungry”. It would be unbecoming.

This, despite the fact the shrinking Commonwealth’s new head – like all his gilded predecessors – calls the 775-room Buckingham Palace home and his every whim is catered to by more than 1,100 bowing staff.

The ailing British monarch’s private fortune – including hereditary estates, artwork, rare stamps, jewellery, cars, horses, investments, and other property – is estimated, conservatively, to amount to $2.3bn. Meanwhile, a recent study found that one in three children and a quarter of adults live in poverty on the happy island that King Charles III reigns over with such a benevolent hand.

To add insult to the egalitarian fallacy, millions of his grateful subjects suffer from “food insecurity” – a palatable euphemism for “hunger” that reportedly a bu-

reaucrat with the US Department of Agriculture coined in the late 1990s.

Unlike the plump Windsor clan, one in five British families routinely skips meals because they cannot afford to buy groceries. In 2023, more than 800,000 patients in England and Wales were hospitalised for malnutrition – yes, malnutrition – and other “nutritional deficiencies”, a threefold increase over the preceding 10 years.

King Charles III is not the only titular or true head of state in London or Washington, DC to forgo a vow of poverty in the “service” of commoners and the country. Almost immediately after former Prime Minister Tony Blair left the modest comforts of 10 Downing Street, the saviour of the forgotten proletariat began behaving like a wanton capitalist making up for lost, lucrative time. Blair leveraged his contacts and influence to become a lowly multimillionaire who insists that his personal kitty is nowhere close to the 45-million-pound figure often bandied publicly about. “I haven’t actually changed, despite what people want to say,” Blair said, unconvincingly, in 2014. “The same thing that motivated me when I stood here … 20 years ago motivates me today. It’s not about making money, it’s about making a difference.”

You see, unlike the venal al-Assads, altruism, not greed, is what motivates former Western prime ministers and presidents to “give back” while, conveniently, amassing their cloaked-in-secrecy riches.

That humble Man from Hope, Bill Clinton, and his ever-faithful wife, Hillary, enjoy an estimated net worth of perhaps as high as $120m. Remember, in 1996, President Clinton, working hand-in-white-glove with congressional Republicans passed draconian legislation that tied welfare benefits to work – proving that a Democrat could wage war on the poor for parochial political dividends.

Indeed, the number of Americans who were forced

by Clinton’s tough-on-welfare edicts to endure “deep poverty” surged, prompting Senator Bernie Sanders to excoriate The Man From Hope for erasing hope among the impoverished. “What welfare reform did, in my view, was go after some of the weakest and most vulnerable people in this country,” Sanders said in 2016.

Like the voracious Clintons, those shining avatars of fairness and equality – Barack and Michelle Obama – have been charging six-figure speaking fees, and signing $65m book advances to extol the virtues of fairness and equality to gullible audiences prepared to pay to listen to or read the ex-president and first lady weave myths about fairness and equality in flowery speeches and prose. By way of instructive contrast, the median income of an African-American household is a paltry $56,490 and the Black unemployment rate remains twice that of white workers.

Before departing the Oval Office, Obama posted a message of solidarity on social media assuring his fellow Americans that he planned to return to his “citizen” Obama roots. “It’s been the honor of my life to serve you,” he wrote. “I won’t stop; I’ll be right there with you as a citizen, inspired by your voices of truth and justice, good humor and love.” Right. Would “right there with you” be at the Obamas’ sprawling compound on the exclusive island of Martha’s Vineyard that the couple bought in 2019 or their 8,200-square-foot mansion which boasts eight bedrooms and nine-and-a-half baths as well as those simple folk – Jeff Bezos and Jared Kushner – as neighbours in a tony enclave of the US capital. The American Express Gold Card-carrying members of the “global elite” – on the run or not – have a lot more in common than they or The Washington Post are prepared to admit.

Andrew Mitrovica is an Al Jazeera columnist based in Toronto.

06 NEWS

Saturday, 4 January, 2025 | KARACHI

POLICE IDENTIFY SUSPECT OF TESLA CYBERTRUCK ATTACK ON TRUMP HOTEL AS US ARMY SOLDIER

O

WASHINGTON REUTERS

FFICIALS on Thursday positively identified the person found dead inside the Cybertruck that exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas as a US Army soldier from Colorado, while the FBI said it was not yet clear if the blast was an act of terrorism.

The FBI said it had so far found no definitive link between the New Year’s Day New Orleans truck attack that killed 15 people and the Cybertruck explosion in Las Vegas later on the same day, which left seven people with minor injuries.

The Cybertruck driver was identified as Matthew Livelsberger, 37, an activeduty Army soldier from Colorado Springs, and police said he acted alone.

Livelsberger killed himself with a gunshot to the mouth, police said, citing a report from the Clark County Coroner/Medical Examiner, according to a post on X by the Las Vegas Metropolitan

Police Department. Livelsberger was inside the vehicle when gasoline canisters and large firework mortars in the truck bed exploded, police said.

Police previously had told a press conference they believed the person found in the truck was Livelsberger, but because the body was burned beyond recognition, investigators were awaiting

confirmation from DNA evidence and medical records.

