Epaper_25-4-5 ISB

while holding points have been set up in Karachi and Jacobabad with a transit point in Sakrund Shaheed Benazirabad housing a total capacity of 1,500 The plan added that the main repatriation centre has been set up at Ameen House in Sultanabad in Karachi s

PM suspends heads of key agricultural bodies over failure to address cotton crisis

disrupt trade patterns potentially driving Pakistani exporters to face heightened competition from China, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and India, which are also major suppliers of textiles to the US As these countries redirect their focus to other markets like Europe competition for Pakistan s textile exports will intensify in those regions adding further pressure on the country s exports

In FY24, Pakistan s textile exports to the US totaled $5 billion, representing nearly 92% of the country’s total exports to that market However the overall export trend has declined with a slight dip in the first eight months of FY25 despite textiles still accounting for a significant portion of total exports This growing tariff burden on textile products is anticipated to dent further the sector’s ability to maintain its competitive edge in the international market

Several prominent Pakistani textile

companies, including Interloop Limited, Kohinoor Textile, Nishat Mills, and Gul Ahmed (GATM) are directly impacted by this tariff hike Even companies like Pak Elektron which recently began exporting transformers to the US, will feel the pinch Despite the challenges, Pakistan’s trade balance with the US remained in surplus with exports totaling $5 44 billion in FY24 compared to imports of $1 88 billion However this surplus is under threat as Pakistan s exports face increasing hurdles, especially in the wake of the US tariffs As of FY25, the surplus has narrowed, standing at $2 51 billion with exports at $4 01 billion and imports at $1

F F

consumers are expected to receive immediate relief of Rs5 03 to Rs5 04 per unit with the remaining reduction to be incorporated in the upcoming third-quarter Quarterly Tariff Adjustment (QTA) The immediate relief of approximately Rs5 03 per unit is derived from a combination of factors: Rs1 36 per unit under the Fuel Charges Adjustment (FCA) Rs1 71 per unit under the proposed QTA and Rs1 9 per unit through the TDS These components form the short-term relief package designed to ease the financial burden on consumers amid rising energy costs However confusion arose during the hearing regarding the exact quantum of relief Industrialist Aamir Sheikh

welcomed the initiative but pointed out discrepancies, noting that while NEPRA cited Rs5 per unit in relief the Power Division had referenced Rs6 per unit He also sought clarity on whether the upcoming QTA relief would be implemented in the current quarter (April–June) or deferred to July–September “If the next QTA is granted this quarter and is around minus Rs1 per unit it would allow industries to plan export sales accordingly he said Other stakeholders including Arif Bilawani and Tanveer Barry echoed these concerns and urged NEPRA to address the prevailing confusion, particularly among industrial consumers Power Division officials emphasized that the relief would apply to all power distribution companies including KElectric for three months excluding lifeline consumers They explained that the government intends to absorb the cost of the subsidy through anticipated stability in petroleum prices over the coming months Additional relief is also being passed

on through renegotiated agreements

a

Officials reiterated that given the current economic situation relief is being routed through quarterly adjustments rather than annual rebasing NEPRA officials confirmed that the third QTA is expected to be submitted in the second week of April The authority will now review the data before issuing

Karachi City govt, LEAs begin ‘forced repatriation’ of 16,138 Afghans

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

DIG Raza said that a joint mapping exercise conducted by the police s Special Branch in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies, found a total of 16,138 ACC holders in Karachi, with most of them living in the East and West districts Giving a breakdown of each district South police said that there were 11 233 ACC holders in the East district 2 792 cardholders in the West district, 910 in Korangi, 396 in Malir, 406 in the Central district, 203 in Keamari, 120 in the South district and 78 in the City district Meanwhile Keamari Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Captain (retired) Faizan Ali visited

CONTINUED FR OM PAGE 01

Responding to a question the chief minister said that the only way forward with Afghanistan is through negotiations

