Development projects stopped in 70 Pindi UCs

The development projects worth Rs1.1 billion in 70 union councils (UCs) of Rawalpindi have been suspended owing to ambiguity over court orders. Rawalpindi Metropolitan Corporation (RMC) has stopped work on different projects including the construction of roads, installation of new sewage lines, etc. as the court barred local bodies from doing so under administrators after the dissolution of the system. The corporation has ceased work worth Rs1.1 billion in 70 UCs of the district in light of the directions from the local government secretary. The digging done for various projects is proving to be troublesome for pedestrians and motorists alike. The material on sites has also been abandoned at the mercy of weather by the contractors. The theft of material has also been reported from different areas. Sources in RMC said that the orders from the competent authority are binding on them and, therefore, they suspended the projects as they were. In this regard, RMC Chief Officer Syed Ali Abbas said that the audit officials have shown concerns about the ongoing schemes, adding that the court issued no such orders. Therefore, the contractors would soon be approaching the court to get a clear picture, he said. Published in The Express Tribune, September 1st, 2021.

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JIT formed to grill cleric facing rape charges

Rawalpindi police on Tuesday constituted a six-member joint investigation team (JIT) to investigate a seminary cleric facing charges of harassing and sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl student. Earlier, Rawalpindi Civil Judge Nausheen Zartaj had directed the police to form the JIT to probe Mufti Shahnawaz — the principal of Jamia Tuba Ziaul Binnat in the Pirwadhai area — facing charges of torturing and sexually assaulting the 12-year-old girl of his seminary The JIT will be headed by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Investigation while SP Zuniera Azfar, SP Ziauddin Ahmed, City DSP Asar Ali, Pirwadhai SHO Owais and Investigating Officer (IO) Sub-Inspector Aslam will be its members. Sources said that the JIT formally launched the probe into the case and recorded statements of Mufti Shahnawaz, his alleged accomplice and wife Ishrat Bibi and the victim girl. The 12-year-old victim’s statement, she recorded before a magistrate, has also been presented before the JIT. The initial JIT progress report will be submitted to the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Malik Aijaz Asif on Wednesday (today). The court has also summoned DNA reports of the suspect and victim. Meanwhile, Rawalpindi City Police Officer (CPO) Ahsan Younas chaired a meeting to review the progress in the case. The meeting decided that the victim and the accused would undergo polygraph tests while the primary suspect will also undergo a potency test. The CPO directed JIT members to fulfil all legal requirements to ensure investigation on merit and uncover facts with solid evidence. Earlier, Mufti Shahnawaz Ahmed denied the allegation of torturing and sexually assaulting a student of his seminary. Read More: ‘Stop harassing him’: Sindh CM helps blind street vendor in Karachi Talking to The Express Tribune, the accused had claimed that the allegations against him were concocted and baseless that aimed to tarnish his image. He demanded that he and the student should be taken to the hospital for an immediate DNA and polygraph medical test so that a clear picture could emerge. He said that if he was found guilty in the DNA test, he would be ready to be hanged at Liaquat Bagh publicly. The cleric also demanded the DNA tests of close cousins of the affected student. Published in The Express Tribune, September 1st, 2021.

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Senate panel retains death penalty for certain drugs

The Senate Standing Committee on Anti-Narcotics has approved the retention of capital punishment on the usage of heroin, cocaine, and ice-meth over a certain amount. The meeting of the Senate panel was convened by Ijaz Chaudhry on Tuesday. During the meeting, Anti-Narcotics Secretary Akbar Durrani briefed the participants on the inclusion of punishments on recovery of the aforementioned drugs in the draft of the Control of Narcotics Substances (Second Amendment) Bill, 2020. Talking to the media after the meeting, the committee chairman said that the bill was passed by the National Assembly and referred to the Senate. Chaudhry maintained that the bill passed by the National Assembly had abolished capital punishment in drug recovery cases while the standing committee has retained capital punishment on certain types and quantities of drugs. He stated that recovery of 10 kilogrammes (kg) of ice meth, heroin or cocaine will lead to at least 20 years of imprisonment. The chairman added that capital punishment will also remain on peddlers supplying drugs in and around educational institutions. He further said that they do not want the abolishment of capital punishment which will end deterrence among the nefarious elements part of the menace. The Senator maintained that they need to focus on rehabilitation centres for drug addicts in the future now. Read More: Spurious drugs manufacturing unit busted Chaudhry said that they are proposing the inclusion of drug addicts in the Sehat Insaf Health Card and earmarking for beds for such patients in hospitals. Along with this, the chairman said that budget should be allocated for the awareness campaign under Ehsaas Programme. He also urged religious scholars to raise awareness about the issue during Friday sermons and stressed the inclusion of anti-narcotic topics in curriculums from grade one to 10. He added that these proposals will be deliberated in the next meeting of the panel. The final approval of the amendment was given after unanimous approval by the members. Published in The Express Tribune, September 1st, 2021.

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CTP gears up operation against beggars

The City Traffic Police (CTP) have geared up their ongoing operation against professional beggars and netted 2,112 in August. According to a CTP spokesperson, CTP rounded up 2,112 beggars from different city roads during August, while several FIRs were also lodged against professional beggars. “With the help of the citizens, the scourge of begging can be eradicated from the society,” said City Traffic Officer (CTO) spokesperson. He said that out of total nearly 80 per cent beggars roaming in the city are professional while 60 percent beggars caught from city roads were fit and healthy and only 20 per cent were disabled persons and 20 per cent were drug addicts, he added. He said that special anti-beggars squads had been formed to nab the professional beggars. He said that they were trying to eliminate begging from the city roads. The beggar children arrested on the city roads were handed over to Child Protection Welfare Bureau (CPWB). Read More: ‘Don’t give cash to beggars’ The CTP along with Rawalpindi district police were conducting raids at different roads and intersections and action under the law was taken against the beggars, he said, adding that directives had also been issued to the squad to register cases against the beggars and the report would be sent to CTO office regularly. The spokesperson said that 10 beggar children netted from the city roads were handed over to CPWB. Many beggars were brought to Rawalpindi from far-flung areas of the country and operating through contractors, he said. Published in The Express Tribune, September 1st, 2021.

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‘Heaven on earth’ lacks civic amenities

The beautiful Sopat valley hidden behind the mountains of Upper Kohistan is nothing less than a paradise on earth. A journey of eight kilometres from Naran, which takes three hours, ends in a valley that is the epitome of natural scenery. It has large lush pastures, clear waters of the rivers, glaciers and springs flowing from the rocks. The valley has at least eight beautiful lakes, the most scenic of which is Lake Mahin, which is about a two-hour walk from Mahin village. The lake is home to high-quality trout, the hunting of which is banned for the locals. The valley is free of any insects. There are no snakes, scorpions, insects, crabs, frogs and ants. Rather, there are polar bears, leopards and markhor. Although the valley has been blessed by nature, its people are deprived of basic facilities, schools, hospitals and electricity. A road has been built from Naran up to half of the valley while the other half of the valley is without a road. There is only one school and that too without teachers. Prime Minister Imran Khan had visited the valley and its lakes twice and had committed to building a road, but this promise has not been fulfilled to date. Read More: Pindi’s rural areas to get civic amenities Some locals shared their ordeals because of a lack of infrastructure facilities. A local, Maroof Khan, said that he was going to the valley of Naran with his family a year ago. When they got stuck in the snow all night and had to stay under the open sky without a roof. The next morning, the locals rescued them. Similarly, another local, Abdul Hakim, said his uncle was ill a few months ago and the top was closed because of heavy snowfall. The patient had to be carried on the back of family but he died because of the long way and delay in getting treatment. Kohistan Deputy Commissioner (DC) Arif Khan Yousafzai, talking to The Express Tribune, said that there was a lack of basic facilities in the area. He had visited the valley a few weeks ago and had met the heads of various departments of the district after identifying problems afflicting the area, he added. The DC said that Babu Sar Road is of great importance for the people of the valley and for its construction the C&W Department will provide Rs1.5 million. Meanwhile, Senator Talha Mahmood has also given Rs1.5 million in cash, which will help in completing the road. The people of Sopot want basic health facilities as there is no dispensary in the entire valley, said the DC, adding that temporary nursing staff will be made available soon and the school would also be made functional. Member Provincial Assembly Muhammad Deedar Khan said special attention is being paid to the valley. The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has planned a major road project under the Kite project in collaboration with World Bank for which a survey has been conducted. The project, worth Rs7 billion, has been delayed because of a dispute between local groups and tribes. One group is of the view that the road should be built from Dasu to the inside of the valley, while the other favours constructing the road from Naran. “The project will start as soon as a local jirga will resolve the dispute,” said Khan. Published in The Express Tribune, September 1st, 2021.

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‘Women-led households face more issues amid crisis’

The Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted the lives of individuals and communities across the globe. However, women are reported to have suffered more than men due to the systemic inequality and lack of access to humanitarian and health services. Whereas women have specific humanitarian needs, they have specific roles too to make themselves resilient against all kinds of shocks. Speakers said this while sharing their views at a webinar entitled ‘Addressing the gender dimension of Covid-19 pandemic: Data, policy and psychological determinants’ organised by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) here on Tuesday. Aisha Sarwari, co-founder of Women’s Advancement Hub, opined that even before the pandemic, nine out of 10 women in Pakistan faced violence in their lives. The ideas and programmes for the protection of women seldom see the practical manifestation. The situation of women at Pakistan-Afghanistan borders demands urgent action for their protection and fulfilling their humanitarian needs. Read More: Civil awards: Why our pandemic heroes were left out? SDPI Director Resilient Development Programme Dr Shafqat Munir presented a detailed landscape of the devastating impacts of a pandemic on communities. He said that women have to go under a double trauma while emergencies, disasters and pandemics hit their communities as they have to take care of their loved ones impacted from crises and they have to bear the brunt of such shocks. “We have seen women-led households left behind in accessing humanitarian assistance from philanthropists, humanitarian organisations and government entities as they were hardly counted for such an assistance,” said Dr Munir. Published in The Express Tribune, September 1st, 2021.

