INTERNATIONAL

SEPTEMBER 2020

Advisor to the Prime Minister on trade Abdul Razak Dawood inaugurates Vision Air International signs new cargo shed at SIAL MoU with SIAL

Virgin Atlantic set to launch flights to Pakistan

SEPTEMBER 2020 - 3 I n t e r n a t i o n a l a v i a t i o n

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4 - SEPTEMBER 2020 Vol 27 SEPTEMBER 2020 No.11 CAA amends SOPs for flights 06 IATA team visits Pakistan to audit PIA 08 Virgin Atlantic set to launch flights to Pakistan from London and Manchester 09 Serene Air announces business class “Serene Plus” 10 Everything you need to know 10 Qatar Airways equips its 100th aircraft with high speed internet 10 Oman Air to return to flying next month 12 IATA launches new system for air cargo 12 US Airports to stop screening international passengers for COVID-19 13 Airbus and Boeing Jointly demand Advanced Air Traffic Management System 15 US-Israeli delegation lands in Abu Dhabi on first commercial flight 16 Iran says black boxes show pilots alive after missile hit Ukraine jet 19 New distribution agreement between SAS and Sabre fairly balances agency and airline interests 19 Advisor to the Prime Minister on trade Abdul Razak Dawood 17 inaugurates new cargo shed at SIAL 20 Vision Air International signs MoU with SIAL 21 Virgin Cargo adds Pakistan to its UK flights network 23 PK 8303- where were the safety nets? 24 Three CAA officials sacked over licence Scandal 25 China's biggest airshow will go ahead in November 26 A formidable bloc to be 29 Pakistan, China agree to boost industrial cooperation under CPEC 30 Parties vow to ensure CPEC progress, guard it against threats 32 Textile exports jump 14.4pc in July 34 Events held to celebrate Defence Day 36 A bird's eye view of the deterioration of education in Pakistan 37 Riding the waves 39 Turkey to convert another museum into mosque 40 PATA Gold Award winners to be announced live during Virtual PTM 2020 41 Launch of steam safari train to boost tourism in KP 43 36 Lockdown badly affects tourism industry in Swat 43

SEPTEMBER 2020 - 5 CAA amends SOPs for flights

he Civil Aviation Authority airline/operator shall be countersigned or Food and beverages will be served on (CAA) has amended its verified by the CAA staff. flights with proper packaging and Ts t a n d a r d o p e r a t i n g The disinfectant brand's name must precautions while the cabin crew will procedures (SOPs) meant to curb the be logged in the aircraft documents while spray disinfectant in the lavatory after spread of Covid-19 for passengers from the captain should express his satisfaction every use. All lavatories will be available Sept 2 to Oct 31. over compliance of CAA instructions on for passenger use to avoid congestion. The authority directed all scheduled disinfection. The entity carrying out The cabin crew must use alcohol- and chartered airline operators, ground disinfection must be a CAA registered based disinfection wipes to clean and handling agents and private operators to handling agent. disinfect their hands or use sanitiser or ensure strict compliance with the revised An inventory of essential personal soap after touching or disposing of waste. SOPs. protection equipment (PPE), comprising Post-disembarkation Earlier, the CAA had issued SOPs for protection suits, gloves, surgical masks, Passengers will be disembarked row- chartered and private flight operations goggles and N-95 masks should be wise in an orderly manner while ensuring between Aug 26 and Oct 31, deferring maintained in each aircraft. social distancing. social distancing on domestic flights. SOPs during flight All medical PPEs, if used during “In the larger interest of travelling Passengers will be bound to comply flights, should be disposed of while passengers, the competent authority has with instructions issued during air travel in reusable items should be properly deferred implementation of para 7 of the Pakistan. These are in addition to other sanitised before next use. SOP for domestic passengers, chartered, directives which are otherwise mandated Data of all passengers and flight crew private aircraft flights for a period of 48 for safe air travel or as issued by the cabin with their mobile numbers will be kept for hours from August 26, 2020,” the CAA's crew from time to time during the flight. record and further follow up. standard operating procedures said. However, under the fresh SOPs issued on Sept 1, social distancing gap of at least one adjacent seat between passengers has been made non- compulsory. Domestic flights Under the new SOPs, the aircraft operations will be subject to full compliance with CAA instructions regarding aircraft disinfection as well as passenger and crew protection measures. To ensure safety of passengers and crew and minimise the risks associated with Covid-19, certain measures have been adopted for all types of passenger and chartered aircraft flight operations within Pakistan. Pre-embarkation No person, except the passenger and airport staff, will be allowed to proceed beyond the parking area and the drivers will have to drop passengers in front of domestic departures. In case the vehicle has to wait, the driver will have to take the car to the parking lot. Airport managers will have to ensure social distancing at every stage of the departure formalities while the Airport Security Force will see that no person, except the passenger, remained in the concourse area. The aircraft will be disinfected in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the CAA at each station before the passengers board. In case of domestic flights, the disinfection certificate from the

6 - SEPTEMBER 2020 COMING SOON

SEPTEMBER 2020 - 07 The PIA chief had expressed IATA team visits Pakistan to audit PIA satisfaction over the preparations and urged the staff to work with more Islamabad or Lahore. dedication. The IATA had designed the audit The IATA carries out operational programme in 2003 to assess operational safety audit every two years. The last audit management and control systems of the of PIA was carried out in 2018. airlines. After the audit, the airlines are The PIA is hopeful that the suspension given an operational clearance certificate. of flight operations to and from Europe Prior to the IATA team's visit, PIA's will end before time enabling the airline to Chief Executive Officer retired Air resume the operation. Marshal Arshad Malik had carried out When contacted, Albert Tjoeng, The audit team was briefed on PIA's fleet, which inspection of operational installations and a s s i s t a n t d i r e c t o r c o r p o r a t e comprises Airbus A320, ATR and Boeing 777, and briefed the heads of engineering, ramp communications Asia Pacific IATA said: the aircrafts' condition. service and flight safety departments “Following the accident involving four-member team of the about the visit of the audit team. PK8303, we have initiated an operational International Air Transport As part of preparations, the safety verification audit of the PIA. This is AAssociation's Operational inoperable aircraft and equipment on the a standard practice after an airline Safety Audit (IOSA) team arrived in ramp area of the airport had been experiences an accident or other serious Karachi recently for a week-long audit removed. And the vacant space used for event. inspection visit. parking and repair work on aircraft. According to sources, the team spent most of its time in Karachi and to visit the IHC seeks AG help in CAA chief crash site of PIA flight PK-8303 and interview people related to flight operation and engineering. appointment case It also check the measures adopted by the airline to maintain safety and he Islamabad High Court on recommended promotion of the junior security of its operation on the ground and Tuesday Sept. 8 expressed officers who would fill the vacant posts. in the air. Tconcern over the government's During a hearing on Aug 12, Justice Prior to the team's visit, the PIA act of running the office of director Minallah observed that appointing an m a n a g e m e n t m a d e n e c e s s a r y general of the Civil Aviation Authority eligible and competent person against the preparations and removed inoperable (CAA) on an ad hoc basis for the past two post of CAA director general fell within aircraft and equipment from the apron of years. the exclusive domain of the executive Karachi's Jinnah International Airport Chief Justice Athar Minallah sought organ of the state. “Prima facie, it does not and also covered the debris of the PIA assistance from the attorney general in the appear from the statutory provisions that plane A320 that crashed into a residential matter and fixed the case for hearing on the manner of appointment by way of area in the city on May 22. Sept 23. He was hearing a petition filed by advertisement has been prescribed,” the According to an initial report, the a pilot who was sacked over the allegation court had observed. disaster was a result of human error, of possessing a dubious licence. On Tuesday Sept. 7, the court noted which resulted in the death of 97 people. The petitioner sought appointment of that in the case in hand, the fundamental a permanent director general of the CAA, right of every citizen, guaranteed under Only two passengers survived. besides setting aside his sacking order. Article 14 of the Constitution, was A team of the International Air The court had previously issued a stay involved. Transport Association (IATA), which order against his suspension. “The manner, in which this case has arrived in Karachi recently, started the Justice Minallah regretted that been handled, prima facie, indicates gross audit of different departments of Pakistan Pakistan had faced enormous problems mismanagement. The issue relating to International Airlines (PIA). because of the licence issue, but the licences of commercial pilots and the Sources said the four-member audit government was still running the proceedings conducted by the acting team comprised two English men, a important office of the CAA chief through director general of one of the most Turkish expert and a European national. makeshift arrangements. important regulatory authorities i.e. the The team held a meeting in the Aviation division sources said that in Civil Aviation Authority has profound morning and then visited the cargo area of addition to the post of CAA director consequences for the image of the country Karachi airport. They carried out a general, at least 12 senior positions had and the interests of the national airline i.e. comprehensive visit of the airport apron / been vacant for several months and junior Pakistan International Airlines ramp area where aircraft are parked, officers were given additional charge on Corporation,” the court observed. unloaded or loaded. senior positions. These posts include The court had summoned the deputy director general (DDG) air attorney general, but an assistant attorney The team remained at the apron area navigation system, DDG regulations, general appeared before it when the for more than two hours and carried out DDG airport services, director hearing resumed on Tuesday. inspection of the loading and unloading commercial, director engineering and At this, Justice Minallah regretted process. director Civil Aviation Training Institute. this depicted how the government was The sources said the audit team also When contacted, CAA law officer being run. He adjourned the hearing till sought the record of the PIA's engineering Rana Bilal claimed that everything was in Sept 23 and directed the attorney general section and other relevant documents. order within the CAA echelons. to seek instructions from the government The team is expected to carry out However, aviation division's joint since the matter relating to appointment of inspection of a PIA's flight arriving from secretary Abdul Sattar Khokhar said the the CAA director general is of paramount departmental promotion committee had public interest.

08 -SEPTEMBER 2020 Virgin Atlantic set to launch flights to Pakistan from London and Manchester

irgin Atlantic is pleased to thousands of people who regularly travel Shanghai, Barbados and Miami with announce it will be launching between our two nations, as well as a boost further routes being added throughout Vflights to Pakistan in to UK-Pakistan trade links. We look September and October. December 2020. forward to welcoming Virgin Atlantic to this fantastic country.” To ensure the health and safety of Operating three new routes from customers and crew, Virgin Atlantic is London Heathrow to Lahore, London JuhaJarvinen, Chief Commercial implementing additional measures to Heathrow to Islamabad, as well as from Officer at Virgin Atlantic commented: offer peace of mind in the airport and when Manchester to Islamabad; these direct “With travel restrictions remaining in taking to the skies. These include flights and new services will go on sale in place for many destinations around the enhanced and thorough cleaning practices September 2020 subject to applicable world, we're continually evaluating our at check in, boarding gates and onboard regulatory approvals, and will boast network, looking at customer demand and including the use of electrostatic spraying Virgin Atlantic's Upper Class, Premium where there are opportunities to launch of high-grade disinfectant in all cabins and and Economy Light, Classic and Delight new services.” lavatories before every flight, ensuring no offering. “Pakistan is an extremely exciting surface is left untouched. Safe distancing Pakistan has the seventh largest opportunity for us it boasts one of the will also be adhered to wherever possible, diaspora in the world and the new services largest foreign-born populations in both and mask wearing will be required aim to respond to the large, fast-growing the UK and the US and, as people start to throughout the journey. All customers will demand to visit friends and relatives travel to visit loved ones, we're be provided with a personal Health Pack (VFR) from customers in the UK and the anticipating the demand to visit friends for their health and safety, which will US, as well as capturing demand for and relatives will increase post COVID- contain three medical grade face masks to business travel to the region as global be worn onboard, surface wipes and hand economies gradually recover from the gel. impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The airline is offering a temporary Adventurous travellers will enjoy the simplified hot food service in all cabins UNESCO sights of Lahore, as well as and from October, will be reintroducing exploring the foothills of the Karakoram, special meals catering for individual Hindu Kush and Himalayas mountain dietary requirements including Halal, ranges outside Islamabad. vegetarian, vegan and gluten free. Meals The services will offer seamless, have been redesigned to limit interaction, speedy connections and a consistent long- enclosed and controlled from preparation haul onboard experience for customers in a Covid-safe, monitored environment to travelling from destinations throughout the moment it is served. Economy and North America, including New York JFK, Premium Economy customers will now Los Angeles, Washington, Boston and San enjoy a “Fly safe, eat well” meal box, Francisco via London Heathrow onwards which incorporates a choice of three hot to Pakistan. Connections from European meals, cheese and biscuits and a dessert destinations will also be available through pot washed down with a selection of codeshare and interline partners. beverages. Upper Class customers will As well as flying customers, Virgin receive a choice of three hot meals, Atlantic will offer a fast, efficient cargo desserts, including cheese & biscuits and a service presenting new opportunities for ciabatta roll, all delivered to their seat on a companies looking to export and import tray. All customers will receive a second goods such as fresh produce and textiles meal service which, on day flights from between prime markets in the UK and US, 19. Both Lahore and Islamabad are the UK, includes the delicious Mile High and Pakistan. popular year-round destinations and we Tea in collaboration with celebrity Alison Blackburne, Acting Head of look forward to welcoming travellers pâtissier Eric Lanlard. the British High Commission in Pakistan, onboard as demand for leisure and Flights to Pakistan are on sale later said: business travel gradually increases to the this year. For further information visit “Virgin Atlantic starting flights to region. www.virginatlantic.com or call 0844 2092 Pakistan is great news for the hundreds of “We also see a significant 770. opportunity to increase competition in the US Pakistan market. Using the strength of our trans-Atlantic services we're able to offer customers the shortest journey to and from destinations in the US such as New York, Los Angeles and Washington by connecting through London Heathrow”. Virgin Atlantic restarted passenger flying on 20th July after a three month hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic and is currently operating flights to New York JFK, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, SEPTEMBER 2020 - 09 “Serene Plus”. It is unlikely that Serene aircraft. Serene Air will be reconfiguring the rest of its aircraft #QatarAirways is celebrating the with the Serene Plus class. Hence it will be launch of its 100th aircraft to feature high- interesting to see how Serene Air manages speed 'Super Wi-Fi' connectivity, enabling announces the premium class tickets on its passengers to stay in touch with families, international flights. In addition, if the friends and colleagues while on board business class aircraft goes out of service due to some using the fastest broadband available in reason, will passengers get the extra ticket the sky.https://t.co/XVezFWLBtH amount refunded or not? pic.twitter.com/5OoFaTzy3P “Serene Plus” All in all, a premium product was Since 2018, GX Aviation technology much needed in Pakistan. Many travellers like to travel in luxury between the cities has allowed millions of passengers to surf Everything you of Pakistan, and Serene will be providing the web while flying with Qatar Airways. this opportunity to its passengers for a Passengers on flights fitted with Super need to know reasonable price. Serene Air has planned WiFi can access the Internet free for one to induct two more A330s soon. hour and have the ability to purchase more time if needed, including Internet access Qatar Airways for the entire flight. W h e n s p e a k i n g a b o u t t h e introduction of Super WiFi on Qatar equips its 100th Airways 100th Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. aircraft with high Akbar Al Baker, said: “As a leader of innovation within the global aviation industry, Qatar Airways speed internet already operates one of the youngest and erene Air, Pakistan's private most technologically-advanced fleets in airline has officially announced the skies. Where other airlines are Sits new business class product, reducing their WiFi offering, Qatar labelled as “Serene Plus”. Serene Air is Airways is expanding it.“With connection currently the only private airline in Pakistan to offer a business class product. to our loved ones and friends now more The airline recently inducted an important than ever during these Airbus A330-200 in a two-class challenging times, we are delighted to configuration. The aircraft is configured work with Inmarsat and its GX Aviation with 275 Economy seats and 24 “Serene technology to bring high-speed Super Plus” seats.The aircraft will initially fly on WiFi broadband to passengers on board domestic routes before starting our fleet as part of Qatar Airways' international flights in October. As the Exceptional five-star service.” product has not been tested yet, there is no oha-based Qatar Airways confirmation of the exact seat pitch / has announced that it has PIA reduces fares details, and whether In-Flight equipped its 100th aircraft Entertainment will be offered or not. D with high-speed Internet. In a press from Islamabad to However this should become evident soon release issued recently and seen by Simple when the aircraft starts its flights. Flying, the Gulf State carrier says it now Serene Air is currently offering a offers the largest number of aircraft in Lahore, Karachi whopping 80kg of baggage allowance for Asia fitted with high-speed broadband. passengers travelling on “Serene Plus”. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) That is 50kg more than the standard travel An Airbus A350 is the latest Qatar has announced a reduction in fares for its baggage allowance. This will be very Airways plane to be fitted with Super flights from Karachi to Lahore and useful to travellers relocating from one WiFi. Islamabad. area to another. Similarly students Calling the feature “Super WiFi,” A PIA spokesman said the one-way travelling for education can take good Qatar Airways claims to have the fastest fare from Karachi to Islamabad and broadband available in the sky, allowing advantage of this offer. Karachi to Lahore will be Rs7,879 with businessmen to work while in the air. At Serene Air announces international only hand baggage. flights to start in October the same time, other passengers can However, the fare with 35 kg baggage The Airbus A330 will initially stream movies or connect with family and perform its first commercial flight from friends. Qatar Airways says it offers the will be Rs8,543. Karachi to Islamabad on 11th September fastest broadband connection on any PIA operates daily four flights on its (ER504 ER505). The airline is offering a airlines in the Middle East, Asia, and Karachi-Islamabad route and two flights Serene Plus ticket for around PKR 20,000 North Africa. on the Karachi-Lahore route. one-way, which is a good offer. However The 100th aircraft to be fitted with In July, the PIA had announced a it is currently unknown whether it will be Super WiFi was Qatar Airways Airbus reduction in fares for domestic flights regularly flying this route, or whether its a A350-900 aircraft registration number without baggage but later the fares were one-off flight. A7-ALC. Satellite communications increased. Will the B737 Get Serene Plus? company Inmarsat has provided Qatar The latest fare cuts will remain in Out of the total 5 aircraft in Serene's Airways with its award-winning GX force till an indefinite period, said the fleet, only the A330 is configured with Aviation technology to be fitted on its spokesman.

