Lahore , JUNE 19 (DNA) –  The Pakistan Industrial & Traders Associations Front chairman Mian Nauman Kabir has endorsed the recommendations of National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), directing the government to include hydropower projects in the scope of renewable energy, as the country cannot afford to rely on costly and anti-environment fossil fuels.

In a joint statement with the senior vice chairman Nasir Hameed and vice chairman Javed Iqbal, PIAF chairman emphasized the importance of dam development, stating that as much as 20 million acres of barren land can be brought under plough if the water is made available by developing water storages in the country. He said that with construction of dams, the country can strengthen its agriculture to attain food security and cope with the fast growing needs of water in domestic and industrial sectors besides injecting sizeable low-cost hydroelectricity into the national grid to stabilize the national economy

According to reports, the NEPRA has written letters to Private Power & Infrastructure Board (PPIB), National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) and Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB), asking them to implement the directives of the regulator. According to Nepra, it has been observed that hydropower is not being considered under the scope of renewable energy which is contrary to the definition and standards used worldwide.

The regulator maintained that hydropower is the most advanced and mature renewable energy technology and provides some level of electricity generation in more than 160 countries worldwide including Australia, Norway, Brazil, Canada, Vietnam, Sweden, United States and China etc. Moreover, hydropower is an attractive renewable option given the low-cost of electricity it produces, low greenhouse gas emissions and the flexibility it provide to the grid.

PIAF chairman, commenting on the factors behind the current scenario of water and hydropower sectors in the country, observed that the situation can be improved by putting a robust development mechanism in place and exercising prompt decision making. All stakeholders including the business community are ready to play their due role to implement the National Water Policy for water, food and energy security of the country, he said.

PIAF senior vice chairman Nasir Hameed said that Kalabagh dam should not have been ignored in the federal budget at any cost, as water scarcity is heading towards the point of no return. Those opposing the Kalabagh Dam are unaware of the ground realities,” he said and added how can a mega water project be harmful for an agrarian country?

Nasir Hameed said that one million acre feet of water gives benefit valued at $2 billion annually to the economy, while Pakistan is throwing away 35 million acre feet of water by delaying construction of the dam. This means that we are wasting $70 billion a year, which is almost equal to the country’s external debt, he added.

PIAF vice chairman Javed Siddiqi said that PIAF fully supports the voice of NEPRA, advising the public sector organizations to consider adding hydropower in the scope and definition of renewable energy in various energy policies, rules and regulations. He asked the PPIB, NTDC and AEDB to make necessary amendment in all relevant documents and include hydropower projects in the scope of upcoming policies to promote hydropower electricity in the country.

ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Zafar Mirza said on Friday the government has brought in an integrated complaint management system to address complaints of healthcare workers battling Covid-19.

Speaking at a press conference, he said healthcare professionals could call at 1166 or message through WhatsApp at 00923001111166 to have their grievance redressed. He said healthcare workers’ complaints will be addressed on a priority basis.

The special assistant said when a complaint will be received from a health worker on the helpline, its category will be determined, and then it will be forwarded to the government’s focal points in the respective province. The complainant would also be informed about the status of their complaint, he added.

Dr Mirza said welfare of healthcare workers on the frontline of the government’s fight against Covid-19 is a top priority of the government. He said a comprehensive package has already been announced for them.

Earlier, on June 4, Prime Minister Imran Khan had lauded the services of doctors and paramedics at the forefront of the country’s fight against the novel coronavirus.

Speaking to a delegation of Insaf Doctors Forum at the PM Office, he had said the entire nation pays tribute to health professionals struggling to turn the tide against the pathogen that has so far infected more than 150,000 people and killed over 3,000.

ISLAMABAD, JUNE 19 (DNA) – Environmental experts, activists and civil society representatives speaking to a webinar solicited the Supreme Court of Pakistan to extend its Suo Moto on Monal restaurant to all the interventions being taken in the Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP).