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Expat accuses Murree authorities of grabbing ancestral land

An overseas Pakistani has accused the Murree Finance Department and a land mafia of grabbing hundreds of kanals of his ancestral land next to the Murree-Islamabad Expressway. Addressing a press conference at the Murree Press Club, Javed Iqbal Abbasi, who lived in the United Kingdom (UK), said that his ancestral land of 249 kanal and 583 kanal in Mouza Tehsil Murree had allegedly been occupied through forgery with the connivance of the Muree Finance Department and an influential land mafia. He said that a civil court had disposed of the matter in his favour, the finance department has failed to implement the court order. He said that 11 written complaints have also been sent to the Pakistan Citizen Portal, but to no avail. He alleged that the Pine Garden Society, with the connivance of the finance department, has occupied over 1,000 acres of his ancestral land and construction has been carried out. He said that a land-grabbing mafia had sold the land to society. He said that the Murree administration had recently carried out an arbitrary operation on Murree Express, but they did not take action against the said society which, according to him, has been constructed on the occupied land. A resident named Habibur Rehman and other people of the area told the press conference that their land has also been occupied by the housing society where construction and buying and selling is taking place and dozens of evergreen trees have also been cut down. “The land mafia has become so powerful that they even refuse to obey the orders of courts and high officials, including the prime minister,” they said. Abbasi said that he had also filed his case online from England with the Prosecution DC and Overseas Commission on March 31, 2016, but nothing has been done so far. He had also made written requests to the higher authorities in the finance department in 2004 to rectify the land record, but they have done nothing in this regard. He appealed to the Chief Justice of Pakistan, the president, the prime minister and the Punjab chief minister to ban many illegal buying and selling in the said housing society and order to retrieve his land from occupation. Published in The Express Tribune, September 1st, 2021.

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Arrangements for cantt board elections reviewed

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Rawalpindi Muhammad Ali directed the authorities concerned to complete all the arrangements for cantonment board local bodies elections to be held on September 12. Addressing a meeting held on Tuesday to review preparations for cantonment board elections 2021, he directed the district administration officers to finalise all the arrangements, including security. He said that the district administration had offered unconditional support to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for upcoming local government elections. He said that there were five cantonment boards in Rawalpindi district where the registered voters are about 700,000. As many as 583 polling stations were being set up for September 12 elections for which 350 buildings would be used, he said, adding, besides all the arrangements, additional security of the polling station would also be ensured. Regional Transport Authority, Rawalpindi had also arranged vehicles to facilitate the election staff, he added. He directed the authorities to determine the responsibilities of all the departments concerned and a follow up meeting should also be organised during next week to get updates about all the arrangements from all the departments. Published in The Express Tribune, September 1st, 2021.

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‘PAPA ready to run sewerage system’

Punjab Governor Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar has claimed that Punjab Aab-e-Pak Authority (PAPA) was ready to run the province’s sewerage system. “PAPA can also rehabilitate the closed filtration plants of the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA).” He expressed these views during a meeting with PAPA Chairperson Dr Shakeel Ahmed at Governor’s House on Tuesday. PAPA Chief Executive Syed Zahid Aziz, Secretary to Punjab Governor Omar Saeed, Principal Secretary Dr Rashid Mansoor and representatives of welfare organisations were present on the occasion. Sarwar said that clean drinking water will be provided to more than eight million people of Punjab. The work will start on the sewerage lines and the WASA’s closed filtration plants as soon as the government allocates the fund. He further said that PAPA in collaboration with welfare organisations had started work on the project of installing clean drinking water filtration plants and rehabilitation of closed filtration plants in Punjab under which clean drinking water would be provided to people in various areas of the province including Lahore. Sarwar elaborated, “Every penny of the people is being fully protected under the Aab-e-Pak authority.” Published in The Express Tribune, September 1st, 2021.

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Unvaccinated customers face service denial

To rein in the spread of coronavirus and ensure safety of the people, Punjab government has decided to initiate disciplinary action against unvaccinated employees and order denial of service to such citizens at restaurants, transport and petrol stations in the provincial capital. Lahore Division Commissioner Captain (retd) Muhammad Usman announced on Tuesday that the government had decided to take strict action to ensure success of the coronavirus vaccination campaign. The district administration has been directed to initiate action against unvaccinated employees under the Punjab Employees’ Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability Act. Disciplinary action would also be taken against such government employees under relevant provisions of other laws, he added. Read More: No treatment for unvaccinated patients Usman highlighted that service would be denied to unvaccinated citizens at restaurants, transport and fuel pumps. The commissioner said flag marches were being resumed to help enforce the restrictions against unvaccinated citizens. He said premises found being used for business activities without regard for the vaccination would be sealed for at least seven days. Enforcement committees have been established at the police station level and surprise raids will be carried at spots with suspected violation of the precautions Published in The Express Tribune, September 1st, 2021.

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Two cops shot dead in Manga Mandi encounter

Two police constables were killed during an encounter with suspected robbers in Manga Mandi on Tuesday, making it the third incident in less than a month in which cops lost their lives. On August 7, a police constable was killed in an encounter with suspected robbers in Hanjarwal. A week after the Hanjarwal encounter, another police constable was gunned down in Data Darbar. In the recent incident, a call was made to police emergency helpline 15 that the unidentified suspects had committed a robbery near a graveyard in Manga Mandi area. They were riding a bike. A police team followed them as the suspects speeded up towards Canal Bridge area on Manga Raiwind Road. After some time, they changed their route and started moving towards Manga Mandi. Constables of Muhafiz Squad, Adil Hussain and Abad Ali deputed at Talaab Srai were alerted about the suspects reaching near them. They tried to intercept the suspected criminals who opened fire on cops. Constable Abad Ali suffered a bullet injury on his chest and died on the spot whereas Constable Adil Hussain got shot in the head and was shifted to Jinnah Hospital where he succumbed to the bullet injuries. Read More: Fake encounter suspects released in Rawalpindi Abad Ali, 40, a resident of Tehsil Chuniyan district Kasur, had joined the police force as a constable in 2006 whereas Adil Hussain, a resident of Mohlanwal Multan Road joined the force in 2017. Ali has survived by four children and a widow while Hussain is survived by his widow. Inspector General of Police Punjab Inam Ghani, CCPO Lahore Additional IG Ghulam Mahmood Dogar, DIG Investigation Shariq Jamal, DIG Operations Sohail Chaudhry and a large number of police officers attended the funeral. A contingent of police presented guard of honour to the martyred constable as well. The bodies of martyred constables were departed for their final burial to their native town in the custody of police officers with the complete protocol. Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar paid tributes to martyred police constables who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty in Manga Mandi. In a statement, the CM extended sympathies to their heirs adding that the Punjab government will not leave them alone. “Such brave officials are the pride of the police and I salute their bravery and courage,” he added. Published in The Express Tribune, September 1st, 2021.

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Cabinet accords autonomy to S Punjab secretariat

The 47th provincial cabinet meeting, held under the chair of Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar at his office on Tuesday, approved amendments in Punjab Government Rules of Business, 2011. Accordingly, the acts and powers of South Punjab's additional chief secretary, secretaries and departments have been defined. The South Punjab secretariat will comprise three divisions, 11 districts and 17 government departments with complete administrative authority to ACS (South Punjab) and secretaries. The ACS (South Punjab) is given the authority to transfer grade-17 officers including assistant commissioners. He is empowered to approve the budget and provide funds to the offices of commissioners, DCs and ACs along with the authority to write ACRs of south Punjab departments' secretaries. The South Punjab departments' secretaries are given all those powers of promotions, transfers and recruitments which are available to their counterparts in the provincial capital. The heads of autonomous bodies, boards, authorities and companies will be answerable to respective secretaries. The outsourcing of government rest and guest houses was approved as well. The Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab (TDCP) would be allowed to give government guesthouses on a 20-year lease with the option of a 10-years extension. The lease will be given through an open auction to ensure transparency. The meeting allowed IDAP for the construction and rehabilitation of 32 KPK hospitals to promote interprovincial harmony along with the approval of an affordable housing model for peri-urban areas. The cabinet approved the establishment of the Punjab Commission for Illegal Housing Societies with retired Justice Azmat Saeed as its head. Matters about the release of fitness certificates for transport vehicles were approved along with the decision to amend Punjab Pension Fund and Punjab General Provident Investment Fund's Act. Read More: Autonomy for SBP: a boon or bane After the amendments, Punjab Pension Fund and Punjab General Provident Investment Fund will be empowered to invest in 100% government schemes and national saving schemes. The cabinet decided to constitute a cabinet standing committee for universal health insurance along with amendments in The Punjab Medical and Health Institutions Act, 2003. After this, the BOM matters of hospitals will be streamlined. Steps relating to the promotion of austerity were approved for 2021-22 by the austerity committee and it was decided to hand over Lahore Museum to the Archaeology Department. The cabinet approved operationalisation of PHA in Sialkot, endorsement of the charter of Lahore Institute of Science and Technology and Grand Asian University Sialkot along with the approval of posting of the chairperson of Punjab Commission on Status of Women according to rules. The annual calendar for the fourth parliamentary year of the Punjab Assembly for 2021-22 and the Provincial Ombudsman's annual report for 2020 was also approved. It was decided not to nominate a below grade-20 officer for BoG of the National School of Public Policy. Formal approval of Amjad Ali Awan for the post of CEO Punjab PPP Authority was allowed. Similarly, the performance audit report about the 2017-18 audit of Cholistan Development Authority Bahawalpur and the audit report of the accounts of Works Department for 2020-21 were approved. AGP reports about the district governments' accounts for 2017-18 and 2020-21 were recommended, as well. AGP reports about Punjab government accounts for 2016-17, 2018-19 and 2020-21 were confirmed. AGP reports about district governments' accounts for 2019-20 were also accepted along with the approval of a monitoring report about the implementation of the National Finance Commission (NFC) award July-December 2019 and January-June 2020 were passed. The proceedings of the 46th meeting of the provincial cabinet, decisions made in the 59th meeting of the cabinet standing committee for finance and development and the decisions made in the 63rd-67th meetings of the cabinet standing committee for legislation were also approved. Published in The Express Tribune, September 1st, 2021.

