KP CM appoints Kamran Bangash, Arshad Ayub as ministers

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on Monday inducted two more ministers into the provincial cabinet and elevated his three special assistants as advisers.

Kamran Khan Bangash, special assistant to the chief minister for the higher education department, Arshad Ayub Khan, a PTI lawmaker from the influential Ayub family of Haripur, were made ministers.

According to a notification issued by the administration department, in exercise of powers conferred by the Article 132(1) of the Constitution, the governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on the advice of the chief minister, appointed Kamran Bangash and Arshad Ayub as ministers.

The notification said following Mr Bangash’s elevation as the minister, he had also been de-notified as the special assistant to the chief minister for higher education department with the additional charge of the portfolio of information and public relations.

Another notification said in exercise of powers conferred by Section 3(1) of the KP Advisors and Special Assistants to Chief Minister Appointment Act, 1989, the governor, on the advice of the chief minister, changed the status of Riaz Khan, Mohammad Arif Ahmedzai and Mohammad Zahoor, special assistant to the chief minister, to that of the adviser with an immediate effect.

However, the two ministers weren’t immediately assigned portfolios.

When contacted, Kamran Bangash said the portfolios of new ministers would be decided in a day or two.

Zahoor Shakir, who has been elevated as the adviser to the chief minister,said that he would retain the charge of Auqaf, Haj and religious affairs department. Similarly, Mr Riaz Khan and Mr Arif Ahmedzai, special assistants for communication and works, and mines and mineral development, respectively, were elevated as the advisers. However, they will retain the charge of their respective current departments.

Mr Arshad Ayub is the real brother of former KP minister for local government and rural development department Akbar Ayub Khan, who was de-notified in a cabinet reshuffle in August this year. Mr Ayub, in his resignation letter, had cited his “recently diagnosed illness” as the reason for the step and said he wanted to focus on his health and constituency affairs.

Interestingly, Faisal Amin Khan, brother of federal minister for Kashmir affairs Ali Amin Gandapur, who had taken oath as the minister earlier in May this year, has yet to be assigned portfolio.

After the induction of two new ministers, the cabinet strength reached 15. Also, the advisers totalled four and special assistants five. Four members of provincial assembly are working as parliamentary secretaries.

Under Article 130(6) of the Constitution, the total strength of the cabinet shall not exceed 15 members or 11 per cent of the total membership of a provincial assembly, whichever is higher.

In May this year, the provincial government acknowledged in the provincial assembly that it had overstepped its authority by inducting more ministers than allowed under the Constitution.

 

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Thousands rush into Afghanistan as Chaman border crossing reopens

Thousands of people from Pakistan rushed into Afghanistan as the Chaman border crossing reopened on Tuesday after almost a month of closure.

The Chaman border crossing is the second-largest commercial border point between the two countries which reopened after talks between the Afghan and Pakistan governments, Pakistani media reported.

"This border was closed for one month and three days. People were in great distress and discomfort. There was no work, no food," said Bacha, an Afghan national.

The crossing, a vital source of customs revenue for the cash-strapped government in Afghanistan, was originally closed by Pakistani authorities due to security threats. Disputes over issues ranging from COVID-19 to the validity of Afghan travel documents have prevented the re-opening of the Chaman crossing, despite severe hardship to truckers and local farmers. In late October, hundreds of traders in Pakistan protested the border's closure by blocking a local highway.

As Afghanistan sinks deeper into an economic crisis, neighbouring countries have been increasingly worried about a mass movement of refugees.

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Online payment of taxes, duties spikes

Businesses and people are rapidly adopting digital channels to pay taxes and duties as the government has collected revenue worth Rs4.31 trillion through online banking since the introduction of the facility in March 2018.

The collection of taxes and fees through alternative delivery channels (ADCs) including internet banking, mobile banking, ATM machines and over the counter (OTC) at bank branches “has gained traction, amid trust of the taxpayers”, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) reported the other day.

