A complicated Relationship between China and the  Iraq-Kurdistan Region

March 10, 2023
By Amer Ababakr


In addition to its state-to-state relationship, China’s relationship with Iraqi Kurdistan, as a non-state actor, is essential to understanding China’s role in the region and its global expansion. Some context is required before trying to answer the question of why this happened. China opened a Consulate General in Erbil in 2014, the last of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council to do so. The Chinese move followed the inclusion of the Kurdistan Regional Government in the Iraqi constitution. Previously, the two sides had little direct contact.

China is now one of the KRG’s primary trading partners. The former is expanding its partnership in infrastructure, communications, education and other types of soft power. However, the relationship remains delicate, complex, and likely to be contentious in the future.

Studying the relations between China and Iraqi Kurdistan is so important. China does not fully recognize the KRG. While China has established a Consulate General in Erbil, it has so far refused to allow the KRG to establish a representative office in Beijing. There are a number of issues underpinning this unacknowledged relationship, including, China’s relationship with minorities, which reflects the complexities of domestic Chinese politics and One China politics; China’s sensitivity to any form of decentralization; China’s advocacy of an absolutist Westphalian approach to international relations and its reluctance to follow the principle of the responsibility to protect; and China does not consider any political issue elsewhere and its approach continues to pursue its interests despite the circumstances.

The Chinese Communist Party displayed the flag and a historical picture to the delegates of each country during a meeting with a delegation of Arab left parties. The Kurdistan Communist Party of Iraq was one of the invited parties. When it was Kurdistan’s turn, the Chinese did not display the Kurdish flag, and instead showed a picture of the Citadel of Erbil with a Kurdish flag on it.

This attempt to avoid displaying the Kurdistan flag embodies China’s aversion to any symbol of independence or detachment from the center. Not only does China oppose self-determination, but it also remains on the sidelines, as evidenced by its stance towards Ethiopia. Studies comparing Africa and the Middle East will help shed more light on the relationship between China and the Middle East and North Africa in this regard. As a result, Iraqi Kurdistan exemplifies China’s subtle diplomacy in this region as an example of the periphery defying the center. As the tale shows, China is trying to accommodate the Kurds while refusing to accommodate their wishes.

Iraq and the Iraq war occupy a special place in American memory. Iraqi territory was used to demonstrate the dominant power of the United States. As a result, China’s intervention in Iraq may be more vulnerable to American power than elsewhere. Iraq feeds the Chinese narrative of US strategic failure. When China signed the infrastructure treaty with Iraq, it tried to frame it in the context of the bomb and build a narrative of division, that is, the American bombing and the building of China. As a result, the rise and fall of unipolarity of the United States is directly related to China’s presence in Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan.

Kurdistan is one of the few places where China and the United States have a strong presence. During the Cold War, the great powers used the region to shape each other’s perceptions. Henry Kissinger said regarding the region, “What I want is for the Politburo in Moscow to be in a state of mind that is not willing to engage in further adventures in the Middle East.” It remains to be seen how much this history haunts the region, making Iraqi Kurdistan a fertile field for research.

There is no alternative to the American security provider for the Kurds. Over the past three decades, the United States has worked to build a partnership with the Iraqi Kurds that includes institution building, unification and reform of armed groups, and economic support. China does not wish to replace these, but the KRG cannot avoid Chinese economic interests. Regional elites are concerned and hope to keep the relationship out of the spotlight. How will this delicate balance be maintained across a broader security sector that includes telecommunications and the Internet?

The majority of agreements between China, Iraq, and Iraqi Kurdistan are memorandums of understanding, not treaties. This may be common elsewhere, but it is particularly important in Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan. The Iraqi constitution requires parliament to approve international treaties and agreements. However, this does not apply to the memorandums of understanding.

As a result, the agreement with China is kept entirely within a small circle of executive power, avoiding any transparency or accountability. Moreover, in a social and political environment such as Iraq, secrecy fuels rumors and conspiracy theories. This could be due to a variety of factors, including the highly centralized nature of the Chinese state, avoiding loud attention (the US), keeping a low profile, and avoiding any legal obligations that signing a treaty might entail.

China prefers to emphasize its version of development over democracy. The US mission to democratize Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan has not led to democratic governance. The Chinese model and strongman-led development narrative is being marketed as a viable alternative to the anarchy of democracy. As a result, economic achievements such as large-scale poverty reduction, massive investment in infrastructure, and other aspects of development are direct results of China’s authoritarian government. This narrative and actions have the potential to strengthen anti-democratic and authoritarian forces. This has an impact not only on the political system, but also on personal liberties, security, and governance architecture. When it comes to Chinese soft power in Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan, it is clear what China prioritizes and what it ignores.