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Two women, minor boy allegedly raped

Two women and a minor boy were allegedly sexually assaulted in the city on Tuesday. Police registered cases and launched raids to arrest the alleged rapists. According to the police report, Maqbool Ahmed, a resident of 217RB Chakira, had taken a stand in the case registered at Ghulam Muhammadabad police station, that his 18-year-old daughter, wife of Wasim, was alone at her home after her husband went out to work. Meanwhile, the suspect Hamza, the son of Ijaz, entered the house after seeing the door open and raped the young girl. The alleged rapist fled the crime scene. Separately, a Sheikhupura resident, the wife of Amjad, had taken a stand in the case that she was travelling from Piraden Pul area near Samidi Jhok to get medicine where the suspect Abdul Jabbar and his wife were also present. The victim got acquainted with Abdul Jabbar and his wife. On the day of the incident, Abdul Jabbar’s wife called the victim and invited her to her house. Read More: Woman, daughter ‘gang-raped’ Later, the suspect Abdul Jabbar also called the victim and claimed she had to reach near Jaranwala Road, Makwana, from where he would pick up the woman. When the victim reached the area, the suspect along with his unknown accomplice took her to a house. Abdul Jabbar allegedly gave the woman an intoxicated tea which she drank. The woman lost consciousness after Abdul Jabbar allegedly sexually assaulted her. Meanwhile, Mohsin’s eight-year-old son was molested by the suspect Ijaz in 233RB area of Saddar police station. (THE VICTIMS’ IDENTITIES HAVE NOT BEEN DISCLOSED AS A MATTER OF POLICY) Published in The Express Tribune, September 1st, 2021.

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Breastfeeding protects infants, say experts

The lack of breastfeeding wa causing stunting growth and malnutrition in infants, said University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan. He was addressing an awareness seminar on breastfeeding in connection with world breastfeeding week which was arranged by the Institute of Home Sciences in collaboration with UAF. Dr Khan revealed that as many as 40pc of children under the age of five years in the country were stunted. He stated that breastfeeding reduce stunting in children and it could also save thousands of newborns’ lives. UAF Faculty of Food nutrition and Home Sciences Dean Dr Masood Sadiq Butt said that breastfeeding protects mothers from breast cancer, diabetes and blood pressure. Allied Hospital Faisalabad Nutritionist Dr Surraya Ikhtiar said that we had to develop the action plan to promote the breastfeeding for the better health of the children rather than promotion of formula milk. Read More: ‘Lack of breastfeeding causing stunted growth She said, “Good food and a healthy lifestyle must be advocated to prevent various diseases that affect society.” Dr Iqra from National Hospital said that breastfed children may have a higher level of intelligence and, as adults, earn more than their peers. She further said that unfortunately, the use of formula milk was zwidely accepted and even encouraged via advertisements. She claimed that prescribing formula milk without adequate reason was causing malnutrition in children. Published in The Express Tribune, September 1st, 2021.

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Medical negligence blamed for woman’s death

An elderly woman who was reportedly mauled by stray dogs died due to alleged medical negligence in Lodhran. The victim died at Lodhran District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital due to the alleged negligence of the doctors and the unavailability of medicines. The victim’s heirs protested at the DHQ hospital. According to the police report, 50-year-old Shamo Mai, a resident of Basti Hasilwala area, was returning home after visiting her relatives. When she was passing through the graveyard near her home, three or four dogs in the bushes attacked Shamo Mai due to which her neck and lower body was severely injured. Reportedly, the stray dogs during the attack also cut off one of her ears. The heirs of the victim stated that they shifted the injured woman to Lodhran DHQ Hospital. However, due to the alleged negligence of the doctor present on the spot and the unavailability of suitable medicines, the elderly woman's condition deteriorated and eventually succumbed to her injuries, the heirs claimed. Meher Ramzan, the brother of the deceased, alleged that after his sister was shifted to the upper ward of the hospital, she was not treated properly. “We were told to go to the doctor. When we went to him, he told us that his duty was shifted to the ground floor. The staff in the upper ward kept sending us downstairs. To make things worse, the hospital staff on the lower floor did the same and sent us to the upper ward. Due to this negligence by the medical staff, my sister passed away”, the victim’s brother explained. The victim’s brother demanded of the higher authorities to serve justice for the victim. “We should be provided justice for the loss we have faced after our sister’s death.” Lodhran DHQ Hospital Medical Superintendent (MS) Dr Fazalur Rehman told The Express Tribune that the elderly woman was given complete treatment and injections and she was also bandaged three times. “The dog bit the woman's head and cut off one of her ears. The lower part of the victim’s body was also damaged due to the attack.” The elderly woman was shifted to the ward in a better condition, the hospital MS had claimed. “All the medical records of the victim are available. Despite this, the women died and there is no negligence on the part of our hospital staff.” Deputy Commissioner Imran Qureshi formed an inquiry committee to investigate the treatment given to the victim at the DHQ hospital. The inquiry committee consists of District Health Authority CEO Dr Sajjad, the district health officer and the Lodhran DHQ MS deputy. The committee will submit a report. The inquiry committee will also investigate whether the patient died due to non-availability of anti-rabies vaccine or the negligence of the doctors on duty at the hospital. Incidents of dog bites involving deaths and serious injuries were not uncommon in the province. On August 21, Satghara police booked a land owner whose pet dog mauled five girls near a suburban village of Okara. On July 11, a six-year-old boy died after being bitten by a stray dog at Lahore's Yasmeen Park. Published in The Express Tribune, September 1st, 2021.

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Pakistani philanthropist wins ‘Asia’s highest honour’

Prime Minister Imran Khan has congratulated Pakistani philanthropist Dr Amjad Saqib for receiving Asia’s highest honour — the Ramon Magsaysay Award. “Have been told this year’s Ramon Magsaysay Award, Asia’s highest honour, has been given to a Pakistani, Dr Amjad Saqib, Founder Akhuwat. Congratulations to him,” the premier said in a tweet from his official handle on Tuesday. “We are proud of his achievement as we move forward in creating a welfare state based on Riasat e Madina Model,” he added. Have been told this year’s Ramon Magsaysay Award, Asia’s highest honour, has been given to a Pakistani, Dr. Amjad Saqib, Founder Akhuwat. Congratulations to him. We are proud of his achievement as we move forward in creating a welfare state based on Riasat e Madina Model. — Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) August 31, 2021 Responding to the tweet, Dr Amjad expressed gratitude to PM Imran’s appreciation, saying his government’s Kamayab Pakistan Programme is the “best strategy” to make the country a welfare state. JazakAllah @ImranKhanPTI We are indebted to you PM. Riasat e Madina is the ultimate model of welfare and human dignity. Kamyab Pakistan Program is the best strategy to reach this objective. Thanks for leading the nation towards this goal @shaukat_tarin https://t.co/D895WDIljD — Dr Amjad Saqib (@DrAmjadsaqib1) August 31, 2021 In over six decades, the award has been bestowed on 340 outstanding individuals and organisations whose selfless service has offered their societies, Asia, and the world successful solutions to some of the most intractable problems of human development. Also read: Microfinance can help start new business, reduce poverty Dr Amjad is the founder of ‘Akhuwat’, which provides interest-free loans to underprivileged people so they can develop sustainable incomes. Since its inception in 2001, he has opened 700 branches in 350 cities across Pakistan, enabling over 600,000 people to become self-reliant. The charity has provided more than £345 million in interest-free loans while retaining a recovery rate of 99.96%, with all operational costs covered by donations. The charity also supports education initiatives, including Akhuwat College, which opened in 2015 and provides a residential facility for students who cannot afford quality education.

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Army chief reiterates resolve to thwart designs of CPEC spoilers

Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Nong Rong called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi on Tuesday, the military’s media wing said. During the meeting, matters of mutual interest, developing Afghanistan situation and regional security were discussed in detail, a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. Gen Qamar reiterated the resolve to thwart designs of spoilers of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) – a multibillion-dollar project dubbed as a “game-changer”. The visiting dignitary, the ISPR said, appreciated Pakistan's sincere efforts for bringing peace and stability in the region, especially in the light of recent developments in Afghanistan and reiterated that “China will continue to support Pakistan as a strategic partner”. Also read: German FM, General Qamar discuss unfolding situation in Afghanistan Earlier, Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany Heiko Maas also called on General Qamar at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, the military’s media wing said. According to the ISPR, during the meeting, matters of mutual interest, overall regional security situation including latest developments in Afghanistan and bilateral cooperation in various fields were discussed. The army chief said that “Pakistan attaches great importance to its relations with Germany” and expressed desire for enhanced mutually beneficial bilateral relations. The German dignitary acknowledged Pakistan’s continuous efforts for peace and stability in the region and thanked Gen Qamar for assistance rendered by Pakistan during evacuations from Kabul, the ISPR added.

