Dailynews: November 2021

Tuesday, 30 November 2021

SAPM Dr Sania Nishtar rejects graft in Ehsaas cash

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, Senator Dr Sania Nishtar has rejected the allegations of irregularities in the Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme.

“It is unfortunate that the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) has challenged the authority of the highest forum like the federal cabinet,” she said in an interaction with the media on Monday regarding special audit report pertaining to the Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme prepared by the AGP.

The SAPM said the objections raised by the AGP office were adequately answered and the audit authorities had taken a stand that they were satisfied with the replies submitted in that regard.

She lamented that the AGP has included audit paragraphs in the audit report; nevertheless, the observations made were technical and advisory in nature.

“The objections raised do not point to any misappropriation, corruption or irregularities in the social security programme” she maintained.

She said that the audit objections would now be addressed in the Department Accounts Committee (DAC) and Public Accounts Committee (PAC). “After the post-audit of the programme, the social security scheme will be given clearance,” she said, dismissing the idea that the audit report was kept confidential until the IMF pressured the government to bring it to the fore.

Read Rs40b irregularities detected in PM’s Covid package

The SAPM said that the report contains ten audit observations about the Ehsaas programme and it has already been tabled in parliament. She said that the Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme was completed under very unusual circumstances in the times of the Covid pandemic.

The programme was launched within 10 days of its first contemplation. Explaining the ten observations of the audit report, Dr Sania Nishtar said that in one of the audit observation it was maintained that out of the 17 million registered beneficiaries, 1.32 million people did not come to collect cash. The audit teams were told that many people registered themselves dozens of times due to which they were screened and not paid and their refunds were sent to the banks and details as such were reported to the audit authorities.

Another objection referred to government employees and pensioners in the programme. The audit recommended data updates of the BISP, Nadra, PIA, PTCL, EOBI, CGA, MAG and other departments. Dr Nishtar further said that as far as the benefit of Ehsaas Emergency Cash for tax filers and Zakat recipients was concerned, the decision was taken by the federal cabinet.

Regarding the 7th and 8th objections of the audit, Nishtar said that it was the decision of the BISP board regarding the poverty score. Sania said the BISP's poverty score in the survey was 16.17 but the Emergency Cash was raised to 37 because it had to provide assistance to more people who were directly affected by the corona virus economically.

She said that cyberattacks on our system were frequent and cases were handed over to the FIA in this regard. “Also, 11 cases of Ehsaas Emergency Cash have been handed over to FIA.”

Pakistan stands in solidarity with Palestinian people: FO

Pakistan on Monday reaffirmed its consistent and unstinted support for the Palestinian people and the Palestinian cause, which has always been a defining principle of the country’s foreign policy.

“The government and people of Pakistan join the world community in observing the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (November 29),” the Foreign Office said in a statement issued.

“The commemoration of this day is a reminder to the international community that the question of Palestine remains unresolved and the Palestinian people are yet to realise their inalienable right to self-determination as provided in various resolutions of the United Nations.

“It is also an occasion to reiterate our support and solidarity for the Palestinian people who continue to wage a just struggle against an illegal and brutal occupation,” the statement added.

The Foreign Office said that the international community must shoulder its responsibility to protect the lives and fundamental rights of the Palestinian people, and play its rightful role in promoting a just and lasting resolution of the Palestinian question in accordance with international legitimacy in the interest of durable peace and stability in the Middle East.

The international community should also ensure accountability for the widespread violations of international human rights and humanitarian law in the occupied territories, it added.

“We renew our call on this day for a viable, independent and contiguous Palestinian State, with pre-1967 borders, and Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital being the only just, comprehensive and lasting solution of the Palestinian question, in accordance with the relevant United Nations and OIC resolutions,” the statement concluded.

Babar Azam appointed Karachi Kings captain

Pakistan cricket team skipper Babar Azam has been appointed as the captain of Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Karachi Kings, owner Salman Iqbal announced on Tuesday.

The batter said he had been playing for the franchise for the past five years and "it is like a family for me" now, adding that Iqbal and the franchise had shown confidence in him by appointing him as the new captain and he would give his best shot in the new leadership role.

"I enjoy when I am given a responsibility," he said.

Azam has replaced all-rounder Imad Wasim, who was appointed as the franchise's captain in 2017 and lead the team to victory for the first time in the sixth edition of Pakistan's premier Twenty20 tournament last year. Azam had knocked a commanding half-century to help his side win their first championship in five years at Karachi National Stadium, smashing seven boundaries in his 49-ball 63.

In the video shared by Iqbal, Azam said he would try to continue Wasim's legacy.

"We have already won a title," he said, expressing the hope that the team would perform well in the next edition of the PSL as well.

He also acknowledged the franchise's fans, saying that their support had been boosting the team's confidence.

"We will continue to try to entertain them and give them more [reasons] to celebrate."

Azam will be leading the franchise in the tournament's seventh edition, which, according to a Dawn report, is likely to be held in January and February next year.

The report said the Pakistan Cricket Board and all six franchises of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) had unanimously decided to hold the next edition of the league in January and February next year, with all fixtures planned on home soil.

Citing sources in franchises, it added that the tournament was to start from Karachi and end in Punjab.

Moderna CEO says existing vaccines may be less effective against Omicron variant

It will take months to develop a new shot of COVID-19 vaccine that works against the Omicron variant as the existing vaccines may be less effective against the new strain, the head of US vaccine manufacturer Moderna has told Financial Times.

Stephane Bancel told the newspaper in an interview published Tuesday that data would be available on the effectiveness of the current vaccines in the next two weeks but scientists were not optimistic.

"All the scientists I've talked to ... are like 'this is not going to be good'," he told the newspaper.

Bancel's warning came as G7 health ministers held emergency talks on the new variant, which is spreading around the world and prompting nations to close their borders once again or impose fresh travel restrictions.

The World Health Organization has called the risk from Omicron "very high".

Bancel said researchers were concerned because 32 of 50 mutations found in the Omicron variant were on the spike protein, a part of the virus that vaccines use to bolster the immune system against Covid.

He told the FT there would be a "material drop" in the effectiveness of current jabs against Omicron.

Moderna has already said it is working on an Omicron-specific vaccine, as is US drugmaker Pfizer.

Chief executive Bancel said his company could deliver between two billion and three billion doses in 2022 but it would be dangerous to shift all production to an Omicron-specific shot with other strains of the virus still in circulation.

His more alarming tone contrasts with efforts by politicians to project calm regarding Omicron.

US President Joe Biden said Monday the strain was "not a cause for panic".

Govt may not be able to fund elections where EVMs are not used: Fawad

Federal Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry said on Tuesday that there was a likelihood of the government not being able to fund elections that would not include the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs).

