LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) Quaid Nawaz Sharif repeated his charge sheet against his political rival Prime Minister Imran Khan and his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government on the second consecutive day on Thursday.

Addressing a meeting of the PML-N Central Working Committee (CWC) via video link from London, he alleged that he was defeated in the 2018 general election by intentionally closing down the Result Transmission System (RTS) of National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) for hours. He alleged the results of the seats, won by his party, were changed during the ‘malfunctioning’ period of the RTS system. He announced that the opposition’s fight was not against Prime Minister Imran Khan but against those who had installed that incompetent, inefficient and corrupt government in the country.

“Imran Khan is a selected prime minister and we didn’t give any importance to him, but we ask questions from those who brought him by stealing the elections and mandate of people of Pakistan,” he said adding he could not stay quite and watch the present state of affairs anymore. “They will have to answer [my questions],” Nawaz said.

He said no one should try to ask him to remain silent now. He said he could not stay silent over the incumbent government’s “dual standards of accountability”.

“Nawaz Sharif is not made of the stuff that can stay silent on dual standards of accountability,” he said, adding that “no one should try to silence him”.

As he began his address, he spoke of how it had been a long time since such an address had taken place. “I am addressing you all after a long time. And in these two-and-a-half years we have all endured much.” “But it is with God’s grace we are seeing each other now,” Nawaz said.

“When I look at the state the country is in, it saddens me deeply,” the former prime minister said. “We were on such a great path to progress and look at where we are now.” Nawaz said he sees a world of a difference between the Pakistan of a few years ago and the one before us now. “I do not understand why this has happened.

“We were so prosperous until 2018. Our tenure lasted 2013-2018 and with your prayers and God’s mercy and your support from 2013-2017, I was prime minister,” he said. “Me and my team who are sitting here and also those not here, such as Shahbaz Sharif who is in jail, paying for crimes not committed – together, we were changing the fate of Pakistan.

“These are not empty words, you yourself have witnessed the fruits of our efforts,” Nawaz said. The PML-N supremo then began to list the “great achievements won” during the three years he was in power.

“We installed power projects, eradicated terrorism, the economy was soaring high, poverty was diminishing, gas was plentiful and people were employed,” he said. Nawaz said Pakistan “was looking to join the G20 countries”. “We had become a tiger in the South Asian region,” he said, adding: “The world was praising our progress.

“This is not me who is saying this. You all bear witness to this. The entire nation.” He criticised the PTI’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project in Peshawar, saying it has yet to actually take off despite the passage of six years.

“The buses burn, or the roof collapses, the lifts don’t work and how much did it all cost? “Our BRT projects – Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Multan – all cost less than Peshawar, in my estimate, and they are all working,” Nawaz said, adding that he can say with certainty that “no one would have seen such speeds that were witnessed in the projects PML-N completed”.

“Were these jinns who were doing this? It was us,” he said, as he continued to highlight PML-N’s various “achievements” over the years. He said the country’s growth rate in the party’s tenure stood at 5.8% and “now it is approaching -1.4%”.

Nawaz said the PML-N had kept the rupee rate “under control for four years” and claimed the party “would have brought it down below Rs100 per dollar even had the party come into power”.

He said that similarly, the prices of essential commodities were maintained. “We had left sugar prices at Rs50, whereas now they have doubled to Rs100. “If you cannot answer this question then ask those who are going hungry […] they can either eat or go to school or pay their electricity bills or buy medicines which are far out of their reach now.”

He said the PTI government had destroyed the country and made the lives of common citizens miserable through unprecedented price-hike as well as bad governance. Nawaz said he was in pain as the suppressed people of the country were in pain. He said that poor were unable to afford food and send their children to school these days.

“Is this what the ‘state of Madina’ looks like?” he questioned, adding that the PTI government had failed to fulfil its “tall promises”. Nawaz said the present rulers had destroyed Pakistan in every field. He asked the PTI government where were 10 million jobs that Imran Khan had promised to provide to people.

