Govt expects reduction in poverty in new survey

The government is all set to make public the latest poverty figures in the country next month, expecting that poverty would decline despite low economic growth and high inflation. Zafarul Hasan Almas, a senior official at the Planning Commission, expressed the hope that the poverty levels would come down to 22% in 2018-19 – the first year of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government – from 24.5% in 2015-16. “Our target is to release poverty numbers by March and the numbers would be published in the economic survey of Pakistan,” Almas said, speaking in the Express News talk show, The Review, referring to the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE)’s recent survey. Almas told the anchorpersons, Shahbaz Rana and Kamran Yousaf that in the 2015-16’s official numbers, 24.5% people were poor in the country but as per a 2018-19 PIDE study, he added, “it is expected that poverty will be reduced to 22%”. The official said that the Planning Commission was working on a three-year growth strategy and trying to make it equitable so that the government should be able to create opportunities in backward areas of the country. He lauded government’s cash-grant initiative during Covid-19 pandemic, saying it increased the falling consumption number. During the discussion, Almas also said that growth reflected opportunities and livelihood but it didn’t necessarily translate into distribution mechanism. Among other things, he said, the crop sector’s growth rate was 0.4 during the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) tenure – 2013 to 2018 – and the food inflation shock was there because of this aspect. "The incumbent government is striving to overcome it,” he added. In 2013-14, the Planning Commission had adopted the cost of basic needs (CBN) methodology and estimated the poverty line for the period as Rs3,030.32 per adult equivalent per month. The updated poverty line for 2015-16 was Rs3,250.28 per adult equivalent per month. In 2013-14, 29.5% of the population was considered poor in Pakistan, however, the number declined to 24.5% in 2015-16. The rural poverty reduced from 35.6% to 30.7% while the urban poverty reduced from 18.2% to 12.5%. In 2005-06, the national poverty ratio was 50.4%. In September last year, a Poverty Estimation Committee was setup to work out the latest poverty numbers in Pakistan on the basis of 2018-19 data, which are expected to be released by the end of March. Meanwhile, former SAPM on Revenues Haroon Akhtar Khan said that it was a dilemma that the prime minister, the FBR, the industry and the nation was ready to adopt the track and trace system but it was not being implemented because fingers were continuously pointed at the FBR. He said that the idea of IT-based solution for electronic monitoring of specified goods started in 2015, but added that no one in the FBR was ready to open the bidding, as applications were already moved before NAB.

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Pakistan confirms spread of UK variant

The national health services ministry has confirmed the detection of SARS COV-2 (VUI-202012/01) variant of the novel coronavirus, commonly referred to as the “UK strain”, in the country, but stressed that it was monitoring the situation through a robust surveillance system. The confirmation from the ministry includes the country in a bracket of 92 nations, where the UK strain has been detected. “The VUI-202012/01 strain is now being seen across the world and continues to be detected in samples in Pakistan,” the ministry said. “While this strain does not cause more severe disease, there is evidence that its transmission is faster,” the ministry added. “This highlights the need to continue following prescribed SOPs and guidelines issued by the government and to get vaccinated when your turn comes.” Medical experts in Britain identified the new variant – also called B.1.1.7 with a large number of mutations – in the autumn of 2020. This variant spreads more easily and quickly than other variants, the experts had warned. In Pakistan, the government had initiated the vaccination campaign to immunise the population against coronavirus. The campaign started with inoculation of the frontline health workers on a priority basis, from Feb 3. Next month, jabs will be administered to people 65 years of age. The National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) – which supervises the government unified effort to contain the spread of the Covid-19 – reviewed the vaccination campaign in its morning session on Saturday. “The session took detailed stock of epidemic curve chart and the national vaccine strategy where provincial representatives of all federating units, including that of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit Baltistan (GB) participated via a video link,” said an NCOC statement. The meeting was apprised that all the federating units had geared up adult vaccination centres (AVCs) and arrangements to conduct mass vaccination. The forum was briefed that the new AVCs were being set up to enhance existing inoculation capacity. The provincial representatives briefed the forum that training of adequate staff was being carried out in varying working durations to ensure maximum and swift build-up of trained workforce. The forum was told that the AVCs would be made fully air-conditioned. The forum was also told that along with capacity and resource enhancement, per day vaccination of individuals would be ramped up to yield maximum dividends of the national vaccination programme. (WITH INPUT FROM APP)

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Political jockeying intensifies ahead of Senate polls