Speaking after a federal cabinet meeting in Islamabad, he told media persons that the cabinet had discussed the matter at length and agreed that the Election Commission of Pakistan was bound to use EVMs in by-elections.

"And one of the points of view [shared in the meeting] was that the government could not fund any election held without [the use of] EVMs as after the recent amendment, the law [only] recognised polls involving the use of EVMs," he said, adding that Law Minister Farogh Naseem had the same point of view.

The minister was referring to contentious amendments to the Elections Act, 2017, which were bulldozed through a joint session of parliament amid fervent protest by the opposition earlier this month. The amendments allowed the use of EVMs and granted voting rights to overseas Pakistanis, on which the opposition has repeatedly expressed reservations.

Chaudhry told reporters on Tuesday that after deliberating on the matter in light of the recent amendment, the cabinet had formed a committee in this regard and the law ministry would also give its opinion.

"And it seems that we will only be able to release funds to the Election Commission [of Pakistan] for polls where EVMs will be used," he reiterated, adding that the government now wanted the ECP to start working towards the induction of EVMs in elections.

Moreover, he said, Science and Technology Minister Shibli Faraz had shared during today's cabinet meeting a comprehensive plan on the use of EVMs, which included details such as how many machines would be required.

"And we want the ECP to now move forward according to this schedule," he added.

During the press briefing, the minister also spoke about recently surfaced video clips wherein individuals were seen distributing cash, allegedly for getting on-oath pledges from voters to cast votes in their favour ahead of the NA-133 by-poll in Lahore.

"The cabinet has expressed concern on the videos," he said, adding that had quick action been taken after a similar incident during Senate elections in March this year, "we would not have been facing this situation [again]."

Highlighting the importance of transparent election in a democratic country, he said while it was important that the ECP was strengthened, it being "effective" was also of significance. And hence, the ECP needed to take such incidents of rigging to their logical conclusion. he stressed.

'Gas reserves depleting'

Speaking about gas, of which the country is seeing a shortage with the arrival of winter, the minister warned that gas reserves in the country were depleting.

"And we have not discovered any new resources," he said, highlighting the need for a strategy to address the issue of disappearing indigenous reserves of gas and the emerging shortfall of the commodity.

He said only 28pc Pakistanis were actually being supplied gas, and "the rest of the country, deprived of the commodity's supply, facilitates" this small percentage.

Hence, "we need a policy to fulfil the gas need of all Pakistanis."

The minister also outlined the measures taken by the government in this regard.

'Leaked' affidavit

Chaudhry also commented on Former chief justice of Gilgit-Baltistan Rana Shamim distancing himself from an affidavit attributed to him in which allegations of collusion were levelled against another former jurist Mian Saqib Nisar.

The matter had surfaced when a report published on November 15 in The News by journalist Ansar Abbasi quoted Shamim as saying in an alleged affidavit that he witnessed Nisar relaying instructions to a high court judge to not release former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter, Maryam Nawaz, in corruption references against them.

Subsequently, the Islamabad High Court had issued show-cause notices to Shamim and others in the case.

During the hearing on the matter today, Shamim told the court he had not yet examined the affidavit attributed to him. When asked whether he had given it to a newspaper, the former judge had responded, "My affidavit is sealed in a locker in the UK. I don't know how it was leaked."

Terming the development "surprising", Fawad said if the affidavit was in a locker, how did it reach the newspaper that initially reported it.

"It seems that the affidavit reached the newspaper through Nawaz Sharif," he commented." A campaign has been launched against the judiciary and armed forces and we hope that the court would take the matter to its logical conclusion."

The Omicron concern

Earlier in his speech, Chaudhry expressed concern over the discovery of the coronavirus' Omicron variant, saying that reports suggested it spread 10 times faster than other variants.

Therefore, the cabinet had asked provincial governments and citizens to ensure the completion of inoculation againt the coronavirus.

"The virus is surely going to reach the country and we must be wearing masks as well," he emphasised.

Sharing other developments from the cabinet meeting, he said formalities had been completed for the SBP receiving $3 billion from Saudi Arabia $1.2bn worth of oil supplies from the Kingdom, approval had been given for limiting the construction of buildings around airports and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam had been tasked with formulating a long-term policy on smog in Lahore.

He added that the Federal Investigation Agency had been asked to launch a programme against human trafficking, Pakistan would be sending 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan and Islamabad would also host an extraordinary meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation's Council of Foreign Ministers to discuss the situation in Afghanistan.

'We will hold PM accountable for every misery incurred upon masses': Bilawal

PPP and the masses will hold Prime Minister Imran Khan accountable for every misery he had incurred upon people, the party chairman, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said Tuesday.

Addressing the PPP's 54th foundation day event, Bilawal said this "complete failure of a government" is ruling the country and "toying with Pakistan's future and its people".

"After three years, every Pakistani is aware that 'tabdeeli's' real face is rising inflation, historic poverty, and historic unemployment. These are the antics of Khan, and this is 'Naya Pakistan'," Bilawal said.

The PPP chairman said when the government keeps "waiting for an umpire's directions", then pain is inflicted on the masses.

Talking about the recently gone viral tapes, which allegedly featured ex-chief justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar and another of PML-N Vice-President Maryam Nawaz, he said: "Let the conspirators plot their conspiracies, let people leak tapes, we will struggle along with the people and foil every conspiracy."

Bilawal, reciting a poetic verse for PM Imran Khan, said: "Tumse pehle wo jo aik shaks yahan takht nasheen tha, usko bhi apne khuda hone par itna he yaqeen tha (the person who held the reins before you, was confident of being a god, just like you)."

The PPP chairman told PM Imran Khan that "only oppress people to the extent which you can yourself bear", as he reminded the premier that people who sat in his office earlier were also of the view that the country's future depended on them.

The PPP chairman said people who had earlier blamed PPP leaders for corruption and "phoned courts to take action against them", are now certified "thieves".

Bilawal asked PM Imran Khan to halt his "anti-democratic methods", as he vowed that in the upcoming local body elections, PPP and the masses would hold him accountable.

"Imran will not be allowed to run away. No plane would land late at night to fly him to Saudi Arabia or London," Bilawal warned the premier.

Protests

The PPP chairman announced that the party would hold countrywide protests against the constant increase in petrol price on December 10. On December 17, after Friday prayers, PPP workers would protest against the ongoing gas crisis at their district headquarters.

Following these, a historic rally will be held in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh, where an action plan against the incumbent government would also be announced.

Abid Ali vows to keep up momentum in second Test as well

Pakistani opening batter Abid Ali Tuesday vowed to keep up his momentum for the second Test match against Bangladesh, after Pakistan thrashed the hosts by eight wickets to win the first Test match of the series.

