Day: December 31, 2020

KARACHI:,,, The Pakistan Cricket Board Thursday unveiled nominations for the PCB Awards 2020, the results of which will be announced on the PCB digital Platforms on Friday, 1 January 2020.

The short-lists for 12 categories, including 10 individual categories, have been finalised by an independent panel comprising highly respected and distinguished cricket personalities. In short-listing the nominees, the independent jury did not limit itself to just player performances, but also took into account various other factors, such as the opponent, impact, value and contribution of the players in the matches and/or during the period under consideration.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam, T20I specialist Mohammad Hafeez and fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi have been short-listed in three categories each, while Haris Rauf, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah and Shan Masood have been nominated in two categories each.

Both Babar and Shaheen feature in the White-Ball Cricketer of the Year, Test Cricketer of the Year and Most Valuable Cricketer of the Year categories, while Hafeez has been short-listed in the Individual Performance of the Year, White-Ball Cricketer of the Year and Most Valuable Cricketer of the Year categories.

Haris Rauf has made his way to the Men’s Emerging International Cricketer and White-Ball Cricketer of the Year categories and Rizwan has been included in the Test and Most Valuable Cricketer of the Year categories. Naseem is contending for the Men’s Emerging International and Individual Performance of the Year categories, while Shan competes for the Individual Performance and Test Cricketer of the Year categories.

Apart from Hafeez (86 not out, 52b, 4×4, 6×6 v England 3rd T20I), Naseem (four for 26, including a hat-trick, v Bangladesh, only Test), Shan (156 v England, 1st Test) and Fawad Alam have been short-listed as well. Fawad has been included for his 102 in the first Test against New Zealand which finished in Mount Maunganui on Wednesday.

The four nominees for the Domestic Cricketer of the Year are Hasan Ali, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel and Zahid Mahmood.

Mohammad Huraira, Mubasir Khan, Rohail Nazir and Qasim Akram have been short-listed in the Men’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year category. Players born on or after 1 August 1999 and yet to make international debut for Pakistan in the 15-month period from 1 September 2019 to 31 December 2020 were considered for this category.

There are two women’s individual award categories despite limited cricket. For the Women’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year, Ayesha Naseem, Fatima Sana, Najiha Alvi and Syeda Aroob Shah have been short-listed, while Aliya Riaz, Bismah Maroof, Javeria Khan and Muneeba Ali have been nominated for the Women’s Cricketer of the Year award.

Spirit of Cricket Award and Corporate Achievement of the Year nomination were also decided by the independent jury, whereas the four umpires shortlisted on the recommendation of the match referees and six First XI Cricket Association captains are Ahsan Raza, Asif Yaqoob, Ghaffar Kazmi and Shozab Raza.

KARACHI:,,, Dr. Zafar Mirza, former Advisor to the Prime Minister on National Health Services has said that the COVID-19 vaccine may be administered to only 20 percent of Pakistan’s population when the country would start receiving its supply by end of first quarter of 2021, however, he emphasized the need to follow the SOPs strictly.

Addressing at a Media Talk at Karachi Press Club on Thursday, Dr. Mirza said that vaccination is not alternative to the individual precautions. During the second wave the general public is not following the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in the same manner as they followed during the first wave of COVID-19.

He emphasized the need that the government has to take fool-proof measures that only deserving people get vaccination on priority basis and influential people cannot take advantage. According to him the COVID-19 vaccines would not be available at the private sector at the initial phase.

Pakistan is accessing the Global Alliance for Procurement of Vaccines. At least eight pharmaceutical companies are in the process of manufacturing Coronavirus vaccines and Pakistan government is talking to some companies for purchasing it. Until Chinese vaccination is available, this would be available for front-line health workers.

There is a lack of coordination in the government departments and institutions during the second wave, he said adding that there was an unwritten political consensus during the first wave, but it was missing in the second wave as the opposition’s political parties continued holding their rallies despite government’s ban. He agreed that the government political parties also held rallies during Gilgit Baltistan elections.

He was optimistic that the situation is becoming better and the second wave is also receding. Deaths are reducing and it is hoped that the second wave of the Coronavirus may decline soon. He cautioned that the UK virus strand, which is said to be more rapid spreading so people should continue observing SOPs. “It is premature to say whether it is more fatal or not, but we have to wear masks and observe social distancing.”