10 - SEPTEMBER 2020 11 - SEPTEMBER 2020 Increased audit efficiency by Oman Air to return IATA launches new complementing risk analysis data for a more accurate evaluation of auditing to flying next system for air needs Reduced audit complexity, focused on Unique Selling Points and security month cargo aspects ONE Source is part of the IATA Smart Facility programme, an initiative to create transparency in cargo handling services and enhance essential cargo operational capabilities to a consistently higher baseline level across the industry. Air cargo demand to continue rising, Oman Air grounded flights earlier this year amid the Covid-19 pandemic he International Air Transport man Air will return to Association (IATA) has IATA affirms Tlaunched IATA ONE Source, scheduled service on an online platform that helps the air cargo Global export orders are rising at a October 1st, offering industry match shipping needs with the substantial rate, prompting to strong O availability of infrastructure capabilities cargo volumes and a rise in demand, the flights to 16 cities in 12 countries. and certifications of service providers International Air Transport Association The airline will connect Muscat with across the value chain. This is particularly (IATA) reported on September 9, 2020. London, Istanbul, Frankfurt, Cairo, timely amid the COVID-19 crisis when According to IATA's statement, shippers of medical supplies and global demand for air cargo was much Mumbai, Delhi, Kochi, Dubai, Doha, Dar pharmaceuticals need accurate more robust than air travel, standing at a Es Salaam, Zanzibar, Kuala Lumpur, information for time- and temperature- decreased 13.5% of the year-on-year Manila, Lahore and Islamabad, with more sensitive shipments. ONE Source lists the basis in July 2020. In contrast, the global latest operational information on airlines, passenger traffic demand was at a destinations to be added soon. airports, cargo handling facilities, freight negative 80% in the same period. Flights to India are subject to Indian forwarders, ground handlers, shippers, While many regional air cargo authorities lifting restrictions for and trucking companies. All critical market segments are rapidly recovering, information contained on ONE Source scheduled international passenger flights. with North Atlantic being the lowest at a has been verified by IATA to help ensure 30% decrease in year-on-year demand, Scheduled service will also connect its accuracy. IATA ONE Source is free for the Pacific market thrives at a positive all service providers across the air cargo Muscat and Khasab in Oman. 3.7% compared to 2019. The national carrier of the sultanate supply chain. “Air cargo has been essential in the The report also shows that both of Oman will maintain its comprehensive global fight against COVID-19, consumer and manufacturer business confidence has been on a rapid rise since safety program throughout all elements of transporting vital equipment and medicines to those who need them most. the beginning of the summer of 2020. In the travel journey to ensure that guests fly However, with over 3,500 differently turn, the number of export orders is confidently. sized cargo handling facilities increasing sharply, and so is air cargo Masks are required when guests are worldwide, the industry until now has demand. lacked visibility on the capacities and At the same time, the analysis reveals on board the aircraft and in airports. services these facilities can offer. The that freighters were doing most of the Distancing is maintained while need for greater transparency is even heavy lifting when it came to air cargo guests board and exit the aircraft, which more critical in the current context. ONE transport. Usually, air freighters share a Source addresses this by providing a 50% load with widebody passenger are carefully cleaned after each flight and single reference point for up-to-date aircraft that carry shipments in their belly at the end of every day. infrastructure and certification data, holds. However, due to the sharp decrease Cabin crew all wear a full set of helping save time and keep air cargo in air traffic demand, air cargo continues personal protective equipment, meal moving,” said Glyn Hughes, IATA's to be predominantly transported by global head of cargo. freighters. service has been modified to further The ONE Source platform offers: The rise of cargo-aircraft popularity ensure safety and several other steps have Single source of up-to-date is further evident by the fact that its certification and infrastructure data been taken to ensure that guests and crew utilization rose by almost 2 hours per day Streamlined information per since February 2020. This means that are always safe. aviation service provider type allowing freighters are, on average, flown two Requirements for guests who plan to for direct capability comparison extra hours per day. For a single aircraft, travel to Oman will be announced soon. ONE Source API providing a direct that is over 700 hours per year. data feed to company systems. 12 - SEPTEMBER 2020 US Airports to stop Since the screening policy came into force, 675,000 arriving passengers have screening international undergone screening. The screening passengers for COVID-19 detected just 15 COVID-19 cases. he United States will stop screening international Organisation (ICAO) Secretary General Tarrivals for COVID-19 from Dr Fang Liu said that information and mid of Sept.. Multiple media outlets are communications technologies are critical reporting the news. Screening at to aviation's role in global UN Sustainable international arrival points for COVID-19 Development Goal attainment and to how has occurred since early 2020. But it will air transport will build back better post- end just after midnight on Monday, COVID-19. September 14. “Increased air transport digitalisation promotes critical efficiencies and capabilities which improve our sector's capabilities as a catalyst for socio- Airport screening is picking up too economic and sustainability benefits,” Dr few passengers with COVID. Photo: Liu (above) stated. “This is especially Department of Homeland Security relevant given that ICAO-compliant air Newsroom services and international connectivity are CDC says screening takes up already improving global outcomes considerable resources toward the achievement of 15 of the 17 There is a suggestion that the United SDGs.” COVID-19 screening is ending at States Government is acting on advice airports across the United States on Summarising the devastation from the CDC. According to Reuters, the COVID-19 is now wreaking on global air Monday Sept.14. Photo: Charlotte CDC has drafted a plan that says the Douglas International Airport Newsroom connectivity, Dr. Liu also strongly agency is; emphasized how digital capabilities will While the United States Government “… shifting its strategy and is still to confirm the decision, Yahoo be critical to air transport's post-pandemic prioritizing other public health measures recovery. News is reporting that various United to reduce the risk of travel-related disease States government agencies and their “Whether we are talking entirely new transmission. technologies, or new applications of contractors are busy preparing for “The current entry strategy for Monday. existing technologies, digital, AR, and AI international arrivals only covers a small solutions are now at hand to permit us to Screening picking up too few portion of the traveling public, requires passengers with COVID significant resources and is not sustainable pre-screen passengers and cargo more To date, inbound arrivals from hot as travel volumes increase,” extensively than ever before, for both health and security risks and with greater zone countries have been funneled into 15 While there is some support for the airports across the United States, United States Government discontinuing efficiency and less disruption,” Dr Liu including Dallas Fort Worth, Chicago, airport screening, there is also criticism said. “They also provide the foundations Boston, Seattle, and San Francisco. that the existing screening was relatively for the next generation of autonomous COVID-19 screening, which consisted of inefficient. Conde Nast Traveller reported aircraft, drones and the transformations a temperature check and the recording of last month that not every airport in the that Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) health and contact information, was United States was screening passengers will lead to in terms of personal mobility, mostly done by American Medical properly. That report also argues the e-commerce, civilian and community Response, a private Texas-based screening process was too narrow and too services, and many other applications.” healthcare provider. slow to get off the ground. Dr Liu also reiterated that, with United States government agencies “It has been seven months since the innovation and digitization set to play involved include the CDC, DHS, and U.S. had its first known case of COVID- such an important role in how we restart Customs and Border Protection. A TSA 19, and travelers continue to report the and recover on a more sustainable path, official told CNN that airport screening country's screening procedures pale in and at an ever-increasing rate, ICAO is comparison to nations abroad.” embracing it today as never before. “We're working to achieve greater ICAO sees digital flexibility, responsiveness, and efficiency where the assessment and rule-making on innovations helping emerging technologies is concerned, and an important part of my message to you today is that you can count on us to be your aviation rebuild and committed and effective partner going forward in all things innovation related,” aid sustainability Dr Liu commented. “We have a great deal was ending because hardly any we can accomplish together, and ICAO passengers were raising flags. The t the official opening of the will continue to rely on the partnership and screening targeted travelers coming in final week of the Virtual vision of the ITU as we progress together from China, the United Kingdom, Brazil, AWorld Summit on the toward a greener, more sustainable and Iran, and the Schengen region of Europe. Information Society (WSIS) Forum 2020 more innovative digital future for coming recently, International Civil Aviation generations.” SEPTEMBER 2020 -13 14 - SEPTEMBER 2020 Airbus and Boeing Jointly demand Advanced Air Traffic Management System Screening differences across different countries

regular traveler quoted in the Conde Nast report criticized Athe United States for relying on an honor system when it came to declaring health information on arrival. “In Amsterdam, they interrogate you,” that traveler said. “They ask where you have been and look up how bad the outbreak is in your area. They took our temperatures and asked if we knew anyone with COVID-19. In the United States, no one asks if you've been around anybody with COVID.” Over the summer, there have been continuing talks between the airlines, government agencies, and health officials regarding a uniform COVID-19 View Larger Image screening process at all airports across the he two giants of aircraft regulators like the FAA. The same United States. That screening would have manufacturing Airbus and airspace will integrate new vehicles in the targeted all inbound passengers, not just Boeing are jointly demanding near future which will introduce passengers from designated high-risk T zones. an improved air traffic management complexity to the existing air traffic system. Airbus and Boeing are on the management system. Additionally, the Instead of stepping up screening, the same forum to get up to date and rapid growth of the drone industry will add United States Government is going in the a burden to the ongoing air traffic flow opposite direction. Scaling down runs modernized Air Traffic Management counter to what most other countries are (ATM) technology. It is evident that in the management system. Furthermore, air doing. It is a high-risk play by the United near future numerous small aircraft will taxis will also occupy skies as a part of the States. It may turn out to be eminently occupy airspaces. In order to cater to that urban air mobility concept. By following sensible, or it may not. massive air traffic, both the companies this concept, small aircraft will be have collaborated to write a report carrying numerous people above-packed GF ticketing demanding advanced systems and cities for short trips. These are all the technologies. factors that will contribute to making revalidation new Components of the Report airspace more complex to deal with. The paper will clearly describe new Hence, the report has covered and policy ATC system requirements for swiftly addressed these aspects to find out a Effect from September 1, 2020, Gulf emerging number of drones, and future air reasonable security proof solution. Air will no longer allow Revalidation to taxis. Officially Airbus has led the entire Contributions of Airbus Towards any ticket for any scenario-voluntary or efforts from the company's side. Managing Future Air Traffic involuntary.For any change scenario, However, Acubed (Airbus's Silicon Through a project known as, “Airbus ticket re-issuance is mandatory Valley-based innovation division) irrespective of any Additional Collection Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM)”, or No Additional Collection.For group contributed well to Airbus's work on the Acubed has been working for an advanced PNR's tickets issued by travel agencies paper. According to the chief executive of air traffic management technology. This with passive segment using GDS other Acubed, this paper writing is a joint effort system has manufactured different air than Sabre; revalidation is permitted to of Airbus and Boeing. They will release traffic simulation tools. Such equipment associate a ticket number to group PNR. the paper in a week or two whereas it was will allow aircraft to detect collision risks This revalidation applies only to handed over to ICAO in June 2020. and respond to them automatically. The involuntary changes and must be Although, Boeing has not presented its future technology will enable air traffic performed through a GF office. For Any contributions in writing the report. Yet, ADC collection and for all other cases, controllers to direct aircraft to fly in a ticket has to be re-issued adhering to the FAA recognizes the needs and particular area, rather continually group policy.This even implies for any reformations of future airspace and air directing them about their movement. planned schedule change or cancellation traffic management. That's the reason, it Moreover, airbus' other subsidiary Metron of a flight which occurs more than 24 has been working to show up with an Aviation has helped in developing a vision hours prior to departure that require upgraded and delayed, multi-year for future air traffic management systems change at your end. Any ticket requiring to program known as NextGen. through participating in NASA's be reissued due to Schedule Change must be endorsed“INVOL DUE SKCHG” as The report majorly comprises the Advanced Air Mobility National problem of overcrowded air traffic due to per the instructions from Gulf Air and Campaign. applicable tariff bulletin. certain spurring actions adopted by SEPTEMBER 2020 -15 US-Israeli delegation lands in Abu Dhabi on first commercial flight

