------------------------------------------------------------------- DAWN WIRE SERVICE ------------------------------------------------------------------- Week Ending : 28 April 2001 Issue : 07/17 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Contents | National News | Business & Economy | Editorials & Features | Sports
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CONTENTS =================================================================== NATIONAL NEWS + SC orders changes in NAB Ordinance - Verdict announced + Chief Executive calls for stronger defence ties with Iran + Pakistan, Iran agree on broad-based govt for Afghanistan + All Parties Hurriyat Conference rejects Indian offer + Many ARD leaders, workers picked up + Land route only feasible option: Iran + US official discusses situation with Gohar + World Bank okays two projects + Government to implement decision: official + Expansion of trade relations stressed + POL smuggling to figure in talks with Iran today + Good governance, economic revival top priorities: CE + No rift in All Parties Hurriyat Conference ranks: Bhat + Canal water crisis costs Rs33billion to Sindh + Asif's shifting plea adjourned --------------------------------- BUSINESS & ECONOMY + Asian Development Bank to provide $2.5 billion to Pakistan + Farm loan amount doubled: Shaukat: Drought ravages + 20% import tariffs for European Union under study + Talks on to streamline IMF conditionalities + State Bank not to buy dollar from kerb up to June + Sino-Pakistan trade relations to grow: Sattar + Pakistan, EU talks on trade barriers + Shifting of cane cultivation to sugar beet + UBL earned Rs 2billion in profits, says president + Money changers to trade $ with National Bank + Private sector to set up micro credit banks --------------------------------------- EDITORIALS & FEATURES + Another historic judgement Ardeshir Cowasjee + An excess of brass Ayaz Amir + It's a minefield out there Irfan Husain ----------- SPORTS + Moin dropped as blundering selectors play musical chairs + Pakistan to name squad for England today + Unknown Foster named as bowling coach
DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS =================================================================== NATIONAL NEWS 20010425 ------------------------------------------------------------------- SC orders changes in NAB Ordinance - Verdict announced ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Rafaqat Ali ISLAMABAD, April 24: The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued guidelines to the government to amend the National Accountability Bureau Ordinance, preferably within two months, for bringing the accountability process under the existing judicial system. Announcing its judgement in petitions challenging the vires of the NAB Ordinance, the apex court reduced the maximum period of remand from 90 days to 15 days and directed that the accused should be produced in the accountability court within 15 days of his arrest. If sufficient and reasonable cause is available for further remand, after the expiry of first 15 days, the accused should be brought before the court for appropriate order and in no case, each remand should be for a period of more than 15 days at a time, it said. Holding that the NAB law was promulgated competently, the court ruled: "We allow these petitions with the observation that this order and directions contained therein shall come into force with immediate effect. However, the federal government is directed to formally promulgate appropriate legislative instruments, as soon as possible, but preferably, within a period of two months from today." The court held that detention of an accused for 90 days without sufficient cause was violative of personal liberties. The court held that chairman NAB's powers to freeze property shall not exceed 30 days unless confirmed by an accountability court. The court further directed that the accountability court passing order of remand should forward a copy of such order with reasons for making it to the high court concerned. It was further held that the judgement passed on Tuesday would have no affect on the cases already tried and decided. "We, therefore, direct that this order shall not affect the trials conducted and convictions recorded or any order passed or proceedings taken thereunder and the pending trials/proceedings may continue subject to this order." The 15 petitions, filed by prominent politicians, including former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan and many others, were admitted for regular hearing on September 12, 2000, and were decided last week after one week hearing. Chief Justice Irshad Hasan Khan, who authored the 342-paged judgement, read out the whole judgement, starting at 9:12am and ending at 11:45am. The bench consisted of Chief Justice Irshad Hasan Khan, Justice Muhammad Bashir Jehangiri, Justice Muhammad Arif and Justice Qazi Muhammad Farooq The court ruled that from April 24, 2002, the accountability courts (ACs) would be under the discipline of high courts instead of federal government. The court held that all the judges of accountability courts should be serving district and session judges, qualified to be appointed as judges of the high court. They should be appointed for a period of three years in consultation with chief justice of the high court concerned. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010427 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Chief Executive calls for stronger defence ties with Iran ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Ahmad Hasan Alvi ISLAMABAD, April 26: Chief Executive Gen Pervez Musharraf said on Thursday that Islamabad wanted stronger ties with Iran in all fields and said there was good scope for increasing military co- operation between the two countries. The chief executive was talking to Dr Hassan Rouhani, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council and National Security Adviser to the President, who called on him here on Thursday. The chief executive also underscored the need for greater economic co-operation between Pakistan and Iran and observed that the volume of trade between the two countries was far below its potential and needed to be substantially increased, says an official statement. Referring to the traditionally close relations that have existed between Pakistan and Iran, the chief executive told Dr Rouhani that Pakistan sincerely desired to further strengthen these ties with Iran in all fields. Similarly, there was good scope for increasing the co-operation in the field of defence, he added. Talking about the continued turmoil in Afghanistan, Gen Musharraf said that it had brought nothing but misery and hardship to the people of Afghanistan. The chief executive said Pakistan and Iran needed to co-operate to bring durable peace to Afghanistan. He also expressed his appreciation of Iran's support on the Kashmir issue and hoped that Iran would continue to raise its voice for the legitimate rights of the Kashmiri people. The chief executive renewed his invitation to President Khatami to pay an official visit to Pakistan. Dr Rouhani conveyed the greetings of President Khatami to the chief executive. He referred to the historic and cultural affinities between the two countries which were based on shared faith. Dr Rouhani said relations between the two countries were deep- rooted and would not be affected by Iran's relations with any other country. During his visit he had held important meetings in which proposals to expand bilateral co-operation in various fields were discussed. Frequent exchange of high level visit between the two countries would further strengthen these relations. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010427 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Pakistan, Iran agree on broad-based govt for Afghanistan ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Syed Talat Hussain ISLAMABAD, April 26: Iran reiterated its stand on Thursday on broad-based government in Afghanistan and condemned the Taliban for blowing up the statues of Buddhas. Speaking at a press conference along with Foreign Minister Abdus Sattar at the Foreign Office, Dr Hassan Rouhani, Secretary of the Supreme Council of National Security of Iran, described Afghanistan as a complex issue and said there was a need to develop a proper mechanism to bring back stability. "There cannot be a military solution to the problem," said Dr Rouhani, who also described extremism in Afghanistan as dangerous. "Pakistan and Iran agree on the need for a broad-based government in Afghanistan, ceasefire, end of extremism and supply of weapons from outside to the warring factions," he said. While quoting a verse from the Holy Quran about respecting other religions, he made a strong statement against the Taliban for blowing up the centuries old Buddha statues. On Kashmir, Dr Rouhani said the best forum for resolving the Kashmir issue would be where Pakistan, India and the Kashmiris are represented. He, however, categorically stated that in order to have influence with India, Iran has to have good ties with New Delhi. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010427 ------------------------------------------------------------------- All Parties Hurriyat Conference rejects Indian offer ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Jawed Naqvi NEW DELHI, April 26: Kashmir's All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) delivered an emphatic snub to India on Thursday, putting on hold a much-discussed offer of talks with New Delhi. Hurriyat officials said any such exercise would be futile unless it was clearly understood by all concerned that Pakistan could not be kept out of any realistic quest to resolve the dispute. "Our discussions were focussed on one point," said Maulvi Abbas Ansari, a member of the APHC executive council. "We decided that talks and not guns could end our misery. But we were equally clear that we needed a durable solution, one that inevitably involves Pakistan along with Hurriyat and India." An APHC spokesman said the group's resolve, expressed unanimously and in one voice (thereby upsetting some calculations about a possible rift), urged New Delhi to allow its representatives to travel to Pakistan, not as a pre-condition for talks but as a gesture of sincerity to show its commitment to an open mind on the issue of Kashmir. India had named former defence minister K. C. Pant to head the talks with Kashmiri leaders who in turn invited all and sundry to the proposed conclave, including the Hurriyat. The APHC resolution took exception to the approach. In a statement in Urdu, which was read out to the waiting newsmen by Prof Bhatt, the APHC said there would be no meaningful result if a bilateral dialogue on Kashmir is started between New Delhi and the Hurriyat. "The Indian government wants to deal with Kashmir as an internal, law and order problem and this is contrary to the proclaimed stand of the people of Kashmir." The statement questioned New Delhi for placing what it called 'conditions on its own promises', since Pant has drafted his offer 'in a manner that intends to ignore the trilateral dimension of the problem'. