KARACHI: Khadim Ali Shah Bukhari Institute of Technology (KASBIT) and Special Technology Zone Authority (STZA) on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to plan and develop a Special Technology Zone (STZ) in Karachi.
The STZ will provide technology companies, including startups, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), and multinationals a high-tech business environment to promote technology-driven growth in Pakistan, said a press release issued by SECP here.
The MoU Signing Ceremony took place at the site of KASB Altitude Building in Clifton, Karachi which will apply for the Special Technology Zone as per STZA Rules 2021 for the status of Zone Developer after due consultation on legal framework with the Government of Sindh.
While speaking at the MoU Signing Ceremony, chairman of the STZA, Amer Hashmi, said Pakistan is at a turning point in its technological history.”We hear of Pakistani startups receiving enormous amounts of funding almost every day now which for us is a source of immense pride,” he said.
“It is our duty to provide brilliant entrepreneurial and innovative minds with conducive environments that facilitate them to achieve their full otential”, Hashmi said.
He said that STZA focuses on an ecosystem approach to harness the country’s technology potential and work towards scientific and technological growth and development. “We commend KASB Group for taking the lead and initiating work to develop the KASB Altitude for this purpose.
“KASB Altitude is an initiative of KASB Institute of Technology Private Limited, which has worked diligently to contribute to Pakistan’s economic growth.
KASB Altitude will be a thirty five floor building situated at Clifton, Karachi.
It will have modern, high-tech planned infrastructure and facilitate futuristic entrepreneurship opportunities in Pakistan.
KASB Altitude will be the first Zone developed in Karachi for the said purpose after it completes all the due processes and requirements.
KASB Altitude most significant attribute will be its cutting-edge R&D labs and certified testing centers.
KARACHI: Ahmad Rabbani, mistaken Karachi taxi driver and inmate of the notorious American prison, Guantanamo Bay was released on Friday night after 17 years.
A man namely Ahmad Rabbani, who once worked as a taxi driver in Karachi, has been released from Guantanamo Bay after 17 years after being cleared of all charges.
Ahmad Rabbani’s release was announced late Friday night by Reprieve, a legal action NGO, that works on such cases.
According to Reprieve, Rabbani’s case was of a mistaken identity. He was identified in 2002 as a wanted man called Hassan Ghul and sold to US personnel in Pakistan. “Although they soon realized they had the wrong man, they took him to Afghanistan and tortured him in black sites for 545 days,” said the Reprieve press release.
“The abuse he was subjected to is documented in the US Senate torture report.”
According US newspaper, Rabbani and his brother were captured in a raid in Karachi in September 2002. They were detained for about 550 days in the custody of the Central Intelligence Agency and transferred to Guantánamo Bay in 2004.
“The Guantánamo Review Task Force (2009-10) had recommended he be considered for prosecution, but the case was not pursued,” the paper reported.
Another US newspaper asked Rabbani to write about his experience in an Op-ed in 2018. In it he said he was “captured by Gen. Pervez Musharraf’s government and sold to the CIA for a bounty”. He stopped eating and at one point he could not eat without vomiting blood.
“The Americans took me to a black site in Kabul known as the Dark Prison, where my hands were shackled overhead for days on end,” he wrote. He tried to cut off his own hand to end the pain.
Guantanamo Bay is located off the coast of Cuba and has been American territory since the early 1900s. It was turned into a prison camp as it was an “island outside the law” as the US needed a place to detain terrorism suspects without giving them proper legal rights.
“At home and around the world, Guantánamo has become a symbol of injustice, abuse, and disregard for the rule of law,” according to the ACLU.
The prison and torture camp opened in 2002 and an estimated 800 men have been kept there. Many of them were tortured and given brutal treatment.
LAHORE: Three policemen were killed and multiple injured in a clash with supporters of the banned Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) in Lahore Friday evening, said a statement released by Punjab police on violent protests erupted in provincial capital.