US-Israeli delegation, led by White House adviser AJared Kushner, arrived here on Monday 31 August on the historic first commercial flight from Tel Aviv to mark the normalisation of ties between the Jewish state and the UAE. In another breakthrough, Saudi Arabia allowed the flight to cross its airspace, halving what would otherwise have been a long trip around the Arabian peninsula. `This is the first time this has ever happened. I would like to thank the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for making that possible,` Kushner, US President Donald Trump`s son-inlaw, said on arrival in Abu Dhabi. The word `peace` was written in Arabic, English and Hebrew on the cockpit of the El Al flight that landed in the Emirates capital, where US flags flew alongside the Star of David banner. The landmark direct flight by Israel`s national carrier, numbered LY971 normalise ties until Israel has signed a calls between their ministers, and the in a nod to the UAE`s international peace deal establishing an independent Emirates in a new milestone repealed a dialling code, is due to return on Tuesday Palestinian state. But the overflight was a 1972 law boycotting Israel. Israeli Prime Sept. 1st with the number 972, matching concrete sign of Saudi cooperation with Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking Israel`s dialling code. `While this is a Israel after years of behind-the-scenes alongside Kushner in Jerusalem, praised historic flight, we hope that it will start an overtures. `the swift pace of normalisation` between even more historic journey in the Middle The plane however skirted the Gulf his country and the UAE. `You will see East and beyond,` Kushner, a key architect states of Qatar and Bahrain, who have how the sparks fly on this. It`s already of Trump`s Middle East policy, said declined so far to follow the UAE`s move. happening,` he said, predicting that before boarding. `The future does not have `Peace is not an empty word used to `today`s breakthroughs will become to be predetermined by the past. This is a normalise crimes and oppression,` Saeb tomorrow's norms. It will pave the way for very hopeful time.` Kushner urged the Erekat, secretary general of the Palestine other countries to normalise their ties with Palestinians, who have condemned the Liberation Organisation, said recently. Israel. `There are many more unpublicised UAE deal as a betrayal of their cause, to Peace is the outcome of justice. Peace is meetings with Arab and Muslim leaders to come to the negotiating table.`When they not made by denying Palestine's right to normalise relations with the State of Israel, are ready, the whole region is very excited exist. Sparks fly The talks in Abu Dhabi Netanyahu said, without naming any to help lift them up and move them aim to boost cooperation between the two countries. As part of the normalisation forward. But they can`t be stuck in the regional economic powerhouses in areas agreement, Israel agreed to suspend its past, they have to come to the table,` he including aviation, tourism, trade, health, planned annexations in the occupied West said. The accord was announced by Trump energy and security.The visit is also Bank, although Net anyahu quickly on August 13, making the UAE the first expected to include a meeting between insisted the plans remained on the table in Gulf country and only the third Arab Kushner and Israeli and Emirati national the long run. The Israeli leader has also nation to establish relations with Israel. security advisers Meir Ben-Shabbat and denied reports that the accord hinges on Unlike Egypt, which made peace with its Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed. Ben-Shabbat, the sale of US F-35 stealth fighter jets to former battlefield enemy in 1979, and who was also on the flight to the UAE, said the UA E.-AFP linking their powerful Jordan, which followed in 1994, the UAE the delegation`s goal was to make a plan to economies. Saudi Arabia, in keeping with has never fought a war with Israel. Saudi push ahead relations in a broad range of decades of policy by most Arab nations, Arabia next? Gulf Arab nations have had areas. `We came here to transform a vision says it will not normalise ties until Israel increasingly publicly ties with Israel in into a reality. There are no limits to has signed a peace deal establishing an recent years, boosted by their shared cooperation... in education, innovation, independent Palestinian state. But the rivalry with Iran and the advantages of health, aviation, agriculture, energy and overflight was a concrete sign of Saudi linking their powerful economies. Saudi many other fields, he said in Abu Dhabi. cooperation with Israel after years of Arabia, in keeping with decades of policy Since the agreement between the UAE and behind-the-scenes overtures. by most Arab nations, says it will not Israel was unveiled, there have been phone 16 - SEPTEMBER 2020 PIA terminates services of 74 employees

he Pakistan International monetary awards were given to five other company property, two were found guilty Airlines (PIA) terminated employees for working beyond the call of of disclosing official information without Tservices of 74 employees on duty. authorisation, and three had been various charges, including submitting “Discipline is the most important dismissed for taking bribe from fake or tempered degrees, sabotaging aspect of any organisation as it binds the customers. company property, taking bribe and for employees and motivates them to follow Likewise, two employees have been their involvement in theft and smuggling the organisation's rules and regulations. It dismissed for getting involved in illegal of narcotics, during August. is, therefore, important to appreciate and immoral acts of omission while one None of the 74 employees dismissed hardworking and dedicated employees was found guilty of indulgence in alcohol from service were pilots or crew and punish defaulters found guilty after or narcotics, three have been dismissed for members. Penalties were imposed on transparent and unbiased inquiries as per theft and destruction of official record and them after they were found guilty by law,” the PIA's HR department said in a one has been dismissed for involvement in respective inquiries, either conducted by letter to all employees. smuggling. officers or a committee. Out of 74 employees who were The spokesman said four employees A PIA spokesman said the dismissed from the service 27 had were demoted for disobedience and the management, however, awarded submitted fake or tempered degrees and increment of six was withheld on charges appreciation letters to 17 employees for documents, 31 had been absent from duty, of violating SOPs. showing dedication and commitment and four were involved in damaging the Emirates Sky Crgo Notices issued on plea against authorities` transports over 10 failure in providing safe air travel million mangoes two-judge Sindh High 8303, coming from Lahore, and the from Pakistan Court bench headed by passengers flying with PIA by AJustice Nadeem Akhtar negligently entrusting the respondent mirates Sky Cargo, the freight issued notices to the deputy attorney Pakistan International Airlines with the division of Emirates airline, general, secretary of aviation division, aircraft manufactured and owned by both has transported over 10 million E Pakistan International Airlines, the Civil the companies, respectively. mangoes from Pakistan this season to destinations around the world. Aviation Authority, a private company, The court was also pleaded to An Emirates spokesman said in a Airbus SE, and the Pakistan Airline Pilots' restrain the respondents (Airbus SE and press release recently that Pakistan was Association to file their comments on a GE Capital Aviation Services LLC) not to regarded as one of the most important producers in the world of mangoes of petition filed against alleged failure of the sell or lease their aircraft to the national quality. aviation authorities in providing safe flag carrier. Mango, considered the 'king' of fruits, environment to the public travelling by air The court was also requested to is a specialty export product and makes a in the country. direct the secretary of aviation division to major contribution to the national The petition was filed by Public appraise the court about the status of the economy. Despite challenges faced due to Interest Law Association of Pakistan, in Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority Bill, Covid-19 epidemic during the export the interest of the public praying, inter alia, 2016 with further appropriate directions season, Emirates Sky Cargo continued to for a declaration that the respondents had towards its expeditious enactment by the link local Pakistani businesses and traders failed to perform their functions and duties N a t i o n a l A s s e m b l y u n d e r t h e to buyers all around the world, the spokesman said. in accordance with the law and national Constitution. Pakistani mangoes are popular in safety standards. A direction was also sought for the North America and Europe, with large Advocate Amel Khan Kasi, counsel aviation secretary and the CAA to place quantities of the fruit transported to these for the petitioner, a public interest litigant the final reports of all the accidents regions every year. The main markets involving respondent 2, including the where Emirates Sky Cargo transported organisation, further submitted that more mangoes from Pakistan this season particularly the respondents had failed in ones mentioned in paragraph 7, and flight included the UK, the US, Canada, providing safe environment to the public PK-8303 before the court. Australia, France, Singapore, Malaysia at large for traveling by air. After the initial hearing, the bench and the UAE. The counsel mentioned that the issued notices to the secretary of aviation “Pakistan is a major mango producer and we are pleased to offer our cargo private respondents Airbus SE and GE division, PIA, the CAA, Airbus SE and services to Pakistani exporters even Capital Aviation Services LLC had Palpa as well as the deputy attorney during these difficult times,” Faisal breached their duty of care towards the general with direction to file their Yaqoob, Emirates cargo manager in comments before the next date of hearing. Pakistan, said. victims of the Karachi-bound flight PK-

SEPTEMBER 2020 -17 18 - SEPTEMBER 2020 Iran says black boxes show pilots alive after missile hit Ukraine jet

he black boxes of a Ukrainian aircraft, (they) noticed abnormal the first official report on the contents of airliner mistakenly downed in conditions and were in control of the the cockpit voice and data recordings, TTehran have revealed the aircraft until the last moment,” he said, which were sent to France for reading in pilots were still alive after the first of two quoted by state television's website. July. missiles hit the plane, Iranian officials “The instructor indicates that the Tehran has said it accidentally shot said recently. aircraft has an electronic problem and the down the Ukraine airliner in January at a Flight 752, a Ukraine International auxiliary power has been activated,” he time of extreme tensions with the United Airlines passenger jet, crashed shortly said. States. All 176 people aboard the plane after taking off from Tehran's main airport “The pilots were notified that both were killed. on January 8. engines of the aircraft were on.” The black The second missile hit the aircraft 25 Iran admitted days later that its forces boxes stopped working 19 seconds after seconds after the first, but only 19 seconds accidentally shot down the Kiev-bound the first explosion, making it impossible to of that gap was captured on the recordings Boeing 737-800 aircraft, killing all 176 retrieve data on the impact of the second because of damage from the first missile, people on board. missile, he said. Touraj Dehghani-Zanganeh was cited as Tehran's air defenses had been on Analysis on the “effect of the second saying by state television. high alert at the time in case the US missile cannot be obtained from the black “Nineteen seconds after the first retaliated against Iranian strikes hours boxes,” said Zanganeh. missile hit the plane, the voices of pilots earlier on American troops stationed in Iran, which has no means of decoding inside the cockpit indicated that the Iraq. the black boxes, sent them to France for passengers were alive [...] 25 seconds The head of Iran's civil aviation analysis in mid-July, nearly six months later the second missile hit the plane,” he authority revealed for the first time what after the disaster. was reported as saying. was on the black boxes, which had been Analysis from the black boxes of a “Therefore, no analysis of the sent to France for analysis. downed Ukrainian passenger plane shows performance and effects of the second Touraj Dehghani Zanganeh said that it was hit by two missiles 25 seconds apart missile was obtained from the aircraft's the cockpit voice recorder registered a and that passengers were still alive for black box.” The aircraft's flight crew two conversation between the pilot, co-pilot some time after the impact of the first pilots and an instructor also travelling in and an instructor between the two blasts. blast, Iran said recently. the cockpit tried to keep control of the “Up to 19 seconds after the first The announcement by the head of plane until the last moment, Zanganeh missile exploded in the vicinity of the Iran's Civil Aviation Organisation marks said. New distribution agreement between SAS and Sabre fairly balances agency and airline interests

SAS, Scandinavia's leading airline, evolving to provide airlines with more and agency-focused businesses, which and Sabre Corporation (NASDAQ: sophisticated ways to present diverse will further enable the company to deliver SABR), the leading software and offers including branded fares, a la carte on its promise to retail, distribute and fulfil technology company that powers the ancillaries, bundles, and NDC offers in an travel by serving its customers through a global travel industry, recently announced easily comparable way at indirect points collective lens. The technology provider a new multi-year distribution agreement. of sale. also reaffirmed its commitment to Under the new agreement, Sabre- “In an increasingly fragmented building a marketplace for personalised connected agencies can access industry, travellers are faced with billions travel that delivers a better experience to competitive SAS content through Sabre's of fare combinations per ticket searched, consumers, enables travel intermediaries marketplace, while SAS will benefit from through a huge variety of sources,” said to provide just the right offers to their extensive global reach. Darren Rickey, SVP Regional Sales and customers, and increases value for travel SAS is the main aviation service Account Management, Sabre. “For the suppliers. provider to, from and within Scandinavia, foreseeable future, the various and is a vital part of Scandinavia's health regulations related to infrastructure. The distribution agreement COVID-19 which may differ with Sabre allows SAS more control of between destinations and airlines distribution costs while effectively selling will add another layer of products and services, including complexity.. We are very pleased ancillaries, to hundreds of thousands of that SAS recognises the value travel agents worldwide. d e l i v e r e d b y o u r g l o b a l Sabre's global distribution system community of travel agents and (GDS) presents a highly efficient way for buyers. We are looking forward to airlines to market their fares and offers further improving travellers' through a network of agencies and experiences while unlocking corporations across the world. As incremental value for the travel consumers are increasingly expecting ecosystem.” more personalized, flexible experiences, Sabre recently announced a Sabre's marketplace is continuously strategic realignment of its airline SEPTEMBER 2020 -19 Advisor to the Prime Minister on trade Abdul Razak Dawood inaugurates new cargo shed at SIAL

dviser to the Prime Mnister on Trade, Textile, Industry, AProduction and Investment, Abdul Razak Dawood has said that the business community of Sialkot has served the country and the nation by building a beautiful and functional international airport in the private sector. The government will use all its resources to make the project more successful. A state-of-the-art scanning machine worth Rs. 300 million will be Picture shows Abdul Razak Dawood inaugurates new cargo shed at SIAL alongwith Mian Naeem Javed provided from the Export Development Chairman, Mr. Afzal Shaheen Vice Chairman, Mian M. Riaz former chairman, Eng. Khawar Anwar Fund to Sialkot International Airport for Khawaja former chairman SIAL and others. immediate inspection of export goods to remembered by the business community allowing the all airlines to start their send abroad. He made the announcement of Sialkot and the people of the entire flights as before Covid-19 and promised while inaugurating the newly constructed region. Mian Naeem Javed also extended to grant permission for more airlines cargo shed at Sialkot International special thanks to Abdul Razak Dawood interested to start flight operations Sialkot Airport. for playing an important role in the Airport. He assured the Federal Adviser Chairman Mian Naeem Javed, Vice approval of Sialkot Airport. On the that they would continue their efforts to Chairman Chaudhry Muhammad Afzal occasion, Chairman SIAL also thanked provide the best facilities to passengers as Shaheen, former Chairmen Mian Federal Secretary, Aviation Division well as the business community Muhammad Riaz, Engr Khawar Anwar Hassan Nasir Jami for getting Sialkot throughout the region. The Federal Khawaja, Airport Manager Nisar Ahmed, Airport out of it predicament after the Adviser also visited the Airport Terminal Cargo Terminal Manager Syed Ali Azhar Covid19. Building and praised its quality. He was Amir, Manager Airport Handling Services He especially thanked him for also presented with a SIAL shield. Tariq Mahmood, Public Relations Manager Abdul Shakoor Mirza, Assistant Manager, Customer Services Adnan Hameed Khalil and other airport officials were present. Chief Guest Mr. Abdul Razzk Dawood said, “it is a unique example of the business community of Sialkot that it facilitates the government by resolving their own problems”. Mr. Dawood said that he would take a personal Chairman SIAL Mian Naeem Javed held a meeting with Federal Minister for Trade and Production Mr. interest in resolving all the issues facing Hammad Azhar, Abdul Razak Dawood Advisor to Prime Minister for Trade Investment etc and Mr. Hassan Sialkot Airport for the betterment of any Nasir Jami Federal Secretary of Aviation. Picture shows he is discussing about the Sialkot International department working here and the Sialkot Airport present situation. administration would be assisted in any way possible. He further said that in order to improve the condition of all the roads connecting the airport, he would personally talk to Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Ahmed Buzdar and try to improve the road network. On the occasion, Chairman SIAL Mian Naeem Javed said that the government has always cooperated in making Sialkot Airport a successful project. President General Pervez Musharraf had made a historic step Chairman SIAL Mian Naeem Javed, Vice Chairman M. Afzal Shaheen, CEO, Babar Iqbal and former by approving it. He will always be Chairman SIAL Eng. Khawar Anwar Khawaja presenting a sheild to Vice Chairman Punjab Anti corruption Brgd. (R) Ch. M. Aslam Ghuman.