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German FM, General Qamar discuss unfolding situation in Afghanistan

Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany Heiko Maas called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi on Tuesday, the military’s media wing said. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), during the meeting, matters of mutual interest, overall regional security situation including the latest developments in Afghanistan and bilateral cooperation in various fields were discussed. The army chief said that “Pakistan attaches great importance to its relations with Germany” and expressed a desire for enhanced mutually beneficial bilateral relations. The German dignitary acknowledged Pakistan’s continuous efforts for peace and stability in the region and thanked Gen Qamar for assistance rendered by Pakistan during evacuations from Kabul, the ISPR added. Also read: Germany thanks Pakistan for supporting Afghanistan evacuations Earlier, German FM Heiko Maas also met Prime Minister Imran Khan and thanked Pakistan for helping to evacuate its citizens from Afghanistan after the Taliban took control of Kabul. During the meeting, views were exchanged on the situation in Afghanistan as well as Pakistan-Germany bilateral relations, the official statement said. The prime minister recalled his conversation with German Chancellor Merkel, in which the two leaders had “fruitful exchange of views” on the Afghanistan situation. PM Imran underscored that a peaceful and stable Afghanistan is vitally important for Pakistan and the region. He also stressed that at this pivotal moment in Afghanistan’s history, it is important for the international community to remain in support and solidarity with the Afghan people.

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ECP seeks funds to hold cantonment board polls

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has sought Rs215 million for the holding of local government elections scheduled to be held in 45 cantonment boards across the country on September 12. The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet is likely to approve the grant in its meeting on Tuesday (today) under the chairmanship of Federal Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin. The coordination committee is also expected to sanction a technical supplementary grant of $300 million to the Ministry of Health for the purchase of Covid-19 vaccines during the current year. This amount has been approved by the Asian Development Bank. Read ECP hints at using EVMs in next elections According to a copy of the plan of the meeting available with The Express Tribune, the ECC will mull over a three-point agenda. The committee is expected to approve a grant of Rs215 million for the holding of local bodies polls in 45 cantonment boards across the country. The PTI, PPP and PML-N have finalised their candidates for the cantonment board elections, which were pending since 2019. With the new delimitation, the number of wards in the cantonments has increased from 200 to 219. The ECC meeting will also deliberate over a summary of the financial difficulties faced by the Roosevelt Hotel in New York and the cooperation extended by the Government of Pakistan.

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Alvi, Awan discuss new parliamentary year

President Arif Alvi on Monday held a telephonic conversation with Adviser to the PM on Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan and deliberated upon the beginning of the fourth parliamentary year and the joint sitting. The call comes ahead of the president’s mandatory address to the joint sitting of both upper and lower houses of parliament to mark the new parliamentary year next month. The session is also expected to discuss the evolving situation in neighbouring Afghanistan. President Alvi, while appreciating Awan for his positive role in the legislative process, said that the last three parliamentary years were characterised by “historic legislation”. Read President Alvi disposes of FBR pleas in Rs1.2bn fake invoices scam Awan said that the legislative process in the public interest would continue, adding that “according to the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan, the role of parliament would further strengthen”. He said: “We will soon complete the legislative process in consultation with all stakeholders in Parliament.” The mandatory presidential address has been long overdue. Last year, the president addressed the parliament’s joint sitting on August 20, but the National Assembly passed the motion of thanks on August 12 this year, the last day of the third parliamentary year.

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Shehbaz vows to stand by journalists on PMDA issue

All the media associations have expressed their strong reservations over the proposed Pakistan Media Development Authority (PMDA) and resolved to thwart the government’s efforts to legislate in this regard. Representatives of All Pakistan Newspapers Society, Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors, Pakistan Broadcasters’ Association, Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors and Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists held a meeting with Opposition Leader in the National Assembly and PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif. The participants of the meeting declared the government’s initiative to set up PMDA a “conspiracy to strangle the media”. Shehbaz assured them to raise his and opposition’s voice against the PMDA bill on all forums including the National Assembly. Read Social media to undergo scrutiny The PML-N president noted that the establishment of the proposed media authority was a matter of life and death for free press, democracy and constitutional freedom. He said the entire opposition will be taken into confidence on the matter and added that no one besides the government would support the “black law”. Shehbaz said, if for any reason the “black law” was passed in the National Assembly, all the parties could stop its passage in the Senate. He said there was no precedent of the restrictions imposed by the PTI-led government on media during its last three years of rule, which was bringing disrepute to Pakistan globally. The opposition leaders assured the participants of the meeting that they stood by the journalists on the issue of media authority and would support them. The joint action committee of the media associations would soon meet various political parties, bar associations and civil society organisations in this regard.

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Shehbaz proposes national govt, demands fair vote

Opposition Leader in the National Assembly and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif on Monday proposed formation of a national government, saying no single party was capable of steering the country out of a myriad of problems facing the nation. Speaking during his visit to the Mazar-e-Quaid, Shehbaz said if given a chance, his party would establish a national government, stressing that all political parties must be given “an equal chance and a level-playing field in the elections to form a people’s government”. Shehbaz slammed the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government for being “incompetent” and alleged that the ruling party had made its way into power “through backdoor”. He claimed that the kind of solid support the incumbent government enjoyed from the establishment was unprecedented. “No other government in the country’s history could receive even a 30% of what is being lavished on the current government, yet It is unfortunate that the PTI has failed to use it to serve the people,” he said. “We have demanded that the 2023 general elections be held transparently.” Recalling the tenure of the previous government, Shehbaz said, “The 20-hour daily load-shedding in the country didn’t vanish magically; it was eliminated due to Nawaz Sharif’s hard work and struggle.” To a question related to Karachi’s development, the former Punjab chief minister said, “Smaller provinces won’t progress until the country progresses. The Green Line bus project was a gift of the PML-N for the people of Karachi.” Read Shehbaz to stand for election from Karachi While responding to another question, Shehbaz said, “The [Pakistan] People’s Party is a political party and a reality,” adding: “I was chosen as the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly by all political parties and it is my responsibility to take every party on board and voice their concerns.” He emphasised that Pakistan could regain its lost glory with honesty and hard work and reminded that the Quaid-i-Azam had envisaged a welfare state. Even after the passage of more than seven decades, he said, “we have been unable to materialise the original vision” behind the creation of Pakistan. “It is a shame that we have forgotten the words of the Quaid. Today, we are far from the destination, we had set for ourselves,” the PML-N president said. Commenting on the emerging Afghan situation after the Taliban takeover, Shehbaz said, “We support Afghan dialogue but it is up to the people of Afghanistan to choose their government,” adding that the country “will accept whoever comes to power as a result of the aspirations of the people”. A day earlier, leaders of the PDM announced marching towards Islamabad “with a sea of people” to topple the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.

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CAA extends temporary travel ban till Sept 30

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on Monday extended the temporary travel ban till September 30 and issued a new guideline in view of the spread of coronavirus pandemic. Passengers coming from category A and B countries will have to undergo Covid-19 test 72 hours before their arrival in Pakistan while travel restrictions for passengers from Category C remain intact. According to a notification issued by the air transport director, 15 countries including Bangladesh, Iran, Iraq, Nepal and South Africa have been kept in Category C in view of the threat of coronavirus. Read Rapid PCR test facility to be available at Karachi airport in two days: CAA The travel restrictions on passengers coming from Category C countries remain in place while these travellers will be required special permit to enter Pakistan. The notification noted that the passengers arriving in Pakistan from category A and B countries will have to undergo a coronavirus test 72 hours prior to their arrival. They will also have to quarantine themselves upon reaching Pakistan.

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NCOC allows 25% crowd for NZ series

  The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) approved 25% crowd attendance in stadiums during the upcoming cricket series against New Zealand, involving three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and five Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Monday. New Zealand are arriving in Islamabad on September 11. The three ODIs will be played at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi between September 17 and 21, while the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore will host the five T20Is between September 25 and October 3. According to the PCB announcement, around 4,500 fully vaccinated spectators will be able to attend the ODIs scheduled, while some 5,500 vaccinated spectators will be able to watch the T20Is in the stadiums. The fans will have to have the immunisation certificate for Covid-19 to get entry in the stadiums. PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan said the board was grateful to the NCOC for allowing 25% crowd for the eight matches. “Spectators are the essence of any sport event as they create an ambiance and atmosphere for the players to excel, perform and enjoy,” he said in a statement. “I am sure following the NCOC decision, the unvaccinated cricket followers will expedite their vaccination process so that they can witness the first series on home soil between the two sides since 2003,” Waseem Khan added. Following the NCOC decision, the PCB will shortly announce ticket prices and other details for New Zealand’s first tour to Pakistan in 18 years. The series will be an opportunity for the spectators to enjoy quality cricket in the season-opener. The ODI series counts towards the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 qualification, while the T20Is will lead into the ICC T20 World Cup,” according to the PCB statement. (WITH INPUT FROM APP)

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CS orders door-to-door Covid-19 vaccination

Expressing concern over a surge in coronavirus cases in the province, Punjab Chief Secretary Jawwad Rafique Malik directed the health authorities to start a door-to-door coronavirus vaccination campaign in all 36 districts. He issued this direction while presiding over a high-level meeting at the Civil Secretariat on Monday. The meeting reviewed the coronavirus pandemic situation, provision of medical facilities in hospitals, and vaccination targets. The chief secretary said that a door-to-door vaccination campaign in eight cities of the province had been underway since July 26 and its scope would be extended to all 36 districts. He expressed concern over a surge in cases and asked the Coronavirus Experts Advisory Group (CEAG) to monitor the situation. The chief secretary said, “It is evident from the data the vaccination is highly effective against the deadly virus.” The patients who received even a single dose were in a better condition than those who did not the chief secretary claimed. Read NCOC extends anti-Covid curbs to 27 cities He further said that if vaccination could save precious lives, laxity in Covid-19 vaccination could be considered as serious negligence. The chief secretary said that coronavirus can be prevented only by vaccinating as many people as possible. He mentioned that the vaccination campaign was a ‘national cause.’ “Implementation of NCOC guidelines will be ensured in any case.” He appealed to the citizens to continue following SOPs along with vaccination. The secretaries of Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department and Punjab Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Department gave a detailed briefing to the CS. The secretaries of both healthcare departments revealed that the rate of positive virus cases had increased to over eight percent in 15 districts of Punjab. The vaccination was in full swing in all districts. Published in The Express Tribune, August 31st, 2021.