Raising questions over the intentions of the Centre, the KP CM said that they were still waiting for the federal government to approve the terms of reference (TOR) to initiate talks with the interim Afghanistan government led by the Afghan Taliban It is pertinent to mention here that the KP government had planned to send a

the Ameen House holding camp on Friday a statement issued by the Keamari Police Media Cell said According to the statement, SSP Keamari reviewed the process of transferring illegal immigrants and issued instructions to personnel in charge of security and other arrangements Special arrangements have been made for transportation, food and health facilities for the people transferred to the holding camp,” the SSP was quoted as saying “The transfer of foreign immigrants to their native country with all facilities security and dignity will be ensured However, lawyer and founding member of the Joint Action Committee for Refugees (JAC) Moniza Kakar told Dawn com that

500-600 Afghans have been detained in crackdowns in various localities of the metropolis As in other parts of the country, Afghans complain of ‘harassment and bribery’ ” Kakar alleged claiming that Afghans have been detained in different areas by the police We have already filed petitions in Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta and Rawalpindi and are waiting for their outcome before we initiate the same process in Sindh as well,” she added, highlighting that following the crackdown Afghans are not going to work out of fear of being detained Kakar highlighted that there are a total of 850,000 ACC holders in the country who received their cards in 2017 Of them, 70,000 were reportedly living in Karachi

provincial jirga to Kabul to address the bilateral issues, including the cross-border attacks and use of Afghan soil by terrorists CM Gandapur said that stability in the region was linked with peace in Afghanistan He said that PTI had the solution to the menace of terrorism being faced by the country

Responding to the incumbent government s allegations about the resettlement of terrorists and the resurgence of militancy in the country, the CM termed the statements from the treasury benches “extremely irresponsible”

lower electricity costs

NUMBER OF AFGHAN REFUGEES IN PAKISTAN

According to the Ministry of States and Frontier Regions (Safron) data, currently there are 2 1 million registered and unregistered Afghan refugees in Pakistan – 1 4 million legally registered while 800 000 are holders of the Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC) but their stay is now considered illegal However, the government claims that the total number of Afghan refugees in Pakistan is three million, all of whom are set to be repatriated this year under the illegal

nationals deportation plan AFGHAN REFUGEES FALL INTO FOUR CATEGORIES The first category consists of Afghan citizens who fled to Pakistan due to instability in Afghanistan and were granted official refugee status In 2007 Pakistan issued Proof of Registration (PoR) Cards to these refugees, who now number around 1 3 million The government issued these cards only once, renewing them periodically with the current validity expiring on June 30 2025

PA K I S TA N S PSX may well be the only stock market in the world to greet President Donald Trump s announcement of sweeping tariffs with a rise, going up on Thursday to an all-time high and setting a new high while crossing the 120 000-point barrier of the KSE100 Index However the reason for that jubilation was not the 38 percent tariff imposed on Pakistan as the cut in the power tariff announced by the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif the same day Though Mr Trump’s announcement came on Wednesday evening local time, and Mr Sharif ’s on Thursday afternoon, the rime difference was such that the latter served as a reply to the first The markets seem to feel that the cut in the power price would make up for the rise in the tariff They are also assuming that Pakistani textiles (the bulk of the exports to the USA are textile made-ups) will become competitive after tariffs also affect other producers

However, The USA is also not the only market Exports to the European Union, for example, should benefit There will also be a positive outcome for the consumer Domestic bills may not go down, because consumption is about to increase as summer sets in and cooling devices go on However the rioting of the past may not occur A more substantial benefit may be visible in the Consumer Price Index which registered a 1 7 percent increase in March measured year-over-year One reason for that low figure is the previous reduction in the electricity tariff That figure did not include the current reductions, so the predictions of an upswing in inflation from this month may well be proven, wrong The decreases are supposed to be followed by further decreases next month, but that is predicated on reducing line losses and theft, which is easier said than done