SEPTEMBER- 2020 Vision Air International signs MoU with SIAL

hief Executive Officer and C h a i r m a n Vi s i o n A i r CInternational Capt. Aijaz Ali Faizi has said that Sialkot International Airport in the Aviation sector can become a great identity in the world. His organization will make every effort to make it possible. He expressed these views at the SIAL Secretariat on the signing ceremony of the MOU between Sialkot International Airport Limited (SIAL) and Vision Air International to develop Sialkot, start aircraft repair work here, further improve ground handling services, expand the cargo business and Chairman SIAL Mian Naeem Javed and Chief Executive Officer & Chairman Vision Air International providing training facilities to SIAL staff. Captain Aijaz Ali Faizi and Mian Naeem Javed are signing the MoU between Sialkot International Airport Chairman SIAL Mian Naeem Javed Limited and Vision Air International while Chaudhry Muhammad Afzal Shaheen, Babar Iqbal, Umair presided over the function. On the Ahsan, Farrukh Zaheer, Kashan Raza. Engr Khawar Anwar Khawaja, Naeem Akhtar, Ashfaq Ahmed occasion, Vice Chairman Chaudhry Chaudhry, Sheikh Muhammad Yaqoob, Fazal Jilani and Nisar Ahmed were also present Muhammad Afzal Shaheen, Chief Amir Azhar, Business Development Mian Naeem Javed said, “today is an Executive Officer SIAL Babar Iqbal, Manager Amir Yaqoob and Public important milestone in the history of Executive Director Vision Air Umair Relations Manager Abdul Shakoor Mirza Sialkot International Airport. We have Ahsan, Senior Executive Vice President were also present. been able to use only 20% of this airport. Farrukh Zaheer, Deputy Vice President Chief Guest Captain Aijaz Ali Faizi Now we are trying to introduce it to the Kashan Raza, Convener Business said that he was very happy that SIAL and world in a new way by equipping it with Development Committee SIALEngr his company were entering a new era in the more modern facilities”. He hoped that the Khawar Anwar Khawaja, Naeem Akhtar, world of aviation. Sialkot Airport could two companies would work together to Ashfaq Ahmed Chaudhry, Sheikh prove to be a new major route between make Sialkot Airport an ideal airport. Mohammad Yaqoob, Chairman Air Sial South East Asian countries and Europe, Fazal Jilani, Company Secretary while the launch of aircraft repairs here After the ceremony, the participants Mohammad Jahangir Khan, Airport could prove to be a great facility for visited the Terminal Building. SIAL Manager Nisar Ahmed, CTM Syed Ali domestic and foreign airline. shields were presented to the guests.

Al-Khalil Centre, Suite No. 12,-14, 3rd Floor, Kashmir Road, Sialkot = Pakistan. Tel No. 0092 52 3240608, 0092 52 3242110, 0092 52 3242109, 0092 52 3252110 Web: www.saf.com.pk Email: [email protected]

21 - SEPTEMBER 2020 SEPTEMBER 2020 - 22 - Virgin Cargo adds Pakistan to its UK GCC logistics flights network industry

IRGIN Atlantic Cargo is customers another prime route with such assessment 2020 launching three new routes positive growth opportunities. Vbetween the UK and Pakistan “This is supported by our fast to capitalise on the growth in bilateral connections over London to Europe, the h e “ D i g i t a l i z a t i o n , trade worth millions of dollars. USA and Africa, and this potential will I n f r a s t r u c t u r e , a n d The carrier is to operate flights from become even greater as Virgin Atlantic Connectivity Set to Transform London Heathrow to Lahore and continues to reintroduce more routes and T the GCC Logistics Industry, 2020” report Islamabad and from Manchester to frequencies as part of our COVID has been added to Research And Markets. Islamabad from December this year, recovery plan.” com's offering. reveals a company statement. Juha Jarvinen, chief commercial The logistics industry in the Gulf Air cargo customers in Pakistan will officer at Virgin Atlantic, further explains Cooperation Council (GCC) region is benefit from Virgin's “fast connections to the Pakistan decision: “With travel evolving rapidly driven by increasing prime markets in the USA as well as in restrictions remaining in place for many non-oil sector contribution to GDP, Europe and Africa via London destinations around the world, we're infrastructure development, the Heathrow,” the statement notes. continually evaluating our network, emergence of free trade zones and Pakistan imports from the UK grew looking at customer demand and where there are opportunities to launch new industrial parks and increased trade to US$699.33 million during 2019, cooperation. according to the United Nations' services. COMTRADE database on international “Both Lahore and Islamabad are Governments in the region have trade, whilst UK exports to Pakistan popular year-round destinations and we undertaken policy measures to reduce reached $934.98 million in the same year. look forward to welcoming travellers their dependency on oil exports by onboard as demand for leisure and strengthening economic diversification The Asian nation, which is an initiatives, tax reforms, improving the emerging market with a young and business travel gradually increases to the growing population of more than 200 region. The growth in trade between both investment climate, and increasing million people, is the second largest countries offers great potential for our investment in food security and economy in south Asia after India, cargo customers too.” encouraging private sector participation. according to the World Bank. Pakistan We're thrilled to announce that from The region's geographical location on the also harbours a growing middle class December, we'll be flying direct to trans-continental trade has facilitated its population, and an affinity for UK Pakistan. We'll have flights from focus on the development of logistics hubs expertise, products and brands, the UK's @HeathrowAirport to both Lahore and for both domestic and transit goods. Department for International Trade, Islamabad, plus direct services from Stringent containment measures to points out. @manairport to Islamabad. Flights go on arrest the spread of Coronavirus 2019 Britain is currently Pakistan's third sale in September. (COVID-19) have resulted in a sharp largest source of foreign direct decline in economic and trade activities. investment, after China and the Some of these measures include the Netherlands. imposition of travel restrictions, border “There are opportunities for British closures, and lockdowns which have businesses to benefit by integrating impacted freight capacity and flow of Pakistani firms into their supply chains,” goods in the GCC region. The region is the department notes. “Pakistan is keen to anticipated to see a contraction in the first expand and diversify its export base and is two quarters of 2020. As the curfews and already competitive in products such as lockdowns are relaxed, trade activities are textiles, garments, surgical instruments, expected to pick up in the second half of steel, and sporting goods,” its guidance 2020. about Pakistan's trade and exports adds. During the rebound phase from the Since 20 July, Virgin Atlantic has pandemic, digital transformation been ramping up its passenger aircraft initiatives are likely to be undertaken in belly cargo capacity by resurrecting the region with the support of government flights to New York/JFK, Los Angeles, initiatives which call for the application of Hong Kong, Shanghai, Barbados and digital technologies in both government Miami, with further routes scheduled to and private sectors. United Arab Emirates be added throughout next month and (UAE) and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia October. (KSA) are likely to emerge as front Meanwhile, the airline's freight runners in technology adoption in the division is continuing to offer cargo-only areas of customs clearance and port flights to Atlanta, Brussels, Chicago, terminal operations. The logistics start-up Delhi, Dublin, Johannesburg, Lagos, ecosystem has benefited from government Milan, Mumbai and Tel Aviv. initiatives, increased internet penetration, With regards to the new Pakistan and mobile technologies. Modern services, Dominic Kennedy, managing warehouses are becoming automated with director of Virgin Atlantic Cargo, reveals: more use of robotics, and companies are “The import and export market for goods experimenting with the use of between the UK and Pakistan is extremely autonomous vehicles and drones for healthy, so we're offering our cargo efficient and faster last-mile deliveries.

SEPTEMBER 2020 - 23 penalization but improvement. PK 8303- where were the safety nets? Like in the past accidents in Pakistan, this time, again, Safety remained confined concept of safety nets. The aim of these to the pages with no effective nets was to contain errors and violations in implementation. Frequency of air the systems to improve the safety accidents in Pakistan in the recent years is standards of aviation industry. A typical the clear depiction of an ineffective holistic approach in aviation safety runs implementation of the State Safety along three sides of a triangle where Program, as well as for the independent humans are at one corner. Technology on Safety Management Systems of the local the second corner, and organization at the operators. third corner of the triangle. What is Needed in Future? The crash of PK-8303 is a sheer outcome of an organizational failure. Technical Safety Issues from the Past Safety is a culture. What is needed in viation is considered to be the future is about maintaining a strong safest mode of travel among monitoring control through State Safety Aall modes of travel:based Program (SSP) and Safety Management upon the mortality rate. By virtue of the System (SMS) Program respectively. complexity of operations involved during There is also a need of an effective aviation flying, safety is always put on the reporting and follow up system by the top of the checklist of every aviation Safety and Quality Departments in order organization. to identify and contain the undesired There were days when aircraft human deviations through effective safety accidents used to occur frequently and nets at each and every level of the there was a reason for that. Earlier, the regulatory and operating organizations. safety systems were not defined properly and so much was evolving at the same time. The earlier approach in the aviation Holistic Safety Approach Boeing 737 MAX history was reactive as people knew little and they used to react to the situations What About PK-8303? accordingly. At that time, technology was Aircraft systems, Trainings, Safety takes first EASA raw and most of the accidents were systems; all have matured. We have come attributed to technology. The trend out of the times of blaming humans or continued till the 50's when man started technology. Things have changed now. In test flight the present day safety concepts, any improving the technology. The European Union Aviation Safety Safety Started Evolving occurrence or accident attributable to human error is to be blamed on the Agency (EASA) has started test flights of organization;not the individual(s) the Boeing 737 MAX. The agency is involved. It is the organization that fails to already the third authority to conduct a monitor the deviations. Most of the times, series of tests on the aircraft, following the those deviations are accepted as a norm. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Such norms become the cultures of the and Transport Canada. The test findings of organizations. European regulator will have a very It is not blaming the Pilot or the Air significant value in 737 MAXs Traffic Controller. It's about questioning recertification process as a number of the organizations involved whom these Safety Management people belonged. The safety nets in these European air carriers have the grounded The era from 50's to 90's witnessed a organizations failed to identify deviations 737 MAXs in their fleet. paradigm shift when technology grew on the part of those humans. If the A 737 MAX has flown to Vancouver astronomically. The concept of safety organizations do not monitor, identify and to perform a set of test flights scheduled by improved with better investigations curb such unacceptable tendencies among the EASA. The aircraft, registered as models. No wonder, technology made the personnel; be it be a pilot, maintenance N7201S, departed from Seattle's Boeing things easier but human was, and still engineer, air traffic controller or any Field (BFI) at 08:11 on September 8, 2020 remains the weakest link in any chain of person directly or indirectly involved with and landed in Vancouver (YVR) at 08:41 events. As technology outsmarted the the aircraft, then the losses are catastrophic on the same day, as recorded by humans, human error cases started and thats what happened in the case of PK- takingtheir toll . It was the time when 8303. FlightRadar24.com. people realized that humans have high It must be borne in mind that The same aircraft has already tendencies of commiting mistakes if not accidents do not occur in isolation. The performed a set of flights for the Canadian contained on time. With improvements in last pin is nailed in the coffin when all the authority's review from August 27, 2020 as the areas of investigations, the need of a safety nets fail. Last minute actions in the well as completed the FAA's tests on June Safety Management System (SMS) came cockpit of PK-8303 suggest that such 1, 2020. that finally materialized in 2013. All procedural violations must have occurred During the latest EASA's test flight, commercial airlines are now bound to earlier as well but somehow got managed numbered as BOE701, which lasted for 30 have a Safety Management System within by the aircrew. It can also be inferred that minutes, the aircraft climbed up to 15,600 their organizations. such close calls, even reported after flight, ft and reached a maximum ground speed of Safety Nets were never taken seriously by these 357 knots just as the descent started. Safety Management System brought the organizations, not for the purpose of

24 - SEPTEMBER 2020 Abbottabad after it took off from Chitral Aviation Division on December 7, 2016 in which 42 Three CAA officials passengers and crew, including singer- told to file 2016 turned-preacher Junaid Jamshed and his sacked over ATR crash report wife, lost their lives. Impleading the PIA, CAA and others licence Scandal by Oct 15 as respondents, the petitioner argued that there were various incidents where ATR The aviation authorities probing he Sindh High Court on planes of PIA had crashed in which a large allegations of suspicious licences of Tuesday Sept 8 sought the number of precious lives were lost and Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) report of the Aircraft pleaded for a judicial inquiry to fix pilots and involvement of some officials of T responsibility on the officials responsible the Civil Aviation Authority in the scandal Accident and Investigation Board (AAIB) by Oct 15 regarding the 2016 for it, prosecute them and order have sacked three CAA officials, while the fourth one obtained a stay order from a ATR aircraft crash, compensation to the legal heirs of the A two-judge bench headed by Justice victims. court. A senior official told media that Mohammad Ali Mazhar observed that in initially five officials of the aviation and case of a further delay in submission of Pakistan Navy licensing branch had been suspended and the report, the secretary of the aviation frigate launching show-cause notices issued to them for division would be summoned for an their alleged involvement in the scandal, explanation. ceremony held in and later three of them had been removed When the matter came up for hearing after the completion of the process. on Tuesday Sept 7, the deputy attorney China Of the three, two senior officials were general along with an official of the dismissed by the CAA director general, aviation division submitted a statement he launching ceremony for the while the third one, a junior officer, was and mentioned certain reasons for the first ship of Type-054 class removed by an additional director. Of the delay in the investigation report of the Tfrigate constructed for five suspended officials, two were senior Pakistan Navy was held at the Hudong ATR crash and sought 45 days for joint directors (licensing), an HR senior Zhonghua Shipyard Shanghai, China, on completion of investigation and superintendent and two assistants. Sunday August 23. submission of the report. The Aviation Division had sent the According to reports reaching here, The aviation division in the statement the ceremony was graced by Commodore cases of the five CAA officials to the stated that the final draft of the Azfar Humayun (Chief Naval Overseer, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for investigation report of PK-661 was sent to China) as the chief guest in the presence of criminal inquiry against them. However, the accredited representative including China Shipbuilding Trading Co, Ltd. the FIA had yet to complete the inquiry the Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for (CSTC) Chairman, Li Hongtao. against them, sources said. Civil Aviation Safety (BEA) of France, The launching event was hailed as a The authorities, meanwhile, have Transportation Safety Board (TSB) of milestone in the construction of the state completed the verification of licences of Canada and National Transportation of the art frigate for Pakistan Navy. The 262 pilots from their personal manual data Safety Board (NTBS) of the USA in May Type-054 class, fitted with latest surface, and will present a report in a cabinet in accordance with the international subsurface, anti-air weapons, combat meeting. These pilots have been management system and sensors, will be obligations on all the signatory states to categorised by the aviation authorities as one of the technologically-advanced some of them may face cancellation of the ICAO convention. surface platforms of the Pakistan Navy After completion of two months to their flying licences and some may be Fleet. cleared. They also included those who had review the draft, the AAIB received the These ships will significantly responses from the BEA and TSB in July, committed 'rest times' violations. contribute to peace and security in In June this year, Aviation Minister but the scope of participation of the NTSB Pakistan's area of responsibility. Ghulam Sarwar Khan had disclosed in was complicated and additionally there Earlier, while addressing the parliament that out of 850 pilots, 262 were were several restrictions on working and ceremony, the chief guest termed the event a new chapter in Pakistan-China defense holding 'suspicious' licences. The travelling due to Covid-19, thus response minister's statement had caused panic in from the NTSB was delayed and received relationship. H e a l s o a c k n o w l e d g e d t h e aviation circles, leading to grounding of last month, it maintained. 262 pilots. It further said that all the responses commitment and dedication of the Hudong Zhonghua Shipyard, China and A five-member committee had been required reconciliation on few technical the inexorable support provided by CSTC constituted by the Aviation Division to findings and relevant recommendations for the continuity of programme despite investigate the cases of pilots' licences and of the report and sought further time. the Covid-19 pandemic. provided fresh lists of pilots of the PIA, The petition was filed after an The ceremony was also attended by Serene Air and Airblue after making some Islamabad-bound flight of Pakistan officials of Pakistan Navy and CSTC/ corrections in their names and reference International Airlines had crashed near Hudong Shipyard. numbers.