Ali scored a century on Day 1 and then followed it up with a half-century on Day 4 of the same Test match. With scores of 133 and 91, he was declared Player of the Match for the Chittagong Test.

The batter, in an interview with Pakistan Cricket Board after the victory, said that the team is looking forward to winning the second Test match as well.

"We are trying to rise on the World Test Championship points table," said Abid.

Speaking about his performance in the first Test, the cricketer said that he is pleased to have won the Player of the Match award, adding that the domestic cricket he played before the Test series helped him in confidence.

Abid Ali said that he couldn't score a century in the second innings but "this performance is now a matter of the past".

"[I] have to play with the same positivity in Dhaka now," Abid said.

Commenting on his partnership with Abdullah Shafiq, Abid congratulated his opening batting partner for his international debut, praising him for playing with confidence.

"Our plan was to stay on the wickets," Abid said, adding that the duo kept helping each other out by pointing out their mistakes.

Riaz Fatyana decides to take 'tough stance' in response to PTI's show-cause notice

PTI MNA Riaz Fatyana has decided to take a “tough stance” in response to the show-cause notice issued by the party for allegedly making "unreasonable" demands at a recent climate conference in Glasgow (UK) and making "false" allegations against two members of the federal cabinet, it emerged Tuesday.

The notice was issued by the PTI’s Standing Committee on Accountability and Discipline (SCAD) on the complaint of Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam last week.

During a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee on November 25, Fatyana had claimed that the PM’s adviser had a brawl with Minister of State for Climate Change Zartaj Gul while attending the climate conference in the UK.

According to Geo News sources, Fatyana has decided to take a "tough stance" against the allegations, saying he will not "tolerate any disrespect" and that if the party wants to fire him, so be it.

Sources said that he will present two witnesses, Rumina Khurshid Alam and Shiza Fatima, before the party in his defence.

The PTI MNA has said that he will "expose the truth" behind the show-cause notice issued by the party on Malik Amin Aslam's complaint.

"I stand by what I have said in front of everyone in the parliamentary committee," the sources quoted Fatyana as saying.

"How many more people [party members] were given show-cause notice in the committees who spoke against the ministers?" asked the PTI MNA.

Earlier, Malik Amin Aslam had brushed Fatyana's allegations aside, saying that Zartaj Gul Wazir had left the conference midway to head for the joint session of the Parliament.

"Riaz Fatyana has lied before the Public Accounts Committee," he had said. "Not even a single rupee of the government was spent at the conference. It was organised completely by foreign donors," he had added.

Aslam had said he wasn't aware why Fatyana had levelled the allegations, saying that the PTI lawmaker had arrived at the conference via an NGO's sponsorship and had demanded official protocol.

He had said the Ministry of Climate Change officials declined to provide him with the car, which had been reserved for the official delegation, after which he "harassed" the officials.

"The party should investigate Fatyana," he had stated.

Shahbaz Sharif terms mini-budget a death knell for Pakistan

PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif Monday raised alarm at reports that the government intends to release a mini-budget in line with the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) recommendations, saying that it would prove to be a death knell for a nation already reeling from the effects of rising inflation and unemployment.

Sources said that the government intends to introduce a mini-budget in line with the demands of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

As per sources, tax exemptions on mobile phones, stationery, and packaged food items are likely to be abolished in the mini-budget, while the amendment bill would allow the government to withdraw sales tax exemptions from zero ratings in addition to exports, stated the report.

In a statement, Shahbaz said that it would become impossible for the nation to live after the government introduces the mini-budget considering how petrol, gas and electricity will become even more expensive.

The former Punjab chief minister said an increase in taxes would further destroy the business community and shrink Pakistan's economy.

Shahbaz Sharif said the doomsday of inflation had arrived and that the only salvation for the masses would come in the form of the incumbent government going home.

The PML-N leader said a mini-budget in line with the IMF's recommendation would be a threat to Pakistan's national security.

The former Punjab chief minister urged coalition partners of the ruling PTI to stand up to the mini-budget, adding that it could be dangerous to the point that it can paralyse Pakistan's defence capability.

He said coalition parties of the government should oppose the government's move to introduce the mini-budget for the sake of Pakistan's national interest.

IHC directs former GB CJ to record reply on his affidavit within 5 days

Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Athar Minallah told the former chief judge of Gilgit-Baltistan Rana Shamim that he tried to shake the public's confidence in the judiciary.

A couple of weeks earlier, Shamim had alleged in a notarised affidavit that then CJP Saqib Nisar had directed a high court judge to not release Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz on bail at any cost before the 2018 General Elections.

The allegations were published in a report in The News following which the IHC had taken notice of it and directed the ex-judge to submit his response.

Presiding over the hearing, Justice Athar Minallah said the judiciary's freedom was dependent on the freedom of the press. "However, there are some responsibilities that come with the freedom of the press," he noted.

The IHC chief justice then summoned Rana Shamim to the rostrum and asked whether he had submitted a written response to the court regarding the case.

"My lawyer will tell you why I did not submit a written response," replied Rana Shamim. "My brother's chehlum will be held in a few days. Please hold a hearing of the case after that," he requested.

Justice Minallah told Shamim that he submitted an affidavit over an incident that allegedly occurred three years ago. "A newspaper carried the details of the affidavit for the public [to read]," noted the IHC CJ.

"I was contacted after my affidavit was published. I confirmed it," responded the former judge. "The affidavit was sealed, I don't know how it got leaked," he added.

"Did you not provide the affidavit to him [the reporter]?" asked Justice Minallah.

"No, I did not submit the affidavit for publication," replied the ex-judge.

Justice Minallah asked Shamim why did he submit the affidavit in London. "The court is granting you five days to submit your written response. You will have to tell us why you submitted an affidavit after a gap of three years," said Justice Minallah.

The IHC chief justice told Shamim that he has tried to shake the public's confidence in the judiciary, instructing the former judge to say whatever he wanted to in the written response.

"My brother and sister-in-law's chehlums will be held on December 5 and 12 respectively," Shamim told the IHC chief justice. "Please hold the hearing after that."

The attorney-general requested the court to delay action against the media, saying that its role was secondary in this case. He urged the court to direct Rana Shamim to present his written response with the original affidavit in court.

At this, Shamim said he does not know which affidavit was reported by the media. "Let me have a look at the affidavit that was published," he said.

"The person who submitted the affidavit is unaware of its contents," responded the attorney-general. "If he does not know, then who helped prepare the affidavit?"

At this, the IHC chief justice directed Rana Shamim to submit his written response with the original affidavit on the next hearing.

"This should be on-record that he [Rana Shamim] does not know what is written in the affidavit," stated the attorney-general. "The affidavit was submitted on November 10 and today, he says he does not know what is written in it."

