SRINAGAR: All Parties Hurriyat Conference has urged the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, to take cognizance of the ruthless killing of civilians by Indian troops in the territory.
APHC General Secretary, Molvi Bashir Ahmad Irfani in a statement issued in Srinagar demanded an impartial international probe into the heinous war crimes committed by Indian troops in IIOJK.
He said the Narendra-led fascist Indian regime is treating the people of Kashmir worse than animals and has turned the territory into a military garrison where common people have been deprived of all their fundamental rights.
The APHC leader said suppression and repression of any magnitude cannot deter the freedom loving people of Kashmir from carrying on their just struggle for securing their inalienable right to self-determination. “Indian military arrogance has been dashed to the ground by the brave people of Kashmir and the ire of the Kashmiris against Indian brutalities, civilian killings, desecration of the chastity of women and widespread human rights abuses is increasing day by day,” he said.
Molvi Bashir Ahmad said India has besieged 8 million people by deploying more than one million troops, enjoying unbridled powers under draconian laws to kill any person without any reason. He denounced the use of military power to prevent the people from offering Juma prayers at Jamia Masjid in Srinagar.
The APHC leader urged the world community to play its role in settling the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the United Nations Security Council resolutions and Kashmiris’ aspirations.
ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Ali Muhammad Khan has said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government was going to establish seven new educational institutions which was a landmark achievement.
While responding to a question in the Senate, the minister said that there are total 424 educational institutions including government primary, secondary schools and colleges in Islamabad. He was responding to a question of Senator Fauzia Arshad.
He informed that total number of public sector institutions under ambit of Federal Directorate of Education Islamabad was 424. Amongst these, 410 Institutions were from Primary to Higher Secondary Schools levels, including Islamabad Model Colleges, which also had Primary and Secondary School Sections, he added.
The total number of students studying at primary level in federal government institutions working under ambit of Federal Directorate of Education, on the basis of census conducted in year 2020, is 86,909, whereas additional 10,339 students are enrolled in pre Primary (Prep/Montessori) classes.
Around 196,081 students are enrolled in private schools of Islamabad, registered with PEIRA. There are 248 Non Formal Basic Education Community Schools in Islamabad Capital Territory that provide primary education to the most disadvantaged segment of the society under Ministry of FE&PT.
Currently 7,356 including 3,691 male and 3,665 female learners are enrolled in BECS schools. According to Academy of Educational & Planning Management, Pakistan Education Statistics Survey 2017-18 about 6,260 children were out of school in Islamabad Capital Territory.
Senator Irfan ul Haq Siddiqui, Ali Muhammad informed that 230 new classrooms were under construction in 31 institutions of the federal capital. To another question of Senator Mushtaq Ahmed about scholarship programme for the students Tribal areas and Balochistan, the State Minister informed the Senate that 793 seats had been increased for the students of the Tribal areas and Balochistan.
In a recent development, 36 seats were increased in KPK for the students of the Tribal areas and Balochistan, he added. He said, it’s an on-going issue and efforts were being made to facilitate the students of the Tribal areas and Balochistan.
KPK government was trying to fulfil its duty, he added. We want support of Punjab and Sindh to facilitate the students of Tribal areas and Balochistan. Time has come to establish new medical colleges in Balochistan so that thestudents of the province could get admission in their own area, he added.
ISLAMABAD: Minister for Law and Justice Dr. Farogh Naseem has said that the objections of opposition on the recent legislation passed by the joint sitting of the parliament are baseless.
Addressing a news conference along with Parliamentary Secretary Maleeka Bukhari in Islamabad, he said opposition parties have opposed bills on electoral reforms without reading them. He said government has made this legislation in wider interest of the nation.
Dr. Farogh Naseem said opposition is politicizing the matter of Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav.
The matters related to national security must be discussed and criticized keeping in view the national security concerns and sensitivities, he maintained.
The Law Minister said the opposition unfortunately has been hell bent on sabotaging the legislative process.
Speaking on the occasion, Parliamentary Secretary for Law and Justice Maleeka Bukhari said the PTI led government has passed historic laws despite all delaying tactics used by opposition.
Highlighting the recent bills passed by parliament, she said all these laws made and amended by the government are aimed at fast tracking the process of justice and easing legal procedures for the affected people.
DHAKA: Pakistan recovered from early blows in their chase to beat Bangladesh by four wickets in a closely-contested affair at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka on Friday.
