------------------------------------------------------------------- DAWN WIRE SERVICE ------------------------------------------------------------------- Week Ending : 28 October 2000 Issue : 06/41 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Contents | National News | Business & Economy | Editorials & Features | Sports
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CONTENTS =================================================================== NATIONAL NEWS + Musharraf rules out Kashmir's military solution + 40 states to take part in defence exhibition + Plane case: Defence claims personal vendetta + Devolution plan to bring democracy: Gen Naqvi + GDA defers decision on alliance with PML + PPP rejects NAB view on assets of Benazir + Provinces asked to expedite land reforms + Sindh doctors to go to Saudi Arabia + 'US tilt towards India may destabilize South Asia' + Govt urged not to weaken major political parties + India presses C'wealth to act against Pakistan + Visa rules further relaxed: Negative list restricted to Indians + Cabinet wants Karachi problems solved + Foreign ministry officials facing charges --------------------------------- BUSINESS & ECONOMY + Taxman's powers to be slashed: CE discusses problems with traders + No further reduction: Import tariff at 25% by 2003 + Petroleum sector lures $704m in one year + Chief Executive says Hubco dispute near settlement + Economic revival plan: Sindh govt holding session today + Banks cut L/C margin to 25pc + Steps taken to restore investors confidence + Computerized import clearance system + Trade financing: Habib Bank revamps system + Manpower policy to generate 2.96m jobs + Rupee begins to fall --------------------------------------- EDITORIALS & FEATURES + Fun and Games Ardeshir Cowasjee + The killjoy spirit Ayaz Amir + The high cost of jihad Irfan Husain ----------- SPORTS + Replacements unavailable for senior cricket players + Saleh tops Group H in world snooker + Pakistan inflict an 8-wicket defeat upon England: Afridi excels with bat and ball
=================================================================== DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS =================================================================== NATIONAL NEWS 001028 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Musharraf rules out Kashmir's military solution ------------------------------------------------------------------- ISLAMABAD, Oct 27: Chief Executive Gen Pervez Musharraf on Friday said that Kashmir was the basic cause of tension between Pakistan and India, saying, military solution to the issue was not possible. He was talking to the visiting foreign journalists from nine countries here on Friday. Gen Musharraf said both the countries had fought three wars on the issue. It was in this perspective that Pakistan had been persistently urging India to agree to a negotiated settlement of the conflict in accordance with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people, he added. India had not responded positively so far, he regretted. This implied that India did not want political and peaceful settlement of the issue, Gen Musharraf added. He also briefed the journalists about the massive human rights violations by Indian troops in occupied Kashmir. He maintained that while India was engaged in genocide in the occupied Kashmir, it pursued a strategy to get Pakistan declared a terrorist state. The chief executive said although Islamabad was a nuclear power, it did not believe in aggression. It wanted a peaceful settlement of Kashmir issue, through dialogue and in accordance with aspirations of the Kashmiri people but the Indian attitude was not positive, he said.-APP DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 001025 ------------------------------------------------------------------- 40 states to take part in defence exhibition ------------------------------------------------------------------- Reporter KARACHI, Oct 24: International Defence Exhibition -IDEAS 2000 - to be held here from Nov 14 to 17 will be the first exhibition of its kind in Pakistan. About 40 countries would participate in the exhibition. The IDEAS 2000 is likely to increase the export of Pakistan's defence equipment and would also help build a positive image of the country at the global level, said the Chief Coordinator of IDEAS 2000, Maj-Gen S. Ali Hamid, and the chairman of Pegasus, the consultant firm. They were briefing newsmen at the newly-built EPB Expo-Centre opposite the Civic Centre, the venue of the exhibition, on Monday. The exhibition, where delegations of participating countries will be led by defence ministers and deputy defence ministers, chiefs of the army staff and other high military officials, would be opened by President Muhammad Rafique Tarar. The Chief Executive is likely to participate in the mega event of the exhibition on Nov 16. Gen Ali Hamid said: "The IDEAS 2000 will be a biennial gathering of defence officials from friendly countries which would provide a good opportunity to promote professional interaction." Answering questions, he said he had attended such shows recently in Dubai and France, and feels that the Dubai show was more like a mela but the atmosphere in France was businesslike. We are trying hard to create business-like conditions." He said the idea was conceived about one and half years back with the theme "Arms for peace" which reflected Pakistan's desire to promote peace and stability both in the region and in the world. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 001027 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Plane case: Defence claims personal vendetta ------------------------------------------------------------------- Shamim-ur-Rahman KARACHI, Oct 26: Counsel for Nawaz Sharif in state's appeal for the enhancement of his sentence in the plane case on Thursday continued arguments mostly on law points and claimed that it was case of personal vendetta. Barrister Ijaz Hussain Batalvi, who was arguing before the full bench of the Sindh High Court, comprising Chief Justice Saiyed Saeed Ashhad, Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany and Justice Wahid Bux Brohi, also hinted that Azizullah Shaikh's admission of ordering diversion of plane was not with the consent of his client Nawaz Sharif in appeal against conviction. At the very outset, Advocate General Sindh Raja Qureshi placed on court's record details of Mr Batalvi and Mr Azizullah Shaikh's meetings with their client Mian Nawaz Sharif in prison. As Mr Batalvi dilated on various aspects of the case, and the sentence awarded to the former prime minister by the trial court, the bench observed that many of those points had already been discussed by Barrister Azizullah Shaikh. In support of his contention on personal vendetta, Mr Batalvi referred to Gen Pervez Musharraf's recent interview to the BBC, in which he had reportedly said that if Nawaz Sharif had not removed him (the General), he would still have been the prime minister. To reinforce his argument, he also drew the attention of the court to section 402B of the PPC, which was not in the scheduled offence on Oct 12. He also claimed that the trial court had given wrong sentence to Nawaz Sharif under section 402. Continuing arguments in support of his contention that Nawaz Sharif had not ordered the plane to be diverted, which was at complete variance with what Barrister Shaikh had argued in the former premier's appeal against conviction on the premise of consolidation of position in the power struggle, Barrister Batalvi argued that "admission by the counsel of the accused does not bind him as far as his defence is concerned. No admission by the counsel can relieve the prosecution of the duty of satisfying the court by proper evidence." When he argued that Barrister Shaikh's admission in this regard could not be treated as that of Nawaz Sharif's, the chief justice inquired "irrespective of the admission with the consent of the accused? He had stated that he had made the statement after consulting his client." But Mr Batalvi insisted "there is no evidence that Azizullah Shaikh made this statement with the consent of the accused". When Mr Batalvi referred to Raja Qureshi's press conference in which he had contended that it could be part of boycott strategy by the defence counsel, the advocate general Sindh said that "if Batalvi saheb is not allowed to state what he want, he will boycott." Barrister Batalvi also dealt with delay in the lodging of FIR and various provisions of the Suppression of Terrorism Act and Anti- Terrorism Act 1997, in the context of the sentence awarded to the former premier by the trial court, and argued that Nawaz Sharif should not have been tried by the ATC. Advocate General Sindh Raja Qureshi interceded and contended that all this had been argued before and cited 22-page order of Jan 12, 2000, by Justice Shabbir Ahmed as administrative judge of the ATC, Karachi. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 001025 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Devolution plan to bring democracy: Gen Naqvi ------------------------------------------------------------------- ISLAMABAD, Oct 24: The devolution plan aims at laying the foundations of genuine democracy, giving political powers to the people and making government officials answerable to elected representatives. This was stated by the Chairman of National Reconstruction Bureau Lt Gen Tanwir Hussain Naqvi while taking part in a television phone in programme on "Local government plan 2000", on Sunday. He said development works will be decided by the locally elected people and implemented by government officials under the supervision of elected representative. He was confident that corruption would be eliminated, as development works will be carried out by the local leadership in the presence of the people. He said the devolution of power plan gives adequate representation to women, which has no precedence. He said a new finance, auditing and contracting system is also being developed which will be in place before 14th of August next year before the installation of district governments to eradicate corruption. In reply to a question he said the devolution plan will in fact give more provincial autonomy and reports to the contrary are baseless. As for police reforms, he said the responsibilities of maintenance of law and order, traffic, investigation and prosecution are being separated. He said provincial prosecution service will be created in police department in all the provinces. He said the government realizes the problems being faced by the people at the police hands and to resolve local and minor disputes, community resolution systems are also being evolved.