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Urdu drama based on Manto’s works staged at Tokyo University

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ISLAMABAD, NOV 21 (DNA) — Tokyo University of Foreign Studies staged an Urdu drama, titled “Ghari Aur Tash” at the University campus.

The play, staged on Sunday, was based on different works of the renowned Pakistani writer, Saadat Hassan Manto, a press release issued by Pakistan Embassy in Tokyo on Monday said.

Ambassador-designate of Pakistan Raza Bashir Tarar, who was the guest of honour, praised the hard work put in by the faculty and students. He underscored that such cultural endeavours dovetailed with the excellent bilateral ties between Pakistan and Japan. =DNA

ICCI, ICSTSI call for promoting ease of doing business

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Islamabad, NOV 21: /DNA/ – Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) leading a delegation visited Islamabad Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industries to congratulate President Sajjad Sarwar and his team. Both Chambers discussed matters of mutual interest and called upon the government to focus on promoting ease of doing business in order to revive the economy.

Speaking on the occasion, Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry said that the small businesses are playing important role in promoting the economic activities and stressed that the government should allot plots to Chambers of Small Traders and Small Industries so that these institutions can play more effective role in promoting small businesses that will facilitate the growth of new start-ups, enhance exports, generate jobs and help revive the economy. He said that due to the high transaction costs and tough collateral requirements, small businesses are facing great problems in getting loans from banks and emphasized that the government should address this issue to increase their share in the total private sector credit so that these businesses can play an enhanced role in the economic development of the country. He assured that ICCI would cooperate with ICSTSI in resolving the key issues of small traders and small industries to facilitate their better growth.

Sajjad Sarwar, President, Islamabad Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industries said that close liaison and cooperation between ICCI and ICSTSI will be very helpful in serving the cause of the business community. He said that the economy of Pakistan is passing through a difficult time and stressed that promoting the ease of doing business should be the top priority of the government to improve the economy. He emphasized that CDA should construct parking plazas in markets to address the long standing issues of traders and focus on better development of markets. He said that small traders and small industries are making useful contributions towards the economy and urged that the government should focus on resolving their key issues to facilitate their better growth.

Khalid Iqbal Malik Group Leader, Zafar Bakhtawari, Zubair Ahmed Malik, Muhammad Ejaz Abbasi, Ajmal Baloch, Khalid Chaudhry and others were in the delegation. 

USAID farmers support

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From Our Correspondent

PESHAWAR, NOV 21: /DNA/ – The United States Agency for International Development USAID with support of ERDA and Agriculture department to provide Wheat Seed and Fertilizer to the flood-affected 14,850 farmers

USAID’s Economic Recovery and Development Activity (USAID-ERDA) and Agriculture, Livestock, and Cooperative Department Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will provide 743 tons of certified wheat seed and 1485 tons of fertilizer to 14850 flood affected farmers from Peshawar, Dera Ismail Khan, and Khyber Districts to ensure food security for current cropping season.

USAID-ERDA provided 1,900 bags (50 Kg each bag) of certified wheat seed and 3,800 bags (50 Kg each bag) of fertilizer to flood-affected farmers of Mathra, Shah Alam, and Chamkani, in Peshawar. The USAID-ERDA assistance enables 19,00 flood affected farmers’ families to cultivate wheat crops on their 1,900 acres of land during this Rabi season which will ultimately ensure food security through availability of sufficient wheat in the next harvesting season. USAID-ERDA will provide certified wheat seed and fertilizer to 12100 farmers from District Dera Ismail Khan and 850 farmers from District Khyber Districts during the month of November 2022.

This year intense rainfall in monsoon spells and flash-flood caused severe flooding across Pakistan. It has impacted the whole fabric of life, involving remarkable human losses, and tremendous damage to agriculture, livestock, shelters, and infrastructure. It forced the government to announce a flood emergency and call an appeal for humanitarian assistance.

At the request of the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the USAID-ERDA decided to extend critical support to ensure food security in flood-affected Dera Ismail Khan, Peshawar, and Khyber districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

We are thankful to USAID for their support and assistance in a time of need. The flood devastations are beyond government’s approach.