After being reduced to 24/4, Khushdil Shah’s knock of 34 helped Pakistan rally from the early blows and pip the hosts to victory.
Pakistani skipper Babar Azam managed to score eight runs while Mohammad Rizwan hit 11 runs. Haider Ali and Shoaib Malik were unable to score any run in the match.
Opting to bat first, Bangladesh also got off to a shaky start, losing their first three wickets for 15 runs, before Afif Hossain steadied the hosts with 36 off 34 balls. Nurul Hasan made 28 off 22 balls while Mahedi Hasan added an unbeaten 30 off 17 balls.
Right-arm pacer Mohammad Wasim claimed 2-24 for the tourists.
Pakistan are resting star pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi and have brought in Mohammad Wasim Jr for the first game of the three-match series. Haider Ali, Mohammad Nawaz and Khushdil Shah have also been included in the starting line-up.
Squads
Bangladesh: Mahmudullah Riyad (capt), Mohammad Naim, Saif Hassan, Najmul Hossain, Afif Hossain, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Mahedi Hasan, Aminul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Taskin Ahmed
Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam (capt), Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Shoaib Malik, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Nawaz, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Wasim Jr
KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Friday announced an increase of 150 basis points to 8.75 per cent in its benchmark policy rate in a bid to contain runaway inflation.
In its Friday’s meeting, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decided to raise the policy rate by 150 basis points to 8.75 per cent. This reflected the MPC’s view that since the last meeting, risks related to inflation and the balance of payments have increased while the outlook for growth has continued to improve.
The heightened risks related to inflation and balance of payments stem from both global and domestic factors. Across the world, price pressures from Covid-induced disruptions to supply chains and higher energy prices are proving to be larger and longer-lasting than previously anticipated.
In response, central banks have generally begun to tighten monetary policy to keep inflation expectations anchored. In Pakistan too, high import prices have contributed to higher-than-expected CPI, SPI, and core inflation outturns.
At the same time, there are also emerging signs of demand-side pressures on inflation, and inflation expectations of businesses have risen on account of further upside risks from domestic administered prices.
With respect to the balance of payments, the current account deficits in September and October have been larger than anticipated, reflecting both rising oil and commodity prices and buoyant domestic demand. The burden of adjusting to these external pressures has largely fallen on the rupee.
As a result of these developments, the balance of risks has shifted away from growth and toward inflation and the current account faster than expected. Accordingly, the MPC was of the view that there is now a need to proceed faster to normalize monetary policy to counter inflationary pressures and preserve stability with growth. Today’s rate increase is a material move in this direction. Looking ahead, the MPC reiterated that the end goal of mildly positive real interest rates remains unchanged and, given today’s move, expects to take measured steps to that end.
In reaching its decision, the MPC considered key trends and prospects in the real, external, and fiscal sectors, and the resulting outlook for monetary conditions and inflation.
The economic recovery underway since the start of FY21 continues, as reflected in most high-frequency indicators of domestic demand?including automobile sales, POL (petroleum, oil, and lubricants) sales, and electricity generation?as well as the strength of imports and tax revenues. Notwithstanding some moderation in September due to a high base effect and some supply chain disruptions, LSM registered broad-based growth of 5.2 per cent (y/y) in Q1-FY22, led by production of consumer goods (both durable and nondurable), construction-allied, and export industries.
In agriculture, production levels of all major Kharif crops except cotton are estimated to have reached all-time highs. Cotton production has also rebounded, with arrivals at ginneries growing by 80 per cent as of 1st November compared to the same period last season. Overall, the economic recovery appears increasingly durable and self-sustaining, against the backdrop of rapidly falling Covid cases and the government’s vigorous vaccination roll-out.
Looking ahead, rising input costs and normalization of macroeconomic policies are likely to lead to some moderation in the growth of industrial activity.
Nevertheless, this could be more than offset by the improved outlook for agriculture, such that risks to the growth forecast of 4-5 per cent in FY22 are tilted to the upside.
Persistently high international commodity prices and strong domestic activity kept the current account deficit elevated at $3.4 billion in Q1-FY22. The deficit widened to $1.66 billion in October from $1.13 billion in September due to high energy prices and an uptick in services imports, despite some moderation in nonenergy imports.