SEPTEMBER 2020 - 25 NA panel calls for thorough probe into Karachi air crash

he National Assembly's the problems faced by the Pakistani separate entities would be established. He Standing Committee on diaspora and foreign nationals intending said a law in this regard would be TCabinet Secretariat has called to travel to Pakistan by PIA, alternative presented before parliament within two for a thorough investigation into the crash arrangements had been made on a code months. of Pakistan International Airlines A-320 sharing basis. He said that code sharing Referring to alleged mismanagement plane in Karachi to ascertain real causes agreements had been made with Etihad in recruitment in the CAA and the Airport behind the incident which claimed 97 Airlines, Turkish Airlines and Pegasus Security Force, MNA Ali Nawaz Awan precious lives. Airlines. suggested formation of a an “internal The committee, during a meeting The committee was also apprised grievance cell” to make the officials held recently, observed that the incident about the dubious licences of PIA pilots or concerned answerable on public t o o k p l a c e d e s p i t e r e p o r t e d pilots carrying licences issued by the complaints. unquestionable airworthiness of the plane CAA. MNA Mohsin Dawar suggested and experience of the pilots; therefore, its The committee observed that the case calling a joint meeting of the CAA and reasons should be identified to avoid re- had brought disgrace to the country, PIA to resolve major issues as they occurrence of such incidents. besides putting a question mark on the blamed each other. The committee was informed that a veracity of all licences issue by the CAA. The committee meeting was presided 12-member investigation team, including The panel members observed that none of over by MNA Kishwer Zahra and aviation experts, representatives of the the officials of the CAA had been held attended by Muhammad Aslam Khan, Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), PIA and responsible for issuing dubious licences . Uzma Riaz, Rana Iradat Sharif Khan, Boeing company and a psychologist, had The committee asked the Aviation Shahnaz Saleem Malik, Naeema conducted examination of the debris of Division to complete the inquiry so that Mohiuddin Jameeli, Mir Ghulam Ali the aircraft and recording of conversation the officials responsible for issuing Talpur, Syed Mehmood Shah and senior of the pilots with the control tower in the dubious licences could be identified and officials of the Aviation Division and black box during the course of taken to task. Airport Security Force. investigation. The committee was informed that a The preliminary investigation Board of Inquiry had been constituted to revealed that airworthiness of the aircraft investigate violations/malpractices China's biggest was unquestionable, the weather was observed in issuance of flight crew favorable, the pilot and the co-pilot were licences and in the light of the finding of airshow will go experienced, but there were quite a few the board, 28 licences had been cancelled deviations by the pilot and the air traffic and 193 suspended, apart from referring controller from the prescribed the case to the Federal Investigation ahead in procedures, the committee was told. Agency (FIA) for an inquiry. Aviation Division Secretary Hassan “The FIA has made considerable November Nasir Jamy informed the panel that the progress in the inquiry into pilots' inquiry into the tragic incident would be suspicious licences since July 24,” the China's International Aviation and completed within eight to 10 months and aviation secretary said and added: Aerospace Exhibition, the country's its report would be presented to the “Serious violations of flight duty time biggest airshow, will go ahead in committee. limitations have been noticed by the Board November, the organizer said, Initial report finds human error on of Inquiry.” backtracking on an earlier announcement part of pilots, ATC officials in PIA crash: The aviation secretary said the CAA the 2020 event had been canceled due to aviation minister had verified/cleared 200 licences of COVID-19. Taking up the issue of suspension of Pakistani pilots whose names were The biennial event usually draws key PIA flights to Europe, including the received from civil aviation authorities of suppliers such as Airbus, Boeing and United Kingdom, the panel directed the Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, Ethiopia, the Commercial Aircraft Corp of China and authorities concerned to pursue the UAE, Vietnam, Bahrain, Malaysia and has traditionally been used by Beijing to resumption of flights to Europe with the Hong Kong. show off its growing aviation capability, European and British airspace authorities. The committee was also briefed on such as military fighters and drones. The committee was apprised that PIA t h e p l a n f o r flights to European destinations and UK bifurcation of the Civil were discontinued over five different Aviation Authority. issues related to safety management of The aviation secretary aircraft and passengers. said the authority at A PIA representative informed the p r e s e n t w a s committee that the objections of the p e r f o r m i n g i t s European and UK authorities had been f u n c t i o n s a s a addressed; however, the flights would be regulatory and service resumed on clearance by the European provider agency and and UK airspace agencies. a f t e r t h e The official said that keeping in view implementation of bifurcation plan, two 26 - SEPTEMBER 2020 SEPTEMBER 2020 - 27 28 - SEPTEMBER 2020 A formidable bloc to be Prof. Safdar Sandal

ndian isolation and a new telecommunicat currency called “e-RMB”, which will be regional order in South and ions network, able to counter the monopoly of the US ICentral Asian Region (CARs) is, and many more Dollar in the international economic in the offing. It will have global allied subjects. system, sidelining the American- repercussions unequivocally. Under BJP The opening sanction-regime. Fifth, the benefits of rule, India has shown lack of strategies or l i n e s o f t h e this strategic agreement would not be divine spark for which its diplomacy was proposed draft limited to China and Iran, but will extend always famous for. Today, under s i g n i f y t h e to the whole region, as it would be the first Hindutva government, New Delhi has vastness of this Asian alliance of its nature. At this isolated itself in the region and in pursuit understanding. juncture I would like my readers to note of catching American eyes has distanced It states, “Two ancient Asian cultures, the difference of Chinese investment in itself from its close allies Russia and partners in the sectors of trade, economy, Pakistan-related projects being of 62 recently betrothed Iran. The term politics, culture and security with a similar billion USD, as compared to the 400 Hindutva is an alternative used to signify a variety of the concepts such as 'Hindu Nationalism', 'Hindu Supremasim' and 'Brahmanism'. These self-imposed complexes and racial anatomy is bound to decipher as these are against the norms of a civilized society. It has started to make dents in the literate part of the Indian people too. Its strategic importance due its geography and due its neo-colonial mindset and its military haughtiness but in-capability, has come on the shore. It has treated with Kashmir in the same manner; it had dismantled Babri masjid in Ayodhya. Kashmir is not Ayodhya; it must have been realized. In my last article, I had dwelt on growing cooperation between Iran and China, when some details were yet to come on board. Now, the 'New York Times', in its July 11.2020 edition has outlook and many mutual bilateral and billion USD in Iranian projects. The deal revealed some details of the undergoing multilateral interests will consider one- displays the vastness of the cooperation C h i n a - I r a n t w e n t y - f i v e - y e a r another as strategic partners”. and its political impacts. Pakistan is comprehensive strategic partnership's Before examining the implications of supposed to benefit again from this huge final draft. Earlier Iran's foreign minister this agreement on regional and global geo- investment, indirectly. Javed Zarif presented this historic strategic alignments, it is important to The strategic nature and permanence understanding in the Iranian Parliament review its key points: First, the deal is of this agreement have alarmed the United (Majlis). He there disclosed that a worth 400billion USD: of which $280 is States, in particular, who finds this as an decision to this effect had earlier been expected to be spent by China on Iran's unforeseen alliance and as a stepping taken in January 2016 when President Xi energy sector, while $120 to be reserved stone for China's growing influence in the Jinping had visited Iran. According to the for industry and transportation Persian Gulf Region. In the concerned initial report, the 18 page draft outline development. Second, the agreement is quarters of Washington-DC, this identifies nearly a hundred different likely to address Iran's economic closeness is clearly visualized as a projects between the two countries, problems, especially unemployment, challenge to US strategic and economic ranging from building the Iranian which it faced because of the American monopoly in the Gulf and wider Middle infrastructure, like airports, subways and sanctions, after unilateral withdrawal East region. Under the circumstances, the high speed trains for development of from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of only option left for Iran was to ally with a trade-free zones, and up-gradation of the Action (JCPOA) by the Trump powerful state having a potential to side- administration, commonly track the worse effects of the US known as 'Iran Nuclear sanctions. On its part, the emerging Deal'. Third, Iran will supply oil to China at a special discount price, for 25 years, thus fulfilling the energy needs of China. Fourth, under the same plan, China is likely to introduce a new digital

SEPTEMBER 2020 - 29 economic and industrial prowess of China albeit the intervening bad tastes in the India; the sour country Afghanistan will has shown its ability to ensure security for good relationship of Pakistan and Iran also see reason and will tie itself with the Iran and create a balance of power in the mainly created by India, and are now string of friendship though feared by me, tense region of the gulf. All these goals poised to recover for good. Prime Minister to be at the fag end. Ungrateful as it is, are achievable through a long-term, Imran Khan remarked in a recent TV despite Pakistan having sheltered over mutually beneficial Iran-China interview, “We should be clear that our four million Afghanistan refugees for the partnership. It is important to note that the future is with China”. He went on further last forty years. More important are effects of this agreement will not be to say that Pakistan is lucky to have China neighboring 'Central Asian States' who limited to only these two countries but as our friend, as on all occasions it has have a rich Muslim heritage and with much more beyond. China's ingress into stood by us, while the others shied away. whom Pakistan has enjoyed kinship-like Iran was always on the cards. To be sure in the near future, China, relations due past common history, will I n d i a h a s s i n c e b e e n Pakistan, Iran and Turkey would form a not stay away from this invincible bloc to unceremoniously ousted from Iran, its f o r m i d a b l e r e g i o n a l - s t r a t e g i c be.. (China, Pakistan, Russia, Turkey, Iran Chaubahar Port and other projects. Its understanding. The hitherto spoiled by Make a Perfect Alliance). nefarious efforts to bypass Pakistan to reach Afghanistan and the CARs have Pakistan, China agree to boost been summarily smothered. India has lost its firmest base in the Greater Middle East Region (GMER). Its relation with Iran industrial cooperation under CPEC has been sacrificed at the altar of the embryonic Indo-US strategic partnership, akistan and China recently agreed mutual economic advantage, he added. drastically curtailing its sphere of to elevate the memorandum of The framework is being developed influence and power-projection-potential. Punderstanding on industrial with a special focus to enhance industrial Ironically China, its nemesis, is most cooperation to the framework agreement competitiveness of Pakistan, ensure effectively replacing it. under the China-Pakistan Economic technology transfer, relocate Chinese As for Pakistan, before assessing the Corridor to realise the vision for businesses and skill development and ramifications of the Sino partnership, it is development of special economic zones labour productivity. important to glance at the background of (SEZs). Pakistan-Chinese close ties. In the 1950s The modus operandi of the after its independence, when China was Speaking at a consultative forum on cooperation would likely enhance struggling to establish its place in the draft framework agreement on industrial business-to-business and project-to- regional and global environment, Pakistan cooperation, Board of Investment project ties ensuring projectised mode of decided to establish good relations with Chairman Atif R. Bokhari said that the medium- and long-term projects in emerging China, even though Pakistan first phase of CPEC required leading role industrial cooperation, balance and was committed in the Western camp and a of the government, while the second phase modernise existing industry, make joint member of the 'SEATO' (and later CENTO requires a 180-degree shift in efforts to expedite SEZ development and which were US sponsored defense pacts). management and roles. promotion, seek technical and financial The purpose of this organization was to “It calls for enhanced role of assistance from China, enhance prevent communism from gaining ground industrialists, private sector, and business production capacity, facilitate businesses in the region. Although Pakistan was an community, while the government's role by financial institutions from both sides ardent member of this arrangement would only be that of a facilitator by and ensure joint marketing and media against communism and some clauses of devising effective policies, laws and this treaty explicitly stated that it is an efforts to promote industrial cooperation alliance to deal with Chinese military efficient infrastructure, to facilitate and SEZs. threat. At this point and time, Pakistan business-to-business and people-to- BOI Secretary Fareena Mazhar, while took the courage to categorically make its people linkages”, Bokhari said. highlighting board's role as lead agency position clear in a documented 'SEATO' He explained that the draft for industrial cooperation under CPEC, meeting that although Pakistan was a framework agreement on industrial shared the corridor's journey and its future member of this arrangement but it does not cooperation is being aligned with the action plan, conceived for its second phase consider itself as antagonistic towards long-term CPEC framework. “A world of that includes development of SEZs, China, its immediate neighbour. This opportunities will open up by setting the agricultural cooperation, relocation of gesture was welcomed, in a speech by the fundamentals of industrial cooperation Chinese industries into Pakistan, public legendary Prime Minister Zhou Enlai. under the CPEC and it is high time for all private partnerships for business Since then, the relations between the two of us to tap the right opportunities at the countries have been more than cordial, prospects and creation of vocational right time,” he affirmed. training and employment opportunities. despite US obstacles, directly or Bokhari said significant progress has maneuvered through its policies of the She said that Pakistan and China have Gulf. been achieved on development and agreed to elevate the MoU on industrial Pakistan and China are partners in the colonization of the SEZs in the last few cooperation into a framework agreement “CPEC”, another long term strategic months wherein four CPEC SEZs at focusing on SEZs development of SEZs partnership, and Chinese close ties with Rashakai in Khyber- Pakhtunkhwa, and B2B joint ventures as core elements of Iran would provide a tactical shield to Dhabeji in Sindh, M-3 Allama Iqbal in industrial cooperation under CPEC. Pakistan's strategic and economic Punjab, and Bostan in Balochistan are Serious efforts for provision of gas and interests, strengthening still furtherif now in advance stage of development. electricity are underway to ensure these Pakistan's all-weather ally Turkey joins in The geographic proximity between basic utilities are provided at zones, she this situation. Ties with Iran and Turkey China and Pakistan will allow these zones said. will bounce back, like in the RCD-era to foster economic interdependence for