“The farmers are the most affected segment and they need our assistance to cover their losses and get back on track. USAID has been very kind in providing their assistance and we expect them that they will continue their support in rehabilitation of our farmers”, said Mohammad Israr Khan, Secretary of Agriculture.

USAID-ERDA in coordination with the Agriculture and Livestock Department earlier conducted a quick assessment of 1,900 affected farmers’ from three areas namely Mathra, Shah Alam, and Chamkani of District Peshawar, which were provided with Certified wheat seed and fertilizer. This support will ensure food security for affected population of Peshawar.

Kazakhstan’s Tokayev wins snap presidential election

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ISTANBUL, Nov 21 (AA/APP): Kazakhstan’s incumbent President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has won Sunday’s snap presidential election with over 81% of the vote, according to preliminary results on Monday.

Kazakh news agency Kazinform, citing the country’s Central Election Commission, said Tokayev won over 6.4 million votes, securing an easy victory against five little-known candidates.

Voting ended at 10 p.m. Astana time (1600GMT), with the turnout said to be 69% by the end of the day – nearly 8.3 million of around 12 million eligible voters cast ballots.

The call for early elections was made by Tokayev in late September with a decree saying the polls would launch “an electoral cycle that will lead to a radical reset of the entire political system.”

The announcement came after Tokayev approved a constitutional amendment to increase the presidential term from five years from seven while barring future presidents from serving a second term.

Another move was changing the capital’s name back to Astana after it was changed to Nur-Sultan in 2019 in a tribute to outgoing President Nursultan Nazarbayev. Tokayev took over as president in March 2019, succeeding Nazarbayev, who ruled the oil-rich Central Asian nation for three decades.

World Shakers Shaking Hands: XiDen in Bali

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Syed Nasir Hassan

Ice may not be melting at the poles of world only, but on political equators it has also smelted, as supremos of two global powers shook hands on the sidelines of G-20 at Bali. President Xi and President Biden met for the first time that too after both yielded firm grip on their respective thrones, Xi being reelected in CCP’s 20th national conference and Biden under Democrats victory in mid-term elections.

None expected the diplomatic détente between the two countries amid growing tensions over range of issues including Taiwan and Russia-Ukraine crisis.But the leaders conventussurprisingly held for around three hours discussing various concerning issues over “candid” interaction.

The official statements issued gave a glimpse that both the countries are firmly standing on their diplomatic grounds over concerning issues specially Taiwan and this meeting was more of an effort to maintain US-China relations for further deterioration rather improving them. The U.S. also, in a statement, emphasized that its one-China policy had not changed and that it opposed any unilateral changes to the status quo. President Biden’s pressed upon on US policy over Taiwan and at the same time stated that he doesn’t think China has ‘imminent’ plans to invade Taiwan. Whereas policy influencers in Washington hold contrary view that opining that China might aggressively push for Taiwan in 2023-24. However, it is unclear if this inference by strategic thinkers in USis more of a strategic wish or a concluded study.

On the other hand, Chinese statement mentioned that Taiwan is core to the Chinese interests and it is the first red line that must not be crossed in China-U.S. relations, ironically it seems that it was not crossed but steeped on in August of this year. Moreover, China also stated that “China-U.S. relations should not be a zero-sum game where one side out-competes or thrives at the expense of the other and China has no intention to challenge or displace the United States status” but the question remains, is competition ever about win-win situation?

The statements by both the leaders are understandable as they have to show at home and abroad to their allies that why they are perfect fit for the job of world leader. But not to forget that seeing is not believing in diplomacy.

While this diplomatic intimacy between Washington and Beijing caught the limelight in hope of extinguishing the fire among two countries let’s not forget the “Realpolitik” and Thucydides mantra of realism “The strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must” in this case no one wants to look weak and be patronized by other. Both countries might have shown consensus on continued dialogue but at the same time expressed firmness on their national objectives.

