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Express Tribune
6 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Three detained for 'anti-state' protest
Police have launched a crackdown on 43 individuals accused of blocking a road and chanting anti-state slogans during Independence Day celebrations, arresting three and registering a case against all of them. Chaklala police booked three identified suspects along with 40 unidentified persons under charges of disturbing public order, blocking a public road and unlawfully obstructing movement. The FIR, filed by Sub-Inspector Nadeem Ahmed without mentioning any political party, stated that officers were patrolling in Chaklala Scheme-III when they encountered the protesters blocking a road near the Scheme-III bazaar. The suspects were allegedly chanting slogans against the state and its institutions.
Express Tribune
10-08-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
How sugar cycles fuel inflation
Listen to article Prices of sugar in nearly all parts of Pakistan are once again on an upward spiral, creating fresh concerns for consumers already struggling with inflation. Currently, the retail price of sugar is hovering around Rs190 per kilogramme in several urban markets, with traders warning that rates could climb further, reaching Rs200, if supply remains tight. While the government often blames stockists and middlemen for artificially inflating prices, industry stakeholders and consumers say the cartel is more complex, involving sugar millers, wholesalers, policy decisions, government machinery and even international trade. Historically, sugar prices in Pakistan tend to rise whenever the government allows export of the commodity. This year is no exception. The Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) had been pressing the government for months to permit export, citing surplus production. When the permission was finally granted, prices in the domestic market began to climb almost immediately. Wholesalers claim that after exports are allowed, millers and large stockists reduce supplies to the local market, creating an artificial shortage. "We are not hoarding; we simply cannot get enough from the mills at a reasonable rate," said Nadeem Ahmed, a wholesale dealer in Lahore. "If I buy sugar at higher rates, how can I sell it at the government's fixed price? It's impossible." The government's usual response to such price spikes is to enforce strict price controls, ordering retailers to sell at official rates. Shopkeepers, however, argue that this policy is impractical in times of shortage. "They want us to sell at Rs172, but we are buying at Rs180 or even more," said Muhammad Rafiq, a grocery store owner. "If we follow their orders, we will have to sell at a loss. That is not sustainable." At the same time, the sugar industry points to rising input costs as a key factor for the current price hike. This year, the price of sugarcane has surged to over Rs700 per maund, driven by increased cultivation costs and farmer demands for better returns. A senior executive at a major sugar mill in Punjab, who requested anonymity, said that they have paid record prices to farmers for sugarcane this season. That automatically pushes up the production cost, and add the cost of energy, labour and transportation, the retail price cannot remain where it was last year. Sugarcane cultivation and processing form a major part of Pakistan's agro-economy. The sugar sector is the second largest agro-based industry after textile, generating business worth around Rs1,000 billion during the crushing season. As per the millers, it contributes Rs225 billion annually in taxes to federal, provincial and local governments, while saving the country about $4 billion through import substitution. Yet despite its economic significance, the sector has been repeatedly accused of manipulating supplies and prices. Critics also point to the cyclical pattern of sugar exports and imports as a sign that the system benefits certain players at the expense of the public. In years of surplus, the government allows exports, but when local prices soar, imports are arranged to bring the rates down. This back-and-forth often benefits millers and stockists, who can profit from both situations. "Whether it is export or import, the millers never lose," said Raheem Khan, a citizen frustrated by the current high prices. "The only ones that suffer are ordinary citizens. We are paying the price for policies that seem designed to protect the big players." Industry representatives, however, argue that a fair solution lies in a targeted subsidy mechanism. PSMA has proposed a two-tier system in which separate prices are set for industrial, commercial and domestic consumers. Since around 80% of Pakistan's sugar is consumed by industries and commercial users such as bakeries, beverage companies and confectioners, the idea is to let market forces determine the price while ensuring that the remaining 20%, consumed by households, is made available to low-income families at a subsidised rate. If the government can identify deserving households through programmes like the Benazir Income Support Programme, "we can ensure that they get sugar at affordable rates without distorting the entire market," said the sugar mill executive. An official of the Ministry of National Food Security said that the sugar market is on its way towards deregulation, which means that government price controls may soon have less influence. Once deregulation takes full effect, sugar prices will largely be determined by market supply and demand, leaving the poorest households more vulnerable unless targeted subsidies are in place, he said. The official added that currently, it looks like a blame game where wholesalers insist they are scapegoats, millers cite rising input costs and the government blames stockists. However, from the perspective of an average Pakistani, the outcome is always the same: higher prices at the checkout counter. "Without structural reforms in pricing, supply management and trade policy, sugar will remain a sweet deal for a few and a bitter burden for millions."