The government has collected an aggregate amount of Rs3.8 trillion since July 2020 compared to Rs510 billion in the first 28 months (March 2018 to June 2020) after the launch of the system, according to the SBP Annual Performance Review 2021.

“This points to the robustness of the new system, especially over the past year.”

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and the government of Punjab initially adopted the system in 2018. Keeping in view the success of payments through the ADCs, the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Balochistan also implemented the ADC mechanism for their taxpayers in FY21, the central bank reported.

Furthermore, to promote digital payment of government taxes and duties, the SBP eliminated the transaction fee for taxpayers using digital modes with effect from January 1, 2020, it said.

Businesses and people are paying taxes through the alternative delivery channels including 15,000 ATMs all over the country, over-the-counter (OTC) facility available at 16,000 branches of commercial banks and millions of internet and mobile banking accounts.

Similarly, the government has refunded taxes worth Rs25.2 billion to exporters through approximately 297,000 transactions since the introduction of the e-payment refund system on September 30, 2021.

The SBP, in collaboration with the FBR, developed and implemented an e-payment system for end-to-end digitisation of duty drawback and income tax refunds to businesses.

After digitisation of these processes, the refunds are directly credited to the beneficiaries’ (taxpayers) accounts through straight processing (electronic transfers).

“This reduces the human involvement on part of the Pakistan Customs/ FBR to absolute minimum and significantly decreases the turnaround time for the payment of refunds,” the central bank said.

The refunds provide the necessary liquidity and working capital to businesses to contribute positively to the country’s foreign exchange earnings. Thus, the payment of tax refunds to taxpayers is playing an important role in helping the businesses manage their cash flows, with positive spillover on the country’s export performance and thereby putting the current account on a stable trajectory, it said.

SBP has completed major work on the deployment of the second use case of Raast ie to enable person-to-person transfers. “Successful deployment of this stage would allow consumers to make instant transfer to their family, friends and acquaintance.”

High ranking officials from the central bank stated that SBP was close to launching the second phase of the indigenously designed instant payment system Raast. It might do so in weeks or a couple of months.

Besides, the central bank is also working to develop a standardised approach with respect to QR payments in order to implement an interoperable payments regime in Pakistan.

It remains engaged with banks and other financial institutions to enable customers and financial institutions to accept and process QR payments in a seamless manner.

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China, Russia submit reworked proposal to lift UN sanctions on North Korea

China and Russia have reworked a draft resolution urging the UN Security Council to ease sanctions on North Korean exports with the intent of “enhancing the livelihood of the civilian population" in the east Asian country.

The draft resolution was first pitched by the two countries in December 2019, seeking revocation of sanctions that were not directly related to the country’s nuclear program.

The two regional powers held two informal rounds of talks on the draft resolution last year, but never formally put it forward for a vote.

The reworked draft proposes removing a ban on Pyongyang's exports of statues, seafood and textiles, as well as lifting a cap on refined petroleum imports.

It also includes measures like revoking a ban on North Korean workers overseas and exempting inter-Korean rail and road projects from UN sanctions.

North Korea has been subjected to international economic sanctions since 2006 in relation to its ballistic missile programs and nuclear activities. However, the UN Security Council imposed additional sanctions in 2017 on the country’s exports of coal, iron ore, seafood, textile and other products to limit its foreign currency.

In order for the draft to be passed as a resolution, it needs nine votes from the 15 member UN Security Council and no vetoes from any of the five permanent members - US, France, Britain, Russia or China.

Several anonymous UN diplomats were cited on Monday that China and Russia have not yet scheduled any talks on their reworked draft. They said the draft would be very unlikely to find little support.

A spokesperson for the US mission to the United Nations, while refusing to comment on the private council discussions, indicated that the US may obstruct the resolution.