The government should reconcile itself to having shot its bolt, at least as far as electricity tariffs are concerned Now it will have to lean back and wait for industry to take advantage of the new tariff, and for the consumer to

Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late)

B reaking the bonds of tradition P

M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit

IN a bombastic move on April 2nd now dubbed Liberation Day by his supporters President Donald Trump unveiled a sweeping 25 percent tariff on all imports entering the USA, sparking what critics now call an economic tsunami with global shockwaves The announcement, delayed a day to avoid being mistaken for an April Fool’s prank was anything but a joke Trump in a gusty outdoor speech laced with boasts and grievances claimed this tariff was a necessary act of reciprocity to combat what he called decades of abuse and rip-offs Brandishing a small chart too flimsy for the wind but heavy with political intent he rattled off figures: China, 67 percent; European Union 39 percent; Vietnam 90 percent; India 52 percent “We charge them less than they charge us he said promising discounted reciprocal tariffs to correct these imbalances They rip us off he thundered, and they all understand we re done with tough talk, now it s tough love But love was not the reaction The backlash, both international and domestic, was immediate, and fierce Nowhere was the response more visceral than in Canada In the midst of an election season Canadian

Tesla vehicles in a symbolic rejection of corporate favoritism and US hegemony In response, US Attorney General Pam Bondi warned that anyone damaging US property, especially Tesla vehicles, would face “exemplary punishment” a statement underscoring growing domestic unease Across the Atlantic the European Union long the USA s closest geopolitical ally is plotting a future without the USA Disenchanted by Trump s isolationist tone, European leaders have begun discussions on a new continental defence pact, an EU-only military alliance to replace NATO’s aging framework Trade between the EU and the USA worth

charge us 67 percent we charge 34 percent That’s fair ” Trump insisted during his speech But the effects are destabilizing Tesla once a darling of US-China innovation has seen a nosedive in its Chinese exports and a sharp decline in domestic sales which fell by nearly 12 percent

President TrumpÊs sweeping tariffs and global posturing have ushered the USA into a precarious moment. Allies are distancing, global institutions are straining, and domestic pressures are mounting From Tesla fires to electricity shor tag es, from diplomatic ruptures to inflation spikes his administration appears to be gambling with not just the USAÊs future , but global stability itself

and #IndieMusic

and fostering

Ilike YouTube and Spotify, in conjunction with social media marketing have proven to be game changers Independent musicians who utilize Instagram Reels Facebook Live and TikTok challenges often experience a surge in popularity sometimes leading to record deals or sponsorship opportunities A report from Statista (2023) indicated that over 70 percent of independent musicians credit social media for their audience growth and commercial success Additionally social media analytics show that music videos shared via Instagram and TikTok are more likely to go viral, increasing revenue through ad monetization and brand partnerships Similarly, literature has found new life in digital spaces Writers now use platforms like Twitter (via micro-fiction) Instagram (through poetry posts) and self-publishing avenues such as Medium and Wattpad to reach audiences without traditional publishing barriers A case study of self-published authors on Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) reveals that those who actively promote their books on social media achieve significantly higher sales Data from a recent survey showed that 65 percent of self-published authors attribute their readership growth to targeted social media campaigns However, while social media facilitates exposure, it also presents challenges The overwhelming volume of content makes it difficult for individual artists to stand out Moreover algorithmic changes on social media platforms often dictate content visibility sometimes favoring mainstream creators over independent voices Intellectual property theft and digital piracy also remain concerns, as artists frequently face unauthorized reproduction and distribution of their work