Justice Minallah asked the former judge to also submit a written response to the show-cause notice sent to him by the high court.

"I do not believe in contempt of court," stressed Justice Minallah. "Judges should face criticism. However, please refrain from maligning this high court for the sake of political narratives," he added.

The IHC adjourned proceedings of the case till December 7.

Tanzania: Seven people died after eating poisonous turtle meat

Seven people, including a three-year-old, have died on Tanzania's Pemba island after eating poisonous turtle meat. Three others are still in hospital. The meat is a common delicacy among those living on Tanzania's islands and coastal areas but the authorities have now banned the consumption of turtles in the area.

In rare cases turtle meat can be toxic due to a type of food poisoning known as chelonitoxism. Its exact cause is not known but it is thought to be linked to poisonous algae which the turtles eat, according to the Turtle Foundation charity.

At least five families on Pemba, which is part of the semi-autonomous Zanzibar islands, ate the turtle meat last Thursday, local police commander Juma.

The effects were first felt the next day and the three-year-old was the first to die. Two others died that night and then four more on Sunday.

A further 38 people were admitted to hospital, but most were discharged and the three who remain are said to be in a stable condition.

Monday, 29 November 2021

Volvo Cars sees supply situation improving after Q3 profit drop

Automaker Volvo Cars (VOLCARb.ST) said on Tuesday the supply situation had improved going into the fourth quarter, as it posted its first quarterly report after listing its shares on the stock exchange last month.

The Gothenburg-based manufacturer, majority owned by China's Geely Holding (GEELY.UL), confirmed a previously announced third-quarter operating profit figure of 3.3 billion Swedish crowns ($362.6 million), versus 4.6 billion in the year-ago period.

"The supply situation has improved going into the fourth quarter, but we expect the industry-wide shortage of semi-conductors to remain a restraining factor,”

Corona claims 10 more lives in last 24 hrs

Pakistan has reported 10 deaths in the last 24 hours by novel coronavirus as the number of positive cases has surged to 1,284,840. The nationwide tally of fatalities has jumped to 28,728 on Tuesday.

According to the latest figures by the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) 475 persons tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 24 hours.
Punjab remains the worst-hit province in terms of deaths followed by Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Till now 13,023 individuals have lost their lives to the epidemic in Punjab, 7,621 in Sindh 5,842 in KP, 954 in Islamabad, 742 in Azad Kashmir, 360 in Balochistan, and 186 in GB.

World Bank works to redirect frozen funds to Afghanistan for humanitarian aid

The World Bank is finalizing a proposal to deliver up to $500 million from a frozen Afghanistan aid fund to humanitarian agencies, people familiar with the plans but it leaves out tens of thousands of public sector workers and remains complicated by U.S. sanctions.

According to Reuters, board members will meet informally on Tuesday to discuss the proposal, hammered out in recent weeks with U.S. and U.N. officials, to redirect the funds from the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF), which has a total of $1.5 billion.

Afghanistan's 39 million people face a cratering economy, a winter of food shortages and growing poverty three months after the Taliban seized power as the last U.S. troops withdrew from 20 years of war.

Pakistan beats Bangladesh by 8 wickets in first Test match

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam and veteran batsman Azhar Ali saw the Men in Green through to their first victory over Bangladesh in the two-match Test series, as the visitors trounced the hosts by eight wickets Tuesday.

Pakistan were poised to win the match comfortably after openers Abid Ali and Abdullah Shafique scored half-centuries to build a solid foundation.
Bangladesh's spin magician Taijul Islam trapped Abid Ali lbw on 91 runs while Abdullah Shafique was dismissed the same way by Mehidy Hasan on 73.

However, stable partnership between Azhar Ali, who scored 24 and skipper Babar Azam, who made 13, ensured Pakistan's win.

At stumps on Day 4, Pakistan finished at 109-0, needing only 93 runs on the final day.

Ali was 56 not out at the end of play, adding to his first-innings score of 133, while debutant Shafique finished unbeaten on 53.

"In Test cricket, a fourth day is very crucial," Shafique had said.

"Our plan today was to restrict them for the lowest total possible so that we can easily chase it down. This is what we were trying and we were successful."

Fast bowler Shaheen Afridi earlier claimed 5-32 to help Pakistan bowl out Bangladesh for 157 runs in their second innings despite wicketkeeper-batsman Liton Das scoring a fighting fifty.

Resuming on 39-4, Bangladesh looked down and out once they lost Mushfiqur Rahim in the first over of the day, before Liton, who struck a hundred in the first innings, hauled the hosts back to respectability with 59 off 89 balls.

Afridi trapped Liton leg-before and then had Abu Jayed out for a duck to complete his fourth five-wicket Test haul.

Off-spinner Sajid Khan, who finished with 3-33, wrapped things up by dispatching Taijul Islam.

The hosts had got off to a positive start with Mushfiqur hitting a boundary off the first ball of the morning, bowled by Hasan Ali.

But two balls later he left a delivery that darted back in and departed for 16 after Hasan uprooted his off-stump.

Manchester City return to second as Leicester make Ranieri suffer

Manchester City beat West Ham United 2-1 in swirling snow on Sunday to return to second in the Premier League and Watford manager Claudio Ranieri endured a miserable return to Leicester City.

Free-scoring Liverpool laid down the gauntlet by hammering Southampton 4-0 the previous day to move to within one point of leaders Chelsea, who host Manchester United in Sunday’s late kick-off.

But reigning champions City stayed in close touch with victory at home to high-flying West Ham as the Premier League increasingly resembles a three-horse race.

Riyad Mahrez had a strike ruled out for offside at the Etihad but the hosts eventually claimed the lead shortly after the half-hour mark when a Mahrez ball into the box was deflected into the path of Ilkay Gundogan, handing the German a simple finish.

Declan Rice forced a good save from Ederson as West Ham threatened late on but substitute Fernandinho made it 2-0 to City in the closing minutes.

Manuel Lanzini pulled one back but it was not enough for David Moyes’s team to avoid a second successive defeat.

Leicester’s Jamie Vardy reminded Ranieri of his enduring quality even in his mid-30s, scoring twice at the King Power Stadium in a 4-2 win against Watford.

Ranieri, who famously won the Premier League title with unfancied Leicester in 2016, received a rapturous reception on his emotional first return to the stadium as an opposition manager since leaving the club early the following year.

Midfielder James Maddison gave Leicester an early lead when he capitalised on a mistake by William Troost-Ekong, only for Josh King to level from the penalty spot in the 30th minute after Wilfred Ndidi brought down Emmanuel Dennis in the area.