The PML-N supremo denounced the current law and order situation in the country, regretting how crimes including rape are on the rise. Nawaz said that the “ground realities show that people do not even have clothes or shoes to wear and are robbed of the joys of Eid.

“And you claimed you would provide 10 million jobs. Where are they now?” he said, adding that now “15 million people are out of jobs”. He also counted the party’s role on the defence front, claiming that due to their efforts, Pakistan had been made impenetrable. “Can anyone deny this?

“And today, we will not find even four countries who are unwilling to support us […] you could not even table a resolution [at the United Nations], you found no one out of 51 countries.” Nawaz went on to criticise what he termed the government’s bid to leave the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) ]and form a new bloc of countries.

“How do you make such tall claims when you have done nothing but led to the ruin of Pakistan?” he added, addressing the incumbent government.

“You have destroyed all our efforts with regard to Kashmir. Where is your diplomacy now?” asked Nawaz. He then asked party workers who were chanting in his support whether they truly sought to be on the right side of history.

“I am raising this flag now. Will you stand with me?” He said that if they will whole-heartedly support him, then he will “never let them down” and they will “find him steadfast”. “I will remain steadfast on our ideology. I have stepped into the battlefield to save our country. […] and every Pakistani has to participate in this struggle.”

“You must walk with me shoulder-to-shoulder,” he said to party workers. “The people of Pakistan are looking to you.” “You must fulfil your duty without any delay.” Earlier, addressing the meeting, PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz said the government had planned to arrest her under 16 MPO, but the party would continue its struggle against the rulers. She categorically rejected any chances of dialogue with the incumbent government, saying he she did not accept the PTI government as a legitimate setup from day one; so there was no question of any talks with it. “This is a fake government,” she added.

The PML-N leader said that was for the first time in the history of Pakistan that Punjab had refused to bow before the illegal powers. She said the nation knew the truth and presently, besides the voters of PML-N, neutral segments of society were also standing with it in its struggle for the supremacy of people’s vote.

“Imran Khan, you should come forward and fight with us on your own instead of hiding behind the institutions,” she said. Imran Khan was unable to manage the state affairs and that was why he was telling institutions to deal with the crises, she added.

She regretted that the Islamabad High Court, instead of discussing the health reports of Nawaz Sharif, he was declared an absconder. She said a surgery of Nawaz Sharif was pending due to coronavirus pandemic and some people were saying that he was walking and dining in restaurants. She said he was a heart patient and questioned that if every heart patient in Pakistan was admitted to hospitals.

“The vote bank of PML-N is intact; the party is intact and its leaders are standing with the leadership,” she announced adding that in case she was arrested, the party would continue following the agenda. “Nawaz Sharif will lead the party from London,” she said.

She said that those who were trying to use underhanded tactics to pressurise the opposition would fail. Maryam said that the incumbent government was so weak that it would not be able to complete its tenure. “It will be sent packing with a single blow,” Maryam claimed.

“A time will come when the institutions would tell Imran Khan to face the opposition himself,” she said. Answering questions about the first rally of the newly formed Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), Maryam said that all decisions taken from the PDM platform would be fully implemented.

Murtaza Ali Shah adds from London: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif laughed off a ban on his speeches by Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra), saying that bans in this age and day are not workable.

He was speaking briefly to the media outside Stanhope House (Hasan Nawaz’s office) after addressing the PML-N Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting. Moments after his speech, the TV watchdog issued a directive asking TV channels not to air the speeches of absconders and convicts – a reference to Nawaz Sharif.

When asked by the media about his reaction, Nawaz said “this is not the age and day of ban on the media. That time has passed a long time ago. We live in a modern era in which these bans are not effective.”

Earlier, addressing the CWC meeting, Nawaz said the PML-N had kept the rupee rate “under control for four years” and claimed the party “would have brought it down below Rs100 per dollar even had the party come into power”.