Irrespective of how much both say about co-existence and harmony, both are currently a threat for the other which is evident from the factChina is silently seeping into the international order and is altering its dynamics and Washington had a decades long focus on Asia; militarily and economically challenging the Beijing at home to contain it. These are some of underlaying realities which would remain unchanged. The US has his global hegemonic image to safeguard with military superiority and Beijing does not want any nuisances in its peaceful alteration of global order.

 The good thing about the meeting was that both leaders agreed on not to further aggravate the tensions between them and put an end to cold war between the two countries. Both countries will further indulge in diplomatic rapprochement which will be followed by US secretary of State Antony Blinken to China expected in coming year.

The current détente is more of a marriage of convenience both need each other for their own international existence, China cannot afford any economic or trade embargos, at least till the time it makes world economics fully dependent on it, due to its huge population which compels China to keep the trade and economic cogs moving to feed its population. Whereas US needs China to keep its military-industrial complex in world politics.

The recent Xi-Biden meetup might have sparked hope for collaboration among great powers for the world, but not to forget that relations among nations are steered by both centrifugal and centripetal forces. Both have over time construed a narrative against the other in order to forge alliances and public support which will be considerable factor in mending bridges between the two nations. The question isn’t that whether US and China will mend the bridges, it will be mended to the extent where both suffices their national interest, but for how long as great power competition is not about win-win both zero-sum. 

Syed Nasir Hassan is working with Islamabad Institute of Conflict Resolution – IICR as Program Coordinator. He has done his M.Phil in Defence and Strategic Studies, from Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad.

Pakistan’s digital banking future

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By Muhammad Omar Iftikhar

The global trends need to be adopted by Pakistan to remain at par with changing demands. The area of digital banking is a system that connects people and banks online that can efficiently conduct business and trade. The need of the hour is to create a user-friendly, easy-to-understand online banking system that the 220 million population can operate.

Opening a bank account, and physically conducting transitions is not what people want anymore. Western countries have been following banking transactions without the need to visit the bank. All of their transactions are done online.

The Fintech companies in Pakistan need to translate the problems and needs of the population and bring effective digital models. A case in point was EasyPaisa which changed how the common man transferred money from consumer to consumer. 

However, constructive steps need to be taken for the Fintech companies in collaboration with the banking sector of Pakistan to ease the hassle that consumers have to face while conducting their banking transactions.

Pakistan has an untouched potential when it comes to digital banking transformation. According to www.tabadlab.com “In Pakistan, where 55% of unbanked Pakistanis aged 15+ have a mobile phone, mobile-based digital payments have the potential to unlock the broader digital economy.” It was also reported that the rate of Pakistan’s financial inclusion was between 21% from 2017 to 2021.

 Indeed, the efforts of the State Bank of Pakistan in this regard cannot be ignored. It publicized the Branchless Banking Regulatory Framework in 2008 which was later revised in 2011 and 2016. Financial inclusion in Pakistan will bring a wider population into the domain of digital banking. Freelancers and home-based women entrepreneurs will greatly benefit from it along with shop owners.

Women living in remote areas of Pakistan can use digital banking services to receive payments for the products or services they offer. Indeed, social media will play a pivotal role in helping them reach out to their prospective clients.

44 dead as Indonesia quake shakes Java island

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Cianjur, Indonesia, Nov 21 (AFP/APP):A shallow 5.6-magnitude earthquake shook Indonesia’s main island Java on Monday, killing at least 44 people and injuring hundreds, local officials said, with buildings damaged and a landslide triggered.

The quake was centred in the Cianjur region of West Java, according to the United States Geological Survey, and was felt as far away as the capital of Jakarta, where panicked residents ran into the streets.

“There have been dozens of people killed. So far, 44 people have died,” Adam, a spokesman for the local administration in Cianjur town, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, told AFP.

He said as many as thousands of houses could have been damaged in the quake. The local administration chief in the town worst hit by the tremor said most of the deaths were counted in one hospital alone, without providing a specific figure, with many others in surrounding villages still to be evacuated.

“The information I got for now, in this hospital alone, nearly 20 died and at least 300 people are being treated,” Herman Suherman told broadcaster Metro TV.

“Most of them had fractures from being trapped by the ruins of buildings.”