BBC News
11-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Wakefield councillors 'should be tested on local knowledge'
Councillors should undergo taxi-style "knowledge" tests to show their competency, an opposition leader has Ahmed, leader of the Conservative and Independent Group on Wakefield Council, said members should be tested on literacy, numeracy and their knowledge of the district, and be able to prove they are "role models" in their said the "anonymised aggregate results" of these tests should be published to "promote transparency and public confidence" in elected motion is expected to be debated by Wakefield Council at a meeting on 16 July. Ahmed said: "Private hire drivers operating in the Wakefield district are required to pass literacy, numeracy and local area knowledge assessments as part of the licensing process."These requirements are in place to ensure that drivers are capable of safely, clearly and competently communicating with the public, understanding essential written information and navigating the local area efficiently."The standards aim to protect public safety, promote professionalism and uphold the reputation of licensed services in the Wakefield area."He said councillors held similar trusted positions which required "clear communication, sound judgement and a strong understanding of the Wakefield district". Councillors will be asked to consider four proposals, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Request that all sitting councillors voluntarily undertake the same literacy, numeracy and Wakefield knowledge assessments currently required for private hire new councillors to complete the assessment during their induction and publish anonymised aggregate results to promote transparency and public confidence in elected options for integrating this as part of councillor development and training, emphasising continuous improvement and community said: "Councillors should show leadership by being subject to similar tests of basic competency, particularly when those standards are enforced on residents such as taxi drivers." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Mint
21-05-2025
- Mint
Pahalgam, a month after terror attack: ‘One season is too little to heal'
Pahalgam: On a May afternoon, as the sun plays hide-and-seek behind the clouds, Nadeem Ahmed enjoys a nap sitting on a chair inside a cabin at the toll plaza in Pahalgam. The fabled hill station in Anantnag is 90 kms south of Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. On business-as-usual days, Ahmed would be busy all through his nine-hour shift in his capacity as a toll operator at the go-to tourist destination. But these days are anything but business as usual. Not since 22 April, when terrorists killed 26 people, mostly tourists in Baisaran, a meadow seven kilometres from the toll gate. Ahmed says he now falls asleep waiting for cars to pass by. 'Az aayi chour gaadi Kalkata pethi. Asi gouv reth pyaran tourist yin na (Today, as the day is about to end, four cars (tourists) from Kolkata (West Bengal) have entered Pahalgam. We have been waiting for tourists since 22 April,' Ahmed told this reporter on 20 May. The massacre of tourists in Pahalgam was one of the deadliest attacks on Indian civilians in decades. Since 2019, when the Narendra Modi government revoked Article 370, Jammu and Kashmir's semi autonomous status, tourists have flocked to the Union Territory (UT) during summers to escape the scorching heat in many parts of India. What a difference a few days make. 'Up to 4,000 taxis would cross this toll daily until 22 April happened. Today we saw the first commercial taxis after so many days,' Ahmed said. There are reminders everywhere of a tourist haven. After a short drive past the toll gate, one is greeted by a cold breeze from the Lidder River flowing on the left. A succession of lush green pine trees unfolds on the right against pristine mountains. On a typical May day, the road to the main market would be teeming with cars. That day, it was deserted. The hustle and bustle has been replaced with an uneasy calm. A few metres away is a selfie point bench with an 'I Love Pahalgam' signboard and a wrongly-spelt Persian couplet reading 'Agar Firdous-e-baroye zameen ast' meaning 'If there is heaven on earth…..' A few metres away is a selfie point bench with an 'I Love Pahalgam' signboard and a wrongly-spelt Persian couplet reading 'Agar Firdous-e-baroye zameen ast' meaning 'If there is heaven on earth…..' A group of locals sit on the rocks by the river, while a family from Rohini, Delhi, takes selfies. "Our flights were booked for 11 May. But the Srinagar airport was closed. The travel agent offered us an alternative flight on 18 May after the airports opened. We thought it through and decided to come. We had not imagined that it would be deserted. The silence around brings a strange fear," said Ankit, one of the family members. In 2024, about 35 lakh tourists visited Jammu and Kashmir, according to the UT's Department of Tourism. The number was 27 lakh in 2023 and 26 lakh in 2022. About 5 lakh tourists visited the region in the first three months of 2025. The Pahalgam terror attack, however, triggered widespread cancellations by tourists, affecting advance bookings. A few miles from the selfie point is the main market of Pahalgam, a Kashmiri word for 'Valley of Shepherds'. Most of the shops on both sides of the road are closed. The parking, usually packed, is deserted. A few pony owners trot up the hill. Most of the shops on both sides of the main Pahalgam market were closed. The parking, usually packed, is deserted. A few pony owners trot up the hill. 