Amid a flurry of frenzied politicking ahead of the Senate elections, the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) on Saturday decided to cast its lot with the opposition in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa as the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) tried to woo the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) in Sindh. Saturday witnessed several breakthrough political contacts, days after the Pakistan Muslim League Quaid-e-Azam (PML-Q) leadership used its political influence in Punjab that paved the way for all the senators from the province returning unopposed. The political acumen of the Chaudhrys of Gajrat was mentioned with praises during the meeting between a Pakistan Peoples Party delegation and the MQM-P – and ally of the Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf (PTI) at the centre – in Karachi. In the meeting at the MQM-P’s headquarters, the PPP offered the MQM-P two Senate seats from Sindh and in return it sought votes for Yusuf Raza Gilani, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) candidate from Islamabad. However, a major political breakthrough was achieved in Peshawar, where the provincial leaders of the PDM parties plus the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) huddled together. They agreed to join ranks and decided to field five joint opposition candidates. As per the agreement, the PML-Nawaz’ Abbas Afridi, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl’s (JUI-F) Maulana Ataur Rehman and the Awami National Party’s (ANP) Haji Hidayatullah Khan will stand for the general seats in the March 3 election. The PPP has been given a technocrat seat, for which Farhatullah Babar will be the joint opposition candidate, while Inayat Begum of the JI will be candidate for women’s seats, according to the announcement after the meeting. Under the agreement, all additional candidates of the opposition parties would retire from the contest on March 3. The opposition parties also decided to contact three independents, Ehtesham Javed Akbar, Faisal Zaman and Mir Kalam Wazir. The PPP received another boost in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as Senator Shamim Afridi and provincial assembly member Amjad Afridi announced their joining of the PPP during a rally addressed by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Saturday. Welcoming both the lawmakers to the party, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said in his address to the public gathering in Kohat that the opposition would send the ruling PTI packing after the Senate elections, next week. He claimed that people from all over the country would join them in the long march on Islamabad on March 26. “[The opposition will] send the ‘puppet’ prime minister home and establish a people’s government to serve the people of Pakistan,” Bilawal added. In Karachi, Sindh Minister Nasir Shah told reporters after the talks with the MQM-P that the PPP was prepared to get MQM candidates elected from Sindh without contest in return for government ally’s votes for Gilani in the National Assembly. “We will support the MQM on two seats and the MQM should support our candidates, including Yusuf Raza Gilani on a seat from the federal capital,” Nazir Shah, the provincial minister for local government, said. “The PTI was scared in Punjab, as it feared that many members would not vote for their own candidates [but] serious talks were held in Punjab and the PML-Q played a role in this matter,” he added. “The MQM has spoken about the Punjab model, we are ready for it,” he continued. “The MQM can win on one general and one women’s seats unopposed. But it takes two to clap. In return, the MQM will have to vote for Gilani at the Centre.” MQM-P leader Aamir Khan said the decision in this regard would be taken by the party’s coordination committee. Another party leader Faisal Sabzwari said the discussion on the Senate elections had nothing to do with the ruling coalition. “The PPP delegation was requested that the Punjab Assembly has given a very good model. Wouldn’t it be good if a similar arrangement was made in Sindh as well?” Sabzwari said. This year, a total of 48 senators – 12 each from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, 11 each from Punjab and Sindh, and two from Islamabad – will be elected on March 3. Voting for the would be held in the provincial assemblies for the provincial seats. The voting for two senators from Islamabad would be held in the National Assembly, where the most high profile contest of the current election is taking place between Gilani and the finance minister Dr Hafeez Shaikh. The opposition leaderships have struck a ‘super-confident’ posture that Gilani would defeat Shaikh, despite the majority of the ruling coalition, including the MQM-P and the PML-Q. “Success of Yusuf Raza Gilani will add to the prestige of the Senate and democracy will succeed,” Bilawal told the rally in Kohat. He warned that “If Finance Minister Hafeez Shaikh succeeded, it would “lead to increasing inflation …” Bilawal’s comments were echoed by PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz during her media talk at her residence in Jati Umra. She even claimed that the PTI’s own members would not vote for the party candidate in the Senate election. “Even his [Prime Minister Imran Khan] own party members will not support him in the Senate elections and are not ready to vote, because Imran Khan’s performance has shrunk his vote bank,” Maryam charged. (WITH INPUT FROM OUR PESHAWAR & LAHORE CORRESPONDENTS)

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UK’s Sunak to provide 5 billion pounds of grants to pandemic hit businesses in budget

LONDON: British finance minister Rishi Sunak will announce 5 billion pounds ($7 billion) of additional grants to help businesses hit hard by pandemic lockdowns in his budget statement next week, the government said on Saturday.

Shops, bars, clubs, hotels, restaurants, gyms and hair salons would be among nearly 700,000 companies eligible for new direct cash grants of up 18,000 pounds.

The government said the funding takes the total spent on direct grants to businesses during the crisis to 25 billion pounds.

Encouraged by the rapid roll-out of vaccines, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has unveiled a route out of lockdown for England. However, some businesses will need to remain shuttered until the summer.

“There’s now light at the end of the tunnel and this 5 billion pounds of extra cash grants will ensure our high streets can open their doors with optimism,” said Sunak.

Local authorities in England will also get an extra 425 million pounds to distribute grants to businesses not eligible for the restart grants, while the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will receive 794 million pounds of extra funding.

The government has already racked up more than 280 billion pounds in coronavirus spending and tax cuts, pushing Britain’s borrowing to its highest level since World War Two.