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010427 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Many ARD leaders, workers picked up ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Sarfaraz Ahmed KARACHI, April 26: Hundreds of leaders and workers of parties belonging to Alliance for Restoration of Democracy, were picked up in a night-long operation and the day-long swoop on Thursday across the city. Opposition sources said police and security forces launched their operation on Wednesday night in a bid to stop the 16-party alliance from pushing ahead with its plans for a rally set for May 1 in Karachi. When Sindh Home Secretary Mukhtar Ahmed was contacted late Thursday night to tell about the number of arrests, he said: "I don't know anything." A senior police official said the operation was a part of the government's plan to ensure law and order in the province. He also said that it was government's policy to expel all those political leaders entering Sindh from outside to gather at a banned rally on May Day. The official sources said the number of those arrested since Wednesday night was 509 while the opposition sources claimed that over 1,000 workers and leaders, mainly those belonging to Pakistan People's Party and Pakistan Muslim League, had so far been arrested. Those arrested included PPP deputy secretary-general Raza Rabbani, former defence minister Aftab Shahban Mirani and former federal minister Khurshid Ahmed Shah. The police also arrested several PML leaders including the former governor of Sindh, Mamnoon Hussain, former Sindh minister Saleem Zia and ex-adviser to the chief minister Zahid Rafiq Butt. The three leaders were arrested from Arambagh, DHA and Baldia Town, respectively. The police also arrested ANP's Sindh leader Rana Gul Afridi and others. Pakistan Democratic Party Sindh leader Mushtaq Mirza was arrested from his residence as was confined in Ferozabad police station. The ARD chief, Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan, and PML acting President Javed Hashmi were taken into custody soon after their flight from Multan landed at the Karachi airport in the morning. After an eight-hour detention they were expelled from the province and sent to Lahore. There was a heavy police presence at the Quaid-i-Azam international airport where security personnel stopped a group of about 130 PML activists - mostly women - from chanting anti-government and pro- Sharif slogans. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010426 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Land route only feasible option: Iran ------------------------------------------------------------------- Khaleeq Kiani ISLAMABAD, April 25: Pakistan and Iran agreed on Wednesday that trans-Pakistan route was the only feasible option for Iran-India gas pipeline project. Petroleum Minister Usman Aminuddin told Dawn that Iran considered land-route for the gas pipeline as the only option. "We have once again assured them (Iran) that Pakistan is ready to provide any support to remove Indian security concerns but we should know what these security concerns are in the first place," said the minister. "Why there should be security concerns when the project is in the economic interest of all the three nations," said the minister. However, he said Pakistan did not need to get gas from the pipeline but would support Iran to take the pipeline to India. The minister led a team of Pakistani experts that held an hour-long meeting with the visiting Iranian delegation led by secretary of the Iran's Supreme National Security Council and National Security Adviser to the President, Hojjatoleslam Dr Hassan Rouhani. The minister said Pakistani side also asked Iran to start physical work on Pak-Iran Refinery near Hub in Balochistan. The Iranian side assured that a technical team would be dispatched to Islamabad on May 23, 2001 in this regard. The minister also raised the issue of the smuggling of petroleum products from Iran to Pakistan and told the visiting delegation that it was harmful for the economies of both the countries. The visiting dignitary was asked that Tehran should help Pakistan check this problem. The Iranian side was informed that Pakistan was interested in exporting surplus motor spirit to Iran but this was possible only on international market rates because Islamabad was importing crude oil from Tehran on international rates and this trade should be on a level-playing field. "Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project will not only enhance the level of regional economic and trade interaction but will also open up new vistas of beneficial relations among the member states," an official statement quoted the petroleum minister as saying. The petroleum minister talked about tremendous opportunities in the oil and gas field between the two countries and raised the issues pertaining to proposed Pak-Iran Refinery, gas projects, import of crude oil from Iran and export of motor gasoline to Iran, the statement said. The statement said that Mr Usman also informed the Iranian team about the POL smuggling from Iran to Pakistan and solicited concrete steps to stamp out this menace causing loss to the national exchequers of both countries. Ahmad Hasan Alvi adds: Pakistan and Iran have agreed to consider raising the level of Pakistan-Iran Joint Committee to a Joint Secretariat Commission, with minister level representation, apart from expansion of bi-lateral relations and co-operation in their efforts to check cross-border smuggling, drug trafficking, criminals' movement and other illegal activities of various anti- social elements, says a press release. Similarity in views was observed during a meeting between Dr. Hassan Rouhani, Secretary Supreme National Security Council of Iran and Federal Interior Minister Moinuddin Haider here on Wednesday. Tarar expressed his "satisfaction at the special relations between Pakistan and Iran, which were deeply rooted in shared faith, culture and history." The president also underscored the need for greater economic co- operation between the two countries. Dr Hassan Rouhani called for "greater unity in the Islamic world to face challenges that were confronting the Ummah." He pointed out that Iran "attached great importance to the solution of the Kashmir problem." DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010426 ------------------------------------------------------------------- US official discusses situation with Gohar ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, April 25: The political secretary of the US embassy, Jeff Hawkins, called on the secretary-general of PML (like-minded), Gohar Ayub Khan, here on Wednesday. "The political situation and re-organization of PML remained the focus of discussion during the meeting that lasted for 45 minutes," Mr Khan told Dawn. He said he apprised Mr Hawkins of the Muslim League stand on the issue of restoration of democracy. The possibility of restoration of democracy would remain there till the dissolution of suspended assemblies, he added. He said the US diplomat was also informed of the preparation being made by PML to contest the next general elections. "We are also preparing for the next general elections," he added. Later, the high commissioner of Republic of Cyprus, Ms Loria Markidf, also met the former speaker. Talking about the Supreme Court judgement on the NAB Ordinance, he said it was a positive development. The changes suggested by the Supreme Court would give the NAB Ordinance more acceptability both at the local and international levels. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010426 ------------------------------------------------------------------- World Bank okays two projects ------------------------------------------------------------------- Tahir Mirza WASHINGTON, April 25: The World Bank on Tuesday approved two projects for Pakistan, a $10.08 million equivalent project on conservation and a $3 million trade and transportation facilitation project. The conservation project will help conserve nationally and globally important habitats and species in three protected areas of Machiara in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Hingol in Balochistan, and Chitral Gol in the Frontier province. It will, according to a World Bank press release, specifically benefit the poor and women who make the most intensive use of natural resources due to lack of other opportunities, by providing skills training and micro-credit. The project will seek to conserve natural habitats and arrest the decline of species; improve the capacity of government agencies and community institutions; improve collection of bio-diversity data; and support environmental awareness campaigns for the general public, schoolchildren and tourists. The second project is aimed at assisting Islamabad in developing a more modern, efficient and competitive trade and transportation facilitation system. It will help reduce costs for Pakistan's industry and commerce and, in a competitive market, allow such savings to be passed on to consumers. It will also generate additional employment and growth opportunities. The project will help develop and support the first phase of Pakistan's medium-term trade and transport facilitation programme, and support permanent institutional arrangements for modern trade and transport facilitation practices. It will also help strengthen and streamline trade legislation, procedures and documentation; and it will modernize transport legislation and strengthen human resource development. The project is expected to assist with preparation of a detailed time-bound action programme for further measures to be carried out by trained staff put in place during the project. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010425 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Government to implement decision: official ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Our Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, April 24: Prosecutor General National Accountability Bureau Raja Muhammad Bashir said on Tuesday that the Supreme Court judgement on the NAB Ordinance will be implemented "in its true letter and spirit and in quickest possible time." The government will bring amendments within the period of two months given by the Supreme Court, Raja Bashir told a press conference held within few hours of the announcement of the judgement by the Chief Justice of Pakistan. He termed the judgement "historic one" and said the accountability process would now be carried out with "full speed" as the SC decision has dispelled all the doubts in the minds of general public. When asked whether the judgement would have any affect on the scope of accountability and whether it would be extended to superior judiciary and military, he pointed out that the judgement was explicit in this regard. It mentioned that a comprehensive mechanism for the accountability of serving officers of armed forces was available under Pakistan Army Act, Pakistan Navy Act and Pakistan Air Force Act. During the hearing the number of court-martial cases so far undertaken had also been cited, he added. Similarly, the superior judiciary would continue to be excluded from the purview of the NAB Ordinance, he added. As regard the impact of the Supreme Court judgement on the accountability cases pending before the Ehtesab courts, he said the judgement has largely been related to powers of the chairman, freezing of properties, remand and some other issues of procedural nature. The prosecutor general said the procedure laid down by the Supreme Court for the appointment of NAB chairman, would help the Bureau to emerge as a really independent body. He pointed out that the SC had directed that NAB chairman should be appointed by the president in consultation with the chief justice of Pakistan. He said the SC had also specified a term of three years in which the chairman NAB could not be removed by the executive. The decision would bring the NAB completely out of the influence of the government, he said. He, however, clarified that it would be applicable on the future appointments and not on the appointment of present chairman of NAB Lt-Gen Khalid Maqbool. On the issue of qualification of the chairman, he said it had been discussed during the hearing. The chief justice, he recalled, had observed that the qualifications of ombudsman were also not specified. Raja Bashir further said that his appointment as a prosecutor general would be reviewed in the light of Supreme Court judgement. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010423 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Expansion of trade relations stressed ------------------------------------------------------------------- ISLAMABAD, April 22: Chief Executive Gen Pervez Musharraf said on Sunday that Pakistan and Oman were serious about taking their economic co-operation to new heights. "The first thing that emerged was that there is a serious desire to collaborate with each other to take our relations to new heights," he told a group of reporters soon after his wide-ranging talks with Oman's Sultan Qaboos bin Said, here on Sunday afternoon. Gen Musharraf said Sultan Qaboos had recognized this fact and said that both countries needed to collaborate in economic, trade, and commercial fields, as well as in the defence sector, where they had common interest. The two leaders had an informal meeting before their delegations joined them for official talks during which they identified areas of co-operation. Sultan Qaboos led his side at the talks and the Pakistani side was led by Gen Musharraf. Both leaders were assisted at the talks by their ministers and officials. The chief executive said the talks had strengthened their relations. He said both sides had identified the areas of co- operation "in the economic field and also in training and defence production". Both countries, he said, would revive their close historical and cultural relations and their ties would now be much better than they had been before. "We have decided to look at the future with much more seriousness in the spirit of collaboration and brotherhood," said Gen Musharraf. When asked about an agreement to set up Pakistan-Oman Investment Company, Gen Musharraf said: "This is very important and this will lead to collaboration in the economic field." Soon after the talks, an official of the foreign office said both sides had in-depth talks and their focus had been on the enhancement of bilateral, economic and industrial co-operation. "This meeting was primarily focused on bilateral economic relations," said the official. Sultan Qaboos had said his country wanted to expand co-operation with Pakistan in the economic sector, the official said. The chief executive had briefed Sultan Qaboos about the Kashmir issue and the Afghanistan crisis, he added. Both the sides had noted that the Taliban should be engaged by the international community, the official of the foreign office said, adding that the ministers of foreign affairs, commerce, science and technology, communications, finance, education, privatization, food and agriculture had given a briefing on co-operation between Pakistan and Oman during the talks.-APP DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010425 ------------------------------------------------------------------- POL smuggling to figure in talks with Iran today ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Our Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, April 24: Pakistan would take up with Iran here on Wednesday cross-border smuggling of petroleum products and trans- Pakistan gas pipeline, official sources told Dawn. Petroleum Minister Usman Aminuddin, during his talks with visiting secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council and National Security adviser to the Iranian president, Hojjatoleslam Dr Hassan Rouhani, would raise the issue of smuggling of petroleum products, particularly the motor spirit, into Pakistan. Though still unquantified officially, Pakistan's motor spirit market is badly affected by the smuggling of the product from Iran that, petroleum officials believe, is of a very poor quality. Mr Usman told this scribe sometime ago that the product, smuggled from Iran, was in fact called benzine and sold primarily in Balochistan and upcountry as motor spirit. Pakistan is calling upon Iran to help control smuggling of motor spirit and is ready to offer certain measures in this regard. In return, according to the sources, Iran wants Pakistan to help it contain drugs smuggling. Official sources said that the petroleum minister would also remind the visiting dignitary that Pakistan was ready to allow trans- Pakistan gas pipeline to India to pass through its land and that a contradictory position taken by New Delhi on the subject had brought the issue to a "standstill". The minister will also discuss issues pertaining to Pakistan-Iran coastal refinery in Hub, near Karachi. TRADE TIES: Mr Rouhani, who arrived on a four -day visit to Pakistan on Tuesday, held talks with Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar during which they agreed on the need for enhancing economic co- operation between the two sides, adds APP. They held wide-ranging talks on bilateral, regional and international issues. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010424 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Good governance, economic revival top priorities: CE ------------------------------------------------------------------- RAWALPINDI, April 23 : Chief Executive Gen Pervez Musharraf has said that economic revival, good governance and stability of the country are the top priorities of the government. He was addressing the senior officers of the armed forces on the occasion of 54th Formation Commanders' Conference, which began at the Army Auditorium here on Monday. The chief executive said Pakistan was following a policy of minimum deterrence at both conventional and non- conventional levels, according to an ISPR press release. He said the sovereignty, integrity and security of Pakistan would be guarded at all costs. However, Pakistan had no interest in getting involved in any arms race, he added. Gen Musharraf said that, due to the efforts of the government, the Kashmir issue had been highlighted internationally and had emerged as the major stumbling block to lasting peace in South Asia. The international community realized that stability could only be guaranteed in the region through the resolution of this problem. Gen Musharraf dwelt at length on short and long-term measures the government was taking for revival of economy and poverty alleviation. " " I have a vision of a strong, secure, stable, economically progressive and dynamic Pakistan. Every possible effort will be made to achieve this noble cause," he added. The chief executive differentiated between the long-term measures and policies being put in place to ensure genuine, continuous and sustained progress of Pakistan, desired by the present government; and the short-term self-serving measures adopted during the last decade by various governments. He said that while the brave people of Pakistan might have to bear temporary short-term discomfort, soon the long- term benefits for the country and the people would permanently transform Pakistan into the Quaid's dream. The chief executive also mentioned the tremendous support to the government being shown by many countries whose leaders were visiting Pakistan. All who had visited Pakistan during the recent past, had gone back highly impressed by the direction and progress that Pakistan had made in such a short time. Replying to a question, he said that sustainability and continuity of the policy would be ensured and no one would be allowed to hinder the on-going process of reforms and restructuring. Later, the director-gneral, Inter Services Intelligence, gave a comprehensive briefing on internal and external security situation. Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz gave an update on economy, which included an overview of achievements of the current financial year and the next year's imperatives. Minister for Privatization Altaf Saleem apprised the participants of measures taken by the government regarding privatization. He spoke about increasing domestic and international interest being shown in the privatization process. Commerce Minister Abdul Razzak outlined Pakistan's trade policy and benefits that had started to emerge despite various limiting circumstances.-APP DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010423 ------------------------------------------------------------------- No rift in All Parties Hurriyat Conference ranks: Bhat ------------------------------------------------------------------- ISLAMABAD, April 22: All Parties Hurriyat Conference chairman Prof Abdul Gani Bhathas dispelled the impression that there are differences among the APHC ranks on the Kashmir issue. "There is no difference in our rank and file. Absolutely no difference at all. There may be differences among Kashmiris on other issues but there is no difference among them or anywhere in Kashmir about one issue, the Kashmir dispute," Prof Bhat told BBC. In reply to a question about delay by the APHC in responding to the Indian talks offer, he said there was no issue of delay or rejection or acceptance: it is a matter of principles and objectives. If talks were held on the basis of principles, it could yield a result, he added.-APP DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010422 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Canal water crisis costs Rs33billion to Sindh ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Faraz Hashmi ISLAMABAD, April 21: Sindh has suffered a loss of Rs33 billion on account of an unprecedented shortage of irrigation water and a lack of rains. The loss of Rs33 billion is additional to an estimated damage of Rs100 billion sustained by the province due to sea intrusion, Rs5 billion damage due to an earthquake in Gujarat and Rs8 billion due to a cyclone in May 1999, an official told Dawn. These figures were presented by the officials of the government of Sindh to the representatives of the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank here at a meeting presided over by Finance Secretary-General Moeen Afzal. The Sindh government identified five factors - sea intrusion, a shortage of irrigation water in canal command areas, a drought in the arid zones of the province, an effect of cyclone and earthquake in the Indian state of Gujarat. Officials of the World Bank and the Asian Development told the meeting that they could extend financial assistance to those water- related projects, including small dams and lining of canals, which would be completed in a maximum period of one year. They said they could not commit financial assistance for long- term projects. The officials of all the four provinces who attended the meeting were asked to prepare water-related short-term project reports before the next meeting, which would be held on May 10, the source said. The Sindh government had put forward development projects worth Rs46 billion in the sectors of agriculture, livestock, fisheries, poultry, wildlife, forest, irrigation, roads, health and public health engineering. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010426 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Asif's shifting plea adjourned ------------------------------------------------------------------- ISLAMABAD, April 25: A three-member bench of the Supreme Court adjourned till May 16 the matter relating to shifting of Asif Ali Zardari from Islamabad to Karachi. The bench comprising Justice Sheikh Riaz Ahmed, Justice Mian Mohammad Ajmal and Justice Deedar Hussain Shah is hearing the appeal filed by Zardari against the order of Sindh High Court. Advocate General Sindh Raja Qureshi appeared before the apex court under notice and informed that Mr Asif Zardari will be produced before Accountability Court Rawalpindi on April 28 and so he could not be shifted to Karachi. The court adjourned the hearing for May 16. Mr Asif Zardari has filed the appeal against the order of Sindh High Court where his petition for shifting to Karachi was rejected on the ground that no court in Karachi had sought his production.- APP