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Police step up women protection measures

Police have prepared a policy to curb incidents of harassment of women amid a feeling of insecurity caused by increasing reports of such incidents on roads, in markets, offices and other public places in the city. Under the policy, those who chase women on foot, a rickshaw, motorbike or car should be reported to the police immediately, so that they can be arrested. A few cases of sexual abuse of women and children were reported in Lahore in the early days of the past month, on which police arrested some of the suspects and launched efforts to apprehend others, but after the harassment of a TikToker in Greater Iqbal Park on August 14, dozens of similar such incidents came to light and the complaints are increasing day by day. In a recent incident, a 45-year-old heart patient and her young Hafizul Quran daughter, who came to Lahore to meet a relative from Melsi, fell victims to rapists in the Chung area. After the incident, Lahore police arrested a rickshaw driver and his suspected accomplice. Lahore police chief Ghulam Mehmood Dogar announced the arrests made in the gang rape case. According to sources, the police had only one clue to tracing the suspect, the rickshaw left by him at the crime scene. If the driver had fled in the rickshaw, it would have been difficult for Lahore police to apprehend the suspect because CCTV cameras were not installed at Thokar Niaz Baig, the place where the woman and her daughter hired the vehicle, and LDA Avenue, where the gang rape took place. If the suspects had not been traced, the capital city police officer (CCPO) might have lost the important post. Earlier, over the case of Ayesha Akram’s harassment in Greater Iqbal Park, the officials concerned from the SHO of Lorry Adda police station to the DIG operation were removed from their posts. The police have not yet been able to arrest the youth who fled after harassing a girl travelling in a rickshaw on the night of August 14. In a viral video, the boy can be seen running away after molesting the girl. However, the face of the suspect is not visible. His sketch has been released by the police investigation wing, but he has not been identified yet. Read Two more ‘harassers’ caught   In another shocking incident, a scrap dealer allegedly raped a mentally challenged girl in Harbanspura four days ago. Police immediately arrested the suspect and registered a case. In two incidents reported on Sunday, a man suspected of molesting a seven-year-old child was arrested in Ghaziabad and Model Town police apprehended a suspect of committing an indecent act with a four-year-old girl. SP Investigation Zohaib Nasrullah Ranjha said the girl was going to buy something when the suspect molested her. In view of the increasing incidents of sexual harassment and rape of women in Lahore, the police have decided to increase patrolling the arresting of the suspected harassers and assaulters, keep an eye on the suspects and use the Safe City cameras for identifying them. CCPO Dogar has issued orders to the Patrolling and Safe City Authority Control Room to immediately report to the police any persons chasing women on foot, rickshaw, motorbike or any other vehicle so that their arrest can be carried out. He said Lahore police would provide full protection to women. The police will also crackdown on those harassing or stalking women at parks, markets, bus stops, colleges, and universities. Instructions have been issued in this regard to the police stations and patrolling staff across the city in addition to the control room. A psychologist, Dr Saba Shabbir Sheikh, told The Express Tribune that there had been an increase in cases of sexual harassment and abuse of women and minors in the city. She said many of the accused in such incidents suffered from an inferiority complex since childhood. The main reason is lack of attention, love, and inquiry from the family. Published in The Express Tribune, August 31st, 2021.

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Jauharabad urban forest set to become trail blazer

Granting the status of a ‘model forest’ to the Miyawaki forest planted in Jauharabad town adjacent to Khushab, the Ministry of Climate Change (MOCC) has recommended implementation of similar projects along the motorway, in Multan city its environs. Forest Department SDO Abdul Ghaffar told The Express Tribune that Japanese scientist Akira Miyawaki introduced the method of planting forests in urban areas in 1970. Through the method, forests can be planted on land measuring one marla to a few acres in cities. The idea was promoted in view of the trees’ role as “the lungs of the earth". The method has also been adopted in Pakistan and the forest department planted the model forest on five kanals of land in Khushab district. The official said the environment could be made cleaner and healthier with Miyawaki forests in the cities to counter the increase in greenhouses gases as well as water, air and land pollutants. “The land is deeply excavated and various types of local nutrients and fertilisers, including nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, are added to the soil. The ground is levelled and large trees, shrubs, herbs and grass are grown on it,” the forest department official said. A distance is ensured between certain types of trees, while those that are compatible are planted closer together and special care is taken for nurturing them, he elaborated. “Joharabad is being presented as a model of Miyawaki forest as the original Japanese method was followed while growing it.” The total expenditure on the forest was Rs612,000 in three years, which is very low considering its importance and usefulness, he claimed. District Forest Officer Naseem Iqbal Butt said the Miyawaki method produces 10 times more trees in an area than in natural forests. “Forests grown in this way are much denser than the natural jungles.” Read ‘Smart’ forest He added that urban forestry not only helps in eliminating pollution in densely populated areas but also creates beauty and makes the environment pleasant. “In the Miyawaki forest of Joharabad, about 25 species of trees and plants have been planted, which include Sahanjana, Behera, Sukh Chain, Palkan, Sheesham, Darikh, Bacain Bottle Brush, Table Palm, Kachnar, Jaman, Pipal, Phatix, Kakar, Santha, Mulberry, Mara, Motiya, Gulab, Amaltas and Neem. Similar trees have been planted and the distance between them is based on the principles of the Miyawaki method,” he said. “It took a lot of hard work on the part of our staff to make the Miyawaki forest of the Khushab forest department a model, as declared by the federal ministry,” he stated. Commenting on the projects, an arborist, Arshad Nadeem Malik, said the responsibility of the Miyawaki forests had been assigned to the forest department the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA). “The project has been assigned to the forest department in Khushab and the PHA in Sargodha. The forest department has the best staff for tree planting.” He said the forest department is spending about Rs700,000 per acre on the Miyawaki scheme, which also includes the cost of its protection. “The PHA is reportedly spending Rs2.9 million per acre on a forest being grown in contrast to the Miyawaki method. The government should hand over all the forests to the forest department.” Abdul Rehman, a local resident, said that the Miyawaki plantation appeared to be the best method for improving the environment. Published in The Express Tribune, August 31st, 2021.

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CM inaugurates uplift projects in Fort Munro

Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar on Sunday inaugurated eight uplift projects worth Rs900 million for Fort Munro. The chief minister inaugurated solar lights network, parks, and horticulture projects with an estimated cost of Rs100 million during his visit to Fort Munro. He also inaugurated the Rs290 million Fort Munro to Langar Khund Sar road project. A plan for upgrading the Fort Munro resort will cost Rs50 million. CM Buzdar also performed the groundbreaking of a project under which Rs90 million would be spent on restoration of the Fort Munro water supply scheme to permanently resolve the water issue at the tourist site. The chief minister laid the foundation stone of a project to promote tourism in the Koh-e-Suleman area. He also performed the groundbreaking of a Rescue 1122 station at Fort Munro on the longstanding demand of local people with a cost of Rs50 million. Officials gave a briefing to the CM on the Fort Munro Cadet College, welfare complex, and other projects. Read Buzdar orders steps to maintain law, order Buzdar, who was accompanied by Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani and Minister of State for Climate Change Zartaj Gul, planted saplings as part of the Clean and Green campaign. He announced that another cadet college would be built in Koh-e-Suleman and the feasibility study of the project was underway. He said admissions to the children of the Koh-e-Suleman area would be provided free of charge, while the government would also bear their boarding and other expenses. The chief minister said work was underway to establish a solid waste management company to resolve the cleanliness issue in the Fort Munro area on a permanent basis. He said that work on 108-kilometer roads in Fort Munro and Koh-e-Suleman areas was also underway. Published in The Express Tribune, August 31st, 2021.

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Landlords finally come on govt’s tax radar