Leicester regained the lead four minutes later when Vardy lifted the ball over goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann from an angle and the former England striker grabbed his second three minutes before the break when he glanced in Maddison’s corner.

Dennis pulled a goal back just after the hour when he robbed Timothy Castagne to race through and chip over Kasper Schmeichel but Ademola Lookman scored from close range to restore the home side’s two-goal cushion.

Brentford heaped the pressure on Rafael Benitez by beating Everton 1-0 to secure their first Premier League win since early October, courtesy of a first-half penalty from Ivan Toney.

Everton have now taken just two points from their past seven league matches and are sinking fast.

The game between Burnley and Tottenham Hotspur was called off a little under an hour before kick-off because of heavy snow at Turf Moor in northwest England.

Attempts to clear the pitch proved in vain as the undersoil heating struggled to cope and snow fell as quickly as it could be removed.

On Saturday, Diogo Jota’s double and goals by Thiago Alcantara and Virgil van Dijk eased Liverpool past Southampton in another masterful display by the best attack in the league at Anfield.

Liverpool’s former skipper Steven Gerrard enjoyed a second consecutive win as Aston Villa manager with a 2-1 victory at Crystal Palace.

Second-from-bottom Norwich City failed to make it three wins in a row as they drew 0-0 at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers but they moved level on nine points with 18th-placed Burnley.

The match between Brighton & Hove Albion and by Leeds United also ended goalless, however, the point did edge Brighton up to eighth place, ahead of Manchester United.

Pakistan miss out on quarters after losing to Argentina in FIH Junior World Cup

Pakistan failed to reach the quarter-finals of the FIH Junior World Cup on Sunday after losing their last pool match to Argentina 4-3 at the Kalinga Stadium in the Indian city of Bhubaneswar.

By winning this game, Argentina reached the quarter-finals of the mega event with two wins from three games in pool D.

Argentina took lead in the 10th minute through a field from Bautista Capurro. Pakistan captain Rana Abdul Waheed equalised in the 17th minute by scoring on a pass from team-mate Rizwan Ali on a penalty corner.

In the 20th minute, Argentina’s Ignacio Nardolillo scored which again gave them lead. In the 28th minute, Pakistan earned a penalty stroke on which promising drag flicker Rizwan Ali scored to make it 2-2.

In the closing moments of the second quarter, Argentina’s Francisco Ruiz scored their third goal giving them a 3-2 lead. Ignacio Ibarra’s goal in the 47th minute extended Argentina’s lead to 4-2.

Aqeel Ahmed scored the third goal for Pakistan on a pass from Roman on a penalty corner in the 53rd minute. The 4-3 scoreline remained intact till the end of the match.

After finishing third in their pool, Pakistan will now be competing in a classification match with the US on Nov 30.

Meanwhile, Spain too booked their berth to the last-eight stage by thrashing South Korea 9-0 in a pool C encounter as they finished with six points from two wins, ending second behind the Netherlands, who thrashed the US 14-0, in the group.

In another pool D match, Germany handed Egypt an 11-0 hockey lesson to top the group and reach the last-eight stage.

Sindh govt should be allowed to regularise illegal buildings: Saeed Ghani

Sindh Information Minister Saeed Ghani on Monday said that the provincial government should be allowed to regularise buildings made in violation of rules and regulations as it affected the lives of millions of Pakistanis.

The minister made the comments while speaking to the media in Peshawar alongside PPP leader Nayyar Bukhari ahead of a rally to mark the party's foundation day on Nov 30.

Responding to a question about Nasla Tower — a 15-storey residential building which the Supreme Court has directed authorities to demolish for encroaching on land meant for a service road — Ghani said that the issue should not be viewed in "isolation".

He said that there were "minor violations" during construction work across the country. "Sometimes citizens make their homes on state land and end up living there for 50 years," he said.

Giving an example, he said that there were two massive buildings constructed on Islamabad's Constitution Avenue. "Notice was taken, there were some violations and the lease was cancelled. But because it concerned the apartments of some major people, including Prime Minister Imran Khan, it was regularised and fined Rs18 billion."

Ghani further claimed that PM Imran's personal residence in Bani Gala was made in violation of rules and regulations, but "it was fined and was regularised".

Moving on to Bahria Town, he said that the Supreme Court took notice after it spotted some irregularities. "They were fined Rs460bn and Bahria Town was regularised."

"Now the question that arises is that ways have been found to [facilitate projects which concern] buildings, homes and properties of affluent people. That is not a bad thing," he said, adding that an alternative should be sought when it concerns people's homes.

However, the yardstick should be equal for everyone, the minister said.

Ghani noted that the Punjab government had issued an ordinance to regularise more than 6,000 irregular housing societies across the province and had also constituted a commission for this purpose.

"If the Punjab government has done this and there are previous Supreme Court judgements present, why is this standard not [applicable] to the people of Sindh?"

He said that the Sindh government should be allowed to regularise buildings that are in violation of rules and regulations or houses that have been built on amenity plots.

"We don't want illegal construction to happen or houses to be made in the wrong places. But where the number of affectees goes into millions, who will not be able to remake their homes, then it is the responsibility of the government to save their homes."

Ghani added that this issue needed to be viewed from a human angle rather than a legal standpoint.

"The kind of directives being issued by the courts in Sindh, if we begin implementing these then millions ,not thousands, will be rendered homeless."

He continued that he did not doubt the sincerity of the country's judges. "They want to stop illegal [construction] in Karachi and want to restore the city's beauty. That's a good thing. But will we achieve this by rendering millions homeless?"

He stated that the Sindh government was debating on drafting a law on how to regularise such buildings so that they can save people's homes.

Gas supply to CNG stations in Sindh, Balochistan to remain suspended for more than 2 months

The gas supply to the CNG sector will remain suspended for more than two months starting December 1, the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) said Monday.

In a statement, the SSGC said gas supply was being suspended to the CNG sector in a bid to manage the additional winter load of domestic customers.

It has been decided to suspend gas supply to all CNG stations across Sindh and Balochistan from December 1, 2021 (8:00 am) till February 15, 2022 (10:00 pm), the statement said.

The decision was taken in adherence to the Ministry of Energy's (Petroleum Division) approved gas-load management plan, which places domestic and commercial customers on top of the gas sectoral priority list, the statement said.

"The decision to suspend gas supply to the CNG sector has been taken to make gas available to the domestic and commercial sectors during the current winter season that has seen a major additional demand especially in Balochistan that is already experiencing chilly winter season," the statement said.

Gas supply to all Captive Power Plants (CPP) of non-export industrial units was discontinued last Friday till further orders due to this winter spike, the statement said.

The statement, however, added that all general industries, zero-rated export industries including its CPPs and fertiliser sector will continue to get the gas.