30 -SEPTEMBER 2020 SEPTEMBER 2020 - 31 Parties vow to ensure CPEC progress, guard it against threats

eading political parties on Hussain Sayed, who is also the founding growth of China. As we see China's Thursday Aug. 20 vowed to chairman of the Pakistan-China Institute investments power their way through the Lensure a conducive political (PCI), said: “Pakistan fully supports China jugular vein of CPEC, it is a matter of both environment and favourable public in the defence of its territorial integrity and responsibility and pride that makes me say opinion for the progress and development sovereignty, rejects politicising of the that the PPP is fully committed to realising of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor pandemic, appreciates China's positive the dream of this great platform (CPEC), besides shielding it from threats. role, and rejects the notion of a new cold connecting the two countries. This vision The political parties at the conclusion war. Both countries support each other's is now shared and will be carried forward of the Second Conference of the China- core interests.” by PPP under Chairman Bilawal Bhutto- Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) He referred to the presence in China of Zardari's leadership,” Ms Rehman said Political Parties Joint Consultation a high-level civil-military delegation led while highlighting PPP's commitment Mechanism (JCM), through a joint by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood towards CPEC. statement, denounced the “slander on and Qureshi. “Close interactions between our two disturbance in CPEC development by Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Yao parties are a strong testimony to the external forces” and pledged to “shape and Jing said that the resilient nature of dynamism of inter-party cooperation in safeguard the enabling political Pakistan-China friendship and CPEC driving CPEC forward. Over the years, the environment and favourable public could be gauged from the fact that it PPP government in Sindh has worked opinion for CPEC development”. survived even the Covid-19 pandemic and closely with Chinese officials and The JCM was organised by the became stronger. investors in facilitating projects, people- International Department of Communist Executive Director of PCI Mustafa to-people relationships, cultural Party of China (CPC) in collaboration Hyder Sayed called for a 'Health Silk exchanges, and most importantly in with the Pakistan-China Institute (PCI) on Road' in the light of the Covid-19 ensuring the security of all those involved the theme of 'Working Together to pandemic and criticised West's double in CPEC projects. As part of our history of Promote Economic Development and standards on issues relating to China. joint cooperation, PPP looks forward to Improve People's Lives Through High- Speaking on the occasion, PPP's continuing to work closely with local and Quality CPEC Cooperation'. Parliamentary Leader in Senate Senator Chinese stakeholders, including from Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani and Sherry Rehman said that national unity in Jiangxi province, in achieving our Chinese Minister of the International the country was need of the hour for CPEC common goals and interests for the Department of CPC Song Tao co-chaired to thrive and prosper. betterment of our people and the region. the online session. She said that all provinces must be on “With employment opportunities an The virtual consultations were the same page when it came to the greater integral part of the CPEC dream, almost participated in by nine Pakistani political good of the country and all of them must be 1.1 million people can come out of the parties: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Pakistan included by the planning ministry in their poverty trap in Pakistan. Better transport Muslim League-Nawaz, Pakistan Peoples roadmap project every day. Party, Balochistan Awami Party, National infrastructure will help Pakistan increase “The CPEC goes beyond partisan trade. It has been forecast that Pakistan's Party, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Awami politics for us, and we are all united around National Party, Jamaat-i-Islami, and trade can increase by 9.8 per cent if it one fundamental truth: In a world defined implements reforms well in addition to Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party. Senior by unexpected conflicts and challenges, government officials and representatives transport infrastructure under CPEC. the CPEC is the economic stabiliser that “The project will create nearly of the business community of the two can steer Pakistan into the 21st century and countries also participated in the 700,000 new jobs and add up to 2.5pc to become a connected highway to the Pakistan's annual growth rate. Not to conference. future,” the PPP leader said. President Arif Alvi, in a message to forget, the implementation of SEZs can Lauding President Xi Jinping's vision, also revolutionise the job sector and create the conference, reaffirmed Pakistan's she said: “We at the PPP pay particular strong support to One China policy and new opportunities for entrepreneurship, tribute to President Xi's vision of the Belt which can be the key sector to said Islamabad opposed any foreign and Road Initiative, under which China is accommodate the youth bulge as more intervention in the internal affairs of China stepping up to take global responsibility than 60pc of Pakistan's population is under with regard to Hong Kong and Taiwan. for global goals based on a dream of the age of 30,” the PPP senator said while Mr Song appreciated the political mutual growth and shared prosperity. consensus and noted that party-to-party China, under President Xi, has entered a highlighting the benefits of CPEC for cooperation bet-ween China and Pakistan new phase of taking up a global role. In this Pakistan. was increasing as CPEC moved into a new awakening of the dragon through a Discussing changes brought about by phase. transformational vision, we appreciate that global warming, she said: “We hope that Senator Sanjrani said that Senate the CPEC is the poster-child of the Belt the Chinese government can bring the would play a greater role in taking forward and Road Initiative, holding in its vision a clean energy initiatives they have enforced the consensus of political parties and potential new future for Pakistan in at home, to Pakistan. It is our delivering political support for more multiple possibilities that deepen both responsibility to ensure that we are doing cooperation between the two countries economic and political ties between China the best we can to protect the environment. under CPEC. and Pakistan.” Together, we must move towards eco- Chairman of the Senate Committee “Pakistan and PPP support One China friendly, sustainable and renewable energy on Foreign Affairs Senator Mushahid policy and the sovereignty and continual sources.

32 - SEPTEMBER 2020 GSP+ scheme, exports further jumped by Former Federal Administered Tribal Areas Pakistan should 10pc to €6.09bn. as part of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Since 2016, exports proceeds have province and the extension of the High benefit from stagnated at €6.30bn at 2016, €6.69bn in Court and the Pakistan Supreme Court, 2017 and €6.88bn in 2018. representation for former FATA residents Of the €6.739bn exports to the EU in at the federal Parliament and in the KP emergency trade 2018, Pakistan was able to avail tariff Assembly. concessions on €5.885bn. From 2013 to However, there is also mention that 2019, Pakistan was able to considerably these developments have been relaxations` enhance its exports to the EU with an undermined by the passage of the KP increase of 65pc. Action (in aid of civil power) Ordinance, he country should take full The findings were reported by the 2019, which allows the military in the benefit of the relaxations 'EU's GSP+ Assessment Report 2020: merged districts to detain without reason Tunder arrangement of special How has Pakistan progressed in its or the need to produce arrested individuals and emergency clauses allowed by the compliance?'. at a court of law, which the report recognises as 'serious concern'. global trading system under World Trade The European Commission inked a Organisation, said Federation of Pakistan law in 2013 allowing Pakistan the GSP+ Freedom of expression was cited as Chambers of Commerce and Industry status under which exporters will be restrictive in Pakistan's 2018 Universal Vice President Sheikh Sultan Rehman. exempted tax on certain categories of Period Review, same as in 2017 report. In Speaking at a webinar on “Covid-19: goods exported to the EU. its report in 2020, the EU again repeats its Trade and Trade Related Measures”, he call to improve freedom of expression, as The preferential scheme is stipulated in the International Covenant on said that the trade and trade facilitated conditional on implementing international allowances should also be capitalised for Civil and Political Rights. Restrictions on conventions on human and labour rights, freedom of expression only increased making appropriate pressure on public and freedom of speech in Pakistan. The sector to structure the temporary policies during the reporting period with curbs of current EU report states that some broadcasting, self-censorship by towards the gain economy in the present provinces have demonstrated an crisis generated by declining world trade journalists and disruption to the improvement in compliance with labour distribution of a national newspaper. due to the pandemic. conventions, yet much of the issues He said that successful temporary reported in its 2018 report not addressed policies may eventually convert into by 2020. Mango exports permanent ones for time to come to Weak occupational safety can be conduct global trade. attributed to weak labour inspections. Low Sohail Hanif, Joint Economic numbers of labour inspection officers and exceed target Adviser Ministry of Finance, said the lack of training and capacity affect law government is endeavouring to make enforcement. Freedom of association and Pakistan exported 125,000 tonnes of fiscal adjustments through the Federal collective bargaining is an issue which the mango well above the 80,000 export Board of Revenue as well as providing EU noted as having 'limited progress'. target set for 2020 amid the Covid-19 budget lines for tax refunds as well as This, like occupational safety, had also pandemic fetching the country $72 being engaged in convincing the State been mentioned in the EU's previous million in foreign exchange. Bank to take appropriate measures for report. Highlighting that the country reducing the cost of exports and domestic Pakistan ranks 8th in 167 countries by exported 45,000 tonnes above the set commerce. the global slavery index ranking and target, All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable The participants included from classified as one of the worst countries in Exporters, Importers and Merchants finance, commerce ministries, Trade terms of its government response. The EU Association (PFVA) Patron-in-Chief Development Authority of Pakistan, report uses strong language while Waheed Ahmed anticipated that within the Applied Economic Research Center and describing the lack of compliance with the next one-and-a-half month, an additional trade bodies. abolition of forced labour and states that 25,000 tonnes of mangoes would be despite existing laws “the issue is that of exported before the season ends. Exports to EU non-implementation and is rooted in either The country exported 130,000 tonnes political unwillingness or inability to of mangoes in 2019. Waheed said that implement the law.” during the current season, mango under GSP+rise The EU suggests “more industrial and production fell by 35 per cent, bringing the economic zones need to be initiated in the volume to 1.3 million tonnes compared to 3.3pc country to address increasing bondage last year's 1.8m tonnes. labour, as the higher number industrial The PFVA head termed the current zones can reduce the chances of the forced mango season as one of the most difficult akistan's exports to the labour.” E u r o p e a n U n i o n ( E U ) seasons in the history of exports due to the increased by 3.3 per cent under The data on female workforce challenges posed by coronavirus. P participation and remuneration for He noted that exporters moved to sea the generalised system of preferences plus (GSP+) scheme, a report produced by the Pakistan reflects a dismal situation. The and land routes for shipments after airlines Democracy Report International and 2018 Labour Force Survey shows less than shutdown flight operations due to the European Commission showed on Friday 15pc participant rate of women in the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns 28 of Aug. labour market as compared to 46pc for globally. men. Added to this is discrimination Afghanistan emerged as one of the top Before the GSP+ scheme, Pakistan's towards women in terms of their exports to 28-member union stood at countries which imported Pakistani representation in high skilled occupations mangoes while United Arab Emirates, Iran €4.54 billion in 2013, which jumped to and positions of senior management. €5.51bn in 2014. In the second year of the and Oman proved to be major international The report praised merger of the markets.

SEPTEMBER 2020 - 33 Textile exports jump 14.4pc in July

akistan's textile and clothing Details showed ready-made garments cabinet is expected to allow export of exports revived in July exports jumped by 18.04pc in value and surgical mask and N-95. Pincreasing 14.4 per cent year- drifted much lower in quantity by 32.82pc Among primary commodities, cotton on-year to $1.272 billion compared to during July, while those of knitwear edged yarn exports dipped by 37.88pc, while $1.112bn in the corresponding month of up 20.42pc in value and 14.49pc in yarn other than cotton by 47.53pc. last year, data released by the Pakistan quantity, bed wear posted positive growth However, export of made-up articles Bureau of Statistics showed recently. of 25.30pc in value and 6.36pc in quantity. excluding towels surged by 26.04pc, and The easing of lockdown in the North Towel exports increased by 21.40pc in tents, canvas and tarpaulin increased by a American and European countries top value and 26.98pc in quantity, whereas massive 155.86pc during the month under export destinations for Pakistani textile those of cotton cloth rose 1.15pc in value review. The export of raw cotton declined goods will help revive the sinking exports. and dipped by 22.31pc in quantity. by 100pc during the month under review. The Covid-19 has collapsed the demand The government lifted the ban on The import of textile machinery for country's exports during the last four exports of seven products classified as dropped by 33.91pc during the first month months. personal protective equipment (PPE) in a of current fiscal year a sign that no However, there has been a revival in bid to allow manufacturers to honor expansion or modernisation projects were international orders for Pakistani products international orders. taken up by the textile industry during the since June whereas exports through land Exporters are receiving inquiries month. routes were also allowed to Iran and about PPEs from foreign buyers as The country's textile and clothing Afghanistan. It was only in February government allowed exports of disposable exports posted a negative growth of over when the textile and clothing exports gowns, disposable gloves, face shields, 6pc year-on-year to $12.526bn in the jumped nearly 17pc on a year-on-year biohazard bags, goggles, shoe covers and fiscal year 2019-20 compared to basis. This growth was reported after a hand sanitisers with immediate effect. $13.327bn in the corresponding period long time as the past few years had been Previously, the government allowed last year. marred by single-digit increases. exports of textile masks as well. The UK seeks to 'clarify' Brexit divorce deal, angers EU

ritain said on Monday Sept.7 resume talks. any free-trade deal to be in place by it was seeking to “clarify” key In Ireland, Foreign Minister Simon January 1 next year. Bparts of its EU divorce deal Coveney cautioned the UK: “This would “If we can't agree by then, then I do just as Brexit trade talks reached a crucial be a very unwise way to proceed.” not see that there will be a free-trade final stage, triggering warnings that it Johnson's spokesman confirmed the agreement between us, and we should both risks damaging its international government was taking “limited and accept that and move on,” he said, vowing reputation. reasonable steps to clarify specific no compromise on Britain's fundamental Alarm bells rang in Brussels after elements of the Northern Ireland protocol interests. reports that Prime Minister Boris Johnson in domestic law”. Ireland's deputy prime minister Leo was planning new legislation that would The move was designed to “remove Varadkar said the increased rhetoric from override parts of the Withdrawal any ambiguity and to ensure the London and Brussels was inevitable Agreement treaty he signed last year. government is always able to deliver on its “sabre-rattling” and “posturing” as the The Financial Times said a bill to be commitments to the people of Northern deadline approached. put before parliament this week would Ireland”, he told reporters. Talks have been deadlocked over key undermine agreements relating to Portraying the changes as technical issues such as the extent of EU access to Northern Ireland customs and state aid. tweaks, he added that the government UK fishing waters, state aid and fair Under the protocol, Northern Ireland, remained “fully committed” to the competition rules. which will have Britain's only land border Withdrawal Agreement and the Good Brussels has already indicated that with the EU, will follow some of the bloc's Friday peace accord. But it provoked an mid-October is the latest a deal could be rules to ensure the frontier remains open. angry backlash in Dublin and Belfast, struck, given the need for translation and Eliminating border checks with the where the prospect of a potential “hard ratification by the European Parliament. Republic of Ireland was a key part of the border” is a reminder of “The Troubles”. But if the deadline passes, Johnson 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which Jitters were also felt on the currency said Britain would have an “Australia- ended 30 years of violence over British market, where the pound slid against the style” deal with the EU or one similar to rule in the province. dollar and euro on fears of a “no-deal”. that agreed with Canada and other European Commission president Sinn Fein president Mary Lou countries. Ursula von der Leyen said Britain was McDonald said the UK would show “total “As we have said right from the start, legally obliged to implement the disregard for the lives and concern of the that would be a good outcome for the Withdrawal Agreement, which would people of Ireland” if it backtracked on the United Kingdom,” he said. form the basis of future relations. Withdrawal Agreement. Sinn Fein and Britain formally left the 27-member “Everything that has been signed other pro-EU parties in Northern Ireland bloc on January 31 but remains bound by must be respected,” the EU's chief Brexit said in a joint statement that any change by EU rules until the end of December while negotiator Michel Barnier added, Britain would be a “serious betrayal”. it tries to thrash out new terms of its promising to quiz his UK counterpart, Johnson earlier said an EU summit on relationship. David Frost, about the plans when they October 15 was the ultimate deadline for