Livelsberger shot himself just before explosives in the vehicle were detonated, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill told reporters. A handgun was found at his feet.

It was one of two semi-automatic handguns found in the Cybertruck, both

of which were lawfully purchased by Livelsberger on December 30. Law enforcement also found military identification, a passport, an iPhone and credit cards in the truck. Livelsberger was assigned to the Army Special Operations Command and was on approved leave at the time of his death, an Army official said. The Army Special Operations Command would not comment on an ongoing investigation, a spokesperson said.

A US official told Reuters that Livelsberger had been awarded a Bronze Star for valour and an Army commendation for valor, along with a Combat Infantryman Badge. He completed five combat deployments to Afghanistan, the official said.

A close relative of Livelsberger, who asked that his name not be used because he did not want to be publicly linked to the suspect, told Reuters that Livelsberger had always wanted to be an “Army soldier, in Special Forces, even as a little kid. And when he achieved that, he was a soldier’s soldier.”

NDRC leader says enough space in macro policies to support 2025 growth targets BEIJING STAFF REPORT

Yuan Da, deputy secretary-general of the National Development and Reform Commission, the country’s top economic planner, told a presser on Friday that an ample room for macro policies, richer macro-control tools can provide robust support for achieving the 2025 economic growth target.

“Moving forward, China will prioritize boosting domestic demand across the board. The advantages of China’s

vast market remain, and the consumer market is expected to see continued growth,” said Yuan at a press conference here.

The country will significantly increase the issuance of ultra-long special treasury bonds to support the implementation of large-scale equipment upgrades and consumer goods trade-in programs, as well as the construction of projects aimed at implementing major national strategies and building security capacity in critical areas.

The top planner has also pledged to

step up efforts in high-level opening-up.

China is determined to continue opening up its economy to the world in 2025, said NDRC deputy director Zhao Chenxin.

Zhao added that China plans to encourage greater foreign investment in advanced manufacturing, modern services, high-tech, energy saving and environmental protection.

Greater efforts will also be directed toward stabilizing the property market, revitalizing the capital market, advancing the upgrade of major industries and fostering emerging and future industries,

Yuan emphasized.

China’s economy has a stable foundation, multiple advantages, strong resilience and great potential. Further deepening of reforms, development of new quality productive forces, and boosting the domestic circulation of the economy will stimulate the internal momentum of economic development, said Yuan.

China is fully confident in promoting continued economic rebound in 2025 and completing the goals and tasks of the 14th Five-Year Plan with high quality, he added.

Govt partners with Huawei to launch ICT training portal for youth g

COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVE AIMS TO ENHANCE IT SKILLS AND BRIDGE ACADEMIA-INDUSTRY GAP PROFIT

GHULAM ABBAS

In a significant move to enhance IT expertise among Pakistan’s youth, the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecom, in collaboration with Huawei Technologies Pakistan, has launched the ‘ICT Training Portal’.

This initiative aims to provide recent graduates with hands-on experience and bridge the gap between academia and the rapidly evolving IT industry.

The portal offers training modules on cutting-edge ICT trends, including artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and data analytics.

Over the next three years, the Pakistan ICT Training Portal Program will connect graduates with IT companies for internships, fostering practical skills development.

Speaking at the launch, Federal Minister for IT and Telecom, Shaza Fatima, highlighted the program’s focus on enhancing digital literacy and equipping the youth to tackle modern digital challenges.

She noted that the portal will act as

a unified platform, linking graduates with IT companies to provide internship opportunities and experience with stateof-the-art technologies.

Deputy CEO of Huawei Technologies Pakistan, Ahmed Bilal Masud, em-

phasized the importance of investing in youth to create a skilled workforce that will drive the country’s economic and technological growth. He stated that Huawei’s combination of local resources and global expertise would significantly contribute to skill development and innovation in Pakistan’s ICT sector. In a related development, Huawei signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with COMSATS University Islamabad to enhance technical and vocational training for students and young technicians.

Huawei will equip the university with advanced ICT technologies, providing resources and training to deliver high-quality technical education.

The initiative will initially commence at COMSATS University Islamabad’s Lahore campus, with plans to expand to Karachi in the future.

South Korea investigators call off arrest of President Yoon SEOUL

AGENCIES

South Korean investigators called off their attempt to arrest impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol at his residence Friday over a failed martial law bid, citing safety concerns after a standoff with his security team. Yoon, who has already been suspended from duty by lawmakers, would become the first sitting president in South Korean history to be arrested if the warrant is carried out.

The president, who issued a bungled declaration on December 3 that shook the vibrant East Asian democracy and briefly lurched it back to the dark days of military rule, faces imprisonment or, at worst, the death penalty. “Regarding the execution of the arrest warrant today, it was determined that the execution was effectively impossible due to the ongoing standoff,” the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO), which is probing Yoon over his martial law decree, said in a statement.

“Concern for the safety of personnel on-site led to the decision to halt” the arrest attempt, the statement said of the confrontation with Yoon’s presidential security service and its military unit.

The deadline for the warrant is Monday, leaving it in limbo with just a few days remaining and Yoon defiant, vowing earlier this week to “fight” authorities seeking to question him.