“The Security Council has repeatedly affirmed that it is prepared to modify, suspend, or lift the measures as may be needed in light of the DPRK's (North Korea) compliance," the spokesperson said. "Yet the DPRK has taken no steps to comply with the Security Council's demands regarding its prohibited nuclear and ballistic missile programs."

North Korea has long accused the US of double standards over its ballistic missiles program. Pyongyang has continued its ballistic missile and nuclear program even under the harsh UN sanctions. In recent weeks, it has tested a long-range cruise missile, a train-launched weapon, and a hyper-sonic warhead.

North Korea has also imposed border lock down since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, adding to the economic slowdown. Recently, land borders with China were reopened to compensate for the shortages through imports.

The new draft resolution would have the council acknowledge "the difficult situation of economy and livelihood of the DPRK in recent years, underscoring the necessity to respect the legitimate security concerns of the DPRK, and ensure the welfare, inherent dignity, and rights of people in North Korea."

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SC takes notice of increasing breast cancer cases

The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday took notice of increasing breast cancer cases in the country and summoned the federal and provincial health secretaries in the next hearing.

Hearing the matter after taking notice of the growing number of breast cancer patients, a two-member bench headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed resented that no government hospital had the facilities of mammography, breast cancer treatment or tools for detection of the disease.

The chief justice noted that most of the women were not able to afford costly treatment of the disease.

Expressing dismay over the lack of treatment mechanism, Justice Ahmed directed authorities to induct women in panels of specialists treating the disease and also called for segregation of women patients at hospitals.

The top court adjourned the hearing for a month after issuing summons to the federal and provincial health secretaries.

Breast cancer mortality rates in Pakistan are said to be the highest in Asia. The extent of its prevalence can be gauged by the fact that at least 90,000 new cases are diagnosed every year in the country and, annually, some 40,000 women succumb to it.

Last month, the chief justice had inaugurated the building of the Pink Ribbon Hospital, the first-ever dedicated breast cancer hospital not only in Pakistan but worldwide.

Speaking on the occasion, Justice Ahmed had questioned how the deaths of over 40,000 women due to breast cancer each year could be neglected. He said every institute and department should seriously consider this matter and establish breast cancer hospitals and clinics in every city of the country as early diagnosis and right treatment was a must for survival.

SC berates Faisalabad commissioner
Meanwhile, while hearing a separate case, the Supreme Court expressed resentment at the Faisalabad commissioner for his alleged failure to share the master plan of the city with the top court, saying there was little room for infrastructural improvement due to the neglect of authorities.

Led by Chief Justice Ahmed, the two-member bench that had taken up a case regarding encroachments in Faisalabad noted that the situation had been taken to a point where even building a gutter was not possible.

The top judge inquired from the Faisalabad commissioner about action taken by him to clear encroachments.

"Sir, give me some more time," the commissioner requested, to which the chief justice responded: "You have been taking time all your life."

Justice Ahmed also berated the commissioner for "not being able to make a map for four years".

He said Google had made it easier to browse different locations with maps, as "drone-assisted aerial images show every house clearly".

He also asked the commissioner whether he was solely relying on a private consultant to do the job.

Turning to the director-general of the Faisalabad Development Authority (FDA), Justice Ahmed asked, "Do you have anything in mind?"

The chief justice said the current situation didn't allow building gutters and questioned whether the authorities expected the Japan International Cooperation Agency to do that job as well.

"I don't know where the country has been taken," he said.

He remarked that the town planners had left the country for Canada and Europe.

Later, the Supreme Court also sought details of parks and playgrounds in Faisalabad and ordered authorities to plant trees and provide facilities in abandoned government parks.

The hearing was adjourned for a month.

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Pakistan vs Namibia: Rizwan, Babar make cautious start against Namibia

Pakistani openers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan were not able to get off to a flying start against Namibia Tuesday, with the first over of the match being bowled a maiden.

Mohammad Rizwan was given out leg before wicket (lbw) before a successful review by Pakistan showed the ball had pitched outside the leg stump, granting the Pakistani batsman a new lease of life.