The statement revealed that the police officers were stationed near the Katcheri Chowk. They were hit by a TLP vehicle.
The spokesperson of the Punjab police said that two of the martyrs have been identified as constables Muhammad Ayub and Khalid Javed. “Six policemen were injured in the clashes as well,” the spokesperson added.
An additional contingent of police officers has been deployed at the protest site. The police are trying to disperse the crowd.
Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, condemning the attack, has offered condolences to the grieving families. He has instructed the police to identify the culprits and immediately take action against them. “Rule of law must be ensured at all costs.”
The chief minister has also promised the best health care for injured policemen.
Meanwhile, a TLP media coordinator said that authorities fired tear gas at protesters near a police checkpoint.
TLP spokesperson said that workers had to endure the “worst shelling in history” and were “attacked from all sides” near the Mao College Pul. He added that 500 workers were seriously injured, while 15 were in serious condition.
In a statement, the banned TLP has announced no further dialogues with the government. “Now, only the TLP chief [Saad Rizvi] will lead the negotiations,” the statement said.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA)has blocked the internet services “within a radius of 5kms” from the protest sites. Data Sahib, Shahdara, New and Old Ravi area to face the blockage.
Services to remain suspended until further notice, the notification read.
The banned TLP has started marching on Islamabad Friday afternoon to force the government to release the founder’s heir, Saad Rizvi.
The TLP had been staging a sit-in on Multan Road, Lahore for the last two days.
The party’s central council been demanding the government release Saad Hussain Rizvi, the chief of the defunct TLP. He was arrested earlier in the year for inciting violence.
A large number of party members took part in the sit-in. The party council members say that they have been protesting peacefully for 15 days but have not received much reaction. The government has repeatedly turned its back on the agreement, they said.
The TLP had given the government till Thursday evening to release Saad Rizvi or they said they would make an announcement of a plan of action.
A stage was set in front of the TLP headquarters at Multan Road in Lahore where 200 to 250 members turned up. An additional 400 to 500 members are said to be inside and around the centre. A heavy contingent of police is outside the TLP center. There’s, however, no restriction of movement, and workers can easily enter and leave the headquarter. Mobile and internet services are blocked in the area.
Earlier, the party had announced that the march will start after Friday prayers. The party was hopeful negotiations with the Punjab government will be successful. The central committee members were supposed to meet the government representatives before Friday prayers.
A TLP spokesperson told media that the party has a “Plan B” if the government tries to stop them from entering Islamabad. “It will be revealed when the time comes,” he said on the condition of anonymity.
Multan Road has been closed from all sides near the stage, including Fawara Chowk, Shah Noor Scheme cut, Utility Store Scheme cut, Shah Farid.
All routes from Yateem Khana Chowk have been closed by containers.
Roads from Kali Kothi, Iqbal Town, Scheme Moor, Sodiwal, Niazi Ada, and Samanabad have been sealed with barbed wire and containers.
TLP protestors carrying sticks have set up at all the closed points and protest areas. Road from Saggian Bridge to Double Sarkaran have been blocked by placing containers. Road from Begum Court to Shahdara is also closed. Shahdara Chowk is also closed for traffic going to Gujranwala.
Meanwhile, the diversion has been given from Stadium Road Rawalpindi to Ninth Avenue signal. The traffic coming from Ninth Avenue and Faizabad to Rawalpindi will be diverted to IJP Road.
Faizul Islam stop and Murree Road are closed from both sides. The traffic coming from Islamabad to Murree Road Rawalpindi can use the Islamabad Highway route.
Jinnah Avenue is closed on both sides from Express Chowk to D Chowk. People can use Nadra Chowk and Ayub Chowk to enter and exit the red zone.
On Friday, the Rawalpindi metro bus service remain closed from Saddar to the IJP. It will work from IJP to Pak Secretariat.
ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: Authorities have suspended the Metro Bus service in Rawalpindi and blocked roads in Islamabad and Lahore as the government braces for protests organized separately by a banned outfit and Opposition parties in the above-mentioned cities.