CIO investigators including senior prosecutor Lee Dae-hwan were earlier let through heavy security barricades to enter the residence to attempt to execute their warrant to detain Yoon.

But soldiers under the Presidential Security Service at one point engaged in a “confrontation with the CIO at the presidential residence,” an official with Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff told AFP. Before the execution of the court-approved warrant was called off, Yoon’s security detail told AFP they had been “in negotiation” with the CIO investigators who sought to access the president. Yoon’s security service — which still protects Yoon as the country’s sitting head of state — has previously blocked attempted police raids of the presidential office.

The president himself has ignored three rounds of summons from investigators, prompting them to seek the warrant. Yoon’s legal team — who raced to the residence and AFP saw allowed inside — decried the attempt to execute the arrest warrant, vowing to take further legal action against the move. “The execution of a warrant that is illegal and invalid is indeed not lawful,” Yoon’s lawyer Yoon Kap-keun said.

On Friday, prosecutors also indicted two top military officials including one who was briefly named martial law commander during last month’s fiasco, on charges of insurrection, Yonhap reported. Both were already in detention. Dozens of police buses and hundreds of uniformed police lined the street outside the compound in central Seoul, AFP reporters saw.

About 2,700 police and 135 police buses were deployed to the area to prevent clashes, Yonhap reported, after Yoon’s supporters faced off with antiYoon demonstrators Thursday.

Chinese FM Wang Yi to visit four African nations BEIJING

MIAN ABRAR

Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and China’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi will visit Namibia, the Republic of the Congo, Chad, and Nigeria from January 5 to 11 at the invitation of these countries, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning announced on Friday.

This will be the 35th consecutive year that Chinese foreign minister visits Africa on the first overseas trip at the start of the year.

Mao told a routine press conference on Friday that at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) last year, President Xi Jinping proposed that bilateral relations between China and all African countries having diplomatic ties with China be elevated to the level of strategic relations, and that the overall characterization of ChinaAfrica relations be elevated to an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.

President Xi noted that China and Africa

should jointly advance modernization that is just and equitable, open and win-win and ecofriendly, puts the people first, features diversity and inclusiveness, and is underpinned by peace and security, and take ten partnership actions, which were well-received by Africa, Mao said.

Namibia, the Republic of the Congo, Chad, and Nigeria are all China’s friendly cooperation partners. The purpose of Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s upcoming visit is to implement the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit and deepen practical cooperation across the board for sustained and substantive growth of China-Africa relations, the spokesperson noted.

Over the past three decades, China and Africa have consistently supported each other, Song noted, emphasizing that despite the shifting international landscape, their traditional friendship has proven resilient in the face of these changes.

Regarding the four countries Wang will visit, Song noted that they represent key aspects of China-Africa cooperation. China has significant cooperation with Namibia and the

Republic of the Congo in terms of energy, infrastructure and others, and China’s aid to Chad has played a crucial role in supporting its development.

Furthermore, given Nigeria’s considerable influence in West Africa and within the African Union, enhancing cooperation with Nigeria is vital for promoting integrated development across the continent.

In light of the fruitful outcomes from last year’s Beijing Summit, Song emphasized that this visit also underscores China’s commitment to advancing the implementation of the FOCAC pledges and to further aligning China’s aid projects with the independent development goals of African countries.

Looking ahead into the China-Africa relations in 2025, Mao said at a press conference on December 31, 2024 that China stands ready to work together with African countries to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, have closer cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and continue to firmly support each other on issues concerning each other’s core interests.

Man arrested after killing three in Rotterdam shooting spree ROTTERDAM AGENCIES

Dutch police arrested a 24-yearold man on Friday in connection with a shooting spree that left three people dead in Rotterdam, marking an end to a two-week period of terror for local residents.

The suspect, who was found with a weapon at the scene, is being held in custody as authorities continue to investigate the motive behind the killings, which appear to be random.

The shootings, which began on December 21, have shocked the community in Rotterdam, a city typically not associated with the type of armed violence often linked to organized crime groups in the Netherlands.

The killings have been headline news, with the public deeply concerned by the seemingly random nature of the attacks.

Rotterdam’s Chief Prosecutor, Hugo Hillenaar, described the situation as a “nightmare” for the city’s residents and professionals involved in the investigation.

“Someone was freely wandering around shooting random victims,” he said.

The killing spree started on December 21 when a 63-year-old man was shot in the head and later succumbed to his injuries.

A week later, on December 28, a 58-year-old man was shot in a similar manner in the same neighborhood. On January 2, an 81-year-old man was fatally shot, marking the third victim in just over a week.

Police quickly connected the first two murders but were unable to prevent the third. Rotterdam Police Chief Fred Westerbeke confirmed that the suspect was

questioned in a store on the evening of January 2 but was not identified at the time due to the unclear nature of the CCTV footage.

However, a later photograph and identification details led authorities to arrest the man just before midnight on Thursday.

The suspect, born on the Caribbean island of Curacao and raised in the Netherlands, was known to police for minor offenses committed during his youth, including shoplifting. Authorities have found no connection between the victims and are assuming they were selected at random.