The volume of gas curtailed from suspension to CPPs of non-export units and the CNG sector would be diverted to domestic customers to enable them in catering to their enhanced gas loads arising due to the winter season, the SSGC said.

"It may be noted that in Balochistan, the supply of additional gas is a must for the survival of human lives since gas serves as a lifeline to a huge population that has to keep itself warm through water and space heating gas appliances in extremely low temperatures," the statement said.

Omicron is highly contagious and spreading fast across the globe: Shafqat Mehmood

Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood has said that the government wants to keep educational institutes open amid reports of the spread of new COVID-19 variant Omicron.

The new strain, Omicron, is highly contagious and is spreading fast across the globe.

First discovered in South Africa, it has now been detected in Britain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Botswana, Israel, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, and the Czech Republic.

However, when asked about the education department's plans to deal with the threat, the education minister said: "I don't know about the new variant of coronavirus in detail, but the government wants to continue educational activities."

Mahmood said that examinations will be held on time, and the entire syllabus will be covered in it.

Moreover, while talking about the closure of schools in Punjab in light of the smog situation in Lahore, Mahmood said that the closure of schools thrice a week will bring down smog levels as it always has.

The Punjab government had decided to shut down private and government schools in Lahore thrice a week as the smog situation in the provincial capital has taken a turn for the worse.

Fawad Ch criticised model for modeling bareheaded at Gurdwara Sahib

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain has censured a Lahore-based dress designer and a model for modelling bareheaded at the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur.

The pictures and videos of a model for a photoshoot that were posted on social media for a designer brand were condemned by an Indian Sikh journalist on Twitter.

The journalist had called out the "religiously hurtful" act, asking Prime Minister Imran Khan and relevant Pakistani authorities to take notice of it.

"Modelling bareheaded for ladies' attire, in the premises of Gurdwara Sri Darbar Sahib at #KartarpurSahib in Pakistan, by a Lahorite woman, has hurt the religious sentiments of Sikhs. Further, the pictures were uploaded on social media,

Fawad, taking notice of the matter, said that the Kartarpur gurdwara is a religious site and "not a film set".

"The designer/model must apologise to the Sikh community," he stressed.

The Lahore-based designer had posted the pictures and videos from the photoshoot on her Instagram handle two days ago.

The Gurdwara Darbar Sahib is the biggest yet Sikh shrine of the world that stretches over four acres of land while acres of land around it have been cultivated for gardens/farms.

The Kartarpur Corridor, which links Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan, the final resting place of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev, to Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Gurdaspur district.

The corridor was recently reopened on November 17 for allowing Sikh pilgrims from India and all over the world to visit the gurdwara to celebrate the 552nd birth anniversary of their religion's founder.

Alleged bribery video,ECP decided to investigate against culprits

Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has decided to take strict action against the elements involved in an alleged video in which voters can be seen allegedly receiving bribes by contesting party members before Lahore's much anticipated NA-133 by-election.

The by-election is scheduled to take place on December 5 but controversy has already reared its ugly head.

The war for votes between PML-N and PPP for the by-poll had gone beyond the constituency to social media Sunday, where a viral video appeared to show voters being bribed by the contesting party members.

The ECP held a meeting Monday, chaired by the election commissioner of Punjab to review arrangements before the by-election.

The meeting was attended by the Lahore deputy commissioner, returning officer, district returning officer, and Pakistan Rangers officials.

During the meeting, the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and other authorities concerned were directed to prepare a report on the viral video and send it to the commission immediately.

"Strict action will be taken against the elements involved [in the incident] as soon as the report is received," the meeting decided.

It was stated in the meeting that the successful candidate may be disqualified if he/she is found to be involved in the video scandal.

The meeting also decided that the Rangers personnel will patrol the constituency on the day of the election while police will be responsible for maintaining law and order in the surroundings of polling stations.

The participants of the meeting were informed that the polling material has been handed over to the returning officer.

Moreover, 21 out of 254 polling stations in the constituency were declared extremely sensitive, 199 were declared sensitive and 34 were declared normal.

Participants agreed that the number of CCTV cameras and police personnel should be increased at polling stations deemed extremely sensitive.

The ECP's Punjab spokesperson said that the election commissioner of Punjab informed the chief election commissioner of Pakistan about the decisions made at the meeting.

Vaccination is effective way of protection against Omicron: Asad Umar

Federal Minister of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar said that vaccination is the most effective way of protection against the new coronavirus variant, Omicron.

Umar, who is also the chief of National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), while addressing a joint press conference flanked by Adviser to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan in Islamabad, warned that the Omicron variant will inevitably come to Pakistan.

The minister announced that the NCOC has made some decisions regarding the highly contagious new variant which is spreading fast across the globe.

He said that the country has only a few weeks to contain the Omicron threat.

"Measures to control the [spread of] new variant in Pakistan are underway but vaccination is the only effective way of protection against Omicron,” said Umar.

Informing the media about the NCOC decisions, Umar said that the government would launch a massive vaccination campaign across the country within two to three days.

“We cannot stop Omicron but can reduce its effects by adopting preventive measures,” he added.

Talking about the government’s preventive measures, the minister said that they were tightening restrictions for the passengers coming from abroad and increasing testing capacity in high-risk areas.

He urged the masses to get themselves fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.

The minister further stated that the individual at high-risk of contracting the virus will be given a booster jab.

The Government of Sindh had decided to make a booster dose of the coronavirus vaccine compulsory after the discovery of the new COVID-19 variant, Daily Jang reported Sunday.

The Sindh Health Department had announced that a booster dose of Pfizer vaccine will be administered to fully vaccinated individuals.

Sindh Health Secretary Zulfiqar Ali Shah had told Daily Jang that the decision to administer fully vaccinated individuals a booster jab has been made in order to prevent the spread of the virus in the province.

He had said that consignments of the vaccine are being imported for the purpose.

"The booster jabs are currently being administered at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre and Dow University of Health Sciences Ojha Campus but the scale of vaccination will be expanded across the province," Shah had said.

He had further stated that no fee will be charged for the administration of the booster jab.

Shah had requested the fully vaccinated individuals to get the booster jab and advised those who are yet to get the basic vaccination to get themselves immunised against the virus.

Rs354bn expenditure on combating COVID-19 pandemic, Audit report says

An audit, conducted by the Auditor General of Pakistan from April 2020 to June 2020, examined Rs354.23 billion expenditure out of the total Rs1.240 trillion approved by the prime minister in March 2020 to combat the virus.

The state audit of the government's expenditure was released last week.

Examining these three months, the audit report finds irregularities observed during procurements by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), disbursements through the government’s poverty alleviation program, managements by the defense services and the Utility stores, amongst other findings.