A day earlier, the Ministry of Interior had written to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to suspend internet services in various areas of Lahore due to a banned outfit’s protest.
The provincial government subsequently suspended internet services around Multan Road, Grand Battery Stop, Iqbal Town, Nawankot, Samanabad and Sabzazar areas of Lahore.
Containers have also been placed at various points in Lahore, such as the Samanabad turn at Multan Road and at the Grid Station Stop. Containers have also been placed at the Dubai Chowk in Iqbal Town’s Boulevard area to thwart protesters’ attempts at assembling.
Police have placed containers on the entry and exit points of the city. Lahore’s traffic flow has also been adversely affected after various arteries of the city have been sealed by authorities.
Meanwhile, Islamabad Traffic Police have also issued a traffic plan (read below) as the city braces to deal with protests today.
Metro Bus service suspended in Rawalpindi
Stringent security measures have been taken in Rawalpindi, where authorities have suspended the Metro Bus service and blocked its surrounding roads.
Authorities have also blocked several roads in the city’s inner areas. Containers have been placed on the Sixth Road leading to the Faizabad area while the Faizabad Ojri Camp Road has also been sealed off.
The city’s administration has said that the Metro Bus will only operate from the IJP Road Stop to the Pakistan Secretariat while it will remain suspended from Saddar to Faizabad.
People from all walks of life are facing difficulties in arriving at their offices. Patients from far-off areas are also encountering difficulties in reaching hospitals as authorities have sealed major arteries in the city.
Multiple ambulances are stuck Murree Road as the road has been sealed by containers. A patient who was to be shifted to PIMS from the Benazir Bhutto Hospital were extremely worried after getting stranded at Murree Road.
His family members said the patient is suffering from kidney and liver ailments.
Even schoolchildren are forced to walk to their schools, with backpacks slung over their shoulders due to the roads being sealed.
The Islamabad administration has beefed up security measures to deal with the banned outfit’s intended long march to the city. The city’s traffic police have called on citizens to use the 9th Avenue and for those who want to traveI to Rawalpindi from Faizabad, to use the IJP Road.
“Faizul Islam Stop, Murree Road have been closed for traffic,” said an ICT spokesperson. “Those who intend to travel from Islamabad to the Murree Road should instead take the Islamabad Highway.”
The Jinnah Avenue Road from Express Chowk to D-Chowk has been sealed, said the spokesperson, adding that citizens should use NADRA Chowk and Ayub Chowk to enter and exit the city’s Red Zone area.
Traffic police have instructed citizens to use Park Road, Tramri Road and Lehtrar Road in the city to reach Islamabad Highway.
Citizen can also use the Srinagar Highway, 9th Avenue and IJP Road to travel to Rawalpindi, said traffic police.
QUETTA: Acting president of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) Zahoor Buledi said that 34 out of 65 provincial assembly members had taken refuge at the residence of the Balochistan Assembly speaker after four members allegedly went missing.
In a statement, Buledi alleged that “four of our members were disappeared by the government yesterday”.
“It is the responsibility of the IG (inspector general of police) Balochistan to recover the missing MPAs,” he said.
Buledi further stressed that the IG Balochistan, “instead of falling under pressure from Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan”, should provide the lawmakers security and rescue the missing members.
He also said that the Chief Justice of Pakistan should take notice of the disappearance of members.
Buledi said the premises of the Assembly “is safe for us; we will remain in the Assembly till the vote on the no-confidence motion (against CM Khan)”.
In a tweet later in the day, Buledi said that he, along with some other MPAs visited the houses of the missing lawmakers.
Quoting the families, he said they have not returned since yesterday.
The Balochistan lawmaker had earlier alleged while speaking to the media that MPAs are being “tortured” and pressurised to back the government. This, he said, was conveyed to him by several lawmakers he spoke to.
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) to hold country-wide protests against the rising inflation today after Friday prayers.