The arrest brought a sense of relief to the city, with Rotterdam Mayor Carola Schouten expressing her gratitude. “This has put an end to a terrifying situation,” she said. “I sincerely hope, and I also assume, that we can support each other in this sorrow.”

Saturday, 4 January, 2025 | KARACHI

CORPORATE CORNER

CBD Punjab unveils 2025 - Year of Sar Bulandi documentary to highlight successes and future aspirations

LAHORE STAFF REPORT

Punjab Central Business District Development Authority (PCBDDA) also known as Central Business District Punjab (CBD Punjab), Pakistan's leading urban development authority, proudly launched the logo and documentary for the "Year of Sar Bulandi 2025." This initiative celebrates the remarkable achievements of 2024 while paving the way for an ambitious and transformative future. The documentary was unveiled by CEO CBD Punjab Imran Amin and COO CBD Punjab Brigadier (R) Mansoor Janjua, capturing the extraordinary progress made by CBD Punjab. It highlights the groundbreaking ceremonies of flagship projects such as NSIT City and Lahore Global Village, the unveiling of transformative ventures like Zameen ARX and High-Q CBD Tower, and the opening of the Grand Souq Lahore, complete with its marketing and administrative rights. These accomplishments reflect CBD Punjab’s commitment to innovation, growth, and sustainable urban development.

TDAP and business delegation from Pakistan to participate in Dhaka International Trade Fair

KARACHI STAFF REPORT

A 16-member delegation comprising of official of Pakistan Trade Development Authority (TDAP) and eminent businesspersons including Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Managing Director (MD), Executive Director (ED) of different companies in Pakistan is expected to participate at the Dhaka International Trade (DIT) Fair, which is being held during January 2025. Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner in Karachi S.M. Mahbubul Alam had an interactive meeting with the delegation at the Chancery on 02 December 2025. He invited the businesspersons from Pakistan to Bangladesh and to explore business potential between the two countries. He also emphasized on trade promotion and diversification.

Deputy High Commissioner briefed the delegation that the 29th edition of the Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) 2025 is being held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center in Purbachal on the outskirts of Dhaka. Bangladesh Commerce Ministry, in collaboration with the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) of Bangladesh, has organized the month-long fair, featuring 361 pavilions and stalls. Alongside Bangladeshi enterprises, many international companies of different countries, including Türkiye, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia, have been participating in the fair in Dhaka.

Serving public prime duty of police: DIG Islamabad

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GOVT WANTS TO TURN PUNJAB INTO A BIGGEST AI CENTRE WITH COOPERATION OF CHINA: CM LAHORE

STAFF REPORT

HE recent of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to China has started bearing fruits as a high level Chinese delegation called on her and agreed to invest 700 million dollars in Punjab.

The high-level Chinese delegation comprising Chengdu General Coordinator for ICT Hub Ms. Scarlett and Deputy CEO Huawei Mr. Yu Ray. Chengdu held the meeting with CM Maryam Nawaz at Punjab House in Islamabad.

On the occasion, the Punjab chief minister told investors that the government wanted to turn Punjab into a biggest artificial intelligence centre with the cooperation of China. The Chinese company has decided to set up a computing centre in the Nawaz Sharif IT Centre.

During the meeting, Chinese investors agreed to set up the first e-commerce platform and a data and cloud center in Nawaz Sharif IT City. Moreover, Chinese company will also train Pakistani youth in online trading.

CM Maryam said that Smart Control Room, Smart Traffic Control, Smart Transport, Smart Sanitation Centre will also be established in Lahore.

The Punjab government will provide land and build-

ing for establishing a Data and Cloud Centre. It was agreed to establish the first e-commerce platform in Pakistan.

Maryam Nawaz pledged that Punjab will become the IT hub of the region very soon as the government wanted to see children excel in IT sector. E-taxi service will also be started in Lahore by a Chinese company.

The Chinese company will also impart training to

Azma calls for review of mercy granted to May 9 convicts LAHORE

STAFF REPORT

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari on Friday called for a review of the relief provided to May 9 convicts by the military courts of appeal.

Addressing a press conference in Lahore, Azma Bokhari said that in case May 9 rioters again indulge in creating unrest in the country they deserve no concession.

She further warned that incidents like May 9 are likely to be happened again if rioters will get any relief.

Azma said that Chief Minister House of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has become a shelter for May 9 accused.

The Punjab Information Minister said that the PML-N-led government had brought down the inflation which is now hovering at

4.1 percent, adding that the Punjab government will distribute free solar systems among consumers using only 200 electricity units.

She revealed that the Punjab government will spend Rs10 billion on solar system scheme and around 100,000 solar systems will be distributed to the public.

She mentioned that the Punjab

CM launches a new program every week, and things are being provided without copying other provinces. The Punjab government is also moving towards solarizing 8,000 electricity-operated tube wells, for which a budget of 2.5 billion rupees has been allocated.

Furthermore, she highlighted that excellent progress is being made in shrimp farming. In Muzaffargarh, a 100-acre farm has been established, and it is capable of producing shrimp twice a year. They have already produced 120 metric tons of shrimp and exported it to various countries.