There was also a moderate month-on-month decline in exports and remittances. The current account deficit for FY22 is expected to modestly exceed the previous forecast of 2-3 per cent of GDP. 7. While the market-based exchange rate has played its due role as a shock absorber, it has borne a considerable burden in terms of adjusting to the widening current account deficit.
The rupee has depreciated by a further 3.4 per cent since the last MPC meeting. The US dollar also appreciated against most emerging market currencies since May as expectations of tapering by the Federal Reserve have been brought forward. However, the fall in the value of the rupee since May has been comparatively large. As other adjustment tools normalize, including interest rates and fiscal policy, pressures on the rupee should abate.
The overall fiscal deficit improved to 0.8 per cent of GDP in Q1-FY22 from 1 percent in the same period last year. This was driven by the above-target growth in FBR tax revenues (38.3 per cent (y/y)) despite higher refunds and a significant reduction in the sales tax rate on POL. However, non-tax revenue fell by 22.6 per cent (y/y) due to a sharp decline in petroleum development levy (PDL) collection. In addition, the primary surplus was 28.6 per cent lower than in Q1-FY21, due to a 33 per cent (y/y) growth in non-interest spending.
Looking ahead, it will be important to achieve the fiscal consolidation plan in the budget to help restrain domestic demand. A higher-than-planned primary fiscal deficit would likely worsen the outlook for inflation and the current account and would undermine the durability of the recovery.
Real money supply growth has accelerated in recent months to above-trend levels. With the economic recovery on a sound footing, there is a need to pare back this growth as part of the broader move toward normalizing monetary conditions. The MPC noted that the recent increase in banks’ cash reserve requirements would help in this regard.
Inflationary pressures have increased considerably since the last MPC meeting, with headline inflation rising from 8.4 per cent (y/y) in August to 9 per cent in September and further to 9.2 per cent in October, mainly driven by higher energy costs and a rise in core inflation. The momentum of inflation has also picked up significantly, with average m/m inflation in the last two months at an elevated 2 per cent and all subcomponents of the CPI basket showing an acceleration.
Core inflation has also picked up in the last two months, rising to 6.7 per cent (y/y) in both urban and rural areas on the back of house rents, cloth and garments, medicines, footwear, and other components. In addition, inflation expectations of households remain elevated and those of businesses have risen sharply. Looking ahead, global commodity prices and potential further upward adjustments in administered prices of energy pose upside risks to the average inflation forecast of 7-9 per cent in FY22.
The MPC will continue to carefully monitor developments affecting medium-term prospects for inflation, financial stability, and growth and stands ready to respond appropriately.
DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has reached an agreement for the procurement of defence equipment worth more than Rs6.65 billion with a Pakistani company at the Dubai Air Show 2021.
UAE defence minister spokesperson Lt Colonel Sarah Hamd Al Hijri confirmed that the deal had been reached with a Pakistani company Global Industrial and Defence Solution for the purchase of different weapons.
The spokesperson maintained that seven major agreements worth 225 billion dirhams had been signed during the fourth day of the exhibition.
The biggest deal at the air show was the purchase of ammunition for the Air Force and air defence systems from a US company Alliant Techsystems Operations which costs more than 170 million dirhams.
Meanwhile, an accord was also reached with a US company Lockheed Martin Global Inc for the provision of technical support and purchase of spare parts for the Air Force and Air Defence Command Systems.
ISLAMABAD: Coronavirus pandemic is still continue and government is taking all out measures to curb the deadly virus as during last 24 hours Pakistan has reported 10 deaths and 418 new infections by novel coronavirus across the country.
According to the latest figures issued on National Coronavirus Dashboard of the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), 418 new coronavirus positive cases were reported that took the overall number of positive cases to 1,281,240.
The nationwide tally of fatalities during last 24 hours was reported 10 taking the toll to 28,648 on Friday morning.
The figures shown by NCOC stated that Punjab remains the worst-hit province in terms of deaths followed by Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Countrywide fogures of positive cases was 1,281,240, out of which 473,767 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Sindh, 442,268 in Punjab, 179,421 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 107,427 in Islamabad, 34,527 in Azad Kashmir, 33,425 in Balochistan and 10,405in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Pakistan has so far conducted 21,565,738 coronavirus tests and 40,143 in the last 24 hours. 1,230,094 patients have recovered in the country whereas 1,083 patients are in critical condition. The COVID-19 positivity ratio was recorded at 1.04 per cent.