All the environment unfriendly practices are being taken under the nose of Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (MCI) unnoticed while the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) has no authority to stop the undue interventions and encroachments forcefully.

Being attached with the federal ministry of climate change, the experts urged the Advisor to Prime Minister on Climate Change and Federal Minister Malik Amin Aslam to take lead in policy reforms leading to amendments in the legal framework for the Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP).

Development Communications Network (Devcom-Pakistan) organized the webinar on the subject “Management of Margalla Hills National Park – the future scenario” on Friday. Hosted by the Devcom-Pakistan and DTN Director Munir Ahmed, the speakers of the webinar included Board Member of the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) Vaqar Zakria, Country Programme Manager UN Habitat Jawed Ali Khan, former DG Pak EPA Asif Shuja Khan, Biodiversity Exert  and Former Deputy Director General WWF Pakistan Dr Ejaz Ahmed, Environment Lawyer Ahmad Rafay Alam, Environmental Advocacy expert Mome Saleem, Dr Niofar Jamil and SDPI environmental expert Dr Imran Khallid. Some young environmentalists including Jamila Anam Rathore, Uzair Aftab, Sabah Iqbal, Aswa Waraich, Nadeem Aly also spoke on the occasion.

Vaqar Zakria said the National Park was being run on an ad hoc basis since its notification in 1979 under an Ordinance until a management board was formed a couple of years back. Still we don’t have any firm policy to run the Park, and more unfortunate is the absence of a management plan. The scope of work for the IWMB is intense and elaborate but very limited authority and technical staff and even lesser financial resources. Board members are working voluntary for the sake of their love for nature conservation. The staff is dedicated but less in number and lacks equipment and technical support to do what is actually required.

Devcom-Pakistan Director Munir Ahmed urged the government to take swift action against the encroachments in violation of the Park’s sanctity and legal framework. Housing and construction mafia is very active all around while the responsible government departs are playing blind. They would wake up after the disastrous interventions. He urged an inventory of undue interventions should be prepared for the Supreme Court and higher authorities to take notice of environmental degradation in the Park.

He pointed out that the CDA. MCI and Pak EPA were invited to the webinar but they deliberately skipped to avoid the citizens’ criticism of their inefficient performance.

Jawed Ali Khan mentioned that we have all the required legislation in different forms to protect and conserve the nature and natural resources. The dilemma is mostly the legal frameworks are buried in the shelves of the government departments. The new incumbents are unaware of their scope of work and authority. Some of them are influenced by their higher authorities or vested interests. We need to practice more dedication towards nature for the wellbeing of common citizens.

Asif Shuja Khan said Margalla Hills National Park has been turned into a public recreational park. The Wildlife Act 1979 ironically allowed the construction in the Park while government departments and institutions deliberately took illogical decisions on the behest of superior authorities instead of guiding them in the right direction. More environmentally unfriendly decisions are in the pipeline that would affect the green nature and habitats of MHNP.

Biodiversity Expert Dr Ejaz Ahmed said MHNP also consists of Shakarparian and Garden Avenue, and Rawal Lake and its catmint areas, the extremely neglected parts of the Park. Both are on the verge of collapse by the undue interventions planned during the previous regimes.

Environment Lawyer Ahmad Rafay Alam presented a comparative analysis of the legislation in different provinces, and pointed that MHNP is run on the weakest legal framework where no one could be held responsible for strict action but mild fines only. He urged the authorities to take the revision of the legal framework on the urgent basis.

Mome Saleem said the Monal restaurant report is ready that would be submitted to the Supreme Court in the next hearing to facilitate its decision. She asked for a strong civil society to protect the habitats and green nature of the federal capital.

ISLAMABAD , JUNE 19  – The Supreme Court of Pakistan has dismissed the presidential reference against Justice Qazi Faez Isa in the Supreme Judicial Council and accepted his petition seeking the reference’s dismissal.

The case was wrapped up after Justice Isa’s spouse provided the money trail pertaining to her foreign properties and the Federal Board of Revenue provided its input on the matter.