She claimed that a large department has been established to control the prices of essential items in Punjab. “In Punjab, any increase in the prices of food items is unacceptable,” she added.

Saknan Shahr Quaid's 30th World Mushaira held at Expo Center KARACHI

Saknan Shahr Quaid's 30th World Mushaira held at the Expo Center today, January 4, is a continuation of the great literary traditions of Pakistan, Dr. Pirzada Qasim, Patron-in-Chief of Saknan Shahr Quaid, said.

Dr. Pirzada Qasim, Patron-inChief of Saknan Shahr Quaid, has said that the event of Saknan Shahr Quaid will be held at the Expo Center on the night of January 4.The 30th International Mushaira is a continuation of the great literary traditions of Pakistan, he was addressing a press conference at the press club on Friday along with the organizers of Shahr Quaid, Mahmood Ahmed Khan, Rizwan Siddiqui, Professor Ejaz Ahmad Farooqui, Jamal Azhar and Nadeem Zafar Siddiqui. He said that Iftikhar Arif, Abbas Tabish, Sahar were present in

the Pakistani youth for online worldwide trading.

The Chinese government will also provide assistance for platform service capacity building in Punjab.

Providing assistance in local investment for the establishment of industries was also reviewed in Phase Three.

A collaboration will also be made to introduce Pakistani youth with the modern technological requirements.

Seminar organized to celebrate National Working Women’s Day

KARACHI STAFF REPORT

The seminar to observe the National Working Women’s Day was organized by the office of Ombudsman, The Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace, Sindh at Sindh Government Officer’s Club, Bath Island, Karachi. At several heads of the prominent institutions participated and shared their point of views on the role and contribution of women in socio-economic, educational and cultural development of Pakistani society. The Ombudsman, Justice (R) Shahnawaz Tariq highlighted the role played by the women in every walk of life and stressed the need to provide them safe, secure and congenial working environment. They lauded the efforts being made by the office of the Ombudsman, “The Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace”, Sindh in eradicating such incidents of sexual harassment by organizing Seminars and also publicizing the measures/actions to be taken by the government.

Sindh Governor takes notice of students' concerns over Karachi Intermediate Board results

STAFF REPORT

MushairaLeading poets from Pakistan and abroad, including Ansari, Anwar Shibat, Saber Zafar, Shahida Hasan, Shoaib bin Aziz, Humeer Rahman are participating. What he was, today, by the grace of Allah, he has become a beautiful tree It has gained such popularity among the people that now examples of it are given in the literary world. Mahmood Ahmed Khan, the administra-

Karachi Marathon Set to Take the City by Storm tomorrow

tor of Shahr Quaid, said that the members of the organizing committee What has been done day and night for the Mushaira, so that we can continue this literary and cultural night of Karachi with full vigor, he said that the 30th World Mushaira will be successful this year too, God willing, a question. In response, Mehmood Khan said that according to the former citizens, the entry is free.

Pakistan Navy Holds Fleet Annual Efficiency Competition Parade

ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

According to the details, DIG Islamabad Syed Ali Raza presided over an important crime control meeting at his office. The meeting was attended by zonal SPs, SDPOs, and all SHOs, a public relations officer said. During the meeting, the performance of all officers was reviewed. DIG Islamabad issued directions to all officers, stating that strict measures should be taken to prevent incidents of robbery, dacoity, and theft. He emphasized the importance of ensuring the arrest of absconders, proclaimed offenders, and court absconders. Patrolling should be made more targeted and effective. He further mentioned that separate meetings would be held for each zone to improve performance. He instructed officers to ensure the prevention of vehicle and motorcycle theft and the arrest of those involved in these crimes. He emphasized the urgent need to apprehend accused involved in dacoity and other criminal cases. In addition, DIG Islamabad directed officers to identify criminal elements and ensure measures to prevent them. Effective actions should be taken against those involved in immoral activities, and they must be arrested. All officers were directed to apprehend professional beggars and their facilitators, registering cases against them.

Investigations of pending cases should be expedited, and challans should be submitted to the relevant courts on a priority basis.

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CM MARYAM NAWAZ WELCOMES AS CHINESE INVESTORS AGREE TO INVEST $700M IN PUNJAB NEWS

KARACHI

STAFF REPORT

Governor Sindh Kamran Khan Tessori has taken serious notice of students' dissatisfaction with the Karachi Intermediate Board examination results. He has sought a detailed report from the Chairman of the Karachi Intermediate Board.Expressing concern over the issue, Governor Sindh Kamran Khan Tessori emphasized the urgent need for a thorough scrutiny of the examination results. He directed the relevant authorities to address students' concerns promptly, ensuring that their apprehensions are resolved effectively.Governor Sindh Kamran Khan Tessori reiterated that the grievances of Karachi's students must not be ignored. He added that the students have previously raised similar concerns, and any injustice against them will not be tolerated under any circumstances.