The federal government on Monday sought provinces’ cooperation to catch big landlords who evaded taxes by declaring agriculture as the source of their income, after it came to light that more than 161,000 people declared Rs79 billion agriculture income in federal tax returns. The move comes as the government seeks to find new avenues to enhance the revenues and also looks for means to sustain the inflows of foreign remittances – the two areas that are critical to avoid any fiscal or balance of payment crises. In a related development, the government accepted money service bureaus and exchange companies on Monday as “legal source” of transferring foreign remittances for claiming income tax exemption and withdrew dozens of tax recovery cases. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) issued a circular for the withdrawal of cases for the recovery of up to 35% income tax on suspicions of evasions, which were filed because the foreign remittances had been received through exchange companies and money service providers. Under the Constitution, income from agriculture is a provincial subject – a lacuna that almost every influential landlord and industrialists exploits to evade taxes by claiming income from land. The Income Tax Ordinance prescribes that agricultural income will be exempted from tax only if the provincial income tax was paid on it. FBR Chairman Dr Mohammad Ashfaq Ahmad has written letters to four provincial finance ministers, seeking their support to plug a loophole that is deliberately left in the Constitution to appease the landlords. The share of agriculture in the national economy is about one-fifth, but its share in the total revenues is less than 1%, indicating huge tax evasion in the sector. In tax year of 2020, a total of 161,069 filers countrywide declared Rs79 billion income from the agriculture source and claimed tax exemption. In tax year of 2020, Dr Ahmad wrote in a letter to Punjab Finance Minister Hashim Jawan Bakhat, about 128,550 people of Punjab declared Rs51.4 billion in agriculture income – exempted from the federal income tax. “I suspect that a bulk of such income has not discharged the provincial income tax liability.” According to the FBR, nearly 25,000 landlords from Sindh claimed Rs23.2 billion income exempted from the federal income tax. From K-P, 6,140 agriculturists claimed Rs2.7 billion federal tax-free income and from Balochistan over 1,500 declared Rs1.5 billion federal income-tax exempted income. In the spirit of cooperation to increase national revenues, it is offered that the FBR could issue system-generated notices to taxpayers, who declare agricultural income in the federal income tax returns, to duly discharge their tax liabilities with the provinces, the FBR chairman further wrote. The FBR would issue tax notices on the basis of provincial agriculture income tax law like the Punjab Agriculture Income Tax Act of 1997 and the Sindh Land Tax and Agriculture Income Tax Ordinance, 2000. The rates of Punjab agriculture tax are lower than the rates for the salaried class taxpayers. Couple of years ago, Punjab was collecting hardly Rs2 billion annually on agriculture income tax, which does not commensurate with the income declared in the federal tax returns. Dr Ashfaq Ahmad wrote that cooperation from the FBR was extended in the interest of national revenues to ensure that the persons earning agricultural income might pay due tax to the provinces and that no income went untaxed by both the FBR and the provincial governments. Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin had committed to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that he would depict a healthy growth in revenues during the first quarter of the current fiscal year to prove his point that this year’s Rs5.829 trillion tax target was achievable without additional new taxes. In 2013, the FBR introduced an amendment to Section 111 of the Income Tax Ordinance 2001. The amendment was aimed at cracking down on those who evaded income tax by hiding behind agriculture income. However, the FBR did not take action against the landlords who claimed tax exemption on false statements that they had paid their due taxes to their respective provinces. Remittances The FBR chairman has offered to coordinate a technical level meeting to address this issue and to curb tax evasion in national interest. The FBR also issued a circular on Monday to end a legal row to keep the flows of the foreign remittances uninterrupted. Of late, the FBR has received representations, indicating that the letter of the tax law, SBP regulations, and the case law declared over time, stand at opposite poles when it comes to taxation or non-taxation of foreign remittances. This has resulted in the initiation of avoidable tax proceedings, creation of unsustainable tax demand and additional burden of taxpayers, according to the circular,” “All cases of claim of foreign remittances be disposed of by according lenient interpretation to the conditions stipulated in section 111(4) of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001” reads the circular. Moreover, in order to win the trust of the taxpayers and spare the public resources for more productive use elsewhere, all departmental appeals filed on the stricto sensu interpretation of the law, be withdrawn immediately and no further appeals be filed if on all fours of this clarification”, the circular adds. “All circulars and instructions issued on the matter previously issued stand rescinded.” The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) expects more than $31 billion in remittances this fiscal year, which is very crucial to avoid balance of payments crisis as imports have started rising to around $5.5 billion a month. The tax-free status of the remittances is ensured under Section 111 (4) of the income tax law, if four conditions are implemented: the amount is in foreign exchange, the amount is remitted into Pakistan through normal banking channels, the amount is encashed by a scheduled bank and a certificate of encashment is issues by the bank concerned. Until 2015, there was no upper limit to the income tax exemption under Section 111 (4) of the Income Tax Ordinance 2001. However, a limit of Rs10 million was brought in 2018, which was later reduced to Rs5 million in 2019. “A controversy has loomed for quite some time as innovations in banking, money transfer mechanisms and development of new products for cross-border transactions have outflanked the letter of the law as now money services business, exchange companies and money transfer operators perform almost identical to those scheduled banks”. The Inland Revenue Service field formations had refused concessions to foreign remittances transferred through exchange companies and money transfer operators, relying on the appellate tribunal inland revenue’s judgment of 2013. The SBP has held that money services business, money transfer operators and exchange companies are “equated with scheduled banks”. The foreign exchange ought to originate overseas, must reach and be surrendered to the SBP and transaction should leave a banking trail behind. The FBR has now accepted the SBP’s view point.

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CTD kills '11 Daesh terrorists' in Mastung IBO

At least 11 Daesh terrorists were killed in an intelligence-based operation (IBO) at the group's camp in the Mastung district of Balochistan on Monday. The IBO was conducted by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), Balochistan, in the Killi Qamar Mazar Abad area, said CTD Balochistan spokesperson. The raid was carried out on a tip-off from Daesh terrorist Abdul Haye. The CTD team reached the site and surrounded the terrorists, the spokesperson added. The militants started to fire indiscriminately at the personnel and lobbed grenades at them. The CTD team then returned fire, killing 11 terrorists. According to the spokesperson, a large cache of arms and explosives was recovered from the terrorists, including four SMGs with 360 rounds, one LMG with 80 rounds, two suicide jackets, three 9mm pistols, 15 kilogrammes of explosive, prima cord, eight hand grenades, and eight detonators. Read Four personnel martyred in two Balochistan blasts He added that efforts were being made to identify the remaining terrorists. According to the spokesperson, the camp was going to be used as a launching pad for Daesh in the near future. He further stated that Abdul Haye was the ring leader of the group involved in Mastung police mobile attack in May 2021.The terrorist act, he added, had resulted in the martyrdom of two police officers. The spokesperson further stated that a detailed investigation had led to the discovery of the camp. An FIR has been registered at the CTD Balochistan police station and an investigation has been launched to arrest the remaining members of the network, he said. He added that more raids had been planned for other areas of Balochistan to arrest other miscreants.

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PTI govt fails to uplift compete major projects

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Punjab government has failed to complete any major project in Rawalpindi during the first three years of it. The Ring Road project was mired by a corruption scandal while work on the much-touted Expressway project could not be started either. No other mega projects in health, education, road infrastructure and water supply sectors could materialise in the PTI-led provincial government tenure. Work on the Islamabad-Rawalpindi metro bus project, the Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology (RIC) and the Rawalpindi Institute of Urology and Kidney Transplant (RIUKT) was completed during the tenure of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz previous government. Besides this, different departments of three allied hospitals of Rawalpindi were also built during the PML-N’s tenure while different sports projects in educational institutions were also completed. After winning the general election in 2018, the PTI government had announced to complete different vital and pending projects in Rawalpindi including Ring Road, Leh Expressway, Ghazi Barotha dam, preparation of the master plan for Rawalpindi, parking plazas, and others, however, no work could be started on none of the projects. The PTI provincial government is only working on the construction of a mother-child hospital in Rawalpindi and even work on this project is going on at a snail’s pace. The PTI-led government could not build a new hospital in the city despite the heavy patients’ load in the three allied hospitals of Rawalpindi. Government schools and colleges have also become overcrowded because of the increasing number of students, and no new educational institution could be built during all these three years. No progress has been made on plans to make Mareed Chowk, Kutchery Chowk and Defence Chowk single-free intersections. Work on the remodelling of Ammar Chowk has been started after the Punjab government released Rs1 billion in recent months. No major public park could be built in Rawalpindi in the last three years, and the project of constructing a model graveyard on the outskirts of the city is also in the doldrums. Work on the construction of the RDA complex and a housing society could not be started. However, the PTI government has successfully completed projects like a one-window operation system in Rawalpindi Development Authority and the Miyawaki forest on a three-kanal of land along Nullah Leh. In addition, kitchen gardening projects have successfully been implemented. The rainwater harvesting pilot project for ablution and gardening in mosques has also been completed, however. Talking to The Express Tribune, Parliamentary Secretary for Narcotics Sheikh Rashid Shafiq said that the land acquisition file of Leh Expressway was on the table of the Punjab chief minister. He said that the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) will soon get Rs2 billion for the first phase of the project. Shafiq said that the land acquisition of Ghazi Barotha dam is underway and Rs15 billion tender has been released to FWO. The lawmaker said that the extension of Ammar Shaheed Chowk is underway while Post Graduate Women’s College on Sixth Road has got the status of a university. He said that the recovered four kanal property of the Evacuee Trust has been earmarked for a girls’ college and another 11-kanal land in the Commercial Market has been handed over to the education department for building a girls’ college. Published in The Express Tribune, August 31st, 2021.

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‘Water supply for twin cities be given priority’

Authorities concerned of Khanpur dam have been requested to stop irrigation water supplies from Khanpur dam and the water supply for twin cities (Rawalpindi and Islamabad) should be given priority. According to a Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) spokesperson, it has been noticed that the monsoon season has almost ended. However, the water level of Khanpur reservoir is nearly 1,938 feet, which is much less than its maximum conservation level of 1,982 feet. A similar sort of situation also persists at the Simly Dam Reservoir wherein the presently available storage is expected to last within the next 48 days even with a 50 per cent curtailed supply. The current situation warrants that the supplies from Khanpur Dam Reservoir for the Municipal Water Supply for Islamabad and Rawalpindi should be given priority and supplies for irrigation should be stopped forthwith in the light of relevant provisions of the Water at Apportionment Accord-1991 and National Water Policy-2018. The spokesperson said that the Capital Development Authority (CDA) had written a letter to the Executive Engineer/In-charge Khanpur Dam project, Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), District Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to take immediate action otherwise; there would be no water from Khanpur Dam Reservoir for all beneficiaries, especially for Municipal Water Supplies of Islamabad and Rawalpindi after about two months. Meanwhile, WASA Managing Director Raja Shoukat Mehmood urged the citizens to use water judiciously as the agency may face water shortage due to a short supply of water from dams. He directed the officers concerned to make all arrangements to ensure water supply in affected areas utilising all available resources. Published in The Express Tribune, August 31st, 2021.

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Third phase of save buffalo calves project launched

The Punjab Livestock and Dairy Development Department (LDDD) has launched the third phase of ‘save the buffalo calves’ under the Prime Minister’s agricultural prosperity programme to increase meat production. Under this new phase, registration of male calves has been started in all the districts of Punjab. The age limit of calves for registration has been fixed for one month. The L&DDD spokesperson said that registration will continue for two months. A farmer can register up to 10 calves under this project. A separate tattoo number will be issued for each animal and Rs6,500 will be given to the farmer to raise the calf. While under the Farba project, each farmer can register a maximum of 25 claves. Farmers will be given financial help of Rs4,000 per animal. Specialists will inspect all registered calves regularly every month, weigh them and use their meat when they are young. This meat can be supplied domestically and abroad. According to the spokesperson, both of these projects have been very successful. Record animals were registered in the first two phases which will also continue this year, he added. Published in The Express Tribune, August 31st, 2021.

