SOURCE: Ausaf, Ummat, Daily Pak, Nawa-i-Waqt, Urdu Point, Daily Jinnah, Awami Awaz, Daily Dharti, Jasarat, Kawish, Daily Intekhab, Daily Times, Jang, Ibrat, Khabrain, Roznama Dunya, Hizb Media, Al Qalam Weekly, Baad-e-Shimal, Bang-e-Sahar, Sindh Express, Pk Voices.

UNITED STATES
1. The US Foreign Office Spokesman in his press briefing in Washington said India and Pakistan should resolve the Indus Water Treaty related issues through talks. The US Secretary of State also had a telephone talk with Pakistan’s Finance Minister Ishaq Dar. Washington thinks that this treaty is a good example of Indo-Pak co-operation since 50 years. On the question of India joining the CPEC on Chinese invitation, US spokesman said it is for India to take a decision. The US will not make any comment. (Sindh Express)

AFGHANISTAN
1. Hizb-e-Islami Chief Gulbuddin Hekmatyar has said that he will return to Kabul once government releases all Hizb prisoners and promises made about rehabilitation of migrants will be fulfilled. (Ummat)

INDIA
1. The attention of Pakistan’s civil and military leadership is drawn towards Indian Army Chief’s threat regarding more surgical strike. The Pakistan forces should give a befitting response to the Indian surgical strike drama. Extremist Hindu organisations, groups and armed organisations are promoting terrorism that cause a threat to regional peace. Now Israel is providing training to the Indian forces and it means Pakistan needs to curb the conspiracies of both enemies forcibly. (Ausaf Edit)