So far, 78,747,199 people have received their first dose of coronavirus vaccine including 92,710 in last 24 hours. 48,890,845 citizens have been fully vaccinated while 141,416 received their second dose in last 24 hours.
The number of total administered doses has reached to 120,233,579 with 230,136 in the last 24 hours.
LAHORE: Smog has continued to engulf major cities of Punjab as the ranking of Air Quality Index (AQI) has reached 424 today (Friday).
Residents choking in acrid smog pleaded with officials to take action. Air pollution has worsened in Pakistan in recent years, as a mixture of low-grade diesel fumes, smoke from seasonal crop burn off, and colder winter temperatures coalesce into stagnant clouds of smog.
Lahore, a bustling megacity of more than 11 million people in Punjab province near the border with India, consistently ranks among the worst cities in the world for air pollution.
In recent years residents have built their own air purifiers and taken out lawsuits against government officials in desperate bids to clean the air — but authorities have been slow to act, blaming the smog on India or claiming the figures are exaggerated.
DHAKA: The Men in Green will look to continue their form against a dangerous Bangladesh side at home as the two sides lock horns in the first of the three-match Twenty20 International series today in Dhaka.
The clash will take place at 1pm PST. The two teams yesterday took part in a practice session ahead of their first faceoff.
Earlier, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced a 12-member team for today’s T20I.
Skipper Babar Azam will lead the team with Shadab Khan as his vice-captain. Pakistan fielded the same line-up in all six World Cup matches and have retained almost the same squad for the Bangladesh series.
Babar’s side stormed through the Super-12 phase of the ICC’s Twenty20 World Cup in the UAE with five straight victories before they were handed a five-wicket defeat in the semi-final at the hands of Australia, who went on to win the T20 World Cup.
From the World Cup squad, Mohammad Hafeez is the only player who opted out of the team, with Iftikhar Ahmed brought on as his replacement.
Bangladesh are missing several senior players who have been ruled out due to injury or rested after a disastrous World Cup campaign, where they failed to win a single Super-12 match.
Captain Mahmudullah Riyad said his side were looking to start afresh and put the Dubai debacle behind them. “Whatever happened happened. If we think much about it that would affect us negatively. We want to think positive,” he said.
Eager cricket fans will be returning to the stands in Bangladesh for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic forced stadiums to close for crowds in March 2020.
Pakistan will also play two Test matches during their tour.
The two teams will play their second and third T20Is at the same venue on 20 and 22 November respectively.
The Men in Green are expected to keep up the momentum from their strong T20 World Cup showing with a largely unchanged squad for the Bangladesh tour, said skipper Babar Azam Thursday.
“Momentum always matters in cricket and we would like to carry that momentum,” Babar told reporters ahead of the game.
The world’s number one ranked T20 and ODI batter said Pakistan will not take Bangladesh lightly.
“Despite the absence of senior players in the team, the cricketers that are currently part of the squad have experience playing in the Bangladesh Premier League,” said Azam.
“Hence, we will play with confidence throughout the series.”
Babar Azam said Pakistan has six upcoming matches against Bangladesh and the West Indies, adding that the Men in Green will experiment with different combinations during the matches.
Speaking about the different conditions in Bangladesh, Babar Azam said the team will adjust to the environment here and play accordingly.
LONDON: Pakistan-born economist a senior educationist of London School of Economics (LSE) Dr Adnan Qadir Khan has been appointed as Chief Economist for the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in the UK government.
The LSE’s School of Public Policy announced in a congratulatory message that their Academic Director and Professor Adnan Qadir Khan, currently a professor at the LSE, has been appointed as the chief economist at the FCDO from January 2022.
The LSE said that Dr Adnan Qadir Khan will be missed. Dr Khan has served as LSE’s professor and academic director at the School of Public Policy for several years, it added.
Originally from Dera Ghazi Khan, Dr Khan studied engineering, philosophy and international affairs from UET and Punjab University.
He has worked in different positions in Pakistan. Dr Khan was recruited to the Pakistan Administrative Service after standing first in the Civil Service Examination in 1995.
The statement further mentioned that he also stood first after completing training at the Civil Services Academy. He has also worked with socially relevant theatre when in Lahore and worked with several organizations working for human rights in Pakistan.
He has been a founding board member of the Center for Economic Research in Pakistan (CERP) since 2010.