Dr. Zafar Mirza said he has arrived in Karachi on a private visit by driving on drove by road. It is unfortunate that in the interior parts of the country there is a low rate of SOP implementation. There is a need to increase the SOPs implementation by 70 percent more, he added.

In Pakistan it is planned that by the first quarter of new year vaccines would be provided to first line of health workers, doctors, nurses, paramedics. Then above 60 year age people will receive COVID-19 vaccination. If the Chinese vaccine is available it would be available for general public as well.

Influential and wealth people may procure vaccination. It may not be available in the private sector. It may be difficult that

Dr. Mirza, who is also an Advisor to World Health Organisation (WHO) on universal public health in Pakistan. According to him the Government of Pakistan is not providing health services to more than 30 percent of the population. “Until we are not involving private sector in healthcare the situation would not be improved,” he added.

He said public-private partnership is needed for universal coverage of health. National Health Card issuance is one of the steps, which is provided to people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab. In Sindh this card was provided to people in Tharparkar districts. Disabled and trans-genders are also being provided health cards on priority basis, he added.

He said the WHO has established an important body called Global Council for Health Financing. This will address the question why the governments are not spending on health sector specially in developing countries.

He said it is now an established fact that health is a factor of productivity and it was essential to invest in human health.

Currently, he pointed out that health is not part of fundamental rights in Pakistan’s Constitution. A Constitutional Amendment is required to incorporate right to health in the Constitution, he added.. National Essential Health Services Package has been devised to priorities health services in the public services he said.

He said social health insurance for workers is being devised at both federal and provincial levels.

Waqat Bhatti, Karachi Press Club’s Health Committee welcome the guest speaker. Karamat Ali, Executive Director of PILER was also present on the occasion.

KARACHI:,,, Pakistan Navy Fleet Annual Efficiency Competition Parade was held at Pakistan Navy Dockyard, Karachi. Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi graced the occasion as Chief Guest. Upon his arrival, the Chief Guest was received by Commander Pakistan Fleet, Rear Admiral Naveed Ashraf.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief of the Naval Staff expressed complete satisfaction over operational readiness of Pakistan Navy Fleet and lauded the dedication and professionalism of officers and men for successfully achieving significant operational objectives and milestones. The Admiral commended PN Fleet’s efforts and contributions towards regional maritime security and protection of Pakistan’s Sea Lines of Communication. He highlighted Pakistan Navy’s endeavors to ensure seaward security of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), Gwadar Port and maritime related projects of CPEC. Chief of the Naval Staff reiterated that Pakistan Navy is fully cognizant of changing geopolitical realities in the region and stands resolute to defend country’s sea frontiers.

Earlier, in his welcome address, Commander Pakistan Fleet highlighted/ underlined/ accentuated Fleet operational activities undertaken during the year 2020, encompassing multi-dimensional events related to operational preparedness particularly conduct of Live Weapon Firings, Major Maritime Exercises SEASPARK 20, Regional Maritime Security Patrols and Over Seas Deployments.

Later, Chief of the Naval Staff gave away Efficiency Award shields to best performing units of various Squadrons of Pakistan Navy Fleet.

KARACHI:,,, In 2020, Pakistani media was confronted with the unique new challenges both in terms of content to cover as well as in the nature of the measures to restrict press freedom and the free flow of information in the country. The year presented the media with the challenge of covering the spread of COVID-19 while also ensuring that the safety of media workers.

According to the annual report on press freedom produced by Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF), 2020 also saw more aggressive forms of censorship being enforced in the country. Social media content became increasingly subject to policing with the development of policies to regulate content as well as with the registration of cases against media workers for their posts on social media. Alongside this, press freedom continued to be threatened with journalists being abducted, killed, arrested, and manhandled with impunity. Women journalists were subjected to threats and harassment online highlighting the gendered nature of attacks on press freedom.