Pakistan got off to a shaky start as the Namibia bowlers did not stray from their line and length much.

Speaking at the toss, Pakistan skipper Babar Azam confirmed the Men in Green had not made any changes to the squad.

Meanwhile, the captain of Namibia was full of praises of the Pakistan cricket team, saying that the Babar Azam side was in-form and were a quality side.

In response to a question, the Namibia skipper admitted he was happy with Babar Azam's choice and would have opted to bowl first had he won the toss.

After notching up three successive wins against India, New Zealand and Afghanistan, Pakistan is on the brink of qualifying for the semi-finals and is aiming to seal the spot with a win against Namibia in Abu Dhabi tonight.

Pakistan and Namibia will face each other for the first time in T20Is. Namibia will face their sternest test yet against Pakistan, who have been unstoppable so far in the Super 12 of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021.

Unbeaten in the T20 World Cup so far, Pakistan have gone from dark horses for the tournament to one of the strong favourites in just three games.

While bowling has historically been Pakistan's strong suit, the team's batting, led from the front by captain Babar Azam, has bailed them out of trouble twice in the last two games.

Namibia, on the other hand, come into this game on the back of their first loss in the Super 12 to Afghanistan. While it was expected that the Eagles would find it difficult to deal with the spinners in Afghanistan's ranks, Namibia were done by the pacers who claimed seven of the nine wickets that fell.

As such, Namibia will have their task cut out facing the dangerous pace bowling trio of Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Hasan Ali, who have accounted for 14 of the 21 wickets Pakistan have claimed so far. The spinners, too, have played their roles to perfection, giving little respite to opposition batters between overs of searing pace.

If the Namibian batters are to hold their own against Pakistan, they will be banking on their "Bomb Squad", consisting of captain Gerhard Erasmus, David Wiese and JJ Smit, to make a collective impact.

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Govt decides to withdraw appeal against Saad Rizvi’s release

The government has started to implement a secretive agreement signed with the proscribed Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), with reports suggesting that it has released more than 800 supporters of the party arrested across Punjab under the deal.

The government had signed an accord with the proscribed outfit last Sunday, under which workers of the organisation who are not facing any formal criminal charges were to be released. The amnesty will also extend to the party's top leader, Saad Rizvi.

Implementation of the agreement started after a Monday meeting of the steering committee formed by Prime Minister Imran Khan to work out how the deal would be executed.

Federal Minister Ali Mohammad Khan chaired the meeting. It was attended by Punjab's Minister for Law Raja Basharat, secretaries of the federal interior ministry, additional chief secretary of the Punjab Home Department, other officials, as well as some members of the TLP.

According to the Punjab Home Department, 860 persons who were not facing any formal charges have been released across Punjab.

The meeting also decided to withdraw its appeal filed against the release of TLP leader Saad Rizvi. The government had earlier challenged the order of a Lahore High Court (LHC) bench regarding Rizvi’s release.

Meanwhile, talking to a private channel, Saylani Welfare Trust Chairman Maulana Bashir Farooqui, who was present during negotiations between the TLP and the government, said the agreement cannot be made public before the 10th day of the deal, even as he assured that its contents "do not go against the national interest".

News of an agreement between the government and TLP was announced Sunday in a sombre press conference hosted by officials from the PTI government's negotiating team.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mahmood Qureshi and National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser were present on behalf of the government at the press conference. Barelvi scholar Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman was also present, having arbitrated between the government and the protestors.

Rehman began the news conference held in Islamabad, saying talks with the banned TLP had been "successful" and that an "agreement" had been reached.

He had said at the time, however, that details of the agreement will be revealed at a "suitable time". He added that a positive outcome of the agreement will be seen in the coming days.

Farooqui said other signatories of the agreement included the NA speaker, FM Qureshi and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan, besides members of the TLP shura.

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