BUSINESS & ECONOMY 20010424 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Asian Development Bank to provide $2.5 billion to Pakistan ------------------------------------------------------------------- ISLAMABAD, April 23: Asian Development Bank will provide financial assistance of US $2.5 billion for poverty reduction to Pakistan within next five years. The ADB has also appreciated the economic reforms agenda of the government. This was stated by the Yoshihiro Iwasaki, Director Programme Department (West) Asian Development Bank while addressing a news conference here on Monday. Lauding the economic policies, he said in terms of general economic performance, the government has succeeded in achieving the targets that it had agreed with IMF and other donor agencies. "I will commend the government for its significant achievement and on its basis, the IMF has recently released its second tranche to the country", he added. He said Pakistan today was going through a difficult period because of economic mismanagement in the past. He said purpose of holding this forum with government was to know the views and comments of the participants on the poverty assessment, in order to finalize the draft and discuss the findings over the poverty issue in Pakistan.-APP DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010424 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Farm loan amount doubled: Shaukat: Drought ravages ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Ihtashamul Haque ISLAMABAD, April 23: Oman has decided to invest 50 million dollars in various fields of Pakistan, Minister for Finance Shaukat Aziz said on Monday. Speaking at a news conference here , he said that Oman would provide $12 million for chemical projects besides extending seven million dollars for the development of Gawdar city in Balochistan. Both the countries have decided to arrange visits and, as a first step, a delegation of three ministers headed by Omanese finance minister will visit Pakistan in June this year to promote trade and economic relations between the two countries. He said the government of Japan had also pledged 34 million dollars to meet the funding requirements for the second phase of the on- going Kohat Tunnel Project. The finance minister said the Japanese Ambassador had called on him on Monday and pledged the soft loan to be offered on 1.8 per cent interest rate for 30 years period. The agreement will soon be signed in Islamabad. Aziz said he had briefed the formation commanders on Monday in the GHQ on various economic issues. Minister for Commerce Razak Dawood and Minister for Privatization Saleem Altaf also briefed the commanders on trade and the process of privatization. "Then I also chaired a meeting today to discuss the latest drought situation and tentatively it has been agreed to increase agriculture loans to the farmers from Rs50 billion to Rs100 billion", he added. Giving details, he said the ADBP and other banks would be asked to offer more loans to farmers so that their losses caused by the drought could considerably be compensated in all the four provinces. "We are expecting 150 million dollars to 200 million dollars' additional support from the donors for removing the serious effects of the drought", he added. He said a task force had been constituted under the chairmanship of Deputy Governor Mr Chugtai to work out a comprehensive agricultural lending policy for farmers. Responding to a question he said that the drought had caused a loss of $1.2 billion while there could be one billion dollar implications for the balance of payment support in case Pakistan decided to import wheat or other agricultural products. However, he said at this stage it was difficult to predict exact estimates. He said the production of wheat had been estimated to be over 18 million tons and that 10.8 million cotton bales were expected this year. Talking about the GHQ meeting, the finance minister said that the commanders were informed about the latest economic situation with special reference to the new budget, taxation, revenues and the CBR reform programme. He said the commanders had expressed satisfaction over the economic reform programme and its effective implementation by the Ministry of Finance. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010427 ------------------------------------------------------------------- 20% import tariffs for European Union under study ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Ihtashamul Haque ISLAMABAD, April 26: Pakistan is considering to offer 20 per cent import tariff for goods from European Union, and in return will get 5 per cent tariff for Pakistan's export to EU countries. "We are seeking a market access in European Union for which we will have to strike a bargain", said the Minister for Commerce and Industries, Razak Dawood. Speaking at a news conference here on Thursday, the commerce minister who has just returned from Brussels said that Pakistan's exports needed to be greatly increased in EU in order to earn more foreign exchange. He said although maximum import tariff will be 30 per cent from the next financial year, special tariff will have to be given to EU to get in return some better market access. "This is a budget issue which is still to be finalized but tentatively we plan to give 20 per cent import tariff to EU", he said. He said he had met the Trade Commissioner of the European Union Pascal Lamy and was offered 17.5 per cent import tariff for Pakistan as was offered to Sri Lanka. He said Sri Lanka and Ukraine had accepted 17.5 per cent import tariff for EU goods and that the same was now being sought from Pakistan. "We have not decided any thing but I told the Trade Commissioner that we need a better deal and we could consider 20 per cent tariff", Razak Dawood said. The commerce minister pointed out that Bangladesh, Egypt were the privileged countries as there was no quota for them and that they could send their products in EU countries without paying any duty. He said although quota regime will have to go by the year 2005, its benefits were being showered to some selected countries by the EU. Responding to a question, he said that it will take about 3 to 4 months to get various issues settled with the EU specially over the quota and new tariff. Asked whether it was due to military government there was no better tariff package for Pakistan, Dawood said he thought so but he was not mentioned any thing like revival of democracy as a condition by the EU during his visit to Brussels. He said on May 2 the Sri Lankan commerce minister will visit Pakistan and then on May 15 Kenya commerce minister was arriving here to discuss increasing trade relations. He said the issue of EU tariff will come up for discussion during their stay in Pakistan. Responding to a question, he said that Pakistan was currently exporting 2 billion dollar worth of textiles related goods to EU which was further expected to be increased considerably once various issues were settled between the two sides. In reply to a question, the minister for commerce said that for the first time in the history of Pakistan 9 billion-dollar exports were expected during the current financial year. "I still maintain that we will mange to have 9.4 billion dollar exports at the end of June 30". He said there was a 6.4 billion-dollar export target for EU for 2000-2001 while this target for textiles was 1.7 billion-dollar. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010427 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Talks on to streamline IMF conditionalities ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Jawaid Bokhari KARACHI, April 26: The board of International Monetary Fund (IMF) is now engaged in discussions on "streamlining conditionalities" to give borrowing countries "possible scope" to develop their own approaches to dealing with the objective of the Fund's programmes. The conditionality and programme content will be focused closer to the core areas of the IMF. IMF officials say "there is a clear direction from our board discussion on streamlining of conditionality and focusing the Fund's efforts more broadly." Dwelling on the current exercise at a news briefing, they pointed out that the IMF needed to ensure what was critical for the success of its programmes should be covered by adequate monitoring arrangements and conditionalities for those items, which were relevant. In areas not critical to the objectives and programmes, we should be much more parsimonious in the way, in which we assign conditionality, they added. Currently, the IMF Board can ease conditionality and re-set targets on case by case basis. Financial analysts said on Thursday in case of Pakistan, the IMF was primarily concerned about 4-5 issues that it considered critical to its stabilization programme. These include budget and balance of payments deficits, market-driven exchange and interest rates and tight monetary policy. The IMF stipulated reforms lowered economic growth rate and involved heavy social cost. Growth and poverty are not high priority area for the IMF. It prescribes tight monetary policy and unrealistic cuts in fiscal deficit, often in a period of recession and slow economic growth. The government development spending are slashed at the cost of business and poverty reduction. Economists say that sound home-grown strategies would be better suited for solving the country's economic and fiscal imbalances. The IMF's mandate and focus is on global financial stability. Its perspectives often do not coincide with ground realities in individual countries. The trade bodies and banks have sought relaxation in IMF conditionality for the business to prosper. Giving an update on implementation of debt relief programmes and poverty reduction strategy papers to newsmen in Washington on Monday, Masood Ahmed, deputy director, policy development and review department, IMF, observed: "Now, it is not a question of numbers, conditions, although when you try and set out a table that explains this, you are invariably drawn to doing this in terms of numbers. What we anticipate is that in the areas of structural and social reforms which are outside the core areas of the IMF, we will not have normally conditions in PRGF programmes, rather we would expect that where the conditions are important, they would be included under the programmes of the IDA." The IMF official was responding to a question as to how substantive the commitment is to streamlining conditionality. The questioner pointed out that the average core conditionality in PRGF had been raised and non-core structural conditionality had been cut. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010426 ------------------------------------------------------------------- State Bank not to buy dollar from kerb up to June ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Mohiuddin Aazim KARACHI, April 25: As National Bank has started buying foreign exchange from private money changers raising the level of inflows in inter-bank market, the State Bank may stop buying dollars from the open market. But how long the SBP abstains from dollar buying is yet to be seen. SBP sources say the central bank may not buy dollars from open market at least in the remaining part of this fiscal year i.e. up to June 2001. SBP suspended dollar buying from kerb at end-March three weeks before allowing National Bank to purchase all foreign currencies from private moneychangers. There is no official word from SBP on whether it would restart dollar buying from kerb, but sources close to it say it would not. SBP bought more than $1.5 billion from open market in the first nine months of the current fiscal year i.e. between July 2000 and March 2001. In full last fiscal year it had bought $1.6 billion. It is not known whether the central bank has stopped dollar buying from kerb for the time being or whether it has decided to discontinue this practice altogether. Sources close to SBP say it is premature to say anything on the possibility of SBP resuming dollar buying from kerb adding that much would depend on balance of payment situation. If the inflows in inter-bank market are not enough even after NBP buying of foreign exchange from open market and if there are no other means to fill in the gap in balance of payment SBP may eventually resume dollar buying from kerb. This is one perception of this issue. Another perception is that the central bank has not only suspended dollar buying from kerb it has rather stopped it and it may not resume it in future. Those who share the second perception argue that SBP buying of foreign exchange directly from the open market was rather more objectionable from the viewpoints of the IMF than similar buying by a commercial bank. That holds some weight also because of the fact that whereas SBP used to be net buyer of foreign exchange from open market the National Bank would not be: it is not only supposed to buy foreign exchange but also to sell dollars to private money changers against other foreign currencies if there is a demand. In past four days private money changers have sold more than $20 million to NBP but they have purchased no dollars thanks to a "wait and see" position taken by most currency speculators and local corporate and multinational that buy foreign exchange from open market. FOREX RESERVES: Sources close to SBP said foreign currencies being bought by the National Bank would be treated as foreign exchange holding of the bank - and not that of the State Bank. But even in that case the build-up in foreign currency holding of NBP would boost liquid foreign exchange reserves of the country by augmenting the reserves of the banking system. Lately, the State Bank has started reporting liquid foreign exchange reserves of its own as well as of other banks separately. Currently, Pakistan has a little more than $2 billion worth of liquid forex reserves. Half of this is owned by the central bank and the other half by the banks. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010425 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Pakistan, EU talks on trade barriers: Cut in textile tariffs ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Shadaba Islam BRUSSELS, April 24: The European Union and Pakistan open a second round of talks this week on EU proposals for an accelerated reciprocal lowering of trade barriers in bilateral textiles trade. The EU has made, what at first glance appears to be a tempting offer to expedite the dismantling of its textile import quotas agreed under the Uruguay Round textiles and clothing agreement. But the 15-nation bloc says, the move is conditional on reciprocal measures by Pakistan to slash textile tariffs and knock down other trade barriers. The EU plan will liberalize Pakistani textile exports to Europe ahead of the 2005 World Trade Organization deadline for removing all global textile and clothing quotas. The discussions are complicated, however, with many in Pakistan insisting that the EU must also slash its textile tariffs on the lines of a recent everything but arms EU initiative, which eliminates customs duties on all EU imports from 48 least developed states. Pakistani business leaders and government officials argue that the EU's tariff-free trade measures for least developed nations, including Bangladesh, have increased competition for other middle- income textile exporting nations like Pakistan. The EU has been accused of creating divisions within the ranks of developing nations. Critics argue that increased exports to the EU from the poorest nations will substitute exports from other developing nations, which are not in the LDC category. World Bank experts say the increase in exports from the least developed countries to the EU could go up by 15 to 20 per cent, representing a substantial gain for the group. The EU's textile liberalization offer, also made to other developing nations, follows what officials say is evidence of persistently high trade barriers in developing countries, including Pakistan, which 'virtually prohibits access to overseas markets' for European textile producers. A commission report warns that Pakistan has very high-applied tariffs in the textiles sector, compounded by high import taxes. Sri Lanka and the EU have clinched a deal under the new proposals, with the EU lifting all its imports on quotas of Sri Lankan trousers, cotton blouses, cotton shirts and anoraks. In exchange, Colombo has agreed to notify the WTO of new and lower tariff rates of 0 per cent for raw materials, 5 per cent for fibres and yarns, 10 per cent for fabrics and 17.5 per cent for clothing products. A similar agreement has also been thrashed out with Ukraine. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010424 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Shifting of cane cultivation to sugar beet ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Parvaiz Ishfaq Rana KARACHI, April 23: The sugar technologists have warned the government to desist from taking hasty decision of shifting cultivation of sugarcane to sugar beet in Sindh, as according to one, "this decision may prove counter-productive both for the industry and as well as for the growers." "Some 68 mills in Punjab and Sindh are designed to crush and process cane only", President of the Pakistan Society of Sugar Technologists, M. Shifat Zaidi informed Dawn on Monday, revealing that only four mills in NWFP are designed to process beet. The sugar mills in Sindh and Punjab, he said, are not equipped with 'diffusers' a paraphernalia necessary for processing beet roots into sugar. Instead of beet, Zaidi suggested, government should opt for new varieties of cane, with better yield per hectare and with more sugar content. Many other sugar technologists and those claiming to have some knowledge of the industry advised the government to consider pros and cons before deciding to go for mass scale beet plantation. These experts are also not ready to buy the idea that sugar beet requires lesser water than cane. Secondly, they point out that beet needs eight watering during its four months cultivation period, whereas cane needs only four during its entire one years cultivation time, further adding that cane can survive even after two watering, but sugar beet cannot sustain in case of water shortage. Shifat Zaidi said that his society will never advise the government to shift cane with beet crop which is not at all a solution to the present water crisis in the country. Instead, he suggested the government to evolve new sugarcane varieties with the patronage of National Sugarcane Research Institute, Thatta, and other research institutes for gaining optimum results. Presently, he said sugarcane yield as well as sucrose contents are far below the world standard and even in India per hectare production of cane is 170 per cent more than in Pakistan. He further said that without putting any additional rupee as further fixed capital outlay, sugar industry's possessed capacity to crush 62 million tons of cane a season just in 160 days time fetches 5.30 million tons of sugar at a prevalent low average of 8.7 per cent. This can be improved to 9-11 per cent with sugar production enhanced to 5.58 to 6.82 million tons. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010424 ------------------------------------------------------------------- UBL earned Rs 2billion in profits, says president ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Khaleeq Kiani ISLAMABAD, April 23: Not only that United Bank Limited (UBL) did not require Rs21 billion capital injection from the federal government, it has earned an operating profit of Rs2 billion during the current year, the bank President Amir Zafar Khan said while talking to Dawn at a local hotel here on Monday. He first insisted that the reports of Rs21 billion capital injections were incorrect but refused to disclose the after-tax profit saying the information was secret. However, when reminded that the issue was first disclosed by the privatization minister, Altaf Saleem at a recent seminar and then the Chief Executive had declined to entertain UBL's request of money injection, the UBL president said that the bank had infact asked the government to clear its Rs15 billion taxes stuck-up with the Central Board of Revenue (CBR), besides another Rs5 billion worth of foreign loans (government to government loans). He said the bank had wanted that either this amount that was basically stuck-up with the government should be cleared or equivalent amount of capital should be injected. He refused to comment on the statement of minister for privatisation but said there were intelligence reports with the government that a specific group was interested to buy the bank at a throw away price and was busy spreading negative stories. He said that the Chief Executive had assured the bank that he would ensure this amount is cleared by June this year or otherwise the money would be injected. He claimed that UBL would earn good price when privatised because it was now the best bank in Pakistan. The UBL chief also refused to accept that the bank had siphoned off deposits of small depositors without any notice and said all the small depositors were informed in advance to maintain certain amount in their accounts. He said UBL was launching some mega projects. These included one relating to joint venture with Pakistan Post, where retrenched UBL employees would be accommodated while another plan for forestry sector financing in collaboration with Pakistan Navy officials was just round the corner. Under this project, he said some organisations and individuals in the United States and Europe would be providing financing for plantation of sheesham trees for export and the bank would earn around 50 cents per tree. The UBL chief said that a number of groups including locals like Mansha group and Sehgal group were interested in buying the bank. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010422 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Money changers to trade $ with National Bank ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Mohiuddin Aazim KARACHI, April 21: More than 400 licensed money changers will start selling all foreign currencies to state-run National Bank from Monday: they will no longer be taking out foreign currencies to Dubai on their own to bring in their US dollar equivalent back home. At the same time the government would launch a crackdown against 2000- 3000 unlicensed currency dealers across Pakistan to stop capital flight. This was decided at a tripartite meeting here on Saturday at the State Bank head office: officials of SBP and NBP and representatives of licensed money changers attended the meeting. SBP Deputy Governor Dr Mukhtar Nabi Qureshi was in the chair. "The banking system would get a daily inflow of $4-6 million in the shape of foreign currencies sold by money changers to NBP," said president of Forex Association of Pakistan Malik Bostan. The Association though still not registered serves as platform for licensed money changers. Bostan said NBP would provide rupees to money changers in exchange of foreign currencies in most cases but designated branches of the bank would also sell US dollars to them against other foreign currencies at open market rates. He said this decision was taken at a follow-up meeting also held on Saturday and chaired by executive director of SBP Farhat Saeed. A senior SBP official confirmed this. According to a press release SBP deputy governor Mukhtar Nabi Qureshi told money changers that they would be required to maintain complete documentation of all their forex transactions. Leading currency dealers said the directive implied that they would be required to keep complete record of the people buying foreign exchange worth $10,000 or more from the open market. They said they would need to record the names and national identity card numbers of such buyers. But in case of smaller buyers money changers would be required to keep sale receipts with themselves for auditing purposes. SBP deputy governor said SBP was strengthening the regulatory framework for money changers but he would not spell out the specifics. He said the steps being taken to discipline them would discourage dollarization of economy and reduce the gap between inter-bank and open market foreign exchange rates. At present the spread is around Rs 3 per dollar. Financial experts say with the restrictions now being imposed on money changers the spread might come down to Rs 2 per dollar. They say that will be a sustainable level. In recent past Pakistan had been target of mordant criticism by the IMF for its failure to keep the spread between inter-bank and open market rates at a low level. Bankers say money changers will have to open their accounts with the National Bank to sell foreign currencies. They say the bank will buy these currencies at prevailing open market rates. Money changers said National Bank officials who were present at the Saturday meeting had told them that they could now sell all foreign currencies to the bank. Earlier SBP had said money changers could sell six major currencies to NBP namely (i) the US dollar (ii) the pound sterling (iii) Deutche mark (iv) Saudi Riyal (v) UAE Dirham and (vi) Kuwait Dinar. A press release issued by Forex Association of Pakistan said that NBP would start buying foreign currencies from money changers initially in these cities: Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad and Gujranwala. It said NBP would not charge any fee for inland transfer of the rupee funds generated out of the foreign currencies sold to NBP by money changers. But the bank would accept foreign currencies only in lots of $100,000 or equivalent for smooth processing. NBP will sell foreign currencies bought from money changers in international markets. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010422 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Private sector to set up micro credit banks ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Sabihuddin Ghausi KARACHI, April 21: The government is allowing the private sector to set up micro credit banks in the country for which an ordinance is being promulgated very soon, the Federal Finance and Economic Affairs Minister , Shaukat Aziz announced on Saturday. Speaking at a seminar on "Development and Financing of Small and Medium Enterprises" organized by the Small and Medium Enterprises Association (SMEA) on Saturday at a local hotel, the minister identified financing as a key constraint that is hindering the growth of small and medium enterprises in the country. "What can government do in such a situation?" he asked while responding to the complaints made by the sponsors of the small and medium entrepreneurs that banks give only 5 per cent credit to them while 85 per cent of loans go to the big business. "Should the government issue a royal order to the banks and DFIs," he inquired from the SMEA members and then said that the government has opted for a better solution. The government is restructuring the Small Business Finance Corporation to make it more responsive and friendly towards the small investors' needs, he informed the members of the SMEA. At the same time, he said the government has set up Khushal Pakistan bank which has started operations in Dera Ghazi Khan and will soon have branches at Jacobabad, Dera Ismail Khan and on the I.I. Chundrigar Road in Karachi. "All this is being done to provide credit facilities to the small and medium entrepreneurs," he said while pointing out that government gives a lot of importance to the development of small and medium enterprises in the country and is all set to remove any impediment that comes in the way. The minister announced that another ordinance is being promulgated to spare them from any harassment of the government agencies when small investors will receive funds from the overseas Pakistani relatives or friends. "Disciplinary action will be taken against government employee who will harass the recipient of money from the overseas Pakistanis," he said. He said that the federal government had taken up the issue of multiplicity of taxes with the provincial governors and informed the audience that "something is being set in place which should relieve the small enterprises of the harassment they suffer at the hands of officials". Another constraint in growth of small and medium enterprises, he pointed out is the lack of technical and financial capacity of the investors. For this, he said the restructured SBFC and other organizations will provide necessary assistance and guidance. He agreed with the observation of earlier speakers that those government employees who opt for voluntary retirement with golden handshake can be trained to set up small enterprises. Speaking on the present economic scenario, the minister termed it as a "challenging fiscal position" which has emerged from the failure in the last decade. Nonetheless, he said the improvement in tax collection during the last one year matches with the total increase seen in taxes collection in earlier five years. Similarly, the exports are poised to touch the nine billion dollars earning figures for the first time and manufacturing has made substantial recovery. Agriculture, he said, has suffered a setback because of water shortage and drought conditions in many areas of the country. Earlier, the President of the SMEA Zafar Iqbal in his welcome address urged the government to divide industries and business into three categories of small, medium and big. He suggested that there should be separate set of rules, regulations, labour laws, rate of taxes for each of these three categories of industry and business. He proposed the rate of withholding tax on receipt of commissions of the indenting agents and companies be reduced to two per cent from existing 10 per cent. Zafar Iqbal's main complaint was that the small entrepreneur is being subjected to 54 provincial and four federal taxes which, he said was the main factor to "retard the economic and industrial progress" of the country. Also to address the meeting were Kaiser Naseem, the Managing Director of the SBFC, who informed the participants of the financing facilities available for small entrepreneurs. Faiq Hussain of Pak-Libya Holding Company proposed the setting up of small industrial parks. Mian Zahid Hussain, a businessman spoke of the problems of small investors while Sultan Ahmad a senior journalist highlighted the role of small and medium enterprises in the economies of even the developed countries and their potential in countries like Pakistan.Back to the top
EDITORIALS & FEATURES 20010422 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Another historic judgement ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Ardeshir Cowasjee "DO your judges still cover their heads with horsehair? Invited or not, they visit us. Some dump on us copies of what they proclaim to be historic judgements they have written. Others tell us they are in Washington for medical treatment for themselves or their wives." This was said by a US Supreme Court judge to a man who had identified himself as a national of Pakistan, and who could only grunt and groan in response and do his best to uphold the honour of the country's judges. The horsehair referred to was the wig worn by the former Chief Justice of Pakistan, Nasim Hassan Shah in his photograph printed on the cover of a booklet containing his 'historic' judgement restoring Nawaz Sharif and his corrupt government dismissed by the then president in 1993. The medical treatment referred to was that of the wife of the present Chief Justice of Pakistan, Irshad Hassan Khan. We now have another 'historic' judgement handed down last week by a bench of seven, headed by Justice Bashir Jehangiri, in the appeal against their conviction for corruption of the former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto, and her husband Asif Zardari. Their guilt is doubted by none, not even their own defenders. But would the duo have been able to do what they did, robbing and destroying this country, without the aid and abetment of others? Dismissed for the first time, their re-entry into the government was expedited by none other than President Ghulam Ishaq Khan, the man who in 1990 had sacked Benazir's first government on charges of corruption, vociferously citing her husband Asif as being the most corrupt of the corrupt lot. After he had dismissed her successor, Nawaz Sharif, and his government on the same charge in 1993, Ghulam Ishaq sent for Benazir and Asif from London where they were biding their time, and himself swore in Asif as one of his caretaker ministers. Has anybody been able to calculate the loss to the country caused by the two rounds of Benazir's governments? Now to the latest historic judgement, which records the taped version of a conversation which took place "between Saifur Rahman and Qayyum J." I can swear on oath that I was present in Saifur Rahman's office one day when he received a telephone call from the then Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court, Rashid Aziz Khan, reporting on the good work his court had done. Saif told him that he had done well and that he would convey the good news (whatever it was) to Mian Sahib. The judgment makes it crystal clear what the honourable judges of our Supreme Court had in mind. Paragraph 36 reads: "The record reveals the glaring injustice meted out to Asif Ali Zardari, appellant, when the Court [Ehtesab Bench of the Lahore High Court] declined to grant him permission to recall certain witnesses for the purpose of cross-examination.... It may be pointed out that because of freezing of assets and funds, the appellant, Asif Ali Zardari, had expressed his inability to engage a counsel of his choice to cross-examine those witnesses.....". The question that arises is, do Their Lordships really believe that Benazir and Asif are living below the poverty line and surviving on food ladled out in soup kitchens? Perhaps the judges were not made aware of the fact that their lawyers in Karachi have been handsomely paid, and that, knowing their clients as they did, they took their money in advance. As far as their law suits in England are concerned, it is a well known fact that the duo engaged senior counsel Lord Lester and a string of other leading counsel to plead for them, and various firms of solicitors, all of whose fees ranged up to 600 per hour, or, roughly speaking, some 1,000 rupees per minute. The last paragraph of the judgement states, "Before parting with the judgement we are inclined to dispose of the plea of Mr Abdul Hafiz Pirzada, learned Sr. ASC, to the effect that Asif Ali Zardari, appellant, had already served out a substantive sentence of imprisonment, and therefore, he is entitled to be released from jail. As we have already sent the case to a court of competent jurisdiction, it would be more appropriate if this matter is agitated before the court aforesaid.' We must be thankful for small mercies. How can any sane man who lives abroad, have dealings with Pakistan and hope to safely invest his money here and prosper, bereft as we are of law and order? Anybody surfing the net, seeking information on this country, will come across a well read publication, the Information Times, published in Washington DC. (http://www.InformationTimes.com). On April 18, the Information Times carried an article on "44 wanted men, fugitives, crooks, criminals, thugs, smugglers, robbers and thieves of Pakistan who are wanted by NAB." Each person listed is ably qualified to be a respected member of any international swindling, smuggling or money-laundering organization. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010427 ------------------------------------------------------------------- An excess of brass ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Ayaz Amir WHAT are formation commanders? The image conjured up by these words is of men commanding fighting formations divisions and corps. If so, what is to be made of the television pictures of the recent formation commanders' conference at GHQ? So many generals were in attendance that it looked more like a public meeting than a select gathering of a knightly order. When General Musharraf talks of restructuring national politics, a laudable aim, he and his fellow commanders might consider the question of starting charity from home. Does he need to be told that the military has become too top-heavy too many generals, admirals and air marshals? Time was when senior staff officers at GHQ used to be brigadiers. MI and ISI were headed by brigadiers. A major general was a rarity and being one a mark of distinction. Lieutenant generals were one with the gods, somewhere on the upper reaches of Olympus. What was once an aristocracy has become a democracy and the resulting epidemic can be seen at its clearest when it is closing time in GHQ: a never-ending stream of black staff cars conveying two and three star generals to their grim destinations in and around a cheerless city. Rawalpindi used to be a quiet, beautiful place. Where has all its charm fled? If the army cannot clean up Rawalpindi Saddar, which is at the heart of its domain, shouldn't it be a bit more modest about cleaning up the rest of the country? But modesty was never a Pakistani virtue. Admitting to mistakes is not part of our tradition. A hallmark of authority is the claim to infallibility. A change of government only means replacing one form of infallibility with another. The kind we saw earlier was dressed in shalwar-kameez. The kind now is resplendent in uniform. But what on earth do they do when the sun is down? To what opera or theatres do the black staff car head when the lights are on and the night anywhere else would be rich with possibility? Sure, too much of what passes for culture was never a strong point of the general staff. Or indeed of the higher reaches of the mandarinate. But in days gone by there was at least the 'Pindi Club where the spirit of conviviality reigned. Senior officers now are more pious and their greatest cultural pastime is to attend the marriages of each other's offspring. Can anything in the world match the bored and listless expressions at upper-class Pakistani weddings? Yet because there is nothing else to do, and because Pakistanis in authority have yet to be converted to the idea that marriages and funerals are best left as private affairs, this excruciating form of self-torture is routinely suffered. On the subject of