In 2020, with the spread of COVID-19 claimed the lives of many media workers in Pakistan and infected numerous others. It presented a challenge for newsrooms in terms of implementing the required standard operating procedures to ensure the safety of their staff, often at the frontlines in covering the spread of the virus. In terms of coverage of developments regarding COVID-19, journalists had to work with data regarding the spread of the virus as well as work within the guidelines of coverage that had been developed by government authorities. There were instances of journalists being arrested for their coverage of a quarantine centre.

While the coronavirus was a new frontier that the media had to deal with in 2020, in many other ways the challenges faced by the Pakistani media and the restrictions on press freedom have not changed. In one instance a journalist was killed during the year. In other instances, journalists continue to be arrested, injured and manhandled.

On February 16, KTN news and daily Kawish journalist Aziz Memon’s body was recovered. A joint investigation team regarding his death in May said it was a “well planned murder”.

During the year, in perhaps the most high-profile arrest of a media worker, Jang and Geo Media Group Editor in Chief Mir Shakilur Rehman was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in March. He was later shifted to jail. Eight months later, in November, Rehman was finally granted bail.

In 2020, a sense of fear and insecurity amongst the media grew with at least two reported instances of journalists being picked up and disappeared for multiple hours. Senior journalist Matiullah Jan was abducted from Islamabad in July in October, Geo News senior reporter Ali Imran Syed went missing.

When journalists were not physically harmed, they were threatened. Following a story regarding the business assets of Lieutenant General (Retired) Asim Saleem Bajwa, investigative journalist Ahmad Noorani received life threats. In other instances, a publishing house as well as the Karachi Press Club were raided, further creating a sense of fear.

tHE 2020 also saw increased policing of content on social media with rules developed to control content that can be shared on these platforms. The temporary ban on video sharing application, Tik Tok, was a demonstration of this shrinking space for free expression on social media, which is generally considered to be a more open and accessible source of content sharing. In November, social media rules were notified thus further reducing the space for criticism, debate and discussion online.

The media felt the impact of this policing of social media with criminal complaints registered against media personnel for social media posts that were considered to be objectionable due to their criticism of the state. Criminal complaints were registered against former Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) chairman Absar Alam, Express Tribune News Editor Bilal Farooqi and journalist Asad Ali Toor.

On the broadcast media front, this year PEMRA provided numerous directives that made it impossible for news outlets to present a complete story to their viewers. By blocking entire sections of coverage such as the ban on speeches by absconders, news outlets are unable to cover current events taking place in the country.

During 2020, the media in Pakistan has come under attack on all fronts — from adapting to the challenge of covering the pandemic to working within an increasingly restrictive space for free expression and press freedom.

The safety of the media has come under threat and as the space for free expression shrinks, both online and in traditional media, journalists are forced to adapt to this environment. The lack of accountability for crimes against the media, the new fronts of creating rules for monitoring content and the aggressive methods of silencing dissent, create an environment of fear and censorship.

KARACHI:,,, The leadership of Businessmen Group (BMG) and Office Bearers of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) have congratulated the Businessmen Panel (BMP), the newly elected President FPCCI Nasir Hayat Magoon and all others on BMP’s impressive victory in the elections of Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI).

In a statement issued, Chairman BMG Zubair Motiwala, Vice Chairmen BMG Tahir Khaliq, Haroon Farooki and Anjum Nisar, General Secretary BMG AQ Khalil, President KCCI M. Shariq Vohra, Senior Vice President Saqib Goodluck and Vice President Shamsul Islam Khan stated that after a long gap of three decades, it was heartening to see that a President at the Federation has been elected who had also served the business community from KCCI’s platform as its President in 2002-03. It was really encouraging for the entire business and industrial community that the Businessmen Panel which governs the apex body FPCCI and the Businessmen Group which reigns the premier and largest Chamber KCCI are on same page and have a similar point of view in dealing with numerous economic and other issues being faced by the business community which would make things easier and prove favorable not only for the business community but also the economy.

They said that under the leadership of Mian Anjum Nisar, BMP has been struggling really hard since many years and this was the second consecutive year when they succeeded in overthrowing their opponents. The business and industrial community hopes that the newly elected leadership at FPCCI would continue to take practical steps to improve FPCCI’s functioning and make it a vibrant platform.

They were of the opinion that defeating some so-called heavyweight opponents was not an easy task but due to hard work and sincere efforts along with BMG’s full support, BMP candidates outshined in FPCCI’s elections and they all deserve to be appreciated.