Shops, a hospital and an Islamic boarding school in the town were severely damaged by the quake, according to local media.

Broadcasters showed several buildings in Cianjur with their roofs collapsed and debris lining the streets.

Suherman said relatives of victims had congregated at the town’s Sayang hospital and warned the death toll could rise as villagers outside of the town may still be trapped.

“We are currently handling people who are in an emergency state in this hospital. The ambulances keep on coming from the villages to the hospital,” he said.

“There are many families in villages that have not been evacuated.”

The country’s disaster chief Suharyanto, who also goes by one name, said at least 14 people had died in the Cianjur area but said information was “still developing”.

Cianjur police chief Doni Hermawan told Metro TV authorities had rescued a woman and a baby from a landslide but a third person they found had died of their injuries.

Not written anywhere CJP has authority to appoint judges: Justice Isa

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KARACHI: Senior puisne judge of the Supreme Court Justice Qazi Faez Isa said Saturday “it is not written anywhere that the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) has the authority to appoint judges”.

The remark came during Sindh High Court Bar Association’s annual dinner as Justice Isa expressed astonishment over the conduct of the then-federal law minister, Azam Nazeer Tarar, and Attorney-General of Pakistan Ashtar Ali Ausaf for deviating from their previous stance.

The justice, who was also a member of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP), said that the vote of a commission member is a trust that should be used without any fear or favour.

He said that he was astonished over the conduct of the former law minister and AGP for deviating from their previous stance, which they took in the judicial commission’s meeting on the elevation of high court judges to the Supreme Court.

Justice Isa stated that the Constitution guarantees every commission member the right to vote and that the appointment of judges should be made through deliberate and meaningful consultation among commission members.

He said that federal ministers used to take oaths under the Constitution, similar to judges, promising to carry out their duties without fear or favour. Still, now they vote in commission without providing any valid reasons.

The senior SC judge said that those who could not exercise their right to vote independently should resign, referring to the famous US politician’s quote that people who could not stand the heat of the kitchen should keep out of it.

Justice Isa urged the legal fraternity to remain independent and avoid asking for any grant from the government. He said that if the bar expects the judiciary to remain independent, then it is likely that the bar should also remain independent from the executive, as the grants the government pays come from taxpayers’ money.

He said that the bar should not request that any law minister, chief minister, or prime minister grant aid to them and be grateful to them. He was of the view that government funds used for the transportation of government officials should be utilised for improving the public transport system to resolve the transport problems.

Justice Isa went on to say that it had been just seven years since Pakistan came into being when its democratic system was attacked. The then-courts declared this attack on democracy unconstitutional, he added.

“The seed of unconstitutional decisions sowed then, had a negative impact on the country,” Justice Isa said, adding that a prime minister was executed under an illegal decision in the past.

“The one who waved the fist started the politics of container.”

Recalling the sacrifices of lawyers and citizens for the rule of law during the lawyers’ movement, Justice Isa emphasised that lawyers should not forget May 12, 2007, when more than 55 citizens of Karachi sacrificed their lives for the rule of law and vowed that past mistakes should not be allowed to be repeated.

He said that the lawyers’ movement was not meant for the protection of judges’ jobs but for the independence of the judiciary.

Justice Isa further stated that the lawyers of Balochistan also made great sacrifices for the judiciary.

COAS Gen. Bajwa visits Lasbella, inaugurates pre- fabricated village

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Rawalpindi, NOV 20 /DNA/ – General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) visited Lasbella, Balochistan today where he inaugurated pre- fabricated village in Lal Gul Goth constructed for flood affected people of the area who lost their homes.

Village Laal Gul Goth was badly devastated in recent floods with live stock, personal belongings of people and basic infrastructure completely lost. The new pre-fabricated village includes a primary school, is lit by off grid solar power and also provided with a tube well.  Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) completed this project in record time as this was promised to the villagers by Pakistan Army.

COAS was briefed by Major General Kamal Azfar, Director General FWO about the progress of rehabilitation work for flood affectees.

