Britain will not blink first in Brexit trade negotiations with EU: David Frost

Britain will not blink first in Brexit trade negotiations with the European Union and is not scared of a no-deal exit at the end of the year, the country’s top Brexit negotiator warned the bloc on Sunday.

Britain left the EU on Jan. 31 but talks have so far made little headway on agreeing a new trade deal for when a status-quo transition arrangement ends in December.

“We came in after a government and negotiating team that had blinked and had its bluff called at critical moments and the EU had learned not to take our word seriously,” negotiator David Frost told the Mail on Sunday.

“So a lot of what we are trying to do this year is to get them to realize that we mean what we say and they should take our position seriously,” he was quoted as saying.

Talks are due to resume in London on Tuesday but they have stalled over Britain’s insistence that it have full autonomy over state aid and its demands over fishing.

Britain says the EU is dragging its feet in talks and has failed to fully accept that it is now an independent country.

“We are not going to be a client state. We are not going to compromise on the fundamentals of having control over our own laws,” Frost told the Mail. “We are not going to accept level playing field provisions that lock us in to the way the EU do things.”

“That’s what being an independent country is about, that’s what the British people voted for and that’s what will happen at the end of the year, come what may,” Frost said.

At heart, Britain is pressing one of the EU’s most sensitive buttons – the fear that a post-Brexit Britain could become a much more agile, deregulated free-market competitor on its border by using selective state aid.

“We cannot have a situation where the UK essentially is allowed to deregulate its economy to create competitive advantage in terms of reducing the cost base of doing business or indeed providing more state aid than is available in the EU single market and therefore creates competitive advantage that it’s looking to trade into tariff-free and quota-free,” Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said.

“Why would the EU ever facilitate that?” he said.

Frost said a lot of preparation had been done for a possible exit without a trade deal.

“I don’t think that we are scared of this at all,” Frost said. “If we can reach an agreement that regulates trade like Canada’s, great. If we can’t, it will be an Australian-like trading agreement and we are fully ready for that.”

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Heavy rains leave hundreds of villages in Sindh, Punjab inundated

Hundreds of villages in Sindh and Punjab on Sunday were inundated with stormwater after heavy thundershowers lashed parts of Sindh and Punjab.

Due to heavy rains in Sindh, the rise of the water level in the embankments of canals passing through Golarchi Tehsil of Badin district wreaked havoc.

In several villages of Sanghar's Sindhri Tehsil, the walls of mud houses collapsed while in Tando Muhammad Khan, victims of the floods were forced to abandon their homes after heavy downpours damaged their houses and flooded their area.

More than 200 villages have been submerged in rainwater in Mirpur Khas District's Digri.

In Punjab's Layyah district, 40 settlements have been flooded while rice, sugarcane, and cotton crops have been severely affected in the Khushab and Rajanpur districts.

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Nation will never compromise on country's sovereignty & security: President, PM

In their separate messages on the occasion of Defence and Martyrs Day, the President and the Prime Minister have expressed the resolve that we shall never compromise on the sovereignty and security of the country and any kind of misadventure by the enemy will be dealt with severely.

In his message, the President Dr Arif Alvi said we have successfully defeated terrorism and extremism and now we are on the path towards economic prosperity.

He said we have also made serious efforts with a positive approach towards securing peace in the region but unfortunately our enemy keeps hostile designs against us.

The President said we reaffirm our pledge that we will continue to support the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir in their struggle till the realisation of their right to self-determination.

In his message, the Prime Minister Imran Khan said the nation and the men in uniform proved that it's not the size that matters, but it's the courage and devotion that matters the most.

He said with the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35-A India has not only violated the UN Charter but has also unleashed reign of terror on innocent Kashmiris.

Prime Minister Imran Khan said India is also showing aggressive posture on the Line of Control and such provocations are aimed at diverting the world attention from Indian atrocities in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Pakistan will always support efforts to achieve peace: Munir Akram

In a message on the occasion of Defence Day, Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Munir Akram has said as an active and progressive member of the international community, Pakistan will always support efforts to achieve peace, stability and socio-economic progress.