He said that similarly, the prices of essential commodities were maintained. “We had left sugar prices at Rs50, whereas now they have doubled to Rs100.”

“If you cannot answer this question then ask those who are going hungry […] they can either eat or go to school or pay their electricity bills or buy medicines which are far out of their reach now.”

DNA

ISLAMABAD, OCT 2 – Newly elected chairperson of Handicraft Association of Pakistan Halima Usman has said that full participation of women in the association will be ensured and handicraft fits in different parts of Pakistan will be ensured.

Every possible encouragement will be given to the industrialists and artisans by promoting it in the country and abroad.

she was speaking on the occasion of her visit to Islamabad at a lunch hosted by former chairman Handicraft Association of Pakistan Fahad Barlas.

Vice Chairman HAP Amin ur Rehman , Ex Chairman HAP Khurshid Barlas & Mohsin Khalid were present. Halima Usman said that Fahad Barlas and his team rendered excellent services and the newly elected officials would continue the activities of the association effectively so that the objectives of the establishment of Handicraft Association of Pakistan could be achieved.

Expressing her views on the occasion, she said that Pakistan’s craftsmen and artisans have high potential And their products are popular in Pakistan and abroad. He assured the new HAP team of her full support.

DNA

ISLAMABAD – On 2^nd October 2020, senior management of Center for Global & Strategic Studies (CGSS), Islamabad under the leadership of Major General Hafiz Masroor Ahmed (Retd), Vice President, CGSS held a meeting with Prof. Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar, Vice Chancellor, University of the Punjab, Lahore.

During the meeting, CGSS gave a detailed presentation on the establishment of “PU – CGSS Regional Integration Center”.

It was decided that CGSS in collaboration with University of the Punjab, Lahore will establish a “Regional Integration Center”, that will provide a platform for long term opportunities for the regional countries to cooperate in social, economic and cultural domains.

Furthermore, this Regional Integration Center will enhance academic exchange, strengthen and broaden research on regional issues and cooperation between Pakistan and Eurasia. This Center will create a concept of community with shared future for regional prosperity.

Meeting was attended by the Deans of various departments of the University and senior faculty members. The senior management of CGSS also attended the meeting.

GILGIT : The caretaker chief minister of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), Mir Afzal Khan, announced that the elections for the legislative assembly will be organised on November 15.

Caretaker CM Mir Afzal Khan said in a statement that all preparations for the organisation of polls for GB Legislative Assembly were completed and the authorities will ensure measures to hold a transparent election.

He said that security forces will be deployed during the polls, whereas, army troops will also be summoned if required.In July, President Arif Alvi had announced polls in the Gilgit Baltistan (GB) on August 18, however, it was postponed following the GB chief court. Moreover, it emerged that the delay in the appointment of Managing Director (MD) of the Printing Corporation of Pakistan had also become a cause for postponement of the polls in the autonomous region.

The Legislative Assembly of the Gilgit Baltistan had dissolved after it completed its five-year tenure on June 24.

ISLAMABAD : Executing the Ravi Riverfront Urban Development project within the stipulated time is the government’s priority, Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Friday.

He presided over a meeting to review progress thus far made on the execution of the project. The meeting was attended among others by Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, the Naya Pakistan Housing Authority chairman, and the Punjab chief secretary.

The premier said the project will cater to the needs of the provincial capital’s burgeoning population. Besides, he added, it will help overcome water shortage, speed up economic activities, and create job opportunities.

The Punjab CM said the provincial government is monitoring progress on the project as per the premier’s vision and assured that it will try to meet the deadlines for the completion of the project.

On September 15, Prime Minister Imran had laid the foundation stone of the Ravi Riverfront Urban Development project and planted a sapling.

BAKU, OCT 2 – The armed forces of Armenia have been continuing to target the civilian population, private houses and other civilian infrastructure in residential areas along the line of contact in a gross violation of its obligations under international humanitarian law, including the 1949 Geneva Conventions.