34 - SEPTEMBER 2020 SEPTEMBER 2020 - 35 Enemy can't defeat Events held to celebrate Defence Day

a nation united in was on September 3, 1965 that two Star purpose: PM Fighters flown by Flt Lt Hakimullah and Flg Off Abbas Mirza took off from S a r g o g h a t o intercept four Indian Gnats as a result of which one Gnat was made to surrender and force land at Pasrur. There was also a picture of the captured Indian pilot of the time, Sqn embers of the Pakistan Air FIGHTERS put on display at the Archives Gallery of the PAF Museum Ldr Brij Pal Singh, Force march past the who later rose to be Mmausoleum of Quaid-i- he 55th Defence Day of an air marshal in the Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah during a Indian Air Force. Defence and Martyrs' Day ceremony on Pakistan, celebrated and Sunday Sept. 6. Tcommemorated every year Team Cycologists with much fervour on Sept 6, started with Also in commemoration of Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan, while the change of guard ceremony at the Defence Day, Pakistan Maritime Museum recollecting his memories of the 1965 Mazar-i-Quaid early in the morning. hosted a group of cyclists, known as war, said on Sunday Sept 5 that the whole Every year on this day, a contingent of Cycologists, to pay their tribute to the nation had stood resolutely as one against cadets from the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) m a r t y r s a n d a c k n o w l e d g e t h e the enemy. Academy Risalpur Asghar Khan, assumes contributions of defence services provided The prime minister said in a message the guard duties at the mausoleum of the by our military forces. on Twitter that no enemy could defeat a Father of the Nation Mohammad Ali Team Cycologists had arranged a 30- nation so united in purpose. He further Jinnah. This year the contingent of 46 also kilometre-long cycle ride to honour and stressed that such a spirit was needed included three women cadets. inspire the masses and to stir in them the today to make Jinnah's Pakistan. Air Vice Marshal Shakeel Ghazanfar spirit of patriotism. The cycling ride The prime minister used his Twitter SI(M), Air Officer Commanding, PAF started immediately after dawn from handle to reflect on the occasion as the Academy Asghar Khan was the chief Delawala Clifton with over 70 male and whole nation was observing the Defence guest at the ceremony. He also laid a female cyclists of different ages moving in and Martyrs' Day to pay homage to the wreath at the grave of the Father of the the form of a procession through Sharea 1965 war heroes who had laid down their Nation. Faisal before turning towards Karsaz to lives and the war veterans who valiantly the Pakistan Maritime Museum. defended the country during the 1965 war. At PAF Museum At the Archives Gallery of the PAF The cyclists gathered at the propeller “As we pay homage to our war heroes Museum, there were three fighters roundabout, a prominent landmark of this today, I still recall, as a 13 yr (years) old, prominently placed right in the middle of museum. Entering the museum area, they the 1965 war vividly. Can never forget the the floor 0151 the F-86 Sabre, the F-104 or witnessed a formal flag hoisting ceremony unity when nation stood resolutely as one the Star Fighter and the Indian Gnat. All of at 8am by Commodore Jamil Akhter SI against the enemy. No enemy can defeat a these fighter jets are especially significant (M), the director general at the museum nation so united in purpose. It's this spirit on the Defence Day of Pakistan. with the museum staff. The cyclists sang we need today to make Jinnah's Pak,” he the national anthem with full enthusiasm tweeted. It was M.M. Alam, one of Pakistan's finest fighter pilots, who destroyed five and paid their respects to the military who Meanwhile, federal Minister for Indian jets during the 1965 war, in the very selflessly served the country before Information and Broadcasting Senator single-seater F-86 Sabre now on display at leaving the venue chanting slogans of Shibli Faraz on Sunday Sept. 6 paid the gallery. The aircraft was also Pakistan Zindabad! glowing tributes to the martyrs who lost accompanied with a statue of the Song and film releases their lives in the line of duty. decorated pilot. Alam shot down four of Meanwhile, the Inter Services Public In a video message on the occasion of those five enemy jets within 30 seconds of Relations (ISPR) awakened the spirit of Defence and Martyrs' Day, the minister his mission on Sept 7. The great pilot patriotism in the entire nation with the said that the nation saluted the martyrs and throughout his career downed some nine 4.15-minute-long release of a remake of an 'Ghazis' who gave supreme sacrifices for Indian fighter aircraft. Other than the nine old patriotic song from the late 1970s and the protection, defence and security of the destroyed, he also managed to damage two '80s called 'Har Ghari Tayyar Kamran motherland. more Indian jets, a record which remains Hain Hum' sung by Ali Hamza, Ali Azmat, “Today, we also renew our pledge unbeaten to date. For his courage and Ali Noor and Asim Azhar. and commitment that Pakistan stands firm valour, he was decorated with the Sitara-i- Not forgetting the ongoing fight being with its Kashmiri brothers and sisters and Jurat twice. put up by the front-line warriors of will continue to do so,” he said, adding The other aircraft, the F-104 Star Pakistan, the doctors and healthcare that Prime Minister Imran Khan would Fighter, also proved extremely useful in workers of the country, during the Covid- continue to advocate the Kashmir cause at the 1965 war. It was this plane that forced 19 pandemic, the ISPR also released a, every forum and Pakistan would continue an Indian Gnat to surrender and land near 11.15-minute video package to pay a its political, diplomatic and moral Sialkot at Pasrur during the war. The Gnat special and touching tribute to them called support. was also placed nearby as a war trophy. It 'Sarfarosh'. 36 - SEPTEMBER 2020 A bird's eye view of the deterioration Pakistan Navy of education in Pakistan celebrates By: Prof. Karamat Rajput Defence Day with aving acquired my Master's as the Brahmans differ from the Shooders Degree in Pol. Sc. from the in Hinduism. The families of the subject resources Metro HPunjab University in 1968, I class have been pushed into civil & social started looking for some respectable job. I worries by the above said elite class Karachi had never wanted to be a teacher at school, deliberately to keep them away from instead, I was agog to find a teaching job ruling circles. The Pakistan Navy on Sunday Sept. 6 for me in a college. I had many good All this fuss is based on the outcome celebrated the 55th anniversary of reasons to be a teacher. For instance, of multi standard system of education. Defence and Martyrs' Day with reverence doing so, I wanted to pay regards to my Time has elapsed when a son of a poor and effervescent spirit. teachers who really had edified me. man reached Civil Services of Pakistan. The Navy said in a statement that the Another reason was that I used to give Doubts are often closest to realities. I tuitions to students at their homes to earn day was observed “to commemorate reckon that the selection boards to pick sacrifices of our armed forces, shuhada, money for my higher education. So, I had candidate to fill vacancies in the top slots a bit of experience in this trade. ghazis and national heroes, who stood are not more than puppets whose strings against the enemy with unparalleled Although I did get opportunities to are systematically controlled by the ruling join Army, banks or in such other high- display of unity and tenacity during 1965 class. Time would perhaps never come Indo-Pak War”. profile institutions but my inner aptitude when there would be one education convinced me to serve the cause of system for all classes. In his message on the occasion, Chief Education. It was my good luck to be of the Naval Staff Admiral Zafar All members of the ruling class, Mahmood Abbasi paid homage to the inducted in Islamia College, M.A Jinnah without exception, plunder money Road, Karachi as lecturer in 1969. assuming that doing so, is their right. shuhada and ghazis who remained I've a sharp memory & as such, I can Nation, on the other hand, is plunging nose undeterred by the size of the enemy and recall my school days since I was a student down into debt. foiled its nefarious designs with grit, of class IV. I had always been among the Our fault education system is a strong courage and honour. top students. I always chose for me such source of this classified society. The only “ O n t h i s d a y, t h e n a t i o n subjects that interested me only for the way to undo the money-oriented society acknowledges the sacrifices of its gallant reason that I had to put in very little efforts thus, lies in implementing one system of and resilient soldiers, sailors and airmen to get better results. I knew the art of education, with one syllabus who defended the ideological and convincing my theory examiners. for all with sincerity & commitment. geographical frontiers of their I started learning English as usual in IMPACTS OF NATIONALIZATION motherland,” he said, adding that Pakistan class VI. I remember, I always preferred to Navy was fully capable and prepared to write my own translations rather than Another source that brought disaster give a befitting response to any learning by heart. to education is the Nationalization of private institutions. This policy made the misadventure by the enemy across the Keeping aside my early five years, l entire spectrum of maritime threat. can say that I have been in educational teachers & the parents feel financially comfortable. The Govt charged Rs 20/= The admiral said: “This day being a activities for seventy years. I've my own symbol of courage, resolve, sacrifice and assessment of our education system to per month as tuition fee. Almost every student turned to the coaching centres. national integrity demands a pledge to which you may not agree. Briefly, I rank work selflessly and to adhere resolutely to this system a wastage or rather a complete Beside providing skilful teachers, they wreckage. also offered co-education system. the Quaid's great principles by anchoring strong faith in God.” We, unfortunately, have manifold The students could afford tuition fee system of education in Pakistan which is of the coaching centers as they paid a The day dawned with special prayers based on economic-class-system. There meager amount of Rs 20.00 per month to offered in all naval mosques for are strong reasons for this classified the regular nationalized & Govt colleges. preservation of integrity and sovereignty system of education. The top most among Beside teaching in Govt/ nationalized of Pakistan. Quran Khawani was held for the reasons is the insincerity of the ruling institutions, some teachers worked either interminable peace of the martyrs of the class. Initially, this insincerity was not in coaching centres or in Private colleges 1965 war. intentional as it is now. It is really sad that too. This caused mass exodus of students Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral this corrupt system is based on the theory to coaching centres from Govt & Zafar Mahmood Abbasi laid floral wreath of Elite & Subject Class. Nationalized colleges. at Shuhada's Monument at Naval There are three beneficiaries of Another factor that made students to Headquarters, Islamabad, interacted with Ruling class in Pakistan. They are stay away from colleges was act of the families of the martyred and offered Bureaucrats; Politicians & Armed Forces. terrorism by various groups of students in Fateha. They are righteously called the Elite Class the colleges. Leaving the talent aside, the teachers were appointed on political Wreath-laying ceremonies were held who are roughly 2% of the total and prayers were offered at Shuhada's population. The rest of the citizens who grounds. On the other hand, several ghost memorials at the Field Command are 98% are their subjects. Headquarters. As such, there are four slots of job. teachers were inducted in the fold which became a source of earning black money Flag-hoisting ceremonies were held First three slots belong to the elite class. at all naval units and establishments where The present & the future aspirants from for the high ups of education officers. So the deterioration of education at Govt & commanding officers of all units and elite class get their education either establishments addressed special abroad or in their affiliated campuses in Nationalized colleges spread by leaps & Pakistan. They differ in habits, etiquettes bounds. gatherings of officers and men and & personality from their subjects as much (To be continued in the next issue) highlighted the significance of the day. SEPTEMBER 2020 - 37 VISION LOGISTICS (Pvt) Ltd., is one of the Leading International Freight Forwarders in Pakistan. 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38 - SEPTEMBER 2020 Riding the waves Rome beach awaits baby turtle hatching

he monsoon season in media coverage and promotion of the Pakistan brings not only rain sport. relief from the scorching sun, The nesting site where baby turtles are expected to T All these small steps can raise a hatch from their eggs to make their way out to the it also brings wild waves for extreme community of at least 500 die-hard surfers Mediterranean Sea. surfing. From May to October, the within three to four years. loggerhead sea turtle has shallow sandy beaches and rolling waves This trajectory adopted by regional of Pakistan`s coastline from Sandspit, countries has given them a headstart over buried its eggs in the sands of Hawke`s Bay, French Beach and Abdul Pakistan. Iran has a surfmg school run by a Aa popular beach near Rome, Rahman Goth, all the way up to the woman and, in the Maldives, nearly 100 the first time one has travelled this far Balochistan coast past Mubarak Village per cent of the girls know how to swim. north up the Italian peninsula to hatch its and Bhit Khorri, including Gadani, Kund Why not in Pakistan? Shaykh Hashim offspirng. Malir, Ormara, Pasni and right up to Ahmad grew up in the hometown of Gwadar offer many good surfing spots, Beach-goers have been gathering surfing in California in the 1960s, and it around the fence of a marked-off area beckoning the surfer to ride the waves. was natural that he should be riding the Surfing is a difficult skill to learn but, waves in his neighbourhood of Santa waiting for the baby turtles to emerge. once one is booked on to it, there is no Monica. When he moved to Karachi in the The loggerhead sea turtles are turning back. With around 35 million 1980s, he brought along his surfboards endangered species that live in the active surfers all over the world, surfing with him. Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans and can no longer be called a small sport. It is Last year, when he saw some young the Mediterranean Sea. also an Olympic sport. In this part of the boys surfing at French Beach, he was They usually nest in southern Italy world, especially in coastal countries inspired to come out of a long hiatus, when such as Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, but since 2016 they have gradually made he realised there was not a single surfing their way up through the peninsula. Maldives, Iran and Oman, it has only school or coaching facility here. He set up recently started becoming popular. his Darul Khair Surf School at Hawke`s “We learned that no turtles have ever Sadly in Pakistan, despite the Bay to open up healthy recreational laid eggs here, so this is a new nesting enormous potential, the sport is avenues for the youth and to create site,” TartaLazio environmental expert practically non-existent except for the awareness about the eco-environment of Elena Santini said on the beach of local beach villagers, who are pretty our polluted sea and shores. Torvaianica. much born to surf the waves, and a single If you are a new surfer just starting surfing school. Santini said the turtles' choice to out, you will have to find someone who move north was mainly due to rising sea Like it is for all sports here, surfing can teach you the ropes,` says Ahmad. also needs government patronage, but our temperatures. There was no direct Also, to be a good surfer, you first evidence of a relationship between their dilemma is that tourism is a provincial have to be a good swimmer. But the subject and, unfortunately, the problem is that most Pakistanis don`t presence on the beach, south of Rome, and governments of Sindh and Balochistan, know how to swim. Safety is essential. the quietness during the Covid-19 which have the coastline for it, lack the Never go into the water unless you know lockdown, she said. capacity to facilitate water sports and what you are doing, and unless you know Over the night of June 22 and maritime tourism. The general lack of that you can get back out on your own morning of June 23, Daniele Masano, a adventurism in our people is another speed, he cautions. major reason for our lagging behind in the member of the Italian coast guard, filmed sport in our region. Pakistan could be considered a new the moment when the turtle came to the surfing frontier, because of the superb beach to lay and bury its eggs. Now the central government is trying waves here that roll in from May until to develop maritime tourism. October, and sometimes even up to The eggs could number up 100 and One step is to set up water sports November,` he points out. are expected to hatch after about 50 days centres, including facilities for surfing. Some collaboration from the private and beach-goers are eager to see the baby Another is to form a surfing federation, sector can help with this initiative. Along turtles. opening more surfing schools, training the end of Mauirpur Road at Machli “We come here every day, we hope the local fishing community to surf and Chorangi, there is a low-lying area, which teach surfing (thereby increasing it's the right day and that the eggs hatch, at could be ideal for developing a surf park least we can see the baby turtles,” Rome employment opportunities as well), and salt-water swimming zone. sponsoring andpopularising surfers and resident Elena Bondi said.