He said we honour the sacrifice of our sons and daughters who laid down their lives defending the motherland.

Munir Akram said Pakistan desires peace in the region and we have always sided with those who seek to promote greater cooperation and friendly relations on the basis of equality.

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Nation pays homage to martyrs on Defence & Martyrs Day being observed today

Defence and Martyrs Day is being observed today (Sunday) to pay tributes to the martyrs and Ghazis and reaffirm commitment to defend the motherland against all threats.

It was on this day in 1965 that the Indian forces crossed international border in the darkness of night to attack Pakistan but the nation foiled nefarious designs of the enemy.

Special prayers were offered after Fajr in mosques for the progress and prosperity of the country and independence of occupied Kashmir from the cruel clutches of India.

Fateha and Quran Khawani are also being held for the martyrs.

The day dawned with 31-gun salute at the Federal Capital and 21-gun salute at provincial capitals.

At an investiture ceremony at Aiwan-e-Sadr, President Dr. Arif Alvi will confer upon military awards to the officers and soldiers of the armed forces in recognition of their meritorious services to the nation.

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Nation will never compromise on country's sovereignty & security: President, PM

In their separate messages on the occasion of Defence and Martyrs Day, the President and the Prime Minister have expressed the resolve that we shall never compromise on the sovereignty and security of the country and any kind of misadventure by the enemy will be dealt with severely.

In his message, the President Dr Arif Alvi said we have successfully defeated terrorism and extremism and now we are on the path towards economic prosperity.

He said we have also made serious efforts with a positive approach towards securing peace in the region but unfortunately our enemy keeps hostile designs against us.

The President said we reaffirm our pledge that we will continue to support the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir in their struggle till the realisation of their right to self-determination.

In his message, the Prime Minister Imran Khan said the nation and the men in uniform proved that it's not the size that matters, but it's the courage and devotion that matters the most.

He said with the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35-A India has not only violated the UN Charter but has also unleashed reign of terror on innocent Kashmiris.

Prime Minister Imran Khan said India is also showing aggressive posture on the Line of Control and such provocations are aimed at diverting the world attention from Indian atrocities in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Pakistan will always support efforts to achieve peace: Munir Akram

In a message on the occasion of Defence Day, Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Munir Akram has said as an active and progressive member of the international community, Pakistan will always support efforts to achieve peace, stability and socio-economic progress.

He said we honour the sacrifice of our sons and daughters who laid down their lives defending the motherland.

Munir Akram said Pakistan desires peace in the region and we have always sided with those who seek to promote greater cooperation and friendly relations on the basis of equality.

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Nation pays homage to martyrs on Defence & Martyrs Day being observed today

Defence and Martyrs Day is being observed today (Sunday) to pay tributes to the martyrs and Ghazis and reaffirm commitment to defend the motherland against all threats.

It was on this day in 1965 that the Indian forces crossed international border in the darkness of night to attack Pakistan but the nation foiled nefarious designs of the enemy.

Special prayers were offered after Fajr in mosques for the progress and prosperity of the country and independence of occupied Kashmir from the cruel clutches of India.

Fateha and Quran Khawani are also being held for the martyrs.

The day dawned with 31-gun salute at the Federal Capital and 21-gun salute at provincial capitals.

At an investiture ceremony at Aiwan-e-Sadr, President Dr. Arif Alvi will confer upon military awards to the officers and soldiers of the armed forces in recognition of their meritorious services to the nation.

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Sindh Govt appoints Iftikhar Shallwani as administrator Karachi

Sindh government on Saturday appoint Local Government Secretary Iftikhar Shallwani as administrator of Karachi.

Talking to journalists, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said they have decided to appoint Iftikhar Shallwani as Karachi administrator. He maintained that a notification in this regard will be issued shortly.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari lauded the government’s decision and hoped that Iftikhar Shalawani will prove to be a good administrator for Karachi.

It is pertinent to mention here that Iftikhar Shallwani was recently removed from the post of Commissioner Karachi and appointed as provincial secretary of local government.

 

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