Civilian facilities, such as hospitals, medical centers, school buildings and kindergartens have been subjected to indiscriminate shelling of armed forces of Armenia, including from artillery and other large-caliber weaponry.

As of 01 October, totally 19 civilians, including children and elderly were killed, 55 civilians have been hospitalized. 169 damaged private houses and 40 private properties are out of use as a result of armed attack.

Below are photo evidences of the humanitarian law violations of the armed forces of Armenia.

BEIJING, Oct. 2 – Pakistan exported 54.613 million US dollars of cotton yarn in August, registering a year-on-year decline of 51.36%, China Economic Net (CEN) reported on Friday quoting official sources.

However, its cotton yarn export to China has surged in the same month.

As data from China’s General Administration of Customs shows, China imported 41.836 million dollars worth of cotton yarn from Pakistan in August, which is 4.36 times the 9.592 million dollars in the same period last year, with a year-on-year increase of 336 percent.

Pakistan mainly produces low-count sirospun yarns, such as those of 8s or 10s, generally below 21s, which are mostly imported to south China’s Guangdong province to be made into denim, said Huang Xifeng, sales executive of import and export department at Litai Xingshi (Taicang) Holding Co. Ltd.

“We imported about 1,000 tons of cotton yarns from Pakistan every year. Our denim fabric is made of thick and low-count yarns, which are basically 10s or 8s, no more than 12s.” Yang Bin, director of Seazon Textile and Apparel Co., Ltd in Foshan, China, said in an interview with CEN.

Yang added that he has cooperated with Pakistan’s cotton yarn manufacturers for 10 years. “As for Pakistan’s cotton yarn, we only imported it from Explorer, a Pakistani manufacturer, with which we have cooperated for more than ten years.

Produced locally in Pakistan with American and Australian cotton as raw materials, it boasts the best quality of all. And yet, most of the other Pakistani producers adopt locally grown cotton, which may save RMB hundreds per ton.

Although Pakistani cotton is somewhat of inferior quality to that in America, Australia, and China, it can be made into denim,” Yang said.

Pakistani cotton yarn RMB 3,000 cheaper per ton than that of China with zero tariff

The main reason for the surge in import lies in the fact that Pakistan’s yarn export to China enjoys zero tariff, thus having a greater competitive advantage internationally.

That’s why we prefer Pakistani cotton yarn even when offered the same price,” said Ke Jiangwei, general manager of Xiamen Naseem Trade Co., Ltd, which has been importing Pakistani yarn for many years in China.

“It is not just tariffs, but the price that attracts us,” said Yang, adding that “as Pakistani yarn is much cheaper than the Chinese one, the largest gap reached RMB 2,000 to 3,000 per ton in the last two years, with a price gap of about 10%.

Due to the COVID-19 epidemic this year, domestic cotton yarn cannot sell well in China, thus narrowing the price gap to about RMB 1,000.”

“The sirospun of 8s in Pakistan was RMB 17,000 or RMB 18,000 per ton before, and now it has dropped to about RMB 16,000 per ton.

At present, the price of Pakistani yarn in China’s domestic market has rebounded. It has risen by more than ten percent compared with the price in May and June. It may have been sold for RMB 15,000 per ton before, and now RMB 16,500, or even RMB 17,000.

The price gap is as high as RMB 1,000-2,000 over the past three months,” Ke explained.

We mainly purchase cotton yarns in stock, and it will be too late to order them from Pakistan, he added.

He pointed out that 8s and 10s cotton yarns from Pakistan are currently in great demand in Lanxi City, east China’s Zhejiang Province.

A factory with more than 200 looms can manage 200-300 tons of cotton yarns,” He Hao, a salesperson from Shengzhou Shengtai Haobang Textile Co., Ltd. Company, said in an interview.
He suggested that Pakistan could try to produce cotton yarns with mixed cotton through a new technique called rotor spinning.

Pakistani cotton spinning products are what we need for a long time, so will continue to import them as long as they can be consumed in China’s factories and their prices are acceptable,” Ke said.