Despite these challenges social media remains a powerful tool for promoting cultural expression provided artists employ strategic engagement techniques such as cross-promotion, influencer collaborations, and paid advertisements Social media has undoubtedly

transformed the promotion of local arts, music, and literature by providing creators with direct access to their audiences and eliminating traditional barriers to entry Through strategic use of digital platforms artists can build communities engage with followers, and commercialize their work in ways previously unimaginable However, challenges such as content saturation algorithm reliance and intellectual property concerns necessitate a balanced approach to digital promotion To maximize the benefits of social media creators should adopt diversified marketing strategies, including multi-platform engagement, paid promotions, and collaborations with influencers to increase visibility Digital literacy and content protection measures such as watermarking and copyright registration can also help safeguard artistic works from unauthorized use Furthermore policymakers and digital platforms should introduce more robust intellectual property safeguards and fairer algorithmic policies that support independent creators Finally fostering an online culture that values and supports local art music and literature is crucial Encouraging community-driven initiatives government-backed digital promotion programs and educational workshops on social media optimization can enhance the sustainability of digital artistic endeavors By adopting these strategies, local artists, musicians, and writers can continue to thrive in the digital landscape preserving and evolving cultural heritage in the process

The writer is Lecturer in English Institute of Humanities and Arts Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology

Fatal flaws

Waheed shahzad

A hard state is the sole solution

Hthe government imposed severe penalties for offences like drug trafficking, corruption, and vandalism This tough stance on crime has helped establish Singapore as one of the safest cities globally drawing both tourists and international businesses Singapore s transformation into a prosperous stable and secure nation serves as a prime example of how a hard state approach can deliver significant benefits in terms of economic development, social harmony and security Its success is underpinned by strong central governance efficient law enforcement and pragmatic policies that prioritize long-term national interests over individual freedoms By contrast, Pakistan has faced numerous challenges since its creation in 1947

These challenges span political instability, economic difficulties security concerns and social issues Despite having a large population and abundant natural resources Pakistan continues to struggle One of its most persistent challenges is political instability Since gaining independence, Pakistan has experienced frequent changes in government, political corruption and weak democratic institutions Corruption within political parties government bodies and the state apparatus is widespread undermining public trust and the effectiveness of state institutions Pakistan has also faced severe security challenges, both internal and external, which have contributed to its political instability and economic struggles The country has dealt with terrorism and religious extremism for decades Groups like Tehrik Taliban Pakistan Baloch Liberation Army and other militant organizations, have carried out numerous attacks, contributing to insecurity and loss of life The rise of extremism has further damaged the country’s social fabric intensifying its internal conflicts and instability Pakistan s relationship with India continues to be a major security concern The two nations have fought several wars and have a persistent dispute over Kashmir The risk of conflict between these nuclear-armed neighbours remains high and any escalation could have disastrous consequences not only for them but also for the wider region

India s involvement in interfering with Pakistan s internal affairs aims to destabilize

it The long porous border between Pakistan and Afghanistan has been a point of ongoing tension The Afghan conflict and the movement of terrorist groups across this border have contributed to instability in Pakistan’s ex-tribal areas While Pakistan has made efforts to strengthen border security the issue remains unresolved and continues to affect regional security The presence of militant groups operating within Pakistan remains a significant challenge These groups often have cross-border connections with other insurgent movements further complicating the security situation

Terrorism and extremism are central to Pakistan s broader security concerns remaining a major obstacle to the country s stability Over the years, extremist ideologies have spread, particularly in areas with weak governance The radicalization of certain segments of the population especially youth remains a pressing challenge

Pakistan also faces numerous social challenges that hinder the well-being of its citizens The healthcare system is underfunded and lacks the infrastructure necessary to meet the needs of its growing population Rural areas in particular have limited access resulting in high rates of infant mortality malnutrition and preventable diseases

Education is another area with significant obstacles With one of the lowest literacy rates globally, particularly among women and in rural areas, the country struggles with poor-quality education, overcrowded schools and inadequate facilities Many children especially girls are unable to access education due to socio-cultural norms economic constraints or insecurity