rank though, there was the news a few days ago that two more air force officers had been promoted as air marshals. How many of these exalted beings do we actually have? At one time a single air marshal Asghar Khan or Nur Khan was good enough to run the air force. And run it he did impressively. But at some infernal point in air force history it was decided that a simple air marshal was not enough and to command the air force we had to have an air chief marshal. Now there is no running away from this nuisance. The earlier air force chiefs stick in the public mind because they had large qualities and not because they carried a ton of brass on their chests. Obviously we live in different times. If present trends continue we'll soon have more air marshals than squadrons in the air force. As I write these lines an Urdu newspaper informs me that 22 brigadiers have bean approved for promotion to the rank of major general. Good Lord, how many fighting divisions in all do we have? Where will all these major generals be accommodated? Remember, kindly, that a major general does not come cheap. He has to be housed and fed and looked after in the way to which Pakistani generals have become accustomed. It is not a question of burdening the exchequer. Our exchequer is used to such things. The question rather is of appropriate placing. Was it MacArthur who said soldiers don't die, they fade away? He did not know what he was talking about. In Pakistan they refuse to fade away. On retiring they do not take to gardening or bird watching but expect to be reincarnated in another form of service. Hence the spectacle, for it is nothing less than that, of former navy and air force chiefs riding out as ambassadors, generals hankering for foreign office jobs, senior military figures heading corporations and now entering every nook and cranny of the administrative services. Where will it all end? Reincarnation is a Hindu concept. We have given it a new meaning. Restructure politics by all means. Anything that keeps Benazir in Dubai and the Sharifs, the whole lot of them, in the Holy Land can only be for the national good. If General Musharraf thinks that the nazims and naib nazims being elected are the answer to Pakistan's problems, so be it. It is useless to quarrel with such fantasies. Resignation is the best attitude. Or as Euripides counsels, "Do thou endure as men must, chafing not." In any event, what availeth chafing against the sublime certitudes of the Musharraf era? If its lights say prosperity is around the corner, will meek protestations to the contrary turn them from their path? A National Reconstruction Bureau is thus appropriate to the spirit of the times. But even while riding the crest of this optimism, might not a thought be spared for some of the other reconstructions the nation direly stands in need of? >From the mountains do we extract any brass of our own? If not, the brass needed to fill out higher shoulders will burden our import bill. What about red cloth, the kind needed to make the tabs so beloved of senior officers? Fauji Foundation may soon have to set up a factory devoted exclusively to the production of this single commodity. And what about agricultural land, and plots and houses? Military retirees need to be looked after. Every man needs a house. But between genuine need and flaunting excess the gulf is wide. There was General Gul Hassan who spent his last days in a room in the 'Pindi Club, now an army mess. And there are the role models of today between whom and real estate brokers there would be little difference. The properties in Pakistan of Admiral Mansur-ul-Haq are no laughing matter. They make for sad reading. What mechanism for the welfare of senior officers is there which enables them to accumulate so much property? Why the automatic grant of agricultural land (in poor Bahawalpur of all places) to every single, senior military grandee? Soon there will not be any land left to go around. No one in England grudged Marlborough, Churchill's great ancestor, his Blenheim Palace after his victories against France, even though there were rumours over how he had got his money. After his victories against Denmark, Austria and France, the commander of Prussia's armies, the legendary von Moltke, received an estate (or was it money?) from a grateful nation. From a grateful emperor Bismarck received a gift of two huge estates. But the one was von Moltke, the other Bismarck. What Roman victories can we cite for the grant of minor estates in Bahawalpur? Churchill supported himself throughout his life by his writing. Although the grandson of a duke, he had little if any independent income. Attlee took to newspaper writing when he stepped down as prime minister because the little money he had was inadequate to his needs. Wilson even when ill attended the House of Lords because his parliamentary daily allowance was a crucial source of income. When we parrot the phrase 'colonial legacy', what do we know of its meaning? The colonial legacy was not only about dinner jackets, the hauteur of the civil service and gravelly voices shouting for whisky in clipped accents. More than these things it was about rectitude, integrity and service. The husk of the concept we have slavishly worshipped and its content discarded. Gandhi, Nehru and Jinnah were products of India's colonial experience. Without the stimulus of British rule and the inestimable gift of western education they would not have been the men they were. Lee Kuan Yew is a product of his country's colonial legacy. So is Mahathir Mohammad of his. The colonial legacy does not mean aping foreign manners, something at which we excel. Paradoxically, its essence lies in learning to be truly independent in thought and manner. If we had really been touched by our colonial experience, our notions of morality and public rectitude would not have been the fuzzy things that they have become. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010428 ------------------------------------------------------------------- It's a minefield out there ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Irfan Husain IN today's multiracial, politically correct Britain, public figures have to choose their words with care: the slightest hint of racial prejudice will attract more flak than would running naked across the hallowed cricket field at Lord's while a test match is in progress. And as the elections draw closer, both Labour and the Conservatives are positioning themselves to attract the immigrant vote without alienating working class white voters who are concerned about the flood of foreigners (largely from Eastern Europe and North Africa) claiming political asylum and ending up begging aggressively at tube stations and traffic signals all over London. Over the last year alone, there were almost one hundred thousand applications for asylum, and nobody has been refused entry. But when a local branch of the Conservative Party put an ad in the papers promising to tackle the issue more effectively, William Hague and his cohorts were accused of racism. Robin Cook, the Labour government's foreign minister, recently gave a speech in which he declared that 'chicken tikka masala' was now the national dish of multiracial Britain. While this caused much mirth among columnists across the land, there is some truth in what cook said: this dish does not exist in India or Pakistan. According to culinary lore, a customer in an Indian restaurant in London ordered a chicken tikka, but found it too dry for his taste, and sent it back, asking for it to be served with a bit of gravy. The chef mixed whatever ingredients were at hand, including tomato sauce and cream, and hey, presto!, the 'chicken tikka masala' was born. Starting from these humble beginnings in the seventies, it has swept into restaurants and upmarket food stores (including Harrods) all over Britain. Indeed, food from the subcontinent now forms the most popular cuisine in Britain, with around a third of the billions being spent on eating out, going to curry houses, balti shops and tandoori restaurants. Considering that desi food usually costs a lot less than its European or Far Eastern counterpart, a lot of people are regularly tucking into biryani and chicken curry. All manner of spices and pre-prepared Indian meals are on offer at supermarkets in small and large cities. A couple of years ago, I was amazed at being able to buy high quality saffron in a small Welsh town. But as Britain becomes more and more genuinely multiracial, the dark side of ethnic differences is never far from the surface. The recent race riot in Bradford proves that far too often, racial harmony is only skin deep. Usually, hostility flares into violence after some young louts have had too much to drink at the local pub and then want to prove their manhood by beating up anybody who looks different. Until recently, it was the non-whites who were at the receiving end, but now Asian youths are hitting back, and have even declared their neighbourhoods 'no-go' areas for whites. In some areas, complaints by whites are a third of all allegations of racial abuse and violence filed with the police. A 76-year old war veteran was badly beaten recently by Muslim youths, probably of Pakistani descent, when he was walking through their area. Such incidents have produced a predictable furore, with the police promising to take tough action. Some of these young Asian toughs have been quoted as saying their motive is revenge against the treatment their parents suffered a generation ago. Clearly, these are not the kind of inter-racial relations most educated Britons would like to see in Cool Britannia. But the fact remains that tough suburbs and inner city ghettos are not the ideal breeding ground for racial harmony. Add unemployment, poor education and frustration over being cut off from their cultural roots, and you get a lot of angry young men more than willing to turn to violence over real or perceived insults. Among working class whites, there is a feeling of foreigners 'getting too big for their boots', and a fear of outsiders changing their culture. These attitudes and prejudices are openly on display in places like Bradford and Manchester with their heavy concentrations of immigrants. However, in middle class Britain, people go out of their way to prove their liberal credentials. So in a sense, a two-track population is currently trying to come to terms with a nation that now has a significant non-white element. Indeed, according to projections, London will have a majority of non-whites by the year 2010, and less than half of Britain will be white by 2025. Understandably, this has alarmed many people, but to their credit, Brits are not up in arms demanding the end of all immigration. Perhaps a sign of the times is the recent news item (with photographs) of Asian Muslim women in the Metropolitan police who are now permitted to wear the hijab on duty. Sikhs were already allowed to wear their distinguishing turbans. Unlike the French (and even the Turks), the British establishment is far more flexible in allowing and encouraging cultural diversity. All manner of different ethnic festivals are celebrated, and all religions have the right to establish and propagate themselves. Such a degree of religious tolerance would be unthinkable in India or Pakistan where Christians and other minorities are often persecuted. But in encouraging different communities to emphasize their separateness, successive British governments have missed the opportunity of integrating them and bringing them into the mainstream. The Americans, by way of contrast, insist on immigrants saluting the flag and singing the national anthem before they are given US nationality. There is thus a correspondingly greater cultural homogeneity in the United States than there is in Britain where Punjabi parents often demand that their children be taught the luddi instead of the Scottish reel at publicly funded schools. Political correctness dictates that no single white Christian culture be pushed at the cost of the multi-hued multi-ethnic culture that has put down roots in Britain. These are complex and difficult issues, but in many ways, Britain has shown far greater tolerance than any other white, ex-colonial power. Our own track record in treating minority groups is abysmal. Forget immigrants: Pakistani religious communities outside the mainstream are often viciously persecuted. This is something we should keep in mind the next time we accuse anybody and specially the British of racial discrimination.