COAS met teachers & students of newly renovated primary school at Lal Gul Goth and local villagers. COAS said that Pakistan Army will continue all out efforts to expedite the rehabilitation process being undertaken with the support of Federal and provincial governments. High ranking Civil and Military Officials were also present on the occasion.

Later, COAS interacted with the troops of Quetta Corps, FWO, Frontier Corps (FC) Balochistan and Pakistan Coast Guards and appreciated their efforts during rescue, relief and rehabilitaion process in recent flooding.

Lieutenant General Inam Haider, Chairman NDMA and Lieutenant General Kashif Nazir, Engineer in Chief, accompanied COAS during the visit.

Earlier on arrival,  COAS was received by Lieutenant General Asif Ghafoor, Commander Quetta Corps.

Qatar World Cup starts with stakes high for hosts

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AL KHOR, NOV 20: The World Cup kicked off in Qatar on Sunday with the Muslim nation, which faced a barrage of criticism over its treatment of foreign workers, rights and social restrictions, staking its reputation on delivering a smooth tournament.

In a show of solidarity, Saudi Arabia’s crown prince and the presidents of Egypt, Turkey and Algeria, as well as the United Nations secretary-general, are among leaders at the opening ceremony in a tent-shaped stadium ahead of the first match between the hosts and Ecuador.

Qatar, which has denied accusations of abuse of workers and discrimination, and FIFA hope the spotlight will now turn to action on the pitch. Organisers have also denied allegations of bribery for hosting rights.

Inside Al Bayt Stadium many seats were still vacant with gridlock on the expressway leading to the arena, where cheers went up as Qatar’s team appeared for their opening match.

Onstage, singer Jungkook of K-pop boy band BTS will perform a new tournament song, alongside Qatari singer Fahad Al-Kubaisi.

The soccer tournament, the first held in the Middle East and the most expensive in its history, is a culmination of Qatar’s soft power push, after a 3-1/2 year boycott by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain which ended in 2021.

The UAE, whose rapprochement with Doha has been slower than that of Riyadh and Cairo, sent its vice president who is also ruler of Dubai, where many World Cup fans have opted to stay.

For the first time, a direct commercial flight from Tel Aviv to Doha landed in Qatar on Sunday despite the absence of formal bilateral ties, in a deal brokered by FIFA to carry both Palestinians and Israelis to the tournament.

The Gulf state’s Deputy Prime Minister Khalid Al-Attiyah, in remarks on state media, said Qatar was reaping benefits of years of “hard work and sound planning”.

On Saturday, FIFA president Gianni Infantino rounded on European critics of Qatar, saying engagement was the only way to improve rights, while Doha has also pointed to labour reforms.

Denmark’s and Germany’s team captains will wear One Love armbands as they prepare to compete in a conservative Muslim state where same-sex relations are illegal. Organisers say all are welcome while warning against public affection.

Fans

Throngs of fans were already arriving in Qatar but the main rush will be later this week.

Daniel Oordt from Holland, clad in orange, told Reuters there was a feeling of “constant pressure around you not to say the wrong thing or make the wrong move”. “It’s not a fun atmosphere to have at a World Cup.”

Argentina fan Julio Cesar though said he expected a great atmosphere. “We’ll drink before the match,” he added, after alcohol sales at stadiums were banned.

Visitors sipped beer at the FIFA Fan Festival in central Doha. Outside the city’s edges, hundreds of workers gathered in a sports arena in an industrial zone, without alcohol. They can watch matches there, priced out of the stadiums many toiled to build along with other infrastructure for the event.

“Of course I didn’t buy a ticket. They’re expensive and I should use that money for other things — like sending it back home to my family,” Ghanaian national Kasim, a security guard who has worked in Qatar for four years, told Reuters.

Gas exporter Qatar is the smallest nation to host soccer’s biggest global event. Crowd control will be key with some 1.2 million visitors expected — more than a third of its population.

Workers were putting final touches to Doha’s landscape, including draping a purple tarpaulin over an unfinished building near the stadium where the final will be held.

At Lagoona Mall, residents were going about their business.

“I came now because I don’t know how bad the traffic will be later this week,” said Egyptian woman Esraa, grocery shopping.

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