BMG Leadership and KCCI Office Bearers stressed that the newly elected leadership at FPCCI will have to revisit several policies, further improve FPCCI’s mechanism and devise effective strategies in consultation with all stakeholders to make FPCCI the leading voice of the entire business and industrial community at the national level.

Chairman BMG Zubair Motiwala underscored that FPCCI, as a national institution will have to focus on getting the national issues resolved while the newly elected leadership must fulfill their commitments made to the business community during the election campaign. “Every step taken by BMP leadership to improve FPCCI’s performance and in the larger interest of the country will be fully supported by the Karachi Chamber and Businessmen Group as we firmly believe that we all can play the lead role in dealing with the ongoing economic crises if we make collective efforts”, he added.

KARACHI:,,, Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday issued notices to the Chief Secretary Sindh and others in a contempt petition on detention of the accused of Daniel Pearl murder case.

A two-member bench of the SHC heard a contempt of court petition filed against the chief secretary, jail officials and others over the government’s failure in obedience of the court orders.

The court summoned reply from them and the jail officials on January 07.

It asked the Advocate General Sindh why the accused were not released on the court orders. The AG replied: “Issue a notice, we will submit a written reply on the matter.”

The bench declared the government notification as null and void and had ordered putting the names of accused Ahmed Omer Saeed Shaikh and others in the exit control list (ECL).

The court observed that the accused have been in jail for last 18 years and ordered the accused to appear as and when the court summon them after their release.

Provincial home department had detained the accused under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) on September 28.

Four convicts of the murder case, Ahmed Omer Saeed and others had moved the Sindh High Court (SHC) challenging their convictions handed down by the Hyderabad Anti-Terrorism Court in 2002, after finding them guilty of abducting and killing American Journalist Daniel Pearl.

The ATC had handed death sentence to main accused Ahmed Omer Saeed Shaikh and life sentences to other three accused.

The high court overturned the verdict of the ATC and acquitted convicts on April 02 this year.

The Sindh Government and the family of Daniel Pearl filed appeals against the high court verdict in Supreme Court and the case has been under hearing in the apex court. A bench of the high court had declared a notification with regard to detention of four accused in the case, Ahmed Omer Saeed Shaikh, co-accused Fahad Naseem, Salman Saqib and Sheikh Adil, as null and void and ordered their immediate release from the jail.

The 38-year-old South Asia bureau chief of The Wall Street Journal, Daniel Pearl, was researching a story on religious extremists, in January 2002 in Karachi, when he was abducted and slain.

KARACHI:,,, Provincial Minister for Excise and Taxation and Narcotics Control Department and Parliamentary Affairs Mukesh Kumar Chawla has said that Sindh Excise and Taxation and Narcotics Control Department had seized a total of 109479 kg drugs in the last six years while 3748 cases had been registered against drug dealers and 3985 accused were arrested.

He said this while presiding over a meeting chaired by him. The meeting was also attended by Secretary Excise and Taxation and Narcotics Control Department Sindh Abdul Haleem Sheikh, Directors General Haji Saleem Bhutto, Munir Ahmed Zardari, Additional Director Nasir Affandi and other officers.

Briefing the meeting, it was informed that 1259.876 kg of heroin and 73589.536 kg of chars were seized from 2008 to November 2020 and 831.484 kg of opium, 33798.550 kg of bhang and 5529 bottles of foreign liquor were seized during the same period. The meeting was further informed that 3985 accused involved in drug trafficking were arrested and 3748 cases were registered.

At present there are 48 Excise Police Stations in the province. There are 8 police stations in Karachi, 10 in Hyderabad, 13 in Sukkur, 10 in Larkana and 7 in Mirpur Khas. There are 9 check posts in the province.

Addressing the meeting, Chawla said that the Department of Excise and Taxation and Narcotics Control was using all its resources to protect the youth from drug poisoning.

“We were cooperating fully with all concerned agencies to eradicate drugs in Sindh province,” he said. He said that in the current situation, it was very important that parents, teachers and other stakeholders also play their effective role in eradicating drugs. Chawla said that eradication of drugs is not possible unless all stakeholders of the society work together to eradicate drugs.