-NNI DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 001026 ------------------------------------------------------------------- GDA defers decision on alliance with PML ------------------------------------------------------------------- Ashraf Mumtaz LAHORE, Oct 25: The Grand Democratic Alliance on Wednesday deferred its decision on its future cooperation or alliance with the PML on the ground that so far it was not clear what exactly was in the mind of the former ruling party. Heads of the alliance components were told that a three-member delegation of the former ruling party would meet Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan on October 29 to discuss the matter in black and white after which the GDA would be in a position to take any decision. The Nawabzada, who was formally elected president of the GDA at a meeting of the heads of the alliance components, told reporters in the presence of other leaders that if necessary, he would convene an emergency meeting of the GDA to discuss the issue of cooperation with the PML. A final decision on the issue, he said, would be taken by the general council of the alliance. Begum Kulsoom is scheduled to meet the Nawabzada on Thursday and matters concerning cooperation between the PML and the GDA will come up for discussion. This will be the first formal meeting of the deposed prime minister's wife with the leader who 'midwifed' many opposition alliances in the past and is trying to play his role once again by bringing the two adversaries- PPP and the PML - on the same platform. The Nawabzada brushed aside a number of questions about the possible new linkage between the GDA and the PML, saying every question would be hypothetical unless he heard something from the PML leadership. He did not answer a question as to what extent GDA was the ready to go with its former adversary. When a reporter suggested that the alliance should have formulated its policy on this important issue as one of its leaders, Hamid Nasir Chattha, had already threatened to quit the GDA if the PML was let in, the Nawabzada said he would be able to say anything only after the situation was clear. PML (Chattha group) Secretary-General Iqbal Ahmed Khan reiterated on Wednesday that his party would not sit with the PML as long as it was headed by Mian Nawaz Sharif. LOCAL ELECTIONS: The alliance failed to decide its policy about the local elections, the first phase of which is due to be held in 18 districts of the country on December 31. The Nawabzada said the local councils were going to be partyless and thus political parties were left with no role to play. He pointed out that the GDA had already rejected the new system of local government as unworkable and violative of the provincial autonomy provided in the Constitution. The architects of the new system were alien to ground realities, he observed. Asked whether the GDA would allow its supporters to contest these elections in their personal capacity, the senior leader wondered if there was any single individual in the country who had no direct or indirect affiliation with any party. Observers say that the alliance is not going to give a boycott call and also would not stop anybody from taking part in these elections. All GDA parties are of the opinion that the field should not be left open to the government supporters. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 001027 ------------------------------------------------------------------- PPP rejects NAB view on assets of Benazir ------------------------------------------------------------------- Reporter LAHORE, Oct 26: PPP Secretary-General Jehangir Badar on Thursday denied that any account, property or company abroad the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has attributed to former prime minister Benazir Bhutto or her spouse Asif Zardari belong to the couple. At a news conference at the office of Mr Naveed Chaudhry, he said such allegations had been concocted by former defunct ehtesab bureau chairman Saifur Rehman for the media trial of the Bhutto family and the same documents were now being used by the NAB prosecutor-general. He said the party would have no objection if the government got all accounts, properties and assets confiscated. "If these accounts don't belong to the Bhuttos, why had they approached the British government to have the details stopped when the Pakistan government had sought them?", a reporter asked. Mr Badar said even if the allegation was accepted, the onus of providing proof lay with the government. He argued that the government was alleging that Mr Zardari had drug money which was factually wrong. The PPP leader demanded that the media trial of the former prime minister should be stopped and the government should produce proof against Ms Bhutto or her husband, if it had any. He answered in the negative when asked if he was holding the news conference in consultation with Ms Bhutto. He said the allegations were of repeated old story and he personally knew that the whole thing was baseless. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 001026 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Provinces asked to expedite land reforms ------------------------------------------------------------------- Rauf Klasra ISLAMABAD, Oct 25: The Centre has directed the provinces to accelerate the process of land reforms and redistribute land among the landless. These directions, a source said, had been issued as a follow up of a report titled "Decentralization and Devolution of Power" that warned the government that unless the power base of "rural elites is diffused", the decentralization/local bodies elections would lead to their further strengthening. The sources said that Sindh and Punjab provinces had been particularly asked to "quicken the process of redistribution of land" among the landless to empower them before the local government elections were held. Besides, it would also enable them as well to stand on their own feet before the rural elites. "This (redistribution of land) is being done to stop the rural elite from dictating their terms and condition to the weaker at the time of local bodies elections and getting their own candidates elected," an official of the local government ministry told Dawn on Tuesday. The source said the report had warned the government functionaries that "if the decentralization is done without adequate checks and balances on the exercise of power and influence of the rural elite, it will create and strengthen local autocracy". The report has questioned the oft-repeated argument that the fragmentation of landholding over the years had effectively diffused this source of power. It said that additional research and inquiry needed to be done to support this argument. Even if landholding has reduced through fragmentation, the feudal mindset still reign supreme, it observed. "These power holders have traditionally controlled and even subverted electoral process at the national and provincial and local levels", the report said. Citing examples, the report said that elections to local bodies in the past had yielded a leadership from the same pool of power holders and power brokers. It said, while there was a diffusion of power among its various contenders - landholders, industrialists, civilian bureaucracy and local influential - the nexus between them make them a formidable power structure. "This structure staunchly resists all attempts to redistribute resources and equitably share power and authority." The report further maintained that increasing deprivation and marginalization of the large non-elite population could lead to despair and helplessness on the one hand and frustration and resentment on the other. "Efforts are needed to break this pathetic situation", it suggested. The report observed that while there were numerous challenges to decentralization, the biggest impediment was the entrenched power structure that was dominated by a small elite. While the gap between the rich and the poor is often discussed in economic terms, it may also be viewed politically in terms of gap between the elite and non-elite at the time of formulation of policies, specially policies related to poverty, social exclusion and inequity. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 001026 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Sindh doctors to go to Saudi Arabia ------------------------------------------------------------------- Ansar Abbasi ISLAMABAD, Oct 25: The Sindh government has reportedly decided to allow its doctors to go to Saudi Arabia to join their jobs there, however, the federal health ministry is still reluctant to show any leniency to its professionals already selected by Riyadh. Sources in the federal government told Dawn that the Sindh government had indicated to the federal authorities on Wednesday that it would allow all of its 100 doctors to proceed to Saudi Arabia as per the agreement reached between Islamabad and Riyadh. Chief Secretary Sindh, Javed Ashraf Hussain when contacted by Dawn said that the provincial government was reconsidering the case and hinted that the doctors would be issued the NOC in a couple of days. Although the labour ministry, Overseas Employment Corporation (OEC) and establishment division have succeeded in persuading the province to relieve its doctors, they failed to convince authorities in the federal health ministry to issue NOC to doctors stationed in Islamabad to join their jobs in Saudi Arabia. An effort was made to persuade the health ministry even on Wednesday but without any positive outcome. The health ministry has reportedly reiterated its earlier stance and said that it could not relieve its doctors owing to the shortage of experienced hands in its hospitals. Efforts are being made to arrange a meeting between labour minister Omar Asghar Khan and health minister Dr Abdul Malik Kasi to sort out the issue. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 001028 ------------------------------------------------------------------- 'US tilt towards India may destabilize South Asia' ------------------------------------------------------------------- Correspondent DUBAI, Oct 27: The military regime in Pakistan is the best regime for India to hold talks on bilateral peace, according to a former Pakistani Chief of Army Staff. "India must understand that the best time for talks with Pakistan is when there is a military government in the country because it will be fully responsible for its commitments and will not pass the buck to one or the other bureaucratic department in case of its failure to fulfil the promises," Gen Jehangir Karamat, a former Chief of Pakistan Army Staff, said in Dubai on Thursday. He debated India's stand that it will only hold talks with a democratic government in Pakistan, meaning that a dialogue with a military government would be more result oriented. Talking to members of the Pakistan Professionals Forum, diplomats and foreign guests on 'Peace in South Asia: Opportunities and Challenges', Gen Karamat said that the recent developments in Kargil could have led to direct war between India and Pakistan while the nuclear capabilities of the two countries added to the danger of war. "The political exploitation of the Kargil issue took us in the wrong direction instead of talks and a chance for peace was lost," he said. He said that the end of cold war has reduced the great powers' interest in the South Asian region that has left the regional countries to decide on their own about what is of interest to them. "Kashmir is the key issue in the region and even if the government in Pakistan changes, the country's policy on the subject will remain. The present standoff in Kashmir can severely worsen South Asian environment," he said adding that a military-civilian government was evolving in Pakistan. He denied extremism in Pakistan army but accepted that religious currents were stronger in the country than before. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 001023 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Govt urged not to weaken major political parties ------------------------------------------------------------------- Correspondent QUETTA, Oct 22: Leaders of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) have called upon the government not to weaken the major political parties as it would harm the country's interest and endanger its integrity. Addressing a seminar on "Benazir Bhutto, Balochistan and Pakistan," organised by the PPP Balochistan here on Sunday, PPP Vice-Chairman, Mr Yusuf Raza Gilani said that when there was a military government, Pakistan's integrity was challenged and threatened. Giving his presidential remarks, he said that the political parties always worked for the strengthening of the unity and integrity of Pakistan and consolidated the federal set up. The former speaker of National Assembly said that smaller political parties always joined the major parties in running the affairs of the country. However, at present, the smaller parties are raising different voices undermining the integrity of Pakistan, the PPP leader said. The country was heading towards a two-party system, which would strengthen democracy and democratic values, Yusuf Raza Gilani said. He was of the view that only major political parties could take the country out of the present economic and political crisis for which they have the capabilities and necessary strength. Mr Gilani resented the move to weaken the leadership of Benazir Bhutto and said that she was the symbol of federation. On the issue of constitution, Mr Yusuf Raza Gilani said that it should be left to the chosen representatives of the people and an elected parliament. "If the constitution is tampered with, a Pandora's Box will be opened," he warned. He stressed the need for rule of law, strengthening the democratic institutions as weaker institutions would undermine country's integrity. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 001024 ------------------------------------------------------------------- India presses C'wealth to act against Pakistan ------------------------------------------------------------------- NEW DELHI, Oct 23: India on Monday said the Commonwealth needed to take a firmer stand in its efforts to restore democracy in Pakistan and Fiji. A foreign ministry spokesman said an Indian delegation to the Commonwealth Ministerial Action group meeting, held in Samoa between Oct 18 and 20, had underlined the need for strong action. He said the Indian team at the talks had said that Fiji's "1997 constitution, which was drafted and chiselled under the Commonwealth, was best placed to guard the country's interests". Spokesman Raminder Singh Jassal said the Commonwealth had already rejected Fiji's interim government's recommendation that the new constitution would be revised in a year and elections held in two years. Fiji's government was overthrown by a coup led by local businessman George Speight, who seized Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry and his government, holding them as hostages for 58 days. The deposed coalition government has been campaigning for an immediate recall of the elected parliament, which was cut short by President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara within days of the hostage crisis and the setting up of a government of national unity. Mara himself was deposed a week later by the army, which abrogated the 1997 multi-racial constitution and put in power an interim administration. The administration has begun the process of a constitutional review by a committee, the membership of which has come under criticism by a large cross-section of society.-AFP DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 001027 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Visa rules further relaxed: Negative list restricted to Indians ------------------------------------------------------------------- Ansar Abbasi ISLAMABAD, Oct 26: In an effort to further soften the recently announced visa policy, the government has allowed the tourists from world over except those from India or foreign nationals of Indian origin to fly to Pakistan without getting prior clearance from country's missions abroad. The government has also excluded Kenya from the negative list of 16 countries after Kenyan government's move to relax its visa restrictions for Pakistani businessmen. Interior Secretary, Hasan Raza Pasha told Dawn here on Thursday that for the purpose of tourist visa there would be no list of negative countries. Mr Pasha explained that except Indian or foreign nationals of Indian origin, all tourists would be issued landing permits at country's airport or other entry points upon their arrival. The condition of police registration has already been abolished for all foreigners except for Indian nationals and those who have Indian origin but got foreign nationalities. The latest move is expected to encourage the genuine tourists to visit Pakistan. Earlier on Oct 13, the interior minister had announced in a news briefing that the tourists from countries on negative list would not be given the relaxation of entry permit. With the latest amendment in the visa policy, now all the tourists except Indian (living anywhere) will be issued 30 days landing permit at airports and other entry points, on arrival. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 001026 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Cabinet wants Karachi problems solved ------------------------------------------------------------------- Ihtasham ul Haque ISLAMABAD, Oct 25: The federal cabinet on Wednesday expressed its concern over the shortage of water supply and frequent power breakdowns in Karachi. Chief Executive Gen. Pervez Musharraf, who chaired the meeting, directed the Sindh government and Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz to draw up a required plan for fast track processing through Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC), for the provision of extra water supply in the city. Official sources said the CE told the meeting that whenever he visited Karachi, the complaints of acute shortage of water were made to him and that the issue must be sorted out as quick as possible. Furthermore, he also asked the officials of the Ministry of Water and Power about the reasons behind frequent and major power breakdowns in Karachi. Sources said Musharraf advised the Ministry of Finance to look into the issue of additional funding and new arrangements should be made with the Sindh government to adequately address both the shortage of water and power breakdowns. He further asked the Ministry of Petroleum to take steps for provision of gas to the Port Qasim Power Plant to facilitate its conversion from furnace oil to gas-fired. Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Usman Amindduin informed the cabinet that gas would be available to the Port Qasim Plant by March 2001 from Zamzama Field. Steps were also in hand to convert other power plants in Karachi to gas-fired, he added. The cabinet also directed all the four provincial governments to considerably cut down their expenditures with a view to make available additional funds for poverty alleviation. Musharraf said the element of corruption should have to be eliminated to have better use of funds, especially for the alleviation of poverty and to arrange resources for other social sectors. While the federal government has increased its share of funds for the poverty reduction programme during the current financial year, the provinces were asked to arrange prompt disbursement of their share of funds for all important programmes. Taking note of complaints regarding supply of DAP, he directed the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to take immediate measures, ensuring ready availability of the DAP for the current wheat sowing season. On the issue, the finance minister informed the cabinet that the LC margin of 30 per cent on the DAP import had been withdrawn and no regulatory duty was being contemplated on it. The cabinet was informed that these incentives would encourage timely import of the DAP in the country. The cabinet constituted a committee, headed by the minister for housing and works, to identify land, under the federal government, ministries and departments and suggested measures to dispose of such property. The provincial governments would undertake similar exercise to expedite disposal of such lands. Other members of the committee are Privatisation Commission chairman, cabinet secretary, finance secretary and the secretary Ministry of Housing and Works. The committee would submit its report alongwith its proposal for disposal of property for approval. The Ministry of Railways would, however, undertake such exercise separately. The cabinet approved promulgation of the Islamabad Rent Restriction Ordinance, 2000, which would bring the capital city at par with other areas of the country in terms of rent control. The chief executive directed the Federal Land Commission to prepare a comprehensive policy for distribution of state land to landless peasants in the country. The commission would interact with the provincial governments to identify such lands and start the process of distribution. The cabinet approved signing of an agreement between Pakistan and Kazakhstan on promotion and protection of investments. It also approved the Corporate and Industrial Restructuring Corporation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2000. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 001025 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Foreign ministry officials facing charges ------------------------------------------------------------------- Ansar Abbasi ISLAMABAD, Oct 24: The foreign ministry is conducting inquiries to investigate into the alleged wrongdoings of many of its officials including ambassadors and other senior officers. At least 13 officers of the foreign ministry are facing serious charges of misconduct, inefficiency, corruption etc. Official record made available to Dawn reveals that Rasheed Saleem Khan, director general, is being probed for non-settlement of Bank Al-Jazira Jeddah loan amounting to SR70,000 and advances drawn from the consulate general during his tenure as consul general in Jeddah (1992-94). With refund of bank loan and settlement of outstanding advances, approval of the competent authority was sought to treat this case as settled but the authority did not accept the foreign ministry's recommendation and decided to proceed against the officer under the Removal from Service (Special Powers) Ordinance, 2000 (SRO). M Nasser Mian, Ambassador of Pakistan in Brasilia, is facing charges of embezzlement/misappropriation of public funds and property during his tenure as Ambassador to Bahrain from 1996-1999. The foreign ministry has sought the CE's approval to proceed against the officer under the concerned SRO. Afzal Akbar Khan, Pakistan Ambassador to Indonesia, is facing charges of misappropriation of public funds and property during his tenure as ambassador to Bahrain. The ministry has also sought the CE's approval to proceed against the officer under the SRO. M F Rehman Akbar, High Commissioner in Male, is facing charges concerning breach of communication security arrangement as a result of loss of Cypher Machine. Sultan Hayat Khan, director general, also faces similar charges.
=================================================================== BUSINESS & ECONOMY 001028 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Taxman's powers to be slashed: CE discusses problems with traders ------------------------------------------------------------------- Bureau Report ISLAMABAD, Oct 27: Chief Executive Gen Pervez Musharraf here on Friday assured the trade and business community that income tax on turnover profit for small traders would be removed, while the discretionary powers of the income tax officials under self-assessment scheme would be done away with. The Chief Executive held out the assurance during a meeting with the members of Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry and representatives of various NWFP trade groups. The Chief Executive said that a comprehensive study for the restructuring of CBR was underway and would be completed in two months time. This was aimed at eliminating discretionary powers and corruption, making the CBR a tax-friendly and efficient organisation, the CE observed. "We have had an extremely fruitful meeting with Gen Musharraf who has in principle accepted one of the major demands of removing income tax on turnover profit for small traders," claimed Haji Muhammad Haleem Jan, President Tajiran Rabta Committee, NWFP. Haleem Jan, told Dawn that the Chief Executive had also assured that discretionary powers of income tax officials under self- assessment scheme would also be done away with. "Now a decision has been taken by the chief executive that there CE's Principal Secretary Tariq Aziz and Chairman Privatization Commission Altaf Saleem would hold a meeting with businessmen on Nov 2, to have a final decision on these two major issues which will largely benefit traders and businessmen of all the four provinces," he added. He said the chief