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Training workshop on smart potato cultivation held

A three-day training workshop on ‘Smart Potato Cultivation and Strategies for Value Chain Development’ started at Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (PMAS-AAUR) on Monday, with an aim to address the challenges and strategies to enhance its cultivation by precision agriculture. Ayub Agricultural Research Institute (AARI) Director General Dr Muhammad Zaffar Iqbal was the chief guest, while Dr Qamauz Zaman was the guest of honor. Dr Iqbal said that due to the increase in potato usage in domestic and industrial sectors, its cultivation has become very popular in Pakistan in recent years. He said that according to the incumbent government’s vision to improve nutrition for all, it could be one alternative. The challenges still exist in term of its production and value addition but the government is working hard to address them as they have produced high-quality, virus-free and third-generation potato seed with the help of South Korea by using aeroponic technology, he said. The initiative will enable Pakistan a self-sufficient in seed potatoes by mid-2022, he added. Published in The Express Tribune, August 31st, 2021.

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Man allegedly rapes step-daughter for three years

A man has been booked on Monday for sexually assaulting his teenage step-daughter for three years in Defence A area. The arrested suspect has been identified as Nadeem Chaudhry. Police said that the man had contracted a marriage with a widow a few years back who had a daughter from her first husband. The suspect had been sexually assaulting the minor girl for three years and threaten her of dire consequences the victim girl if she spoke to anyone. When the girl’s mother came to know about the gruesome act of her husband, she filed for divorce. However, the suspect started hurling death threats to his wife and the minor rape victim. He again sexually assaulted the victim and also made filmed the act with his cell phone to intimidate the victim mother and her daughter. Police have arrested the suspect and registered a case against him. Sexual offences against women are rampant in the society. For last few days, a large number of sexual harassment cases are being reported in the provincial capital. Read Absconding rape accused nabbed IGP Inam Ghani taking notice of these incident has issued orders to set up "Anti-Women Harassment and Violence Cells" to curb crimes against women across the province. The Anti-Women Harassment and Violence Cells will ensure the prevention of crimes against women and the investigation of cases on merit. In "Anti-Women Harassment and Violence Cells", the lady police officer will act as the Victim Support Officer. After the establishment of Anti-Women Harassment and Violence Cells, a full-fledged campaign should be launched for their promotion, Ghani said. The decision has been taken in a high-level meeting that was attended by Additional IG Special Branch Zaeem Iqbal Sheikh, Additional IG Operations Punjab Sahibzada Shehzad Sultan, DIG Operations Punjab Sohail Akhtar Sukhera, AIG Operations Syed Zeeshan Raza including other officers and all RPOs of the province participated through video link. Ghani directed all the RPOs of the province to ensure the establishment of "Anti-Women Harassment and Violence Cells" within a week in the districts under their administration and also launch a full-fledged publicity campaign for these special cells for public awareness. He further said DIG Operations Punjab would closely monitor the establishment of Anti-Women Harassment and Violence Cell in all the districts of the province within the stipulated timeline while DIG Investigation Punjab would monitor every case registered in these cells and also focus on monitoring of the speedy investigation on merit so that the accused involved in gender crimes, especially dangerous habitual offenders, can be convicted and sentenced by the courts. He further said these Victim Support Officers will liaise with the affected women and be present with them during the investigation and trial hearing and will also provide assistance to the affected women on matters related to the case during the hearing. Published in The Express Tribune, August 31st, 2021.

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Zahir’s judicial remand extended until Sept 6

A district and sessions court of Islamabad on Monday extended the judicial remand of Zahir Jaffer, the main suspect behind the brutal murder of 27-year-old Noor Mukadam, till September 6. He was produced in the Islamabad katcheri before judicial magistrate Muhammad Imran. The police, following the proceeding, took the main suspect in the murder case back to the Adiala Jail. Zahir was produced before the court following the completion of his 14-day remand in the case. On August 16, a local court extended Zahir's and his staff's judicial remand till August 30. The court also approved the police’s application for DNA tests of the co-accused, Iftikhar and Jamil. Deputy Judicial Magistrate Saqib Jawad conducted three separate hearings of the Noor Mukadam murder case. During the first hearing, the prime suspect was brought to the court from Adiala Jail on completion of his judicial remand where his attendance was marked from a 'Bakshi Khana'. Read Court extends Zahir Jaffer’s judicial remand till Aug 30 The suspect was not presented in court and was taken back to jail. In the second hearing, the court heard the police’s application for allowing DNA tests of co-suspects Iftikhar and Jamil. They were also brought from Adiala Jail and not presented before the court. The court carried out the hearing on the application and allowed the police to conduct DNA tests of both suspects. Moreover, the six staffers of Therapy Works were produced in the court after the completion of their one-day physical remand. The suspects, including owner Dr Tahir Zahoor Ahmed, were granted one-day physical remand. The police said that the staffers hid the evidence in collusion with the prime suspect’s father. However, they were later granted bail. The murder and beheading of Noor Mukadam sparked nationwide outrage with thousands of people calling on the authorities to take the case to its logical end. Published in The Express Tribune, August 31st, 2021.

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Health ministry gives Rs1.97b for ICT govt hospitals’ staff

The health ministry has released a risk allowance for clinical health workers of federal government hospitals in Islamabad. The ministry has released Rs1.97 billion for 9,191 clinical workers of 10 federal government hospitals in Islamabad. The sum includes basic salaries of five months which will be transferred to the beneficiaries bank accounts. Prime Minister Imran Khan approved the summary of the long-awaited allowance on August 8. Read Health Minister Jhagra reviews hospital facilities After the approval, the ministry released Rs70.7 million for 4,680 staffers of Pims, Rs34.385 million to 1,632 staff of Polyclinic Hospital Rs20.45 million for 133 staffers of NIH, around Rs30 million for staffers of the federal general hospital, Rs40.1 million for Sheikh Zayed Hospital Lahore, Rs7.3 million for TB hospital Rawalpindi, Rs20.7 million for Director of Central Health Establishment Islamabad and Rs1.3 million for two staffers of National Health Emergency Rapid Response Network. The office order stated that the allowance will be transferred to clinical staff who receive salaries directly into their accounts. The allowance for the remaining staffers will be transferred to their bank accounts through DDOs and no cash will be given to a beneficiary. Published in The Express Tribune, August 31st, 2021.

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NA panel displeased over dilapidated Naran road

A National Assembly Sub-Committee on Planning on Monday expressed its displeasure over the breakdown of the Naran road due to the transport of large stones in trucks to the site of Suki Kinari Dam. Chairing a meeting of the sub-committee, Convenor Committee Saleh Muhammad said that tourists have stopped visiting Naran due to the dilapidated infrastructure destroyed by trucks engaged by the Suki Kinari Company. The committee directed the officials concerned to submit a report on the project agreement between the government and Suki Company in the next meeting. Speaking at the meeting, NHA member Planning Asim Amin said that the stone required inside the Suki Kinari Dam was going from Naran and the carrying of stones to the project site has damaged the road network. He maintained that the company had temporarily repaired the road which now needed to be rebuilt. He added that the NHA had issued a notice ofRs1,282 million to the company but the firm did not bother to respond. Read NA panel seeks domiciles of all discos BoDs Convenor Committee Saleh Muhammad said that it was a road for small vehicles but the stone-carrying trucks have destroyed it and tourists have stopped visiting Naran. He stated that the private company was not doing any favour by building the dam but it was earning money. Officials told the committee that if the Ski Company repaired the road, it will lead to an increase in tariff. Deputy Commissioner Mansehra said that Section 144 has been imposed, banning plying of overloaded vehicles. The committee directed that the project agreement between the government and the company be presented in the next meeting. Committee Convenor Saleh Muhammad said that it has been 16 years since work on the New Balakot City was started but it has not yet been completed. He said that on October 8 every year, the people block the road which remains closed for 8 days. ERRA officials said that it was carrying out more than 2,000 projects in the Mansehra district, and of them, 76 work on government projects and 94 per cent of work on donors' projects have been completed. ERRA officials said they needed over Rs1.87 billion to complete the work. Published in The Express Tribune, August 31st, 2021.

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Divorce cases on the rise

The cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad appear to have observed an unprecedented rise in the number of divorce-related cases filed between January to August, 2021. During the same time, the cities also seem to have experienced a surge in incidents of domestic abuse; forcing over 200 married and unmarried women to escape toxic households and seek refuge at shelter houses like Darulaman. Per legal records, in the last eight months, a total of 8,239 new pleas, pertaining to affairs like the return of dowry, alimony and other marital expenses were filed in twin-city courts, in connection to various spousal disassociation cases. In that period, the courts allowed over 2,913 women to annul their troubled marriages, and escape the custody of their spouses and in-laws, while some 31 women were sent back to the very homes they were endeavouring to escape. It was also during this time that girls as young as 14 years of age were reported to have eloped and married older men, while only three per cent older than 20 years of age had chosen to run away to marry. Read Couple shot dead over free will marriage According to senior family lawyer Samina Bukhari, in the majority of reports pertaining to underage girls eloping with older men, social media apps like Facebook, TikTok, Messanger and WhatsApp had been used by prying men as outlets to contact and groom the girls. “Most of these marriages happen to fail in periods as short as three months, and can potentially put underage girls in harm’s way,” opined Bukhari. Undergoing marriage and divorce at such tender ages can often lead to a long-term impact on the mental and physical health of women. Oftentimes, such experiences obstruct their education and draw social stigma, which can further traumatise victims of domestic abuse and hamper chances of recovery. “At the time of pursuing, fraudulent men tend to mask their flaws on the internet and entice girls they can groom. Later, after marriage, when their reality comes to fore, these girls find themselves haunted by domestic abuse at the hands of their spouses and in-laws, and need legal aid to escape the toxic situation,” told the advocate. Per Nargis Shaheen, another senior lawyer who deals with cases of spousal separation, earlier, it would take up to three to four years for family cases like divorce to be settled by the courts. “Often, the elders of the family would intervene and try to make the couple cohabit and sort out their issues,” she told. Speaking in this regard, Human Rights Association Secretary Tayyaba Abbasi said that parents should monitor social-media usage by their underage children and be vigilant when dropping them off or picking them up from schools. It is in places like such that men who lurk on young girls usually pick their targets so it is the parents’ or guardians’ responsibility to be more watchful until their children come of age, she said. “When such cases come to us later on, they put us in quite a bit of quandary because interfering can get very tricky when two are legally married,” she told The Express Tribune. Published in The Express Tribune, August 31st, 2021.