The petitioner’s lawyer, Munir A Malik, concluded his arguments in court by saying that the federation had “gotten on the wrong bus” in the case.

The Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) had initiated the proceedings against Justice Isa on allegations that he purchased three properties in London in the name of his wife and children between 2011 and 2015 — but did not allegedly disclose them in wealth returns declared in Pakistan.

Malik urged the court to dismiss the reference against the judge. He said that a website had been used to search for properties in London. The lawyer told the court that if one wanted to search properties in London, he/she had to pay for the privilege.

He said that the website sends a payment receipt to the relevant person who uses it to search for properties, via email. He said that British-Pakistani lawyer Zia ul Mustafa, who had searched for Justice Isa’s alleged assets, had received three copies of the high commission’s verified properties.

“Copies of politicians’ properties searched were attached as well [in documents submitted],” he said. “If the government provides receipts as well then it will be revealed as to who searched for the properties,” he added.

Malik said that if the search for the properties was conducted by the Asset Recovery Unit, then it should provide receipts. He said that it seemed as if the ARU had only facilitated the search.

“The government only wants to remove the author of the Faizabad dharna case,” noted Malik.

Justice Qazi Faez Isa’s wife submits money trail

The spouse of Justice Qazi Faez Isa on Thursday gave the money trail for purchasing three properties in United Kingdom (UK), saying that 700,000 sterling pounds had been transferred from her personal account through a private bank in Karachi.

A 10-member full court, headed by Justice Umar Ata Bandial, had resumed hearing in a set of petitions, challenging the presidential reference, filed against Justice Qazi Faez Isa for allegedly not disclosing his foreign properties in his wealth returns.

Zarina Montserrat Khoso Carrera, the wife of Justice Qazi Faez Isa, recorded her statement via video link before the court and submitted that details pertaining to her accounts were available with the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

The court, while expressing satisfaction over the statement of spouse of Justice Isa, asked her that in order to examine the matter on merit, she would have to approach the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) or the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), and a decision in that regard would be given by the tax authorities.

Justice Isa had informed the Supreme Court the other day that his wife was willing to explain before the apex court through video link about the three properties acquired in United Kingdom (UK).

Recording her statement, the lady thanked the apex court for providing her with such an opportunity. “I am very much nervous as this is my first experience before the court, but I will try my best to follow your instructions,” Zarina said, adding that it has been a critical time for her as her father was near to death these day.

She said that she was married to Justice Qazi Faez Isa in the year 1982, and also showed her birth certificate and the old National Identity Card, saying her name was Zarina, adding that she did not know that she would buy properties in London after 21 years of marriage.

She submitted that she got her computerized identity card in the year 2003 and her name remained the same, adding that at that time her husband was not a judge. She said that she was entitled to Spanish passport, as her mother was Spanish and therefore she has a Spanish passport.

She said that when her visa expired, she applied for a fresh visa. When she got it, her husband was not a judge, but a lawyer. “So the allegation that I used the office of my husband for acquiring the visa was baseless,” Zarina Isa contended.

She stated that in the year 2020, she was granted visa only for one year and prior to that she was harassed and that’s why she was granted visa for a very limited period of time. She said that she bought the first property in the year 2004 in United Kingdom, adding that she was employed at an American School in Karachi and at that time, one Rehan Naqvi used to deal with her tax matters.

The spouse of Justice Isa showed the court the certificate issued by the tax authorities as she was filing her tax returns, adding that when her tax record was transferred from Karachi to Islamabad, she asked the FBR in that regard; however, she alleged that the FBR did not reply to her request.

She said that she had agricultural lands which were in Jaccobabad (Sindh) and Dera Murad Jamali (Balochistan) while her father used to look after the land while the government was well aware of all that.

She said that Rehan Naqvi had advised her to open foreign account, which she did and through that account, she transferred the money abroad for purchasing the properties. At this, she showed the court the record of her foreign currency account, saying she had to face great difficulties in seeking its details as, she added, the bank didn’t maintain 10-year old account.