2. Pakistan cinema owners have lifted their self-inflicted two –month- old ban on Indian films. Patriotism of these cinema owners also stands exposed following the financial crisis that they had to face in the wake of the ban. Same is the case with broadcasters in Pakistan. Following Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority’s (PEMRA) restrictions on Indian songs, Indian dramas and other programme, ratings of several TV channels and FM radio stations suffered a lot. Some observers had predicted even before Nawaz Sharif government was sworn in that the two sectors likely to be affected during the PML-N regime were the social development sector and the media sector. This is happening gradually. Trouble began with Uri attack on September 18 and it led to Indian motion picture producers banning Pakistani artists in India. Soon, thereafter, Pakistan exhibitors association that is the body of Pakistan cinema owners announced a ban on Indian films. This led to enthusiasm in the Pakistan film industry who wanted to exploit this situation to their advantage and thereafter Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) also began crackdown from October 15 on cable operators showing Indian programmes. In fact, PEMRA looked like exceeding its powers. Film industry is not directly under its control but cable operators are and they are being pressurised and asked not to show Indian films. The issue of banning Indian films is very old and has long history going back to 1965. Following this war, the Pakistan government had put a ban on Indian films in Pakistan. When Pakistan was spilt again with the emergence of Bangladesh, it took away a sizeable part of Pakistan film industry to Bangladesh. The ban on Indian films continued for long. In 2007, the Musharraf government allowed Indian films in Pakistan. The then PM Shaukat Aziz gave an affirmative reply to that policy and it was also aimed at boosting local Pakistani media industry and local traditions. TV channels were strictly told not to show more than 6 per cent Indian programmes and not more than 4 per cent of English programmes films. Similar instructions were given also to FM radio stations. Recent restrictions on Indian material and films has led to lot many questions and the biggest question of all is that whether it is true or not that Indian films, Indian music, Indian programmes, and other media material is reason enough for destroying Pakistani culture? PEMRA has said that Indian TV series on Hindu gods affects Pakistani children’s mentally. If this is really so, then Muslims living in India would have first taken objections against these Indian TV programmes on Hindu gods. Indian TV programmes are shown in several other parts of world too, but no other country has raised any objections against the Indian TV programmes on Hindu gods. And no country has also sought any ban on these Indian TV programmes and these Indian films and TV programmes have also not harmed societies in these other countries in the world. If it is a question of cultural war, then everything made in Western countries should be objected to and also all the comforts, luxuries and amenities which are gifts from these Western countries should be banned. Life should return to the Stone Age. Culture is no religion and therefore no such religion-based attitude should be adopted. If the Pakistani film industry has not developed yet, it is not because of the Indian film industry but because of the government. This is the same government which is not prepared to give rights to its people to live a life with dignity. How can such a government be concerned about the film industry’s future? There was an indirect ban on Indian films in Pakistan cinema houses right from 1965 to 2006. Yet Pakistani film industry could not make any noticeable progress during such a long period. It has not been able to sustain itself because of not getting any aid or patronage from the government. Also, films made in Pakistan fail to cater to the demands of the audience. That is the reason the just two months old ban on Indian films has landed Pakistan film industry in a big financial crisis resulting in a rollback of the ban orders given in haste. Cinema houses in Pakistan suffered losses of Rupees 60 crores during last three months. In the month of November, 1700 employees were retrenched by cinema houses. About 25,000 families are dependent on this industry and their future is now at stake. It is a matter of fact that Indian TV programmes are popular because of their standards. This is the major reason that most of TV channels and FM radio stations of Pakistan use Indian media contents and that is major source of their revenue. Race with Indian film industry cannot be won through sloganeering alone, not at least in the current times of professionalism, capabilities and financial resources. Why do we want to compete with India only culturally? If we have to compete with India, then why not in other sectors too like democratic traditions, economic development, educational progress and technological progress? There are trade pacts between India and Pakistan and both countries can import and export several items. Why is there no ban on those items? Why such advertisements of multinational groups are not being banned showing Indian actors and actresses in their products. The one and only reply to that is simple: all these bans are not being imposed on such advertisements and hoardings because these big companies have commercial interests in India. It looks like there are some non-state actors behind this proxy culture war. Everybody knows who is pulling strings from behind the curtain. Denying people these avenues of entertainment, denying people their right to choose to see what they want to see and indulging in such acts of denials to people just because Pakistan sees India as an eternal foe is more of a stupidity than any act that can be said to deserve justification. Such bans will only give rise to piracy. Borders are non-existent in the technology dominated world. Direct to home (DTH) is one such facility for satellite channel transmission. Cable operators’ business is the most lucrative business in the future. PEMRA Chairman says 16 applications have been received for 3 DTH licences and minimum fee per DTH licence is likely to be fixed at Rs. 200 million. PEMRA chairman confirmed that Punjab Chief Minister, Shahbaz Sharif’s son, Hamza Sharif, is one of these applicants for the DTH licence. (Awami Awaz)

ARMY/SECURITY FORCES
1. The Interior Minister has sent a notice to the Sindh government for neglecting to observe rules and allowing a group of 6 Indians enter without NOC from Badin Air base to Thath. (Jang)

TERRORISM & EXTREMISM
1. JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman deserves full support for his call to unite the Islamic nations on a single platform. Pakistan’s PM should make efforts in this regard. The Islamic and make the Islamic bloc similar to the UN for resolving their issues. The UN’s new Secretary General has admitted that the world body has failed to win the confidence of its members’ countries. (Ausaf Edit)

ECONOMY/POWER/WATER
1. Pakistan government has taken a loan from the World Bank for the expansion of Tarbela dam. A meeting was held under the Finance Minister, Ishaq Dar and the officials of the World Bank. The World Bank will give a loan of 39 crore dollars for the purpose. (Awami Awaz)

2. Punjab Chief Minister, Shahbaz Sharif said Kalabagh is a practical project. One cannot deny its benefits. But until and unless all four provinces agree on it, it will not be built. (Kawish)