Celebrating success: NSU Islamabad’s female graduates honored at Noor-e-Ilahi Garden

KARACHI KARACHI STAFF REPORT

In a bid to promote a culture of fitness and community engagement, the Karachi Marathon is slated to take place on January 5th, 2025. This eagerly awaited event promises to bring together running enthusiasts, fitness aficionados, and members of the community from all walks of life.Shoaib Nizami, CEO of Sports in Pakistan, expressed his enthusiasm for the event, stating, "The Karachi Marathon represents a pivotal moment in the city's sporting calendar, underscoring the importance of promoting a healthy lifestyle and community engagement. We are delighted to be part of this initiative and eagerly anticipate a spectacular event. He further stated that our marathon route have been officially certified by World Athletics, ensuring a world-class experience for participants.

Additionally, we have invested in state-of-the-art timing equipment to accurately record finish times, eliminating any possibility of human error and guaranteeing fair and transparent competition. ’Karachi Marathon 2025 gets the global seal of approval honored to be officially validated.

STAFF REPORT

Pakistan Navy Fleet Annual Efficiency Competition Parade was held at Pakistan Navy Dockyard, Karachi. Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Naveed Ashraf, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. The event marked the culmination of a professionally rewarding and eventful operational year for the combatants of Pakistan Navy Fleet, including warships, submarines, and aviation assets.Upon arrival, the Chief Guest was received by Commander Pakistan Fleet, Rear Admiral Abdul Munib, and a smartly turned-out contingent presented the Guard of Honour.In his address, Chief of the Naval Staff expressed complete satisfaction and confidence in the operational readiness of Pakistan Navy Fleet. He lauded the dedication and professionalism of officers and sailors in safely and efficiently achieving the operational objectives and milestones for the year 2024. The Admiral acknowledged the valuable contributions of Fleet towards maritime security and the protection of national and international Sea Lines of Communication. He highlighted Pakistan Navy’s efforts to ensure the security of strategic maritime zones, particularly Gwadar Port and maritime projects under CPEC.

KARACHI STAFF REPORT

The National Skills University Islamabad hosted a special ceremony to bid farewell to its outgoing female students from various technology programs. These students, who have excelled in their respective fields, were praised for their dedication and hard work. Prof.

Dr. Muhammad Mukhtar, the Founding Vice Chancellor of NSUI, highlighted the pivotal role of women in shaping the nation's future, describing daughters as blessings from God. Speaking at the newly established Noo-E-Ilahi Garden, a dedicated and secure space for female students within the university premises, Prof. Mukhtar emphasized: "Daughters, like sons, are blessings from God, and as a fatherly figure, I am immensely proud to see daughters from across the country thriving in technology programs at the National Skills University Islamabad.

Saturday, 4 January, 2025

PTA BLAMES GOVT AS SENATORS QUESTION LEGALITY OF INTERNET SHUTDOWNS

PRAYER TIMINGS

NEWS

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PTA CHAIRMAN CITES SUPREME COURT AND HIGH COURT DIRECTIVES TO JUSTIFY INTERNET SHUTDOWNS PROFIT

MONITORING DESK

HE Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) disclosed in a heated Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology session that internet shutdowns across the country are implemented on government directives, sparking sharp questions over the legality and rationale behind such disruptions.

According to media reports, PTA Chairman Retired Major General Hafeezur Rehman, during the session chaired by Senator Palwasha Khan, revealed that the authority received an average of 500 daily complaints about objectionable content on social media, with 80% of flagged material removed upon request. However, the committee’s focus shifted to the frequent internet blackouts and sluggish speeds, with Pakistan ranked 97th globally for internet performance.

Senator Kamran Murtaza of JUI-F challenged the legal grounds for the

shutdowns, stating, “Which law permits this? How can services be disrupted without a clear legal basis?”

In response, the PTA chairman asserted that such decisions were made on instructions from the government. “If this is illegal, why has the government been directing us to do so for nine years?” he asked, adding that the interior ministry must clarify the legality of its directives.

Three arrested in Pishin for hunting endangered Markhor PISHIN

STAFF REPORT

Three individuals have been arrested for illegally hunting a Markhor in the Bostan region of Pishin, Balochistan. The arrest followed a successful operation by local authorities to curb illegal wildlife activities in the area. According to Deputy Commissioner Zahid Khan, the operation led to the recovery of a Markhor that had been killed in the region. The suspects, identified as Izhar Khan, Masoor Khan, and Saddam Khan, have been charged with illegal hunting under the Wildlife Act. Two of the arrested men, Izhar Khan and Masoor Khan, are reportedly employed by the Balochistan Constabulary and the Water and Sanitation Authority (WASA). The accused allegedly hunted the Markhor in the restricted area of Taktou, a known habitat for the endangered species.

A case has been registered against the suspects, and legal proceedings are currently underway. The operation is part of ongoing efforts to protect wildlife in the region, particularly the Markhor, which is classified as endangered.

In a related incident, back in 2021, a tourist shot and injured a Markhor in the scenic valley of Chitral, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The animal was later rescued after falling into a river near the Garam Chasma road.

Officials from the KP wildlife department confirmed the animal’s recovery following extensive efforts.

Following the Chitral incident, KP MPA Faisal Amin Khan took to Twitter, announcing that a first information report (FIR) had been filed against the culprits at the Chitral police station. This came after a social media post shared by a local visitor mentioned encountering the Markhors near the river, highlighting their importance in the region’s biodiversity.