The spouse of Justice Isa submitted that from 2003 to 2013, the whole amount was transferred from these accounts to London for purchasing these properties, adding that the money was transferred in her name and from her account as well.

She said that she bought one property for 236,000 sterling pounds, adding that she transferred 700,000 sterling pounds through a private bank for purchasing the properties. “All documents which I have shown are genuine and authentic and the London Bank Account is also in her name,” Zarina Isa added.

She said that another property was purchased in 2013 for 245,000 sterling pounds and in that flat, her son was living, while another property, which was in her and her daughter’s names was purchased for 270,000 sterling pounds. She said that now she was filing tax returns both in the UK and Pakistan, adding that she had already filed tax returns of London properties in the year 2018.

Meanwhile, Justice Umar Ata Bandial asked Mrs Isa that they had no jurisdiction to hear the matter on merit. However, he expressed satisfaction over her statement, and advised her that right now there were two relevant forums available to her: one was the FBR and the second was the SJC.

The judge advised her to present her all documentary proofs to those forums as those were competent to decide her case. “We felt that you have sufficient documents to present and I am sure that you will be heard properly; therefore, I wish you present these documents before the relevant forums,” Justice Bandial told the lady.

“Why I was not asked earlier and I waited for 13 months while my son was subjected to harassment in London,” Zarina Isa questioned. She said that she was not asking for any privilege, but she should be treated as an ordinary citizen in Pakistan.

Justice Bandial, however, said that she would be treated with respect and dignity, adding that she was a brave lady and hoped that she would be able to address her matter effectively.

“I must tell you one thing, we, as judges, are answerable for our actions in private and public life; therefore, we are much more accountable than other people, as we are holding other people accountable,” Bandial told Justice Isa’s wife. “This not the trial of your husband and yours as well, but the trial of our institution,” Justice Bandial added.

When the spouse of Justice Isa continued, Justice Bandial called Munir A Malik, counsel for Justice Qazi Faez Isa to rostrum, who then asked Zarina to sign out. Justice Maqbool Baqar remarked that what was going on in the country in the name of accountability would also be looked into. He said destruction (of institutions) was under way in the country in the name of accountability and they would write (in the verdict) on it also.

Justice Baqar asked if the Supreme Justice Council (SJC) could review the performance of the president. To which, the federation’s lawyer, Farogh Naseem, said that it (Council) has the authority to review anyone’s performance.

Later, the court directed Barrister Farogh Naseem to submit before it in sealed envelop the record of 2018 tax returns, filed by Mrs Isa. Justice Umar Ata Bandial asked Farogh Naseem that the lady had also complained about the FBR attitude, to which the counsel for the federation submitted that if the complaint was proved true, it could be directly lodged with the prime minister.

Meanwhile, Farogh Naseem submitted before the court that Khalid Ranjha, Irfan Qadir, Additional Attorney General Chaudhry Aamir Rehman, and Sohail Mahmood, who were to represent president, prime minister, as well as other respondents, have adopted his arguments; hence they will not be arguing before the court. At this, the court adjourned the hearing for Friday (today) wherein Munir A Malik, counsel for Justice Qazi Faez Isa, will argue in rebuttal.

KARACHI: The Chairman of the Standing Committee on Customs of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), Shabbir Mansha Churra, VP FPCCI Khurram Ijaz, VC Customs committee Faisal Mushtaq and member Arshad Khursheed have expressed deep grief and sorrow on sad demise of DG Afghan Transit Trade Zahid Khokhar, who loses his life during battle to COVID-19 pandemic.

In a statement, they prayed for the blessings and forgiveness to the departed and said that Zahid Khokhar, who was the DG Afghan Transit Trade, will always be remembered due to his humble personality and cooperation.

 Shabbir Mansha Churra prayed that may Almighty Allah endow courage to family members to bear this irreparable loss.