SEPTEMBER 2020 - 39 tourist Frederic Sicard outside the Turkey to convert building. “For me, (these conversions) are Sunken German a little difficult to understand and to follow. But we would visit if it were a another museum mosque. We might just have to arrange world war two into mosque visits around prayer times.” battleship found Taj Mhal to reopen then as virus rages of Norway in India

A priest and a woman visit the Kariye Museum, formerly the Church of the Holy Saviour, in the Fatih district recently. urkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan recently ordered Tanother ancient Orthodox church that became a mosque and then a Visitors will be limited to 5,000 a day, down from the usual daily average of 20,000. popular Istanbul museum to be turned A sonar scan of sunken German WWII warship back into a place of Muslim worship. ndia's top tourist attraction the Taj cruiser Karlsruhe, after it was observed 13 nautical The decision to transform the Kariye Mahal is set to reopen more than miles from this city in Norway. Museum into a mosque came just a month six months after it was shut, he wreckage of a major after a similar conversion for the Unesco I German warship has been World Heritage-recognised Hagia Sophia. officials said on Tuesday Sept. 8, even as Tdiscovered off the coast of The moves have added to Turkey's the vast nation battles soaring coronavirus Norway some 80 years after it was sunk in problems with prelates in both the infections. a World War Two battle, Norwegian power Orthodox and Catholic worlds. India, home to 1.3 billion people, on grid operator Statnett and a maritime The Greek foreign ministry called the Monday Sept. 7 overtook Brazil to become archaeologist said. decision “yet another provocation against the world's second most-infected nation Identified this year from images and religious persons everywhere” by the sonar scans of its hull and of details such as Turkish government. with more than 4.2 million cases, behind the position of gun turrets, the cruiser The 1,000-year-old Kariye building's only the United States. Karlsruhe was first detected in 2017 just history closely mirrors that of the Hagia “The Taj Mahal will reopen on Sept 15 metres (50 feet) from a subsea power Sophia its bigger and more famous 21. All Covid-19 protocols, like physical cable that has been operating since 1977. neighbour on the western bank of the distancing, masks will be followed,” Built in the 1920s, the ship was later Golden Horn estuary on the European side northern Uttar Pradesh state's Tourism fitted with a Nazi-era swastika that was of Istanbul. also captured in subsea images taken by Department deputy director Amit The Holy Saviour in Chora was a Statnett and its partners, and first televised Byzantine church decorated with 14th- Srivastava said. by Norwegian public broadcaster NRK. century frescoes of the Last Judgement Visitors will be limited to 5,000 a day, The 174-metre vessel, part of the that remain treasured in Christendom. It down from the usual daily average of German force that invaded Norway in was originally converted into the Kariye 20,000, he added. April 1940, was struck by a British Mosque half a century after the 1453 submarine torpedo shortly after starting its conquest of Constantinople by the One of the New Seven Wonders of the World, the shining marble mausoleum return voyage from the southern Ottoman Turks. Norwegian port of Kristiansand. south of the capital New Delhi has been It became the Kariye Museum after The ship's crew subsequently World War II as Turkey pushed ahead with closed since mid-March as part of India's evacuated and the vessel was finally sunk the creation of a more secular new strict virus lockdown. by the Germans themselves, resting republic out of the ashes of the Ottoman Uttar Pradesh, home to Agra city Empire. upright on the seabed at a depth of 490 where the Taj is located, is one of the metres, some 13 nautical miles (24 A group of American art historians kilometres) off the coast. then helped restore the original church's worst-hit states in India with more than mosaics and opened them up for public 270,000 virus cases recorded so far. “You can find Karlsruhe's fate in display in 1958. India has pushed ahead with history books, but no one has known But Erdogan is placing an ever- exactly where the ship sunk,” Norwegian reopening to boost its virus-battered Maritime Museum archaeologist and greater political emphasis on the battles economy even as infections have steadily that resulted in the defeat of Byzantium by researcher Frode Kvaloe said. the Ottomans. increased. Statnett said its subsea power cable, “It's a place steeped in history which Since August, India has been which connects Norway with Denmark, holds a lot of symbolism for a lot of reporting the highest single-day rises in the would have been laid further away from different people,” said 48-year-old French world. the wreckage if its location had been known at the time of construction. 40 - SEPTEMBER 2020 PATA Gold Award winners to be Ferry service for announced live during Virtual PTM 2020 pilgrims approved

he Pacific Asia Travel Youth Empowerment Initiative. he federal cabinet on Tuesday Association (PATA) will be Virtual PTM is a business-to- Sept. 8 gave approval to the announcing the PATA Gold business travel contracting and virtual T launching of a ferry service Awards 2020 live during Virtual PTM networking event that both mirrors and T 2020. enhances the features of the long-standing for pilgrims (Zaireen and Hujjaj) to Supported and sponsored since 1995 PTM, which boasts over four decades of provide them an affordable travel facility. by the Macao Government Tourism experience in connecting qualified Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Office (MGTO), this year's awards will international buyers and sellers from all of Zaidi termed the cabinet's decision a recognise the achievements of 21 Gold Asia and the Pacific region though pre- historic one, saying: “Maritime frontiers Awards and three Grand Title Winners matched business appointments. (of Pakistan) are now open for sea travel.” during the Online PATA Gold Awards Virtual PTM is being organised in “The federal cabinet has approved Presentation on Thursday, September 24. c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h t h e S i c h u a n The PATA Gold Awards 2020 International Travel Expo with the support launching of a ferry service for Zaireen,” attracted 121 entries from 62 of the Leshan Culture, Radio, Television Information Minister Shibli Faraz said in organisations and individuals worldwide. and Tourism Bureau and is powered by his post-cabinet meeting press The winners will be selected by an official virtual partner Dragon Trail conference. independent judging committee of 16 Interactive. He said all necessary facilities personalities from various destinations. For more information or to register immigration and customs would be Ms Maria Helena de Senna for the Online PATA Gold Awards provided to passengers at Port Qasim, Fernandes, Director of MGTO, said, “I Presentation, visit www.PATA.org/ptm or am looking forward to present live the email [email protected] Karachi, and Gwadar. awards to the winners of this year's Ali Zaidi, in a tweet, said: “In edition. The spirit of innovation pursuance of Prime Minister Imran acknowledged by the PATA Gold Awards Tourism lost Khan's vision of blue economy, the federal is more than ever in high demand, as we cabinet has allowed the initiative to start are called to unite and revive the industry, $320bn in ferry/passenger ships to all possible amid the unprecedented global disruption destinations across the world.” brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. As a tourism city, Macao is proud to continue pandemic: UN Responding to a query, Shibli Faraz its long-standing support to PATA, said there was no opposition to the ferry helping to bring to the limelight some of The tourism global industry has been service in the cabinet and the decision was the very best practices in our industry.” devastated by the coronavirus pandemic, taken through a majority vote. “The winners of the PATA Gold with $320 billion lost in exports in the first However, a participant of the Awards set industry standards for five months of the year and more than 120 meeting, who did not want to be named, excellence and innovation, and provides million jobs at risk, the UN chief said. told media that defence authorities had the Association with the perfect Secretary-General Antonio Guterres some reservations as they wanted the opportunity to recognise and reward the said in a policy briefing and video address service to be initially confined to local very best the Asia Pacific travel industry that tourism is the third-largest export has to offer. I encourage all industry ports and Muscat. stakeholders to join us in celebrating the sector of the global economy, behind fuels On the other hand, the maritime achievements of all the winners. I am truly and chemicals, and in 2019 it accounted for ministry's proposal said it had prepared a excited to see who will be this year's seven per cent of global trade. feasibility to launch the service not only It employs one in every 10 people on winners and wish all submissions the best for the Middle East but other destinations of luck,” said PATA CEO Dr. Mario Earth and provides livelihoods to hundreds as well. Hardy. “Furthermore, we are sincerely of millions more, he said. Mr Zaidi had last year hinted about grateful to MGTO for once again In addition to boosting economies, `it sponsoring the PATA Gold Awards and for allows people to experience some of the launching the ferry service to provide their continued commitment to a worlds cultural and natural riches and economical transport to pilgrims going to responsible and sustainable tourism brings people closer to each other, Saudi Arabia for Haj and Umrah. industry.” He had said that ferry and passenger PATA will present 21 Gold Awards highlighting our common humanity, he said. ship services required NOC from the and three Grand Title Winners for best of defence ministry and his ministry had show entries in the following broad But the UN chief said that in the first categories: Marketing, Sustainability and five months of 2020, because of the applied for the service. Human Capital Development. This year, pandemic, international tourist arrivals The minister hoped that Haj, Umrah PATA has enhanced the PATA Gold decreased by more than half and earnings and pilgrimages to the middle-eastern Awards by introducing several new plummeted. countries could become economical categories in order to reinforce its position Guterres said this has been a major through this service. as an innovative and prestigious award for shock for richer developed nations but for He said the government would the Asia Pacific travel and tourism welcome the private sector to operate such industry. New categories include Climate developing countries, it is an emergency, Change Initiative, Tourism for All, and particularly for many small island services including the one for pilgrims developing states and African countries.- going to Iraq.

SEPTEMBER 2020 - 41 42 - SEPTEMBER 2020 He said that as part of the joyride, the Launch of steam safari train to boost tourists would be amused with live instrumental music on the joyful excursion.Besides traditional rabab tourism in KP mangay, games and traditional foods, a number of fun-filled recreational hief Minister Mahmood Khan River, Takht Bhai Buddhist archaeological activities and competitions like kite has approved the launch of site and raising awareness about tourism flying, camel ride, tug-of-war, uphill race, Chistoric steam safari train among the people and building a baseline archery and taking selfies would also be service to boost tourism in the province. for the domestic tourism. arranged at the river bank. This decision was made in a meeting chaired by the chief minister and attended Lockdown badly affects tourism by relevant officials, said a statement issued here. According to the statement, the industry in Swat secretary of sports, tourism and culture department, Mohammad Abid Majeed, peakers at a training session He said that government assessed said that the steam safari train would chug here recently said that tourism losses of hotel industry during the on two rail routes to take tourists and Sindustry was badly affected by lockdown. “Initially, hotel and restaurant passengers to the two historical the Covid-19 pandemic during the five- owners, travel and tourism agents will be destinations. He said that on one route, the m o n t h l o c k d o w n i n K h y b e r compensated in different means,” he said, steam safari would take tourists from Pakhtunkhwa. adding that matching grants would be Peshawar to Attock Khurd while on the The training session and awareness awarded to them against their losses other route it would take passengers from campaign on standard operating through Smeda. the provincial capital to the historic sites procedure for tourism was organised by in Takht Bhai. directorate of tourism services. The Trial for double-decker Mr Majeed said that work on the two director general of the directorate, rail routes would be carried out by the Ghulam Saeed, the general manager of bus service conducted newly-established Khyber Pakhtunkhwa tourism corporation, Sajjad Hameed, Culture and Tourism Authority in officials of district administration, Rescue collaboration with the Pakistan Railways. 1122, police and Levies, hotel owners and He said that tangible steps were being managers attended the session. taken for the promotion of heritage Trainer of the session Dr Ziaullah said tourism in the province to create that tourism industry was the backbone of employment opportunities for the youth Swat's economy. “Tourism and hospitality and generate revenue. sector is one of the most important not Khyber steam safari to Landi Kotal only for Swat but for the entire province. was one of the main attractions in the Unfortunately, during the Covid-19 A test run of the double-decker bus is being carried province and former Fata for foreign and pandemic the sector received heavy out on Murree Road in Islamabad. The bus service domestic tourists for decades. However, it losses,” he added. is being launched to promote tourist sites in the twin was stopped many years ago and the track He said that about 56,000 people lost cities. was never used since then. It could not be jobs owing to closure of tourism industry test trial for the double-decker bus revived during last many years due to in the province. He said that government service was conducted recently in terrorism in the region. reopened the tourism industry and now it ARawalpindi and Islamabad. Later, the tourism department was the reasonability of tourists as well as T h e To u r i s m D e v e l o p m e n t hotel staff to follow the guidelines and Corporation Punjab (TDCP) will operate launched steam safari train to Attock SOPs to stop spread of Covid-19. Khurd, located in Attock district of Punjab two such buses from Allama Iqbal Park province. Haji Zahid Khan, the president of All and Shamsabad bringing tourists to Swat Hotel Association, said that tourism Constitution Avenue via Shakarparian. Attock Khurd houses the historical industry received heavy losses during the Asif Mehmood, adviser to the Punjab Attock Fort built by Mughal King Akbar past few years. “We received huge losses chief minister on horticulture and tourism in 1581. Bahram Ki Baradari is another first during the militancy, then during the along with PTI MPAs Farah Agha, Gull Mughal-era monument situated on the floods and now due to the pandemic. Hotel Zaiba and students visited Rawalpindi and southern side of G T Road near Attock owners suffered Rs7 billion losses and Islamabad via the bus. Khurd.Currently two bridges on the track more than 25,000 families were affected Mr Mehmood told media that the in Khyber remained destroyed and owing to closure of hotels,” he added. government decided to launch double- authorities will have to reconstruct them that the government must come up decker buses because it wants to promote before revival of the steam safari to Landi with financial solution and other benefits culture of the Potohar region. Kotal. Because of these reasons, the safari to the hotel industry. “Initially, two buses will be operated steam is now being introduced to Attock and local people can benefit from this plan Ghulam Saeed Khan said that as well. On Independence Day, the test and Takht Bhai. promotion of tourism was top priority of Peshawar to Attock Khurd trip's trial was conducted. However, the formal the government for which several projects inauguration is expected next week as the distance is 184 kilometres from both sides were initiated. “To promote tourism in a bus station in Islamabad is not yet and one side travel takes around 90 true sense, the government has launched completed,” he added. minutes. The second route round trip is Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Integrated Tourism The Parks and Horticulture Authority around 162 kilometres.Mr Majeed said Development Project. Apart from that has provided space at the double road in that the activity was aimed at reviving several other schemes have been launched Shamsabad for the terminal.The Tourism train trips to historical sites such as Attock to explore new tourist sites in KP,” he Development Corporation Punjab will Khurd, Attock Bridge, Attock Fort, Indus added. bear all expenditure.

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