While Sunak’s March 3 budget will include more spending to prop up the economy during what he hopes will be the last phase of lockdown, he will also probably signal tax rises ahead to plug the huge hole in the public finances.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Sunak said he would use the budget to level with the public over the “enormous strains” in the country’s finances, warning that a bill will have to be paid after further coronavirus support.

Earlier on Saturday the government said Sunak is also expected to announce an initial 12 billion pounds of capital and 10 billion pounds of guarantees for the new UK Infrastructure Bank.

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Over 600,000 migratory birds flocked to Sindh this year: survey

KARACHI: More than 600,000 migratory birds visited Sindh this year (2020-21), according to a survey carried out by the provincial wildlife department.

Every year, the department carries out a survey of migratory birds, particulary waterfowls, visiting the province’s wetlands like Nariri Lagoon, Charwo, Phoosna, Runn of Kutch, Manchhar Lake, Lungh Lake, Sukkur Barrage, Mehrano, Kursh, Acch, Keenjhar, Haleji, Hub Dam, Hawksbay, Ibrahim Hyderi, Korangi Creek, and coastal wetlands of Thatta, Sujawal and Karachi.

Every year #Wildlife Department #GoS carries out migratory bird particularly waterfowl survey. Similarly this year’s (2020-21) survey held from 27th January to 18th February.
Many wetlands like Nariri Lagoon, Charwo, Phoosna, Runn of Katch,
Manchhar lake, Lungh Lake, 1/5 pic.twitter.com/t99uoGhhcp

— SindhWildlife (@sindhwildlife) February 26, 2021

“Historically survey methodology is to reach the target wetland[s], fill [out] information sheet by number counting, round block & transect methods,” the department said.

This year, as many as 612,397 migratory birds visited the province as compared to 741,042 in 2020, 248,105 in 2019, 153,916 in 2017, 150,000 in 2016 and 17,568,90 in 1990.

According to data, species’ diversity witnessed an increase as 32 new species of waterfowls were spotted whereas a total of 86 types of migratory water birds visited these wetlands.

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Myanmar police crack down on protests for second day; one dead, several hurt

Myanmar police shot and killed one protester on Sunday and wounded several as they cracked down in a bid to end weeks of demonstrations against a Feb. 1 military coup, a politician and media said.

Police opened fire in the town of Dawei, killing one and wounding several, politician Kyaw Min Htike told Reuters from the southern town. The Dawei Watch media outlet also said one person was killed and more than a dozen wounded.

Police and the spokesman for the ruling military council did not respond to phone calls seeking comment.

Myanmar was thrown into chaos when the army seized power and detained elected government leader Aung San Suu Kyi and much of her party leadership, alleging fraud in a November election her party won in a landslide.

The coup, which stalled Myanmar’s progress toward democracy after nearly 50 years of military rule, has brought hundreds of thousands of protesters onto the streets and drawn condemnation from Western countries, with some imposing limited sanctions.

In the main city of Yangon, several people, some bleeding heavily, were helped away from protests, images posted by media showed.

It was not clear how they were hurt but media reported live fire. Myanmar Now media group said people had been “gunned down”, but it did not elaborate.

Police also threw stun grenades, used tear gas and fired into the air, witnesses said.

Junta leader General Min Aung Hlaing has said authorities have been using minimal force to deal with the protests.

Nevertheless, at least three protesters have died over the days of turmoil. The army said a policeman has been killed in the unrest.

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Police introduce yet another patrol team

In another project tantamount to a formal admission that the Dolphin Squad, Police Response Unit and Punjab Safe Cities Authority did not come up to the expectation, the police introduced the Ababeel Squad, a patrolling force, on Saturday. The purpose of Dolphin Squad at the time of launch was precisely described as the same, “fighting crime in congested areas and hotspots”. Capital City Police Officer Additional IG Ghulam Mahmood Dogar inaugurated the Ababeel Squad by cutting the ribbon and riding a motorcycle at Qila Gujjar Singh Police Lines. Initially, the force comprises of 20 motorcycles and 40 police personnel. A ceremony in this regard was held at District Police Lines Qila Gujjar Singh. DIG Investigations Shariq Jamal, DIG Operations Sajid Kiani, SSP CIA, SP Security, SP Mobile Squad, SP Headquarters, all divisional SSPs, members of the Ababeel Squad and Anti-Riot Force (ARF) attended the function. While addressing the ceremony, Dogar said the Ababeel Squad was completely made up of city police’s own resources and the purpose behind its formation was to eradicate crime in hotspot areas of the city. Read Rape attempt on teenage girl foiled The Ababeel Squad in a group of 20 motorcycles and 40 armed police personnel will immediately move, cordon off the area of the crime scene to foil the efforts of criminals to flee as well as alleviate the sense of insecurity among citizens by improving visibility through flag march. He added that Ababeel Squad will function under the supervision of SP Mujahid Squad from Qurban Lines and immediately respond and reach the crime scene in a group of 20 motorcycles. The active visibility of the Ababeel Squad through patrolling will help to improve the sense of security among citizens and create an effective deterrence against crimes, Dogar claimed. Published in The Express Tribune, February 28th, 2021.

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