Here are key highlights from the report:

Reporting to NAB
The NDMA which was responsible for the procurement of equipment and medical supplies during the coronavirus pandemic was allotted Rs33,248mn.

The audit report states that as per the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999, all government departments have to furnish to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) a copy of any contract with a minimum monetary value of Rs50mn or more.

Still, the NDMA entered in 55 contracts with suppliers and firms which carried a monetary value of Rs50mn and copies of these contracts were not provided to NAB.

Buying from China
Till June 2020, the NDMA used up to $62,270,874 to procure coronavirus-related equipment from China.

But no minutes of these meetings were recorded, the report states. Neither was a proper record of these proceedings maintained.

The audit also observed that NDMA procured some ventilators at higher cost from the Chinese company, Sinopharm Fortune Way. The difference in price per ventilator was $7,100.

“Procurement of the same equipment at the same time at a higher rate resulted in a loss of $994,000 to the public exchequer,” the report revealed.

A further 80 ventilators were bought, and the Chinese firm they were brought from was overpaid in excess payment of $700,000. The NDMA told the audit team it has requested the company for a refund, through the Chinese embassy.

Construction during Covid-19
China donated $4mn for the construction of a 250-beds Isolation Hospital and Infections Treatment Center (IHITC) in Islamabad. For which, NDMA assigned the construction task to the Frontier Works Organization (FWO), which was provided Rs600mn in two tranches.

“During Audit it was observed that instead of utilizing the grant received from China meant for construction of IHITC, the NDMA utilized the Covid-19 funds for the construction of the hospital. Resultantly, the grant received from China is lying unutilized with NDMA,” the audit report reads.

Also, the report noted that the advance payment made to the FWO for the construction of the Center had not been adjusted by the NDMA till June 30, 2020. The audit recommended that the claims and payments vouchers be obtained from the FWO.

Missing GST
The NDMA procured various Covid-19 related items from different supplier firms, of which it was required to deduct General Sales Tax (GST). But the audit examined that the NDMA had not deducted GST from the bills of suppliers, who were not exempt from GST.

This caused the government a loss of Rs328.903mn in tax revenues.

Cash disbursements to the poor
The total allocated budget of the Benazir Income Support Program for Covid-19 for the financial year 2019-20 was Rs136,377.32mn to be dispersed amongst the poor most affected during the pandemic.

The audit observed that payments were made to relatively better-off beneficiaries “due to absence of any clear policy”.

Despite technical difficulties, like beneficiaries not receiving an SMS to withdraw funds, the audit also noted problems in NADRA and the government’s database, which led to payment to ineligible beneficiaries like government servants, pensioners, and their spouses or tax-payers with income more than Rs50,000 per month.

The report further expressed concern that 1,320,171 beneficiaries were awaiting funds at the time of the closing of the audit.

It was also highlighted that a total number of 26,555 beneficiaries from Punjab received Covid-19 cash grants of Rs12,000 and Rs9,000 from both BISP and Zakat Fund, respectively, which was irregular.

“Thus, an extra amount of Rs318,660,000 was irregularly disbursed, which is required to be recovered,” the audit recommended.

In addition, there were instances where fake biometrics were used to withdraw cash amounts in the name of a dead person.

Cash transfers amounting to Rs1,680,000 were fraudulently withdrawn.

Expenditures by Defence services
The report states that the Pak Emirates Military Hospital (PEMH) and CMA Rawalpindi did not provide records of their expenditure on account of Covid-19.

Separately, the Ministry of Defence allocated Rs200mn to Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology & National Institute of Heart Diseases from the Army budget for Covid-19. During the audit, it was observed that the entire allocation was spent on clearance of previous liabilities and procurement of medicines relating to heart diseases.

The report states that these funds should have been “surrendered so that the same could be utilized by the government on other urgent requirements for the pandemic.”

The audit report also pointed towards wasteful expenditures during the pandemic by the defence services. It noted that medical store items including Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), disposables, and medicines valuing Rs376.817mn were locally purchased, even though sufficient stock of the same items was already held with the formations.

During an audit of CMH Rawalpindi, it was noted that PPEs were purchased at higher rates by ignoring the lowest rates available, which resulted in a loss amounting to Rs27,923,656.

While a record of the hospital showed that PPEs received from COD Rawalpindi were more than the requirement and still lying-in stock, “which was not justified,” the report added. “Issuance of the excess quantity of PPEs resulted into a blockade of government's money amounting to Rs75.066mn.”

Another concern was that procurements made for the defense services did not deduct withholding tax, which cost the state a loss of Rs17.129 million.

PML-N's tenure: Senate committee seeks details of ads to TV channels

Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting has sought the details of media ads during PML-N's tenure after an audio clip of PML-N Vice-President Maryam Nawaz went viral, in which she was instructing someone to stop advertisements to four TV channels.

The committee's chairman, Senator Faisal Javed, took notice of Maryam's audio clip as Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib gave a briefing during the meeting.

The state minister said the Ministry of Information has started an inquiry after Maryam's audio clip went viral. A report, containing details of ads till 2008, would be furnished before the committee on Wednesday, he said.

Habib informed the participants of the meeting that the ministry's constituted committee is probing in what capacity did Maryam issue the directives to stop media ads.

"We are also probing whether the directives to stop ads had impacted the independence of journalism," the state minister said.

For his part, Senator Javed said "some channels were receiving a majority of the ads, while others were getting a negligible amount", as he lamented that media workers, due to non-payment of salaries, were forced to commit suicide.

Maryam, addressing a press conference earlier this week, had confirmed the authenticity of the viral audio clip. Replying to the question, the PML-N leader said that she will not deny that the voice is hers or say it has been “fabricated”.

“I was running the party’s media cell at that time and it is an old audio clip,” she said.

State-run PTV's managing director, as he spoke to the committee, said former pacer Shoaib Akhtar should not have been insulted on live TV. "The matter, however, has been resolved."

The “insult” of Akhtar on the state-owned TV channel last month had sparked anger among cricket fans. PTV Sports anchor Dr Nauman Niaz had told the cricket star to leave the show in the presence of cricket legends like Sir Viv Richards and David Gower.

PTV's MD told the committee that the incident had damaged the reputation of the state-run broadcaster, however, as the inquiry into the matter remains incomplete, Akhtar and Niaz are still off air.

The MD said Akhtar is a legend and he should be a part of the inquiry.

In response, Javed said the anchorperson should not have behaved in the manner that he did on state TV. Meanwhile, Habib said to serve another notice to Akhtar and wrap up the inquiry.

Javed told the PTV MD to submit the report to the committee after the inquiry concludes.