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Seminary head given bail extension till Sept 1

An additional district and sessions court has extended the bails of Mufti Shahnawaz Ahmed, the principal of a madrasa, and a female teacher in a molestation case until tomorrow (Wednesday). Additional District and Sessions Judge Malik Ijaz Asif has sought DNA reports of the prime suspect and the victim from the investigation team. Civil Judge Nasar Mehmood Gondal has recorded the statement of the victim. When the judge started the hearing, he asked the investigation team about the DNA report. The investigation officer (IO) presented a medical report which the court rejected. The judge adjourned the hearing till September 1 and ordered to submit DNA and full inquiry reports on the next date. Read Seminary head denies rape allegations According to the police, DNA tests have not been conducted yet. After this hearing, the investigation team took the victim to the court of Civil Judge Nasr Mahmood Gondal where her statement was recorded. The student's mother, Rubina Gul, was also present in the court but the judge sent everybody out at the time of recording the statement. The student stated that the madrasa principal had raped and threatened her to kill. The victim said she was given drugs while the female teacher forced her to cooperate with the principal. She also lodged a complaint against the attitude of the police. After recording the statement, the civil judge sent a copy of the statement to the district and sessions judge. Published in The Express Tribune, August 31st, 2021.

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Public debt swells to Rs39.9tr

The government has added Rs14.9 trillion to the public debt during almost three years in power, which is equal to 140% of the total debt the previous Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government acquired in five years, shattering Prime Minister Imran Khan’s dream of reducing the burden. According to the State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) annual debt bulletin, released on Monday, the public debt increased to Rs39.9 trillion by June this year, an addition of Rs14.9 trillion within three years. The total public debt increased by a whopping 60% from July 2018 to June 2021, an unsustainable 20% increase on average each year. The addition of Rs14.907 trillion to the public debt in just three years was equal to 82% of the gross public debt that the last two elected governments of Pakistan Peoples Party (2008-2013) and PML-N (2013-2018) had added in 10 years. With the fresh addition from fiscal year 2018-19 to 2020-21, the total public debt as of June 30, 2021 increased to Rs39.9 trillion or 83.5% of the gross domestic product (GDP), the central bank reported. However, in terms of the size of economy, the ratio was 4.1% less than the preceding fiscal year 2019-20. It was still higher by 11% of GDP than the level left behind by the PML-N and was also in violation of the Fiscal Responsibility and Debt Limitation Act of 2005. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government added on an average Rs13.6 billion a day to the public debt, which was more than double the daily average addition of Rs5.8 billion by the PML-N government. When the PML-N government completed its five-year term, the total public debt stood at Rs24.95 trillion, or equal to 72.5% of GDP. In just three years, it has surged to 83.5% of GDP, which is unsustainable and carries huge risks for the economy and the country’s foreign policy. In February 2019, PM Khan had vowed to bring the public debt down to Rs20 trillion. He had been very critical of the economic policies followed by the previous PPP and PML-N governments and had set up the Debt Inquiry Commission to investigate the reasons behind the addition of Rs18 trillion to the debt stock in 10 years. Despite completion of the inquiry, the premier has withheld the release of the report. The accumulation of debt is a direct result of the gap between expenditures and revenues, which is widening due to the inelasticity of debt servicing and defence needs and the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) failure to enhance revenue collection to a sustainable level. Steep currency depreciation also contributed to the federal government’s debt. Read More: Short-term debt hits eight-month high Pakistan’s total debt and liabilities also jumped to a record Rs47.8 trillion, an addition of Rs18 trillion in the past three fiscal years. The country’s total debt and liabilities were equal to 100.3% of GDP - a ratio that was 86.3% hardly three years ago. Debt breakdown The federal government’s total domestic debt increased to Rs26.2 trillion, an addition of Rs9.9 trillion or 60% in the last three fiscal years. At the end of the PML-N tenure, the domestic debt was Rs16.4 trillion. The external debt of the federal government also increased 60% to Rs12.4 trillion in the last three fiscal years. There was a net increase of Rs4.6 trillion in the external debt, largely due to currency depreciation and building the foreign currency reserves through borrowing. At the end of the PML-N tenure, the external debt had stood at Rs7.8 trillion. The Rs12.4 trillion worth of external government debt does not include loans obtained for reserves building and currency swap arrangements. These loans are the responsibility of the central bank. By June 2021 the rupee-dollar parity traded at Rs157.3 to a dollar. In June 2018, the value of the dollar was equal to Rs121.54, suggesting a massive depreciation of nearly Rs36 or 29.4%. The current parity is around Rs166. Dollar-based total external debt The total external debt and liabilities, which were $95.2 billion three years ago, jumped to a record $122.2 billion - an addition of $27 billion on the watch of the PTI government. In one year, the foreign debt rose by $9 billion. During the five year tenure of the PML-N, the total increase in the external debt was $34 billion. The public external debt, which is the direct responsibility of the federal government, increased from $75.3 billion in June 2018 to $95.2 billion in June this year - an addition of $20 billion in three years. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) debt that was $6.1 billion three years ago has jumped to $7.4 billion by June this year, according to the central bank. The direct consequence of mounting debt pile is huge increase in the cost of debt servicing. In June 2018, the country spent a total $7.5 billion in external debt repayment and its servicing. This cost has now increased to $13.4 billion - a surge of 79% in three years. But repayments are made by signing new loans. The country’s foreign exchange liabilities also increased by three-fourth, mainly because of the government’s decision to build foreign exchange reserves by taking new loans. Published in The Express Tribune, August 31st, 2021. Like Business on Facebook, follow @TribuneBiz on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.

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Security guard ‘gang-raped’ in Dijkot

A security guard has accused five men of sexually assaulting him in Dijkot. A video of the victim went viral on social media, in which he appealed to the top authorities for justice. Police launched a search for the suspects after registering a case. According to the police, Bilal Raza, a resident of Allama Iqbal Colony, stated in his complaint that he was serving as a security guard in an Imambargah and had known its office-bearer Tajamal Hussain for a long time. “On the night between June 15 and 16, when I returned from an errand, he told me that it was too late, so I should sleep in the library and go home the next morning,” he stated. The complainant alleged that when he went to sleep in the library, the suspect Tajamal sexually assaulted him. “I was threatened that if I open my mouth in front of anyone, he would kill me.” He alleged that after that day, other suspects including Babar Lodhi and Fazal Abbas Zaidi also raped him at different times. He also alleged that the suspect Ghazanfar Abbas had molested him a few weeks earlier. The victim said that five suspects had assaulted him at different times. D-Type Colony Police registered a case against the suspects nominated by the complainant under various sections of Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), including 377 (unnatural offences) and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation). Section 77 carries a punishment of imprisonment for life, or for a term not less than two years or more than 10 years, along with fine. Read Absconding rape accused nabbed Earlier this month, on August 11, a 12-year-old boy, the son of Shahid Jamil and a resident of Civil Quarter, was working in a rent shop near Government New Model High School. He was taken by the suspect 28-year-old Abdul Rehman, the son of Abdul Majeed and resident of Mohalla Usman Ghani, Street No 11, along with his accomplice 18-year-old Shahrooz Hussain, the son of Iftikhar and a resident of Street No 5, Madinabad area, to an auto workshop. The suspects subjected the minor boy to sexual abuse. Ghulam Mohammadabad police took timely action and arrested them. Police also registered a case under the provisions of Section 377 PPC and remanded them in custody. In another incident, on August 14, a 14-year-old boy was allegedly sexually assaulted under the pretext of giving him kites in Chak Jhumra. In a case filed by Fakhr Hayat, a resident 202 RB Bhaiwala, stated that his 14-year-old brother was playing outside the house when the suspects Abdullah and Rehan took my brother to a place in Tufail Town under the pretext of giving him kites and raped him. Millat Town police registered a case under Section 377 PPC and started raids to arrest the suspects. Meanwhile, Muhammad Imran’s 12-year-old son Abdullah was studying at a madrassah in Saifabad. Reportedly, when other students went for a breakfast in the morning, Qari Omar of the madrassah grabbed Abdullah and tried to molest him, which he thwarted by making noise. Jhang Bazar police registered a case under 377 and 511 PPC. Last month, a minor boy was allegedly sexually assaulted by a cleric in a seminary in Nishtar Colony, Lahore, on July 31. The 11-year-old victim was undergoing religious training at a madrassah near his home. On the day of the incident, the suspect identified as Irfan reportedly summoned the student to the seminary for cleaning work, where he allegedly raped him. The suspect reportedly offered the minor boy Rs150 to remain silent over the incident. He also allegedly threatened the victim. However, the victim went home and told his family about the sexual assault incident. The family informed police who arrested the suspect and registered a case against him. DIG Investigations Shariq Jamal said doctors had conducted medical examination of the boy. A few weeks earlier, a 70-year-old cleric at a madrassah in Lahore had been accused of sexually assaulting his student. The victim had alleged that the suspect had got him banned from appearing in examinations on false charges. Published in The Express Tribune, August 30th, 2021.

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