Fog disrupts flights across Pakistan; three canceled and 41 delayed KARACHI

STAFF REPORT

Dense fog blanketed several parts of Pakistan today, severely disrupting flight operations at major airports.

As a result, three flights were canceled, 41 were delayed, and five others had to be diverted to alternative airports.

The canceled flights include the Karachi to Lahore flight PA-401, Islamabad to Gilgit flights PK-601 and PK-602, and the Kuwait City to Sialkot flight PK-240, which was rerouted to Lahore. International flights were also affected, with the Jeddah to Faisalabad flight PK-764 landing in Lahore instead, while Jeddah to Lahore flights SV-738 and FL-587 were diverted to Islamabad. Additionally, the Dubai to Lahore flight ER-724 was redirected to Islamabad.

Airports in Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad were among the most affected, with passengers facing considerable delays. Eighteen flights at Lahore Airport were delayed, along with ten flights at Karachi.

Meanwhile, nine flights departing from Islamabad were also delayed.

The committee scrutinized the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), with members pointing out that the act does not explicitly allow for geographic internet blackouts. IT ministry representatives conceded the ambiguity but argued that existing regulations empower the interior ministry to issue directives, even as these remain unclear.

Senator Murtaza criticized the impact of shutdowns, saying they disrupt

education, businesses, and access to resources. “This is akin to pushing people into ignorance for political purposes,” he remarked.

PTI Senator Mohammad Humayun Mohmand echoed concerns, stating, “The rules mention blocking content, not entire networks.”

The PTA chairman defended the agency’s actions, arguing that many shutdowns were implemented under orders from the Supreme Court or high courts. “These are official directives.

Everyone here has been part of a government at some point and knows how these decisions are made,” he said.

On the issue of slow internet speeds, Rehman emphasized that inadequate fiberisation was the root cause.

He added that improving digital infrastructure was the government’s responsibility, without which slow speeds would persist.

The committee demanded detailed legal opinions from the Ministries of Law and Interior to clarify the overlap between PECA regulations and the directives enabling internet shutdowns. Members stressed the urgency of establishing a clear legal framework to prevent unwarranted disruptions in the future.

Cabinet critiques Ministry of Commerce, recommends privatisation of TDAP, expo centres g

RIGHTSIZING COMMITTEE IDENTIFIES INEFFICIENCIES IN TRADE MISSIONS ABROAD, RECOMMENDS REFORMS ACROSS FEDERAL MINISTRIES PROFIT

MONITORING DESK

The Federal Cabinet has raised concerns over the performance of the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) and its affiliated organizations, suggesting the privatization of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and reforms in trade missions abroad.

According to a news report, the recommendations emerged during deliberations by the Committee on the Rightsizing of the Federal Government, constituted on June 21, 2024, under the Prime Minister’s directive. The committee reviewed federal functions to identify areas suitable for privatization, merging, or restructuring for efficiency.

In the first phase, the committee assessed six ministries, including Industries and

Production, Information Technology, and Kashmir Affairs.

The second phase expanded the scope to the Ministry of Commerce, Science and Technology, Housing and Works, and National Food Security. Extensive consultations with stakeholders and subcommittees were held to analyse the financial, institutional, and human resource impacts of proposed changes.

During its review of the Ministry of Commerce, the committee highlighted inefficiencies in trade missions abroad, which it noted were overly focused on VIP visits rather than trade promotion. The Directorate General Trade Organizations (DGTO) was also criticized for its inadequate performance.

The committee proposed that TDAP and Expo Centers be considered for privatization, citing overlapping functions with the Ex-

port Development Fund and trade offices. It also recommended establishing a state-of-the-art expo center in Islamabad to attract regional investors, particularly from Russia and Central Asia.

Among other observations, the committee emphasized the need for applied research and commercialization, suggesting a review of entities such as the Pakistan Council for Renewable Energy Technologies (PCRET) and the National Institute of Electronics (NIE). The Pakistan Halal Authority (PHA), having recently begun operations, was advised to be given time to prove its effectiveness.

Addressing trade inefficiencies, the Cabinet urged the recruitment of local trade counselors fluent in regional languages, particularly for missions in China, Russia, and Central Asia.

Afghan trafficker arrested in Abbottabad in connection with Libya boat tragedy ABBOTTABAD

STAFF REPORT

An Afghan human trafficker, involved in smuggling citizens to Europe via Libya, has been arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in Abbottabad.

Afser Khan, identified as the brother of infamous trafficker Qari Jan Muhammad, was apprehended during an intelligence-based operation in Haripur. According to the FIA, evidence found on Khan’s mobile phone links him to human trafficking activities, including connections to victims and other agents.

The FIA has initiated a broader investigation into Khan’s trafficking network and is conducting further raids to capture additional suspects. Authorities emphasized that efforts to address the recent boat tragedy off the coast of Greece are ongoing, with a focus on cracking down on human traffickers.

Following the Greece and Libya boat tragedies that claimed the lives of several Pakistanis, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed authorities to dismantle human trafficking rings. As a result, the number of arrests in connection with the 2023 Libya boat incident has now reached 144.