The Opposition Alliance’s spokesman Hafiz Hamdullah said committees will be formed at the provincial level to hold the protests.
Committees will be formed in Punjab, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Islamabad to determine the locations of the protests in consultation with the districts, he said.
Hamdullah further said that the duration of the demonstrations is two weeks which can be extended over time.
“The PDM leadership and members of the parliament will participate in the protests as much as possible,” the spokesperson added.
He also said that the next meeting of the PDM steering committee will be held soon to review the political situation in the country.
Confirming the news, PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said protests will be held in Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Swat, Shangla and other cities tomorrow after Friday prayers.
“PDM is protesting tomorrow against rising inflation and unemployment,” Aurangzeb said.
Sharing further details, the PML-N spokesperson said a procession will be taken out from Jain Mandir Chowk in Lahore at 3pm tomorrow after Friday prayers.
In Karachi, the PDM rally will depart from Empress Market at 3pm tomorrow and a protest led by Engineer Amir Muqam will be held in Peshawar at 4pm.
Meanwhile, the Opposition alliance will stage a protest in Mianwali, which will begin from Railway Station Chowk to Committee Chowk on Sunday at 3pm.
The PML-N spokesperson further said that a rally will be held in Bhakkar on October 24 at 10am, which will start from Jhang Chowk Bhakkar and go all the way to to King Gate.
She said that protests will also be held in Sargodha, Peshawar, Swat, Shangla and other cities tomorrow after Friday prayers, at 3pm.
RAWALPINDI: The special price control magistrate in Rawalpindi has confiscated 30 metric tons of sugar being sold in the black market.
According to reports the sugar belonged to the government, was being illegally sold within the jurisdiction of the Ganj Mandi police station.
A case has been registered against two suspects — identified as Tariq Shahzad and Tayyab — upon the request of the special price control magistrate.
According to the first information report (FIR) filed against the suspects, Tariq sold the sugar for Rs90 per kg to Tayyab.
After acquiring the sugar, Tayyab misappropriated the price of the sugar and sold it off in the black market to make illicit profits, the report said.
It should be recalled that a day ago, Prime Minister Imran Khan was briefed on the prices of commodities in the country after which he had decided to reduce the tax on food items, per sources.
Sources had said that PM Imran Khan had also directed the authority concerned to take strict measures against hoarders and artificial inflation.
The premier had reportedly issued orders to the federal ministers to take steps for the implementation of Price Control Committees and also directed them to monitor the artificial inflation in their constituencies.
LONDON: Pakistan’s negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are moving forward in a positive manner, said Reza Baqir, Governor, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).
He was addressing overseas Pakistanis at an event in London, where he has been for the last four days.
Baqir’s statement came shortly after IMF Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department Jihad Azour had said that talks between Pakistan and the IMF on the $6 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) are progressing in a “very good” manner.
Unveiling the ‘Regional Economic Outlook: The Middle East and Central Asia – October 2021’, Azour had said: “The discussion around the sixth review is currently progressing around various pillars.”
The IMF mission and Pakistani authorities are discussing the measures that the government of Pakistan is currently contemplating.
“The progress has gone in a very good step and the mission with the authorities is going through various details [sic],” he had added.
Baqir, meanwhile, told the overseas Pakistanis that he was bringing Prime Minister Imran Khan’s message to them.
He said inflation is currently a reality all over the world and isn’t just happening in Pakistan. He gave the example of the United States, saying that the country had not experienced the kind of inflation it is currently experiencing in the last 30 years.
The SBP governor said that so far 260,000 Roshan Digital accounts had been opened, through which Pakistan has received Rs2.6 billion.
Justifying the high rates of inflation, he said it is because of the rise in oil prices. “The exchange rate has been left to market forces since June 2019,” he said, adding that the pressure on payments is due to the fact that our economy is improving.
Earlier, reacting to news reports regarding Pakistan’s policy-level talks with the IMF for the resumption of the $6 billion EFF, Ministry of Finance Spokesperson Muzammil Aslam negated all reports, terming them as “baseless.”