executive told the NWFP delegation that his government did not want to create problems for the business community and that those who would pressurise the taxpayers would be dealt with severely. However, he said Gen Musharraf expected that everybody should pay his or her tax honestly so that the country could progress. Gen Pervez Musharraf said that all the genuine grievances of the businessmen would be addressed and resolved on priority basis. He told the delegation that he would meet the cross-section of the business community within the next ten days to resolve some minor outstanding issues. The CE assured the traders that the irritants being faced by them would be removed. Gen Musharraf regretted that mistrust existed between the tax collection agencies and taxpayers, which he said required resolution. He asked the business community to work hand in hand with the government for the introduction of tax culture in the country. The Chief Executive pointed out that the last date for filing income tax returns for the year 1999-2000 would not be extended beyond October 31. He said that ongoing tax survey and documentation were vital for revival of the economy and were proceeding according to schedule. The traders assured the chief executive that they would ensure that maximum number of returns were filed by the Oct 31 deadline. During the meeting, which was held in a free, frank and cordial atmosphere, the traders and businessmen thanked the chief executive for giving them an opportunity to present their point of view with regard to income tax, sales tax, survey and documentation of the economy. They supported the government's accountability drive and its efforts to revive the economy. Governor NWFP Lt-Gen (retd) Iftikhar Hussain Shah, Chairman Privatisation Commission Altaf Saleem, Chairman CBR and other senior representatives of the ministry of finance also attended the meeting. The traders delegation included the president of Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Syed Khizar Hayat, and other heads of a number of trade bodies of the province. FUNDS: The chief executive on Thursday said that the spare funds accrued from the documentation of the economy will be spent on the promotion of education, law and order and restructuring of government machinery, adds APP. He said this while inaugurating COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT) at Sir Syed Campus. Pakistan can make strides by utilising its physical resources and trained manpower, he said, adding, "scientific education can bring "development." The chief executive said that the encouraging sign is that the international IT and soft-ware market is an ever-expanding proposition and those having capabilities can grab the opportunities. The IT market, he said, "is not shrinking, it has not saturated. It will continue to expand." DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 001025 ------------------------------------------------------------------- No further reduction: Import tariff at 25% by 2003 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Ihtashamul Haque ISLAMABAD, Oct 24: Pakistan has agreed with IMF to reduce its import tariff to 25 per cent from January I, 2003, said the Minister for Commerce, Industries and Production, Razak Dawood. "The reduction from 30 per cent, on January 1, 2002 to 25 per cent by January I, 2003 is part of our negotiations with the IMF", disclosed the commerce minister. Speaking at a news conference here on Tuesday, he said that there would not be any further reduction in the import tariff. He said reduction of tariff to 25 per cent was unavoidable for Pakistan. "Certainly there will be a negative revenue impact due to this eventual 25 per cent import tariff", he conceded. The commerce minister also said that the government was considering to offer export subsidy to wheat exporters. We have reached to a decision that wheat should be exported by the private sector for which we are considering to offer certain subsidy, he said adding that the purpose was to export surplus wheat and earn foreign exchange. He also said that efforts were being made to export surplus rice to various countries. He said a number of delegations were being sent aboard including Iran for boosting export of Pakistani rice. Razak Dawood said those who brought financial loss and bad name to the country by exporting inferior quality rice to various countries including Iran were being taken to task. In this regard he said that an export licence of M/s Consumer Power Limited has been cancelled for exporting substandard rice to Iran. Nevertheless, he said Iran has again started importing rice from Pakistan and that a first ship carrying 50,000 tons of rice has reached Iran. We have been told that rice quality was of good and original specification. Responding to a question the commerce minister said Thailand and Vietnam have offered to Iran for export of their rice and in return they will be importing oil from Teheran. "We have proposed counter trade to Iranians by exporting our rice to them and in return we will import their oil", he said adding Pakistan cannot afford to export rice on credit. To another question he said that those who were involved in corruption and misuse of funds worth Rs7 billion in the Pakistan Steel were being taken to task. He agreed with a report that there was a need to implement the report of the Audit General of Pakistan who had pinpointed the corruption of Rs7 billion in PS. "Let me tell you that FIA is investigating the issue and it is not correct that the matter is being hushed up". Asked whether it was not difficult to achieve $10 billion export target for 2000-2001, Razak Dawood said that export figures of the first quarter of the current financial year were promising. He said Pakistan exported $2.2 billion worth of goods against the target of $2.3 billion in first quarter. There was a deficit of $100 million which he added was likely to be filled up during the month of October. He said a target of $802 million has been set for October and, "hopefully we will achieve it". To a question he said there was a $638 million rice export target for the whole of 2000-2001 which showed an increase of 66 per cent in terms of quality and 17.5 per cent in terms of value compared to last year. Talking about his recent visit to Indonesia and Malaysia, the commerce minister said he was there to increase Pakistan's trade relations with them. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 001025 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Petroleum sector lures $704m in one year ------------------------------------------------------------------- Bureau Report ISLAMABAD, Oct 24: Federal Petroleum Minister Usman Aminuddin on Tuesday said that petroleum sector had attracted $704 million in the last one year. Speaking at an investor's conference on "Reopening of Pakistan for Business", the minister said $571 million had been invested in upstream and $133 million in the downstream sectors. Mr Aminuddin said major new investments in the upstream oil and gas sector were $268 million in the development of Bhit gas field by LASMO and its joint venture partners, Premier-Shell. OMV of Austria will invest $212 million in the development of Miano and Sawan gas fields and BHP Petroleum to invest $18 million in the development of Zamzama gas field. In addition, Petronas of Malaysia, Paige (USA), TotalFina (France) and OMV are committed to spending $66.8 million in exploration, both onshore and offshore, he added. He said the petroleum sector was going through an extensive restructuring, reforming and traditionally involved in managing the market and allocating these resources. The public sector oil and gas companies were given autonomy to operate on commercial lines without the government interference. These steps were not only bringing high yields but also helping the sector to develop on the fast track. The minister said that major steps were being taken to develop the oil and gas sector. The process of exploration and development of oil and gas fields was being accelerated and increased foreign investment was being encouraged, he said. Dilating on the salient features of oil and gas sector reforms, he said the development of the recently discovered huge resources of gas was being expedited. Independent regulatory authorities were being established for operators and development of the sector, he added. Mr Aminuddin said the government would encourage the conversion of power plants from furnace oil to gas, which would reduce the heavy oil import bill to a great extent. He said the petroleum sector was being deregulated and the privatization process was being expedited to bring in greater efficiency and new investment adding that LPG has already been deregulated and the use of CNG was being promoted. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 001025 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Chief Executive says Hubco dispute near settlement ------------------------------------------------------------------- Bureau Report ISLAMABAD, Oct 24: The government of Pakistan and the Hub Power Company (Hubco) were close to settling a three-year-old power tariff dispute, Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf told foreign investors here on Tuesday. He held out an assurance to investors at a two-day conference organised by Chase JF (Jardine-Fleming Pakistan Pvt), that there would be complete protection of their investments in Pakistan. A number of investors had raised the issue of Hubco and said that the government needed to settle this matter first, if it wanted to attract other foreign investors to Pakistan. The Chief Executive said his government was offering all possible fiscal and non-fiscal incentives to investors, besides ensuring law and order in the country, and Pakistan was ideal for investment. The CE told participants that most of the differences with Hubco had been settled, and that both sides were about to conclude a new agreement on tariff and other administrative issues. He described the Hubco issue an "irritant" and assured investors it would be resolved very soon. General Musharraf however added that both sides should show reciprocity, to end the dispute. He said his government was the first one which took up the issue seriously, to try to resolve it permanently. He also referred to his meeting with Hubco Chairman Muhammad Ali Sheikh Ali Reza in New York, on the 10th of August, and said both sides were negotiating with all sincerity to resolve the dispute. When asked about this meeting, the Chief Executive of Hubco, S. Kurshid Hussain, who was also attending the conference said that he appreciated the personal efforts being made by General Musharraf to settle the issue. He confirmed that he was asked by the finance minister to call the Hubco chairman and other directors to Pakistan, to conclude an agreement between the two sides. Mr Kurshid however added that the kind of flexibility the government was talking about needed to be translated into action. He said the Hubco chairman had written a letter to the finance minister on October 6, to confirm the acceptability of the new tariff so that he could travel to Pakistan to sign the new agreement, but to date there has been no reply. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 001027 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Economic revival plan: Sindh govt holding session today ------------------------------------------------------------------- Sabihuddin Ghausi KARACHI, Oct 26: Industrial production and employment in Sindh continue to decline alarmingly, and according to official survey industrial production dropped by 5.64 per cent, wherein unemployment surged by 4.30 per cent. In the survey of 29 major categories of industries - spread over more than 450 industrial units - officials involved did not find any let-up in the trend during the last four months. There are, however, some expectations that the textile sector - which includes more than 80 factories in the province - may pick up production and generate employment from this month. Over 3,000 employees lost jobs in Pakistan Steel during this one year which has offset an increased employment generation in textile sector. In the backdrop of this dismal scenario, Sindh government is holding a day-long session on Friday. Reports by the eight sub- committees formed about two months ago, suggesting package of recommendations for the revival of Sindh economy will be presented. These committees are off-shoots of a Task Force, headed by the Sindh finance minister, and constituted by Sindh Governor for helping in formulation of two to three-year economic revival plans. Comprising business leaders, academicians, agriculturists and bureaucrats these sub-committees were asked to prepare reports on (1) Unemployment, (2) Industry, (3) Resource generation, (4) New areas, (5) Urban affairs, (6) Agriculture, livestock, fisheries and water management, (7) Project implementation and (8) Rural Development. Along with these, another committee comprising a dozen ministers and bureaucrats has also been formed to engage businessmen, agriculturists, professionals and economists in consultation for the preparation of a strategy to be adopted in the next deliberations of National Finance Commission. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 001024 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Banks cut L/C margin to 25pc ------------------------------------------------------------------- Mohiuddin Aazim KARACHI, Oct 23: Banks on Monday reduced the cash margin from 30 to 25 on all imports and lifted the margin on imports of DAP fertilizer and edible oil. An announcement by all banks said, banks will implement this decision from Tuesday (October 24). It said imports of crude oil and POL products will continue to remain exempted from the cash margin. The announcement said the margin already charged will not be refunded. Senior bankers said the decisions were taken at a meeting held here at the National Bank head office. Heads of majority of local as well as foreign banks attended the meeting. The announcement said the decision to cut LC margin by five per cent and exempt two more essential items from it was taken after banks felt that the margin had brought about the desired result in exchange rates. Banks had imposed 30 per cent cash margin on import letters of credit on October 5 after the rupee had fallen to 59.75/59.80 to a dollar in the inter-bank market and was heading toward a free fall. The purpose was to mop up excess liquidity from the market and make panic buying of greenbacks more expensive for importers. The ploy worked. Import-led panic buying slowed. And the rupee made a dramatic recovery of 6.5 per cent in the inter-bank market within two weeks-rising to 55.95/56.15 on October 20. Bankers watched the upward march of the rupee but kept the cash margin unchanged. They believed that the rise of the rupee was temporary nature and it could start falling again once its complacency was over. Their apprehension was not unfounded because the rupee fell to 56.60/56.70 on increased demand for the dollars from importers. In past two weeks pressure kept building up on banks to lift the margin. Business organizations including the All-Pakistan Textile Mills Association said the margin had added to their financial woes and called for its withdrawal. On the other hand the government also felt that if the banks could not lift the margin they should exempt from it a couple of essential imports. It is against this backdrop that the banks on Monday exempted edible oil and DAP fertilizer from the cash margin requirement. Top bankers told Dawn that they would continue to review the LC margin in future. They said if the exchange rate showed some more stability progressive cuts in the margin will continue. Businessmen say - and bankers do not argue against this - that the margin needs to be phased out during this quarter as it was time for the private sector credit to pick up. Private sector normally starts making fresh borrowings from the banking system in October every year. This continues through next six months and comes to a near halt in March. Between April and September private sector normally retires bank credit instead of borrowing afresh. What keeps this borrowing cycle in motion is the fact that in Pakistan agricultural productivity is at its peak between October and March. That generates demand for working capital both by the industrialists as well as the traders. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 001026 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Steps taken to restore investors confidence ------------------------------------------------------------------- Bureau Report ISLAMABAD, Oct 25: Chairman Board of Investment (BoI) Waseem Haqqie told the participants of a two-day investment conference on Wednesday that a number of steps had been taken to restore the confidence of the investors. He gave a detailed presentation in the conference, jointly organized byJardine-Fleming and Chase Manhattan, on the new sectoral and investment policies offered by the government to restore the confidence of the investors. The BoI chief said a new export promotion strategy had been adopted with the promotion of investment in the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), restructuring of the Central Board of Revenue (CBR) and the launching of an ambitious privatization programme were some other measures taken to lure foreign investment. The conference has been attended by more that 50 foreign investors from the United States, Far East and Europe. The ambassador of Belgium to Pakistan later called on the BoI chairman and discussed with him various avenues for possible investment by Belgian businessmen. Mr Haqqie briefed the ambassador about the investment policy and incentives offered to foreign investors by the government in various sectors, including services, social infrastructure and agriculture. The vice-president of Flag Telecom, USA, Peter Martins de Silva also met the BoI chief and discussed with him the proposals of $40 million investment for laying multi-purpose telecom sub-marine cable which will connect Pakistan with Europe via Middle East, Asean countries and South Asia. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 001028 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Computerized import clearance system ------------------------------------------------------------------- Correspondent ISLAMABAD, Oct 27: A totally computerized import clearance system has been launched, which will minimize contact between the taxpayer and the customs staff. CBR has finalized the procedure for availing the facility, and it will not be available to imports and parties put on the exclusion list. The Electronic Assessment System (EASY), designed by Pakistan Revenue Automation Ltd, will help in computerized valuation and duty assessment. A source told Dawn that about 40 per cent of valuation and assessment work will be computerized by end the of the November. The initial beneficiaries of the system will be the importers including multinational companies who already enjoy the "Express Lane Facility" at the examination consignment stages. Lists of such companies have already been circulated among the relevant staff. All imports made by public sector (federal, provincial governments, state-owned corporations, local bodies) will also be the initial beneficiaries at statutory rates of customs duty and sales tax. Apart from these, all items chargeable to specific rates of customs duty (excluding composite rate, and selected items chargeable to zero rate of duty, sales tax will also be the first among beneficiaries. The facility of EASY shall not be available in cases where bill of entry is filed prior to arrival of vessel; old, used, second hand, reconditioned and scrap items. Items, import of which is either banned or restricted, by the Import Policy Order are also not to benefit. Other excluded cases are: where exemption from duty is claimed through any notification; where payable duties and taxes etc are not declared along with other required information; importers whose names are blocked due to default/any other reason; and the clearing agents who have either expired or have been blocked. Bills of entry will be computerized. The eligible importers or their clearing agents will prepare the bill of entry as per normal procedure and shall declare on the bill of entry that clearance under EASY by affixing a stamp on the face of each page of bill of entry. The clearing agents shall file the bill of entry along with all the related import documents like original import invoice, packing list, LC, bill of lading, copy of test report etc., at any receipt counter of Customer Services Centre (CSS) against a special token. The amount of customs, sales tax, income tax etc should be typed on the bill of entry, calculated on the basis of invoice under the correct PCT heading. The test reports (where applicable) should be typed in case of chemicals. In case of import of tea, the values certified by Pakistan Tea Association shall be declared on the bill of entry for the purpose of assessment. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 001028 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Trade financing: Habib Bank revamps system ------------------------------------------------------------------- Mohiuddin Aazim KARACHI, Oct 27: Habib Bank Ltd is set to reach out to medium- size businessmen initially across five cities to snatch back its lost share of trade financing business from small private banks. The cities are: (i) Karachi (ii) Faisalabad (iii) Sialkot (iv) Lahore and (v) Rawalpindi. "From Wednesday 23 commercial banking centres in these cities would start building a new bond of relationship with our clients -more specifically with medium size businessmen," HBL President Zakir Mahmood told Dawn. Karachi will have the largest number of commercial centres i.e. 10 followed by Lahore 5 and Sialkot 4. Faisalabad and Rawalpindi will have 2 each. Mahmood said Sialkot and Faisalabad offered huge opportunities in trade financing to medium size exporters of yarn and sports and surgical goods. Similarly thousands of medium size importers in Jodia Bazar; Cloth Market; Timber Market and other commercial hubs of Karachi need an easy-to-access trade financing facility. Mahmood would not define medium size businessman-maybe for reasons of business secrecy-but HBL sources said the term covers trading houses with an annual turnover of more than five but less than forty million rupees. That makes sense. Because HBL regards businesses with turnover up to Rs 5 million as retail customers. And it treats businesses having turnover of Rs 40 million or more as corporate clients. HBL sources say medium size customers will be taken care of by a separate commercial banking division within its retail banking group. "Historically HBL has been a trade financing bank. We must try to restore this image," Mahmood said admitting that the bank had lost part of its trade financing business to small private banks. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 001023 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Manpower policy to generate 2.96m jobs ------------------------------------------------------------------- Correspondent ISLAMABAD, Oct 22: A three-year new manpower policy has been prepared to generate 2.96 million new jobs internally with a GDP growth rate of 5.5 per cent over the next three years (2000-2003). Major thrust of the new manpower policy is on the development of a well-trained, skilled labor force. Labor ministry officials told Dawn that a new "employment/ manpower and income policy" has been prepared after reports that unemployment backlog in the year 2000 has reached 1.95 million and by the year 2003, 4.5 million people will be seeking jobs. The policy pointed out that the return of Pakistani workers from abroad after 1988 has played an important part in accentuating the pressure on domestic employment situation. The policy said in addition to local job opportunities, net overseas migration in the order of 0.3 million is alsoexpected, thus leaving the numbers of unemployed towards the end of the three-year programme to 1.24 million or about 3 per cent compared with the unemployment rate of 6.1 per cent. It said the decline in the participation rates particularly in the age group of 10-19 might be attributed to increasing attendance in schools and colleges. Besides, increase was also observed in the self-employment opportunities. Increasing migration in mid 1970s and mid 1980s has also constrained the growth of domestic labour force. According to the report of the National Manpower Commission, almost 25 per cent of the incremental labour force during 1978-83 found employment abroad. But, their return to the country in the late 80s increased pressure on local employment market, the policy pointed out. The main objectives of the sector during the three-year period are to establish the right macro-economic climate to set up an economic framework, which supports business by deregulation and reducing red-tapism undermining competitiveness. National competitiveness will be achieved by a common vision and an integrated approach to help build energetic, dynamic local economies focussing on local economic development and regeneration in both urban and rural areas will be adopted. The government will develop and encourage a "world class work force" with the skills needed for successful business. The policy envisages setting up of an autonomous body in the shape of National Training Council, which would be responsible for formulating the national training policy and its implementation. The policy also places heavy reliance on the private sector for formal jobs. Appropriate incentives will be offered to the sector, curricula will be developed along with testing and certification mechanisms. The incentives may include soft loans, matching grants and duty-free import of training equipment. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 001024 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Rupee begins to fall ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Our Staff Reporter KARACHI, Oct 23: The rupee ended at 56.60/56.70 to a dollar in the inter-bank market on Monday-down by 60 paisa from the previous close of 56.00/56.10. Bankers said the rupee had to shed some of its charm as import -led demand for dollars rose forcing a couple of banks to go for buying greenbacks from other banks to cover their daily requirement. This reversed a two-week long trend marked by a steady upward march of the rupee. The rupee recovered 6.5 per cent in two weeks to October 20-rising from 55.95/56.15 to 58.75/58.80 on October 5 showing a huge recovery of 6.5 per cent. A number of factors had helped the rupee make this recovery: (i) one per cent increase in repo rate (ii) two per cent hiking of treasury bills rates (iii) two per cent increase in the cash reserves requirement of banks and (iv) a 30 per cent cash margin on imports. These measures put together squeezed out excess liquidity from the market thus reducing panic buying of dollars by importers. At the same time this tightening of monetary measures also raised the supply of export dollars. What else helped the rupee recover dramatically in the inter-bank market was that the importers who had made panic forward buyings had to sell back the dollars after their trade contracts failed to materialise. And last but not the least the State Bank slowed the process of clearing the applications for outward remittance of foreign exchange by portfolio investors for some days. Bankers say after the rupee hit 56 to a dollar in the inter- bank market most exporters slowed selling of export dollars as they knew that the rupee would fall again. On the other hand the importers again rushed to buy greenbacks for the same reason.Back to the top
=================================================================== EDITORIALS & FEATURES 001022 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Fun and games ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Ardeshir Cowasjee WE have much too much gloom and doom surrounding us - it is high time we had some fun and games. "My centre is giving way, my right is in retreat; situation excellent. I shall attack." During the closing months of World War I, so said Ferdinand Foch (1851-1929) Marshal of France, of Great Britain and of Poland, and Commander of the Allied Forces. Foch is generally accounted as the leader most responsible for the Allied victory. King Albert I of Belgium said of him: "That man could make the dead fight." That was over eighty years ago. Time moves on, but this country has failed to move on with it. We are not at war. Our centre is not giving way. Our right is not in retreat. However, the situation may not be excellent. On October 19 2000, front-page headlines informed us: "Anti-Pakistan utterances - leaders to be dealt with strictly: Govt." (Dawn); "Anti-Pak rhetoric not to be tolerated" (The Nation); "Cabinet warns of stern action against anti-Pak statements. Seeks report on statements of Altaf, Muttahida delegation, Magsi, Mumtaz Bhutto" (The News). "General Haider Sahib, people are talking against the national security, the army, the two-nation theory and geographical boundaries ..... why don"t you take action against them?" This is what Dawn reported General Pervez Musharraf as having said in the cabinet meeting of October 18. And, "You better know what is the punishment for talking against the Constitution," an interior ministry official is quoted as having told Dawn after the cabinet meeting. "The Cabinet decided that anit-state activities would not be allowed and anybody making statements against Pakistan would be dealt with severely," is quoted in The Nation as being an official statement made after the meeting. The News reports: "Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf chaired the meeting which was also attended by all the provincial governors. Though it was not an agenda item, the Chief Executive took the initiative of pointing out anti-Pakistan statements by certain political leaders and regretted the irresponsible attitude of these leaders. 'They can criticise my person, policies of the government, but they should not be allowed to talk against Pakistan,' Musharraf told the cabinet as quoted by the source." May we remind the general that he has deprived the corrupt politicians of their very livelihood, of their bread and butter, not just their jam. So should they not cry, should they not protest? And should they not be allowed to say what they will? And should whatever they say not be treated with utter disdain? This takes me back to my school, BVS, to Gujerati Class III to my class master, Ranchordass Nagardass who wielding the school cane with gay abandon used to say "I will beat you, it will hurt, but you cannot cry." Can we not assure the general that the statements of these disgraced men, if so made and correctly reported, do far less harm to the people and our country than signs put outside the parks by his officers in uniform, in military cantonments and housing societies informing those who wish to use the park, that the wearing of shorts is banned. The signs are directed at men and young boys. Just what is the message conveyed? It does not take too long to work it out in these fundamentalist-closed mind-orientated days. The name of the game is cricket, on which subject I wrote last week. In response, I received one message from an irate octogenarian aunt asking me what is so great about Pakistan having a woman's cricket team. We Parsis, she told me, had one in the early 1900s. Why don't you write on Zoroastrian achievements in the sporting world? she asked. My telling her that that we BC wallas have enjoyed their empires and their glory, now let's encourage the new-comers, the AD wallas, did not appease her. She referred me to the book Parsis and Sports written by Hormuzdiyar Dhunjishaw Darukhanawala. As his name suggests he comes from a family of wine merchants. This quaint book was written in Bombay in 1935, sponsored by advertisements inserted by Parsi firms and individuals. One advertiser is Darukhanawala himself, a roller-skater, the proprietor and instructor of the Bombay Skating Class at Gowalia Tank. The advertisement tells readers: "This class has had the honour of receiving tuitions in the art of roller skating from the ex-world champion skater Mr A. S. Tony of Vienna, trick and fancy roller-skater and speciality dancer," Duke & Sons of Grant Road, Bombay, specialists in bottling and selling non-alcoholic drinks, advertised their speciality, Prune Ade, 'the most palatable of all sweet drinks, made of Bordeaux prunes'." Tharsa Manufacturing Company owned by Taimuljee Wadia, a pharmacist, was famous for the dispensing of Wadia's own special mixture "Tharsa (for external use only)" which was advertised as "A tried and proven remedy for paralysis, pneumonia, cramps, palpitation of the heart, heart disease, lumbago, pain in joints and bones, asthma, swelling in the throat, pain in the abdomen, swelling in joints, and rheumatic pains of all kind. Wounds caused by sharp iron can be successfully cured by Tharsa. Sold Everywhere." In the chapter on cricket in Bombay, the book quotes from a speech given by Sir Pherozeshah Mehta in April 1886 at a dinner given in honour of the Parsi team that was leaving for England to play against the English team: "I, gentlemen, remember the time about a quarter of a century ago when our co-religionists first took to cricketing. Those days are quite fresh in my mind from the fact of my being one of the very first who was engaged in this game. This fact was unknown to fame, and I am particularly glad to make a public announcement this evening that it was on the maidan outside the ramparts that the pioneers of cricket, proud of their bats and stumps, which were made by a native carpenter, had begun to play. Since then the game has flourished among us ...... The days of my exploits on the cricket field have long since passed away, but to this day there is no more agreeable sight to me in Bombay, while passing down Esplanade Road, than that of the whole maidan overspread by a lot of enthusiastic Parsi and Hindu cricketers, keenly and eagerly engaged in this many game. "I may say that the object of the team in going to England is a very modest one. Cricket as you know is the national game of England. It has taken root among the Parsi community, and as artists go to Italy to do homage to the great Masters ....... so now the Parsis are going to England to do homage to the English cricketers, to learn something of that noble and manly pastime in the very country which is its chosen home." The team played 28 matches in England, one resulting in victory, 19 being lost and eight drawn. Sir Dhanjibhoy Bomanji (still living when the book was written) is described as being in his younger days "a true physical culturist, having been a pupil of the late Eugene Sandow, 'The Strong Man of Europe' and the pioneer of physical culture, who a quarter of a century ago was called to Bombay by Sir Dhanjibhoy to give him special physical treatment." Apparently, within a few months "he acquired a marvellous physique and was considered to be one of the strongest men in his community." Sir Dorab Tata (1859-1932) as recounts the book "won his colours at Caius for cricket, rugger and soccer and played tennis for the college. Coxed a college boat. Won several sprint events on the cinder path, including a 120 yards. Varsity handicap. Was a member of the varsity long vacation cricket eleven in 1878. Won his colours as a Crusader. Was a member of the MCC, the Surrey Club, the Ranelagh and Hurlingham Clubs, also Queen's Club. On return to India he captained the Parsi Cricket Club and took representative Parsi teams to play against the Poona Gymkhana. Later he helped start the Parsi Gymkhana of which he was the Hon Secretary for about ten years, and captained the cricket team during that period ...... In him the Parsi community lost a great patron of sport and a great Industrialist." Morals for the day: Despite our ever-increasing enemies of laughter, we must learn to laugh more. And despite our ever-greedy developers and builders, whatever maidans and open spaces we still have must be kept as maidans and open spaces for our deprived but enthusiastic young sportspeople. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 001027 ------------------------------------------------------------------- The killjoy spirit ------------------------------------------------------------------- Ayaz Amir UNTIL Bhutto messed up things in 1977 - incidentally, doing a thorough job of the messing up - and gave an opening to the killjoys of the nation to seize the political high ground (an advantage these righteous armies have never vacated), Pakistan enjoyed just the right tension between the opposite pulls of sin and salvation. In the most happily-constituted Muslim societies this tension always existed, indeed contributing in no small measure to the diversity and extent of their achievements. When Europe lay in the grip of mediaevalism and the torch of learning and knowledge was held aloft by Muslim scholars, this life-enhancing tension found full expression in the world of Islam. The good Muslim scrupulously fulfilled his religious obligations. He kept himself clean - a stage of civilization which the peoples of Europe arrived at several centuries later. He offered his prayers, kept the fast, gave alms to the poor and, if the opportunity beckoned, made the pilgrimage to Makkah. Withal, a simple religion, its early appeal owing as much to the sharpness of the Islamic sword as to the startling simplicity of its canon. Judaism, Hinduism, Christianity - all so complicated by comparison. But let's not get into these invidious distinctions. Fulfilling religious obligations, however, was only one aspect of the life of the good Muslim. He also had an eye for the finer things of life: verse, story-telling, abstract speculation. To commemorate his faith, he built handsome mosques; to celebrate life he laid gardens and erected fountains. And through it all, even though aware of the strictures of his faith, he was not above being touched by the madness which comes from paying homage to the deity of the vine. The Muslim of that period enriched human civilization. In part if not wholly, was it not because he himself lived life to the full? The best Urdu poetry is also full of this creative tension as evidenced by the contrasting images of mosque and tavern (viz. Ghalib's famous verse, 'In the mosque's shadow let wine be brought' - this being a rough translation) and the clashing metaphors of shaikh (he who preaches) and saqi (he who pours the wine). Why is this tension creative? Because, as philosophers have preached from Heraclitus to Hegel, there would be no unity in the world if there were not opposites to combine: "It is the opposite which is good for us." (Heraclitus) In Urdu poetry, unless I am grossly mistaken, wine and the cup are symbols of rebellion, of going against the accepted norm. Where would be the charm of Ghalib's verse if this tension between the permitted and the forbidden was missing? This is the problem with Pakistan today: not so much military rule, or the Grand Democratic Alliance or even the country's mounting debts as the killjoy place it has become - all sermons and preaching and no idea of fun, much less the idea of illicit fun which in any clime acts as a spur to the imagination. Discourse in all its forms in the Islamic Republic has become admonitory: do this, do that. Of course, there are other problems which assail our country but it does not help when to these problems is added the cross of a monumental boredom. Other places endeavour to manufacture happiness, even if the happiness so produced is tinselly and short-lived. We have become adept at producing unhappiness: a state of mind which has nothing to do with material deprivation and everything with a disease of the spirit. Small wonder then if even well-heeled Pakistanis look the way they do: dissatisfied, depressed and perpetually insecure. Forget the poor; the Pakistani rich are more insecure, a fact attested to by the insatiable greed of the good and the great. (The corruption of the Sharifs and Zardaris has always stumped me for this reason. So much money, to what purpose?) Do Pakistanis deserve this? They are not a sickly people and given half the chance are able to enjoy life as much as anyone else. (Uncharitable souls, seeing Pakistanis in their cups or on the dance floor, might even say that their capacity for enjoyment is more than most.) Do Pakistanis deserve the constant onslaught of piety to which they have been subjected these past 25 years? Every Islamic society in history, or indeed any other society for that matter, has its killjoy puritans, who believe that the conscious pursuit of misery is an essential pre-requisite for attaining life everlasting. In a healthy society such elements are ignored or kept safely to the sidelines. Not in Pakistan where their nuisance value has found recognition in a spurious morality. Apart from external security which we need not go into here, what are the foremost functions of the state? Maintaining law and order, collecting revenue, delivering essential services, providing equal opportunities, etc. These temporal functions the state is less and less able to discharge with any semblance of efficiency. So what does it do? It assumes a spiritual role for itself and becomes the arbiter of the nation's morals. Not, let it be noted, the nation's public morals which have become corrupted beyond redemption but only the private morals of its citizens.Nor is this all. As if the people of Pakistan need constant reminders of the gratuitous misery to which they are exposed, consider the person chosen by the Fates as the Chief Magistrate of the Republic. Not that he is unworthy of his high office. Only this that the piety he exudes is of the kind with which the people of Pakistan have been assaulted since Zia-ul- Haq's time. So is it any surprising if the sum of national depression should register an increase every time he appears on television? As I have said above, there are other great problems awaiting the nation's attention: amending the Constitution, giving the army a permanent role in politics (as if the army needs any permission in this regard), grooming a new leadership (grim prospect this), reviving the economy, filling our begging bowl, and so on. But before tackling this thick agenda, the people of Pakistan might be given a break. They are not likely to see inflation come down any time soon or the job situation improve in a hurry. But at least they could be spared the sermons and speeches. And the dry climate which is responsible for so much of the moaning and whining to be heard in the country. So what is the conclusion? Probably only this that the excessive salvation which has held the field since 1977 when Bhutto, boxed into a corner, messed up everything needs to be balanced now with a bit of loosening up. Pakistanis have been uptight for too long. They need to cheer up a bit and cultivate (although this is not easy) a bit of happiness. I suspect that a good deal of the gloom and doom to be heard in the country has to do with the monotony of life in Pakistan. Pakistanis get a kick out of being depressed. But are they to blame when they can get a kick out of nothing else? Let us also remember that whether in Pakistan or elsewhere it is not sinners who bemoan the state of the world. Sinners generally are more relaxed about these things. It is evangelists and reformers who think that the world is coming to an end. The late Jam Sadiq Ali had it about it right. Long after his political sins are forgotten, the social reforms he undertook in Sindh will be remembered. How did he succeed where others have not even tried? For the sake of the nation's well-being, his methods deserve a close examination. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 001028 ------------------------------------------------------------------- The high cost of jihad ------------------------------------------------------------------- Irfan Husain I HAVE before me a pamphlet issued by a leading jihadi organization; on the last page is an appeal for donations to finance the struggle in Kashmir. The price of a Kalashnikov is given as Rs 20,000; a bullet is Rs 35; and a "Kenwood wireless" is listed at Rs 28,000. The total "launching fee" for a mujahid, inclusive of training, arms and transportation is a cool Rs 140,000. On the other end of the scale is the much larger but un- quantifiable figure of what we as a nation are being penalized for our support of such activities. Across the world, we have been branded an exporter of fundamentalism and terrorism. Pakistanis are known to have taken part in large numbers on the side of the Taliban in battles in Afghanistan. The Russian government has accused us of sending fighters to Chechnya and there are reports of Pakistanis fighting as far away as in Bosnia. At the very least, this and previous governments have turned a blind eye to these private initiatives. Recently, Shah Ahmad Noorani of the Jamiat-i-Ulema-i-Pakistan has praised General Pervez Musharraf for drawing a clear distinction between terrorism and jihad. The problem is that the rest of the world is not buying such sophistry. While it is a truism to say that one man's jihad is another's terrorism, we need to distinguish between random violence against innocent civilians aimed solely at creating terror, and battling armed and trained forces for a just cause. Far too often, this line is crossed and the negative publicity generated by the killing of unarmed bystanders outweighs any possible advantage gained through terrorizing the civilian population. This has happened far too often in Kashmir where foreign tourists and non-Muslims have been deliberately targeted by various jihadi groups. In much of the world, these actions are seen as terrorism pure and simple. While the perpetrators of such crimes lose any sympathy and support. Pakistan is seen as supporting the militants who committed these acts, and is therefore considered an exporter of terrorism. As a result, our ties with traditionally friendly countries in the Arab world as well as with Iran and China have suffered. Of late, there has been much talk of boosting tourism. But people from General Musharraf to the officials of the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation overlook the fact that the rhetoric emanating from our proliferating jihadi outfits does not exactly encourage foreigners to visit a country where talk of enforcing an alien way of life by force is rife. Many tourist destinations in our picturesque northern areas have become centres of religious fundamentalism: witness this government's surrender to demands that cable TV should be banned in Peshawar. Investors, too, are wary of putting in any funds in a country which is seen abroad as intolerant, aggressive and retrogressive. There was a letter to the editor of this newspaper recently complaining that a local restaurant refused to serve a foreigner who was wearing shorts. Similarly attired men are barred from entering public parks. All these absurdly obscurantist steps are signs of the creeping Talibanization that has been going on for some time now. As a society, we are paying an intolerable price for our mindless support of the most reactionary elements in the country. Indeed, perhaps the highest price of bigotry is the divisive effect it has had on society. Already, Ahmadis, Christians and Hindus have been declared beyond the pale. Many Sunni groups (most notably the Sipah-i-Sahaba) have been demanding