SINDH/BALOCHISTAN/KP/PUNJAB
1. Idris in his article, ‘what will Sindh gain from the CPEC’, says: Sindh CM attended a CPEC meeting in China. Amongst several decisions taken there, one was about setting up a special group on projects for water storage and this group will also consider construction of the Bhasha dam. One Chinese delegation is visiting Pakistan next month in this connection. For Sindh it is imperative that the Bhasha dam is built without any more loss of time. This is important for Sindh because there is lot of silt formation at the Tarbela dam which affects dam’s water storage capacity and this in turn also affects water supply to Sindh. The water supply has reduced from 2.79 MAF to 0.84 MAF because of increasing silt at Tarbela. Because Sindh got less water during Rabi season, and the area covered was less. For the Kharif there is not enough water. This year, IRSA has said there will be water shortage of 18 per cent for the Rabi season. Punjab does not have much water shortage because Mangla dam level are raised and this led to additional 3 MAF water storage at Mangla dam. Punjab takes all that water by raising Mangla dam levels. Most of the underground water in Punjab is potable. Kalabagh dam and Akhori dams fall within Punjab, Bhasha dam falls within KP and Gilgit-Baltistan. Initial works have not begun on Bhasha dam because it does not fall within Punjab. Those who are at upstream of Sindh want a dam from where they can take as much water as they want without caring for Sindh’s concern. Sindhis oppose the Akhori dam too because its construction will affect water supply for the Sindh delta. Hence, Bhasha dam that has the approval from all provinces should be pursued. However, as there are no funds it cannot be pursued. Now because of the CPEC project, there are chances that this project might also be made part of it and one special group too has been set up for this purpose. Hopefully the Chinese delegation coming next month to Pakistan might just agree on providing funds for this dam and soon work might take off on Bhasha dam. (Kawish)

2. Chairman of Pashtun Milli Awami Party, Mehmood Khan Achakzai told a TV channel that any decision on the future of FATA against the wishes of people of FATA will be highly dangerous. Jamaat Ulema-e-Islam’s Maulana Fazl Ur Rehman, has also rejected the recommendations of Reforms Committee for Tribal Areas because it is wrong to impose a decision of 200 persons forming a Jirga that is against the wishes and interests of millions of people. The present position of FATA can be reinstated by electing a council on ‘one man one vote’ basis and ending the FCR laws. Mehmood Khan Achakzai also said Atak and Mianwali are forcibly made a part of Punjab. A Pashtun province should be set up from Atak and Mianwali to Bolan-Chitral and it should be named Afghania. Those calling the people FATA as rebels should apologise to them for hurting their sentiments. A referendum should be conducted to give them full control over their land, for which there is a provision in the Constitution. To hold them responsible for all destruction is tyrannical. FATA has given the country engineers, doctors, judges and valuable persons in all sections. They are a proof whether FATA people are terrorists and savages or civilized people. They have a right to dual citizenship. They should be allowed to choose between living as they are at present or form a new province or be included in Khyber Pakhtunkhwah. (Daily Intekhab)

POLITICAL SCENE
1. JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman deserves full support for his call to unite the Islamic nations on a single platform. Pakistan’s PM should make efforts in this regard. The Islamic and make the Islamic bloc similar to the UN for resolving their issues. The UN’s new Secretary General has admitted that the world body has failed to win the confidence of its members’ countries. (Ausaf Edit)

2. Saqib Nisar, New chief justice of Pakistan, has taken suo moto notice of reported torture and harassment on a child working at the residence of an additional district sessions judge. The CJ directed the Registrar of the Islamabad High Court to submit a detailed report on the matter within 24 hours. The district sessions Judge, Raza Khurram Khan and his wife reportedly tortured a child-maid working at their place for the crime of losing a broom. Later his hand was burnt and he was locked up and threatened of serious consequences. The case has now been registered against the duo at one of the Islamabad police stations. The CJP’s reaction to a media report gives hope that there is some system working for poor and perhaps no one will dare to heap atrocities on oppressed and destitute children. (Ibrat Edit)