SPORTS 20010425 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Moin dropped as blundering selectors play musical chairs ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Samiul Hasan KARACHI, April 24: The blundering Pakistan cricket selectors continued to play musical chairs with next month's England tour aspirants when they named a 20-man provisional list on Tuesday instead of naming the final 16. All the "walking wounded" that toured New Zealand but forced to return including former captain Wasim Akram were named in the provisional list. The sole casualty being Moin Khan who had lost his captaincy to a lucky Waqar Younis earlier this month. "Moin has been left out because of his inconsistent performance," chairman of selectors Wasim Bari explained without elaborating if it was his wicket keeping or batting that led to his ouster. To benefit from Moin's unceremonious exit was another former captain Rashid Latif who last represented Pakistan in Harare, Zimbabwe, on the 1997-98 tour. Rashid is the only wicket keeper in the list, which guarantees him a third successive tour to England for which the team leaves on May 2. Inconsistent Imran Nazir and Shahid Afridi, who were described by the selectors as one-day specialists and were not considered for the Test series in New Zealand after the limited overs rubber, were retained. In-and-out, Mohammad Wasim, who has played 18 Tests since making his debut in 1996, was also recalled after 12 months in wilderness. Also amongst the probables was paceman "joyrider" Shoaib Akhtar whose fitness was unknown though his controversial bowling action was cleared by the University of Western Australia. "The formal official report on his (Shoaib), will be forwarded by the PCB's bowling advisors for onward submission to ICC," a PCB statement said. On a day of chaos and confusion, powerless chief selector Wasim Bari, said in the afternoon that he had submitted a squad of 16 to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) advisory council for approval and announcement. However, the PCB in the evening came up with the names of 20 probables claiming that the squad would be finalized in the next couple of days because the medical reports of several players were still being awaited. Later in the evening, Bari took a somersault when he claimed he had, in fact, submitted the provisional squad and not the 16- man team. Nevertheless, Bari left the PCB officials red-faced when he confirmed that he had been conveyed by the cricket managers in Lahore that all the players were available for selection after clearing medical tests. Contradictions after contradictions and repeated communication gap between the selectors and the PCB hierarchy once again reflect the sad state affairs of Pakistan cricket. If there is no planning and co-ordination amongst the administrators themselves, to demand cohesion and unity from the team is perhaps asking for too much. Brig Munawwar Rana, the director of the PCB, said from Lahore that the medical reports on some players were expected within the next 48 hours after which the team would be announced. He, however, didn't reveal the names of the players whose selections were subject to medical clearance. Wasim Akram had appeared before the three-man medical team on Sunday while Moin had cleared his medical test on April 13. The remaining players could be Yousuf Youhana, Azhar Mahmood and PCB's blue-eyed boy Shoaib Akhtar. Sequence of events confirm apprehensions that the PCB administrators were adamant to show Moin the door. Initially named skipper until the tour to England, Moin was removed as captain on fitness grounds even though only two days before, he had been given a clean bill of health by the medical experts of the board and along with Wasim Akram also appeared in the on-going one-day competition. The statistics of Moin, who was also dropped in 1993 before regaining his number No 1 slot in 1996, in the last 16 months doesn't justify the claims of the selectors. Moin, who was bestowed with lifetime achievement award by the PCB last year, in 11 Tests as captain, scored 369 runs at 24.60 while accounting for 28 batsmen behind the wickets. In 63 Tests, Moin scored 2,493 runs and dismissed 134 batsmen. In 190 one-day internationals Moin has scored 2,853 runs. His 256 dismissal is a world record. But the factor that played the decisive role in his dismissal was that he made more enemies than friends in the PCB. Moin repeatedly objected to outside interference in team matters which didn't please PCB officials and the selectors. Needless to say that the PCB sacked two selectors earlier this year when they protested against outside interference. Last month another selector Sikander Bakth also resigned. The unnecessary delay in the announcement of the 16-man squad obviously smells rat. And the bone of contention or debate is none other than Wasim Akram. Sources within the PCB have confirmed that skipper Waqar Younis, once declared by the PCB chief himself that he (Waqar) was not a certainity in the team, was in no compromising mood and flatly refused to accept Wasim in the squad. Sources say Waqar feels that Wasim's inclusion in the team will not allow the skipper to enjoy total command over the affairs. "The PCB are trying to buy time, hoping that they will convince Waqar to change his heart," sources said. Wasim's allout effort to get into the squad has helped him retain his place in the 20. But whether he would find a place in the touring side? Only time will tell. Provisional squad (in bracket are age and number of Tests played): Saeed Anwar (32, 52), Imran Farhat (19, 3), Mohammad Wasim (23, 18), Imran Nazir (20, 5), Shahid Afridi (21, 11), Faisal Iqbal (20, 3), Inzamam-ul-Haq (vice-captain) (31, 72), Yousuf Youhana (26, 30), Younis Khan (24, 12), Salim Elahi (25, 8), Abdur Razzaq (22, 12), Azhar Mahmood (26, 19), Wasim Akram (34, 100), Waqar Younis (30, 71), Shoaib Akhtar (26, 15), Fazle Akbar (21, 4), Mohammad Sami (20, 2), Saqlain Mushtaq (24, 34), Mushtaq Ahmad (30, 50), Rashid Latif (wicket keeper) (32, 22). DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010424 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Pakistan to name squad for England today ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Our Sports Reporter KARACHI, April 23: The Pakistan cricket team for next month's tour to England will be named on Tuesday evening, officials said, adding that the announcement of the coach will be announced later. The chairman of selectors Wasim Bari said Monday that he was informed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that all the players were declared fit by the panel of doctors and were now available for selection. Bari, however, said the team would be finalized and handed over to the PCB on Tuesday. He said he would be submitting a 16-man squad for the two-Test series while team for the tri-nation one- day series would be named later. Bari indicated there was a possibility that an additional player might be sent to England. As things continued to remain complex and intriguing, former captains Wasim Akram and Moin Khan were left facing the axe in the backdrop of recent happenings. Wasim Akram, after a dismal performance in the two Tests against England at home, failed to take part in the three-Test series against New Zealand because of inter-coastal injury. Nevertheless, sources say skipper Waqar Younis was strongly opposing the selection of Wasim though the vote of the chief selector was in the left-armer's favour. Rashid Latif is being favoured over Moin because of Waqar's firm belief in the talent of the former who first blew the whistle of betting and match-fixing in Pakistan cricket. Not surprisingly injury prone and joy-rider, Shoaib Akhtar has once again been assured of a place in the squad after returning unfit from the tour to New Zealand in February. Brig Rana admitted that Shoaib neither appeared before the panel of doctors nor played in the on going one-dayers on the pretext that he was suffering from stomach upset. Likely 16: Waqar Younis (captain), Inzamam-ul-Haq (vice-captain), Saeed Anwar, Yousuf Youhana, Abdur Razzaq, Azhar Mahmood, Mohammad Sami, Faisal Iqbal, Younis Khan, Mohammad Wasim, Imran Farhat, Rashid Latif (wicketkeeper), Shoaib Akhtar, Fazle Akbar and Mushtaq Ahmad, Saqlain Mushtaq. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20010427 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Unknown Foster named as bowling coach ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Our Sports Reporter KARACHI, April 26: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Thursday named virtually unknown Daryl Foster as the national team's bowling coach-cum consultant for tour to England another mind boggling decision which will be debated for days to come. An official of the PCB revealed that Foster would also work as consultant of the team but his contract was only for the two Tests "which is extendable upto the tri-nation one-day series". The first Test at Lord's begins May 17 while the second Test at Old Trafford concludes June 4. The 18-day one-day series, also involving Australia and the hosts, will kick off at Edgbaston June 7. The PCB spokesman added that a full-time coach to replace sacked Javed Miandad would be named `soon' but confirmed that Foster would join the team in England where it is due to arrive May 2. Although no details about the financial package offered to the former Kent county coach were released, but was anybody's guess that if Geoffrey Boycott can claim 30,000 pounds for a 15-day coaching stint, Foster would be getting the same if not more. The free-spending PCB sustained the criticizm of wasting money on Boycott saying the Yorkshireman was sponsored by a food chain. But it will have to come up with a sound explanation to justify the investment on Foster. It means all the current expenses to run the establishment are being met from previous earnings whether they be the 1996 World Cup profits $6 million from PILCOM or television rights of the recent home series. It may not be out of context to mention here that the PCB has not conducted any audit of expenses for the last 18 months. And if anything has been done, the official document has not seen the daylight. On the face of it, it appears that Foster has been hired specifically for controversial pacer Shoaib Akhtar, who underwent remodelling of his bowling action in the University of Western Australia in Perth. The PCB has been emphasising for the last two days that it has proof that Shoaib's action was clean a claim based on the report submitted by Foster's university. The PCB admitted that Foster's appointment did have an influence of him working with Shoaib. Which means that in Foster, the PCB has hired a "lawyer" for Shoaib to counter the hostile British media which is certainly not going to make the pacer's life easy. Foster's job description as bowling coach is nothing but a belated attempt to give a legal cover because it is anybody's guess that in the presence of Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram, if selected, who could be better persons to guide the young pacers. Wasim and Waqar together have around 20 years of experience of playing in England while the second Test is at Wasim's home country Lancashire. Besides, if Wasim and Waqar are so deadly, it is not because they got the guidance of a bowling coach. They were nurtured by Imran Khan who tutored them and passed on valuable tips on the field rather than on the drawing board. It is the second time that a specific person to handle and look after Shoaib has been appointed. Earlier Dr Tauseef Razzak toured New Zealand with the Pakistan cricket team specially to look after Shoaib who has become a regular "tourist" than a playing member. Shoaib, on whom the PCB has already spent millions, has failed to sustain a series in his previous three tours. The same is likely to happen again no matter whom the PCB appoints considering Shoaib's past record. ------------------------------------------------------------------- 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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