Travel bans are discrimination and injustice: South African president

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged the countries to "immediately and urgently" reverse travel bans linked to the discovery of the new coronavirus variant Omicron, terming them scientifically "unjustified".

Dozens of nations from Europe to Asia have blacklisted South Africa and its neighbours since South African scientists flagged Omicron on November 25.

The flight bans have angered several African leaders.

"We call upon all those countries that have imposed travel bans on our country and our southern African sister countries to immediately and urgently reverse their decisions," Ramaphosa said in his first address to the nation following last week's detection of the new variant.

The World Health Organisation has labelled Omicron a variant of concern, while scientists are still assessing its virulence.

A "deeply disappointed" Ramaphosa argued that the ban was "not informed by science".

The countries that have already imposed travel restrictions on southern Africa include key travel hub Qatar, the United States, Britain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the Netherlands.

'Afrophobia'
Earlier Sunday, Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera accused Western countries of "Afrophobia" for shutting their borders.

And in Botswana, the other southern African country to detect the strain — among a group of foreign diplomatic visitors in the first instance — two ministers cautioned against "geo-politicising this virus".

"We are concerned that there seem to have been attempts to stigmatise the country where it was detected," Health Minister Edwin Dikoloti, said on Sunday.

The head of the WHO in Africa was equally worried.

"With the Omicron variant now detected in several regions of the world, putting in place travel bans that target Africa attacks global solidarity," said WHO regional director general Matshidiso Moeti in a statement.

Ramaphosa warned that the travel ban would "further damage the economies (and) undermine their ability to respond to and recover from the pandemic".

South Africa, the continent's most industrialised country, is struggling with slow economic growth and a more than 34% unemployment rate.

The travel curbs are another major blow to its key tourism industry, which had set high hopes on the upcoming southern hemisphere summer.

Ramaphosa blasted the G20 countries for abandoning commitments made at a meeting in Rome last month to support the recovery of the tourism sector in developing countries.

On Sunday, he added: "Instead of prohibiting travel, the rich countries of the world need to support the efforts of developing economies to access and manufacture enough vaccine doses for their people without delay.

Ramaphosa called on rich countries to stop fuelling vaccine inequality, describing jabs as the "most powerful tool" to limit Omicron's transmission.

He once again appealed to South Africans to get their shots and said the government was considering making vaccines mandatory for certain activities and locations in a bid to increase uptake.

"Vaccines do work," he said. "Vaccines are saving lives."

Just over 35%of adults in South Africa have been fully inoculated after a slow start to the vaccine campaign, with vaccine hesitancy widespread.

The country is Africa's worst hit by COVID, with around 2.9 million cases and 89,797 deaths reported to date.

Omicron is believed to be fuelling a rise in infections, with 1,600 new cases recorded on average in the past seven days compared to 500 the previous week.

Can't play into the hands of those behind audio leaks: IHC CJ

Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah and Former Chief Justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar

Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah asked, in the hearing of a petition asking for a Commission of Inquiry to investigate an alleged audio clip of former Chief Justice Saqib Nisar, if the audio is correct, where is the original clip.

Having such an investigation could lead to anyone bringing an audio clip [to court] tomorrow and asking it be investigated, the IHC CJ said.

The petition has been filed in the IHC by Sindh High Court Bar President Salahuddin Ahmed and Syed Hyder Imam Rizvi, a member of the Judicial Commission.

At the start of the hearing, Justice Minallah asked the petitioner to state how the petition is admissible. "Against whom was the writ filed? Your application is related to the audio clip of the present service CJP," he said.

On the judicial inquiry, the petitioner responded that the petition was not about the present CJP but about the audio clip of a former CJP.

We will first issue a pre-admission notice to the attorney-general and talk about whether this application is admissible, the IHC CJ said.

During the case hearing on Monday, Justice Minallah said that the court will not engage in judicial activism and will only consider the facts as they appear in light of the law.

"The court wants to ensure that this does not open new floodgates," he added.

Justice Minullah stated that while the judiciary has faced significant challenges and the Bar has fought for the judiciary's independence, we now live in a society where social media is unregulated, to which the petitioner said that it is painful that the audio was leaked and is being discussed on social media too.

In response to the pre-admission notice, Advocate Salahuddin Ahmed stated that the Pakistan Bar Council has approved a decision, and that if the court finds it necessary, it should also send a notice to the bar council.

To this, Justice Minallah replied that the court respects him for the rule of law, "You are upset with some audio clips. Who has the authority to record Chief Justice Pakistan's audio tapes?" he asked.

"Did they [Bar Council] released it [audio tape] or did a man sitting in the United States?" asked the court.

The court stated that the alleged audiotape is related to a matter that is currently under appeal, and that the parties involved in the audiotape case have shown no interest in bringing it [the case] before the court.

The hearing of the case has been adjourned for a week.

Chitagong Test: Abid, Shafique put Pakistan in sight of victory against Bangladesh

Pakistani openersAbid Ali and Abdullah Shafique smashed an unbeaten fifty on Monday to put the Men In Green in a commanding position in the first Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong.

Set a target of 202, the visitors reached 109-0 at stumps and need only 93 runs on the final day on Tuesday.

Ali was batting on 56 at the end of the day's play, adding to his first-innings score of 133, while debutant Shafique was unbeaten on 53.

Fast bowler Shaheen Afridi earlier claimed 5-32 to help Pakistan bowl out Bangladesh for 157 runs in their second innings despite wicketkeeper-batsman Liton Das making a fighting fifty.

Afridi trapped Liton leg-before and then had Abu Jayed out for a duck to complete his fourth five-wicket Test haul.

Off-spinner Sajid Khan, who finished with 3-33, wrapped things up by dispatching Taijul Islam.

The hosts had got off to a positive start with Mushfiqur hitting a boundary off the first ball of the morning, bowled by Hasan Ali.

But two balls later he left a wrong delivery and departed for 16 after Hasan struck off-stump.

Liton joined overnight batsman Yasir Ali to prevent further collapse.

Just when they looked ready to prosper, Afridi's low bounce hit the helmet of Yasir, who retired hurt after making 36.

Liton survived on 26 when he was given out, caught at short leg off Sajid Khan.

The replay showed that the ball only hit his pad and was going down the leg.

Sajid was rewarded for his persistence as he trapped Mehidy Hasan leg-before for 11.

Substitute Nurul Hasan replaced Yasir after Mehidy's dismissal and barely survived a strong caught-behind appeal just before lunch.

Nurul heaved one at long-on to Faheem Ashraf off Sajid after the break, getting dismissed for 15, and Pakistan took little time to take the remaining wickets.

Bangladesh have failed to defeat Pakistan in any of their 10 previous encounters.

Pakistan announces massive vaccination programme to counter Omicron threat