'Aayiye sir, discount dedenge (Come sir, we will offer a discount),' said one of them. Aru wildlife sanctuary, the scenic Betaab Valley, which got its name after the Sunny Deol-starrer and Tulian Lake are among popular destinations. Baisaran, a picturesque meadow and the site of the deadly 22 April attack, also attracts tourists in good numbers. Today, Baisaran, Aru and Betaab are not accessible due to security reasons. A narrow road bisecting lines of hotels and guesthouses up the hill from the market leads up to Laripora village. Considering the demand during the peak summer season, some locals had started converting their homes into homestays. At Hotel Forest Hill, one of the many hotels on the road, the reception is locked. The caretaker, Asad Kak, sits in an adjacent room. 'Kheli hez bilkul (Absolutely no occupants),' laments Kak, 60, when asked how many of the 20 rooms are booked. In the entry book, the last entry of any tourist (from Singapore) is on 22 April, the day when terrorists struck Baisaran. The hotel was vacated the next day. At one of the hotels, the last entry of any tourist (from Singapore) is on 22 April, the day when terrorists struck Baisaran. The hotel was vacated the next day. 'We have not seen any tourists since then,' says Kak, recalling the 1995 incident when six foreign tourists were kidnapped in Pahalgam by militants of Harkat-ul-Ansar or Al-Faran. The group sought the release of Harkat leader Masood Azhar and other militants. One tourist had an escape a few days later while another was found dead. The remaining four were never found. There are around 2,500 hotels and guesthouses in Pahalgam, apart from about 200 restaurants. 'No hotel has a tourist right now,' said Nisar Ahmad, another caretaker of the hotel. Ahmad says there were some tourists who visited Pahalgam a few days after the terror attack. 'But when 50 tourist sites were closed a few days later, the fear multiplied,' he says. After that, Nisar said, the 'war' started on 7 May on the borders, and drones came into the cities, and the staff fled in fear. Everything came to a standstill again, he says. Two weeks after the Pahalgam attack, India launched Operation Sindoor targeting terror camps in Pakistan. Islamabad retaliated, resulting in a four-day conflict. The two nations called a ceasefire on 10 May. On our way back, we stopped at the famous shrine of Aishmuqam, 20 kilometres from Pahalgam towards Srinagar. Situated on a hilltop, the shrine houses the mausoleum of the 15th-century Sufi saint Sheikh Zain-ud-Din. The shrine is also a famous tourist destination where the song Bhar Do Jholi Meri from Salman Khan's Bajrangi Bhaijan movie was shot. Usually, there is a long queue of devotees to pay obeisance at the mausoleum. But on Tuesday, we were the only ones there, perhaps the last visitors for the day. Tourism may not be the mainstay, but is a vital contributor to Jammu and Kashmir's economy. 'The hotel industry contributes about ₹ 2,700 crore to Kashmir's economy annually. Assuming a multiplier effect of four times, we may assume tourism contributes ₹ 10,000 crores to the UT's economy. This is about 5 percent of total GSDP estimated at ₹ 2.65 lakh crore,' Ejaz Ayoub, a Srinagar-based economist, told LiveMint. Tourism contributes ₹ 10,000 crores to the UT's economy annually, according to rough estimates. Mushtaq Chaya, chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Hoteliers Club, said last week that about 30 lakh Kashmiris are directly involved in the tourism sector, with three lakh working in hotels and other tourism-related businesses. Chaya has requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to appeal to tourists to visit the valley. But after a trip from Pahalgam, it seems unlikely that tourists will return anytime soon. One season is too little (a time) to heal. 'Tourism is dead. It is dead for a long time,' Nisar, the hotel caretaker, says with a sigh. 'It will have it impact for many tourist seasons. One season is too little (a time) to heal.' (Some names have been changed on request)
Express Tribune
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Libya boat tragedy victims' bodies arrive
Bodies of two more Pakistani nationals, who died in a migrant boat capsizing off the eastern coast of Libya on the night between April 12 and 13, arrived at Lahore Airport on Sunday. The tragedy is the latest in a series of similar incidents in recent years, where hundreds of Pakistanis have lost their lives in the Mediterranean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean while attempting to reach Europe via Africa. The victims were identified as Sufyan and Nadeem Ahmed, both residents of Gujranwala. State Minister for Public Affairs Rana Mubashir Hussain and Punjab Assembly Member Imran Javed received the bodies at the airport. The remains were later handed over to the grieving families. Prayers were also offered for the departed souls. Minister Hussain expressed deep sorrow and extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. Meanwhile, the FIA, Gujranwala Zone, has launched at least three separate inquiries into the incident. The FIA launched a massive crackdown against human smugglers and traffickers after PM Shehbaz Sharif took notice of boat capsizing incidents near Greece in November last year in which illegal Pakistani immigrants were among the people who lost their lives.