that Shias be declared non- Muslims. Various sects are at each other's throats. Armed attacks, often in mosques, on Shias are common. Iranian citizens have been deliberately targeted. No nation can sustain this level of violence and religious intolerance indefinitely, and given the number and sophistication of arms possessed (and often openly displayed) by jihadi groups, it does not appear likely that the killing will stop any time soon. We had all hoped that the army, being the only national institution with the power to take on the jihadi elements, would tackle them when it took over last year. But by making a distinction between jihad and terrorism, General Musharraf has given these elements the green light. Both in Kashmir and Afghanistan (and beyond), the army's strategy seems to be to support the jihadis to further perceived national interests. Unfortunately, these interests have never been openly debated before being made the basis of our flawed foreign policy. Basically, the focus of our worldview has shrunk to Kashmir, and everything else has become subordinate to this one-point agenda. Since there has been no progress on the diplomatic front, and the balance of power between Pakistan and India is steadily tilting in our neighbour's favour, the establishment sees no alternative to supporting jihadi elements as a means to drawing international attention and putting pressure on India. But ten years of this policy have yielded no positive results. If anything, the Kargil fiasco has given India an excuse to harden its position as well as make a massive investment in modernizing its armed forces. And the bomb blasts in our major cities is an unpleasant reminder that there is no such thing as a free lunch. Given the army's rigid mindset, it is difficult to change the course of a policy, even if it has clearly failed. Our support for jihad may not have any electoral support and the bulk of our population may be indifferent to the unending Kashmir issue, but the policy nevertheless is sustained by significant figures and powerful institutions. Politicians, wary of antagonizing the fearsome defence establishment and the intelligence apparatus as well as the small but vocal fundamentalist lobby, fall into line and make the usual pro-jihad noises. Right-wing journalists and publications are generally gung-ho on the issue. So given this nexus of interests, it is difficult to see how the jihad juggernaut can be halted. The only force that can concentrate these closed minds is the steady deterioration in the economy that can be linked directly to our disastrous foreign policy and its accompanying defence posture. And at the heart of these policies lies the concept of jihad as a solution to our external and internal problems. In other words, we will continue on our present course until we can no longer afford to pay the high cost of jihad.
=================================================================== SPORTS 001026 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Replacements unavailable for senior cricket players ------------------------------------------------------------------- Reporter ISLAMABAD, Oct 25: Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board Lt-Gen Tauqir Zia has said that there are no immediate replacements available for senior players in Pakistan team. Talking to reporters at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, the general maintained that when he took over impression was given that there are plenty of youngsters ready to replace senior players. "But, I have got the rude shock that there are no immediate replacements available for senior players," he said. What is available is not up to international standard and require technical grooming before they can represent the country, the general said while giving the example of Hasan Raza, Irfan Fazil, Yasir Arafat etc. Similar results will be given by other promising youngsters like Zahid Saeed, Mohammad Sami etc. because these cricketers need to get their techniques right. The general said the remedy and only hope for improving the situation is the national academy which would start functioning form from the first week of November at Lahore. Thirty promising youngsters are being shortlisted who would be trained in all aspects of cricket in this initial phase. Six or seven coaches -experts in physical training, fielding, batting, various bowling types, psychological grooming etc- will be hired to undertake the assignment. Four pitches have been prepared for the purpose to start the academy. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 001023 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Saleh tops Group H in world snooker ------------------------------------------------------------------- Reporter KARACHI, Oct 22: Pakistan's top cueist Saleh Mohammad, topped Group H in the IBSF World Snooker Championship, when he toppled Chan Wai Kai from China Hong Kong 4-1 at Changchun China, according to a message received here on Sunday. Chan Wai Ki, fancied to top the group began well scoring 62 points in the opening frame before Saleh could open his account. Unperturbed with the situation, Saleh got his act together and chalked up a splendid break of 80 which enabled him to take the early lead 1-0. Another break of 43 in the next frame saw Saleh sail ahead 2-0 and he then had his reputed opponent on the ropes by picking up the third frame also. Completely mesmerised, Chan Wai Ki managed to save face by pinching the fourth frame 98/14, laced with a break of 44. But Saleh on for the kill was just brilliant in the fifth, winning the frame 93/0, with the help of 36 points on the trot. Although Saleh was beaten 4-1 by Welshman Edward Davies in his third match of the Group, the fighting Pathan bounced back to perch himself on top. Yousuf beat Serge Das from Belgium 4-1, as he took the third spot in Group D behind Praput Chaithanasskun from (Thailand) and J.B. Johannesson. Although he notched up a break of 36 in the opening frame, Yousuf ended up on the losing side 65/75, after a keenly fought encounter. The Pakistan veteran making his 13th appearance in the World championship, used his great skill as he breezed through the last four frames with breaks of 35, 41 and 60 in the second, third and fourth frames. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 001028 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Pakistan inflict an 8-wicket defeat upon England: Afridi excels with bat and ball ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Samiul Hasan LAHORE, Oct 27: Pakistan inflicted an eight-wicket defeat upon England in the second one-day International played under floodlights at the Qadhafi Stadium here on Friday before a packed to capacity house. Pakistan levelled the three-match one-day international series without sweating after Shahid Afridi became the seventh player in the world and second Pakistani after Abdur Razzaq to take five wickets and hit a half century in limited overs games. The 20-year-old newly married Pathan captured five wickets for 40 runs as England were restricted to 211 for nine on a perfect batting pitch and in ideal conditions. Afridi then stroked 61 as Pakistan avenged Tuesday's five-wicket defeat with a thorough professional performance by overhauling the target with 5.4 overs and eight wickets to spare. It was Pakistan's biggest victory over England in terms of wickets which was later celebrated with a spectacular fireworks. Pakistan always looked like a team on a mission when they fielded superbly and bowled intelligently to entertain a festive and cheerful full house. Pakistan captain Moin Khan showed class with two smart stumpings while accounting for three batsmen behind the wickets to take his tally of victims to seven in two matches. If Moin had looked perplexed on Tuesday, he appeared cool and composed on Friday and emphasised on containment by placing the fielders at right positions. His best role for the team was to win the all important toss. After a 66-run start by the Englishmen, Moin introduced Mushtaq Ahmad in the 12th over and the baby-faced former Somerset bowler provided the breakthrough on his very first delivery by having Alec Stewart (22) stumped. As the second wicket partnership between skipper Nasser Hussain and opener Marcus Trescothick looked like entering the danger zone, Moin brought in Shahid Afridi who struck with his fifth delivery to end the 50-run stand. He terminated the innings of Trescothick who scored a 74-ball 65 with five boundaries and a six. Moin, who had replaced Afridi despite first spell figures of 4-1- 18-1, recalled him for the second and Afridi justified the confidence of his captain with three wickets in nine balls as England later order collapsed like a pack of cards. >From a respectable score of 116 for one, England crumbled to 211 for nine by losing eight wickets for 95 runs in 24.1 overs. In fact, in the last 10 overs, England scored just 34 runs at the cost of five wickets. England, it may be recalled, had utilized the wet conditions in Karachi by scoring 56 in the last 7.2 overs. Nasser Hussain, amidst a disappointing performance shortly after having successfully chased 304 three days back, stood tall by following up his Karachi's 73 with 54 that included five boundaries off 89 deliveries. While Afridi, later adjudged Man-of-the-Match, concentrated on keeping the ball in three sticks with little spin, Saqlain Mushtaq and Mushtaq Ahmad spun the ball enough to leave the tourists guessing. The duo shared three wickets between them but the most important thing they did was to exploit England's fragility against quality spinners. Of the nine England wickets, eight were captured by the spinners which would certainly serve as a warning to the tourists as to what lay ahead in the three-Test series which, interestingly, starts here from Nov 15. England's modest 211 for nine was never a threatening score. But the target was made even smaller after Shahid Afridi and Saeed Anwar laid the founddation for a convincing win by featuring in a 76-run opening wicket stand. Both batted with conviction, authority and stroked the ball in gaps to bring the fans on their feet. Saeed was graceful as always canning four boundaries in his 59-ball 44. But it was Shahid Afridi who clubbed eight blistering fours and a towering six off Ashley Giles to score his 61 from 69 balls to complete the match with a performance which any great allrounder would be proud of. Afridi belted a six and then followed up with three consecutive boundaries to reach his career's 14th half century from 54 deliveries. After Afridi departed with a leading edge off Giles, an in-form Salim Elahi and Yousuf Youhana made sure that Pakistan reached victory without any further damage by featuring in an unbroken 91- run third wicket partnership. They played shots which confirmed that Pakistan's batting future is in safe hands. Salim, who earned the selectors nod over Imran Nazir, remained unbeaten on 59 with seven boundaries. Salim's fourth half century would surely confirm his place in the team after being in and out recently. Salim scored his career's fourth half century off 70 balls with five fours. Did not bat: Inzamam-ul-Haq, Abdur Razzaq, Moin Khan, Wasim Akram, Azhar Mahmood, Saqlain Mushtaq, Mushtaq Ahmed Fall of wkts: 1-76 2-123 Bowling: Caddick 10-1-37-0, Gough 10-0-51-0, White 8.2-0-44-0, Giles 10-1-45-2, Ealham 4-0-23-0, Hick 2-0-14-0 Result: Pakistan won by eight wickets MAN-OF-THE MATCH: Shahid Afridi Next match: Rawalpindi, Monday. ------------------------------------------------------------------- You can subscribe to DWS by sending an email to <subscribe.dws@dawn.com>, with the following text in the BODY of your message: subscribe dws To unsubscribe, send an email to <unsubscribe.dws@dawn.com>, with the following in the BODY of you message: unsubscribe dws ------------------------------------------------------------------- Back to the top.
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