“Shaukat Tarin, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance, has returned to Washington DC to join ongoing discussions with IMF,” Aslam wrote on Twitter.
On Sunday, Tarin had dismissed reports that the talks between Pakistan and IMF have failed, asserting that they were headed in a positive direction.
“The talks are continuing,” Tarin had told reporters, after addressing members of the Pakistani community at the consulate-general in New York Sunday night, during which he had said the government was working hard to achieve inclusive and sustainable economic growth that benefits all segments of society, especially the poor.
He went to New York on Friday from Washington, where, besides the loan talks, he attended the annual meetings of the IMF and World Bank. “I don’t know what’s the basis on which an impression has been given by some that the talks have failed — they are totally wrong,” he had said.
At this stage, Tarin had said that the final details were being worked out and the negotiations would conclude successfully.
Tarin had informed the media that Finance Secretary Yusuf Khan was still in Washington pursuing the talks with IMF officials and that he was in contact with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) chairperson as well as with him for any advice.
“There was an atmosphere of positivity and the next few days will show a productive outcome from the talks,” he had said.
In this regard, Tarin had said his meeting with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and other Fund officials were also very “useful and positive.”
“The nation shouldn’t be disillusioned by some unfounded negative reports,” Tarin had added.
Asked whether the IMF was demanding that Pakistan do more, Tarin had said that every banker will ask for more when someone applies for a loan. Pakistan, he said, had its red lines to protect its interests, although it has been made clear that the government will pursue the reform process for sustainable growth.
ISLAMABAD: Three families of common leopard spotted in Margalla Hills Islamabad as the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) officials said that there are not two but possibly three families of common leopard in the Margalla Hills National Park.
A recent camera image shows a bigger male leopard which had never been spotted before near the hiking trails. Not just leopards but wild animals including fox, martins, porcupines, barking deer, jackals and wild boars among others have descended from the hills, enjoying respite from humans and seem to be exploring empty spaces that were previously disturbed by trekkers and hikers.
“This was their habitat that was taken away from them. Not only have they been breathing cleaner air but enjoying freedom of movement, said an official of the IWMB.
He said that it was so rare to spot an animal as iconic as the leopard. Because the preying species of the leopard are being well protected by our staff, the leopard is flourishing.
Besides images of porcupines and deer, one of the camera trap shots showed a fox carrying a plastic bottle in its mouth. “It is as if the fox is cleaning up after, the official said, adding that the Wildlife staff staff also hopes to find goral deer, which disappeared from the Margalla Hills, a decade ago.
After the drop in outside noise over the last few weeks, various species of birds including pheasants are also benefiting from the lockdown and venturing into lower grounds. the official said.
He said the Wildlife Board has taken a decision to protect species of ground nestling birds from forest fires that destroy the jungle every summer.
A conservation programme has been launched to conserve species of birds particularly, he added.
He said that board has also issued licences to villagers to pick Kachnaar buds to help them during times when incomes have dropped. Familiar with the terrain, Mohibullah from the IWMB who installs camera traps, hopes to capture more fascinating images of animals in spaces where they were afraid to move before.
During the lockdown, wild animals are not at risk of contracting coronavirus. Since all human activity has been restricted in the national park, the animals are safe from the disease.
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that prices of petroleum products in Pakistan were still lowest than other regional countries.
He said this while presiding over Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) parliamentary party in Islamabad.
During the meeting the prime minister directed the parliamentary party members to spend more time in the constituencies. He said that the development projects would be started in consultation with the MNAs, while health cards and Ehsaas Ration Cards would also be issued in consultation with the members of the Assembly.
Regarding rising inflation, Imran Khan said that the government is aware of inflation and is making every effort to control it.
He said that the prices of goods in the international market have gone up dramatically, adding that Pakistan still has the lowest price of petrol in the region, we cannot explain to the people the reasons for the rise in prices.