Pakistan is also grappling with a severe water crisis The availability of water per capita is rapidly declining due to population growth and over-extraction of resources The country heavily depends on the Indus River system which is under stress due to climate change poor water management and reduced snowmelt from the Himalayas Additionally, Pakistan is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, such as floods, droughts, and rising temperatures Extreme weather events such as the devastating floods in 2010 and recurring droughts have disrupted agriculture and displaced millions Furthermore the country s natural resources particularly forests are

Trump’s tariffs are an economic emergency for Americans

being depleted at an alarming rate contributing to air and water pollution which deteriorates public health and the environment

Pakistan s judicial system faces widespread criticism for being slow, inefficient, and prone to corruption Citizens lack confidence in the courts’ ability to deliver impartial justice The absence of timely and transparent legal proceedings has led to a backlog of cases Above all there is the ongoing threat of terrorism Peace is crucial for attracting foreign investment, which is essential for growth The key solution lies in transforming Pakistan into a hard state particularly in addressing terrorism This idea recently proposed by COAS Gen Asim Munir has sparked widespread discussion For Pakistan it would involve strengthening the government s control over security, economic management, and social policies It would require decisive action in governance, effectively addressing security threats and reducing the political fragmentation that has undermined stability Political instability remains one of the primary obstacles to Pakistan s progress The country has yet to establish a stable political environment where democratic principles are upheld and corruption is effectively addressed Adopting a hard state approach would bring stronger central government control fostering the political unity needed for long-term stability Strong leadership would enable efficient decision-making The government would implement stringent governance measures to prevent power fragmentation and ensure that political decisions are not influenced by shifting political dynamics Pakistan s economic instability is worsened by high external debt inflation and the inability to mobilize domestic resources The country remains heavily reliant on foreign aid and loans, making it vulnerable to international pressure and financial instability Pakistan’s economic challenges stem from a lack of long-term planning widespread corruption and inefficient state institutions A hard state model would involve strong state control over the economy, enabling the government to enact comprehensive economic reforms By prioritizing self-reliance, Pakistan could reduce its dependency on foreign aid and loans

last inflation shock caused by the “bullwhip” effect from the seizing up of global supply chains during the COVID-19 pandemic and the international economic reverberations of Russia s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine The inflationary impact of Trump’s tariffs will be felt sooner rather than later even as some of his team are scrambling to claim there will be negotiations on lowering some of the tariffs

This is because importers and distributors will have to reassess the profitability of the goods they are ordering now

Supply chains may well be further disrupted by countermeasures from the countries affected

a larger share of voters will be directly hit by the move than in any other Western country Trump s March tariffs on Canada and Mexico –the two countries with whom most US automotive manufacturing is integrated – have already caused disruption There is a near-universal anticipation that prices will rise But this trend will play

While there is no doubt that the era of global free trade that Washington did so much to usher in under previous presidents has seen the country s share of manufacturing decline, it is the US consumer who has been perhaps the greatest beneficiary of that agenda They will be the main losers of Trump s policy Trump bemoans the bipartisan consensus that was in place before his rise, deriding the globalists who supposedly drove this agenda and, in his view, the stock market’s strong negative reaction to his abrogation from the idea of ever-freer trade But the great irony is that it was his Republican Party that did the most to drive this agenda forward

In the 1980s, President Ronald Reagan put trade at the centre of his message of prosperity for both the US and those who would partner with it Milton Friedman traditionally an economist highly lauded by conservatives and a Reagan adviser, wrote: Our tariffs hurt us as well as other countries We would be benefited by dispensing with our tariffs even if other countries did not There are few measures we could take that would do more to promote the cause of freedom at home and abroad Reagan s Democratic opposition were late converts – when Bill Clinton brought the North American Free Trade Agreement before Congress in 1994, more Republican senators voted for it than Democrats Trump however does not plan on having any kind of congressional oversight over his latest plans however – even where they appear to run counter to free trade agreements with affected countries However, Congress can still fulfil its role Trump’s tariffs rely on relatively thin standing Namely he claims he is enacting them out of

try, will be taxed at 32 percent India and Vietnam, two of the countries to which US supply chains have been most re-routed since Trump’s first administration began with a much sharper focus on the US-Chinese trade imbalance face a 26 percent and 46 percent tariff respectively The US is ill-prepared for an inflationary shock It is still fighting off the