Recent investigations revealed that many of the victims traveled on regular visit visas through airports in Pakistan before being

smuggled to Libya via Dubai and Iran. There, they were taken by traffickers across the Mediterranean to Europe.

The FIA also uncovered the involvement of immigration officers in the illegal activities, leading to the arrest of two officers, including the shift in-charge at Faisalabad airport. A total of 31 FIA personnel are now under investigation for their alleged role in the trafficking network.

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Gilgit-Baltistan imposes new entry fees on tourist vehicles g

TOURIST VEHICLES TO PAY RS2,000; MOTORCYCLES RS500 AS REGION UPGRADES TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE; PERMIT CHARGES FOR MOUNTAINEERING AND TREKKING ALSO REVISED PROFIT

NEWS DESK

The Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) government has introduced new entry fees for vehicles and motorcycles entering the region as part of an initiative to regulate tourism and support sustainable development.

A notification issued by the administration outlines the new charges: tourist vehicles will now be subject to a fee of Rs2,000, while motorcycles entering GB will pay Rs500. These fees aim to manage the growing influx of visitors to the scenic region, renowned for its picturesque landscapes and highaltitude destinations.

The revenue generated from these charges will be allocated for maintaining infrastructure, waste management, and preserving the region’s natural beauty. With a surge in tourism putting strain on GB’s roads and facilities, these measures are seen as essential for ensuring the long-term sustainability of the region’s resources. In addition to entry fees, the government has revised permit charges for mountaineering and trekking, capitalising on the rising interest in GB’s peaks and trails.

Officials said these changes reflect a broader commitment to sustainable tourism practices and responsible resource management, ensuring the region can accommodate increasing tourist numbers without compromising its ecological balance.

Pak-Iran naval forces enhance cooperation through Passage Exercise KARACHI

STAFF REPORT

The Pakistan Navy, in collaboration with the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA), successfully conducted a Passage Exercise with the Iranian Navy following a port visit to Bandar Abbas, Iran.

The exercise was aimed at enhancing maritime cooperation and interoperability between the two nations’ naval forces.

The Pakistani flotilla, consisting of Pakistan Navy ships Rasadgar and Azmat, along with PMSA ship Dasht, was led by Commodore Muhammad Umair, Commander of the 14th Destroyer Squadron. During the visit, the Mission Commander held detailed discussions with Iran’s naval leadership. Topics of mutual interest, including Navy-to-Navy engagement and enhanced cooperation in maritime security, were at the forefront of the meetings.

Following the port call, the ships of the Pakistan Navy and PMSA, alongside an Iranian Navy vessel, conducted the Passage Exercise at sea.

The exercise focused on improving the operational coordination and interoperability between the two navies, as well as promoting shared learning through synchronized maritime activities.

This joint exercise marks a significant step in strengthening bilateral naval ties and improving the security of regional waters.

Punjab becomes first province to automate development projects g

GOVT LAUNCHES SOLAR-POWERED TUBE WELL PROGRAMME, ALLOCATES RS9BN FOR AGRICULTURAL REFORM PROFIT

MONITORING DESK

Punjab has achieved a milestone by becoming the first province in Pakistan to automate its development projects, aiming to modernise governance and enhance efficiency.

Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, addressing the Punjab Assembly Standing Committee on Planning and Development, highlighted the significance of these initiatives. “The monitoring and review of development projects are now conducted daily through advanced technology.

With China’s support, Punjab aims to integrate technology across all governance sectors,” she stated.

Ms Aurangzeb revealed that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz actively oversees de-

velopment-related data in real-time via an online portal. This system fosters transparency and streamlines project implementation, reducing delays.

The minister announced an unprecedented budget of Rs 844 billion for public development projects, emphasising the government’s commitment to equitable progress across the province, irrespective of political affiliations.

Significant reforms are underway in Punjab’s healthcare sector, including the upgrade of basic health units, modernisation of divisional and district hospitals, and expanded services in underserved areas.

To tackle the persistent smog problem, the government has implemented measures such as zigzag kiln technology, bans on plastic bags and crop residue burning, and stricter

controls on industrial emissions. These efforts have shown noticeable improvements in air quality over the past nine months.

In urban sanitation, the ‘Clean Punjab’ initiative plans to extend Lahore’s advanced waste management system to all districts, enhancing public health and urban aesthetics.

In a significant step towards energy independence, the Punjab government has launched the Solarisation for Agricultural Tube Wells Programme. This initiative aims to reduce farmers’ reliance on costly electricity by transitioning tube wells to solar power.

“Approximately 8,000 agricultural tube wells across Punjab will be converted to solar energy under this programme,” said Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.

The government has allocated Rs9 bil-

lion in subsidies, providing financial assistance up to Rs1 million based on the tube well’s capacity. Farmers owning at least one

acre of agricultural land can apply for the programme through online portals, ensuring a streamlined application process.

Published by Asad Nizami at Plot No 66-C, 1st Floor, 21st Commercial Street, Phase-II (Extension), DHA Karachi and printed at Ibn-e-Hassan Printing Press, Hockey Stadium, Karachi, for PT Print (Pvt) Limited. Ph: 021-35381208-9. Email: newsroom@pakistantoday.com.pk