US National Security Agenc y chief fired

CORPORATE CORNER

Aleem K han meets Belarusian ministers, disc usses bilateral cooperation

that Belarus holds a significant geographical position in the region for trade and Pakistan, particularly in the communications sector aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation He further expressed that the visit of his delegation to Belarus has been highly productive and will be mutually beneficial for both countries Abdul Aleem Khan expressed confidence that the upcoming visit of the Prime Minister of Pakistan to Belarus in this month would further contribute to the cement these ties Federal Minister also invited Belarus' Minister of Transport to invest in Pakistan's Communications Sector especially in Motorways Belarusian Minister for Transport and Communications H E Alexei

Lyakhnovich warmly welcomed Pakistani Minister Abdul Aleem Khan and his delegation assuring them of Belarus' commitment to expanding cooperation across various sectors Abdul Aleem Khan also addressed the Ministerial Session, stressing the importance of increasing collaboration between the two countries He added that the visits of the heads of both countries are significant and it will play a positive role in accelerating purposeful development in the coming days

OVER 900 ILLEGAL BUNKERS DEMOLISHED IN KURRAM UNDER PEACE DEAL

others including Sadia Faheem Faheem Gulzar Maheen Faisal Sidra Tariq and others However the government decided last week to drop further actions and restore their identities

Senate Chairpersons of Uzbekistan and Pakistan discuss prospec ts of bilateral cooperation

A parliamentary delegation led by the Chairman of the Senate of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani is on a visit to Uzbekistan This distinguished delegation arrived in Tashkent to participate in the 150th Anniversary Assembly of the Inter-Parlia-

mentary Union, which will be held from 5th to 9th April

As part of the visit’s program, a meeting between the Chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan Tanzila Narbayeva and the Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani took place on April 4

During the meeting, the parties discussed the further development of

inter-parliamentary cooperation between Uzbekistan and Pakistan, strengthening the legal framework of bilateral relations, and expanding interaction in mutually beneficial areas

Both sides expressed satisfaction that the traditional brotherly and friendly ties between the two countries continue to develop in the spirit of strategic partnership

Particular attention was paid to further deepening the strategic partnership between the two nations enhancing cooperation in trade and economic relations investment transport and logistics as well as in the fields of communications and information technology

The importance of increasing bilateral trade turnover to $2 billion was emphasized along with the implementation of joint projects in the fields of pharmaceuticals agricultural sector agricultural machinery, geology, and other areas

ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) termed the minimal reduction of Rs7 41 per unit in power tariffs following exorbitant hikes totaling Rs30 per unit over the past two years as nothing but a cruel joke on the inflation-weary and poverty-stricken nation

PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram stated that during the PTI era, the average price of a unit was Rs16 40 which has now exceeded to Rs45 per unit

He further emphasized that since the sales tax had not even been included in these calculations, the purported Rs6 per unit reduction amounted to

nothing more than adding insult to injury for already overburdened electricity consumers Waqas noted that the only vision and expertise of the Shehbaz government for the betterment of the economy was to first raise the prices of basic goods by more than 100 percent and then ultimately reduce them by just 7 to 10 percent merely to fool the nation

He said that the price of oil in the global market has decreased, but instead of giving relief to the people taxes have been increased to further overburdened the masses adding that now with this additional tax money the unit of electricity, which was made expensive by Rs 35, will be

cheaper by only

6 per unit PTI CIS challenged that if economic conditions are truly so favorable for foreign investment and Pakistan’s economy is growing rapidly why don’t the Sharif and Zardari families repatriate their offshore wealth and invest in the country rather than carrying the begging bowl across the nation

PTI CIS categorically

ISLAMABAD