Iraqi Kurdistan has a number of other characteristics in addition to those listed above. The history of Maoism in the region and its influence on local politics is not well known, but it has a direct impact on the current relationship. Kurdish Maoism was not directly related to international Maoism. The Kurdish Maoists had no direct knowledge of how the system worked inside the country. It was a delusion for them, but Maoism, as a “cultural phenomenon”, provides a safe haven in which anyone can invest whatever they want. “That is why it manifests itself in such varying ways from country to country,” explained Christophe Pourslier. In addition, the classical poetry, songs and folklore of the Kurds of Iraq contain an interesting picture of China.

China’s $540 Million Energy Deal with Taliban in Afghanistan: What Does It Mean?

 February 27, 2023
By Syed Raiyan Amir


The Taliban celebrated the signing of their first international deal since taking power in August 2021 with a televised event on January 5, 2023. The document signed is a contract for the exploitation of oil reserves in northern Afghanistan with a Chinese business. In accordance with the agreement, Xinjiang Central Asia Petroleum and Gas Co (CAPEIC) will contribute $150 million annually to Afghanistan, rising to $540 million for the 25-year contract in three years. The initiative is focused on a 4,500 square-kilometer region that spans three northern Afghan provinces: Sar-e Pol, Jowzjan, and Faryab. The latter two are Turkmenistan’s borders. After the US soldiers withdrew in August 2021 and the Taliban overthrew the U.S.-backed government, Afghanistan’s aid-dependent economy crumbled. The administration is attempting to stabilize the economy by luring in investments that will provide work for Afghans who are suffering from hardship. One of the few available economic choices is the development of mines and hydrocarbon resources where energy can play a significant role. Besides, in the regional domain, China can play an important role in terms of political and economic prospects. Hence the deal came across.

Previously, the state-owned China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and the previous administration signed such an agreement back in December 2011. The Amu Darya basin was thought to contain up to 87 million barrels of crude oil at the time. Wahidullah Shahrani, the mining minister at the time, stated that “real work will begin in October 2012.” He mentioned negotiations with an undisclosed northern neighbor and the anticipation that Afghanistan may be producing 25,000 barrels per day by the end of 2013 when he stated in March 2013 that “the wells are ready for production.” As Kabul maintained talks with Uzbekistan on transit issues, construction had apparently been suspended and Chinese employees had left the country by August 2013. Hence the recent development holds a great deal of significance.

Dealing with the Taliban is an extension of a strategic conundrum China is experiencing with its energy security. China is the most populated country in the world, a powerhouse industrially, and it also consumes the most energy globally. The nation’s domestic resources are insufficient to meet the demands of its rapidly expanding domestic market. As a result, China is now a sizable net importer of oil and gas, which has been a driving force behind several of its recent alliances, including those with Russia, Ecuador, and the Gulf States of the Middle East. Although China has maintained excellent relations with these nations, Beijing’s energy imports have a strategic weakness since, with the exception of those from Russia, they must be transported by sea and via politically sensitive areas that the US is militarizing including the South China Sea. Since China has the BRI and other projects like this to create its own sphere of influence. But no strategic blueprint of China, including the BRI, would be complete without including Afghanistan. The Middle East, Central Asia, and Southern Asia are all connected via a little section of border that the Central Asian nation shares with China. This indicates that Kabul is essential to China’s own security and strategy as well as for the expansion of economic activities. Despite the fact that Afghanistan has always been intrinsically unpredictable and hence unsuitable in terms of the political landscape, the end of the US-led war against it and the Taliban takeover has provided China the ground to accelerate its sphere of influence in the region. But amidst the Ukraine war, the economy of the country got distorted in many ways and needs some sourcing. On the other hand, China with its vision to become an economic superpower, as mentioned earlier, needs Afghanistan on the right side of the line. Besides, the war also has disrupted its energy supply chain. Against the backdrop of all these, the investment has taken place. The write-up will highlight the major prospects of the deal and its outcomes.

Creating a Viable Economy for Afghanistan

At a contract-signing ceremony for the new field in Kabul, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban’s deputy prime minister for economic affairs, stated that his group aimed to create a viable economy for Afghanistan. It will channel newer windows of cooperation between the two.

Paving the ways to Create New Investment Opportunities

The worth of Afghanistan’s natural riches, which include rare-earth minerals now utilized in electric automobiles, was estimated by American specialists to be $1 trillion ten years ago. This potential wealth was never taken advantage of while the war raged. Besides, developing mining and oil ventures in Afghanistan is still the safest it’s been in years in comparison with the previous time. The development of this project provides a paradigm for China-Afghanistan collaboration in big projects in energy and other industries. Besides, Shahabuddin Dilawar, the Taliban’s minister for minerals and petroleum urged China to finish developing the massive Mes Aynak copper mine, which is one of the largest untapped copper resources in the world.

New Job Opportunities for the Afghans

Shahabuddin Dilawar, the Taliban’s minister for minerals and petroleum, claimed that the Amu Darya project would give Afghans 3,000 new jobs. He claimed that the Afghan side initially owns 20% of the project. In two to three years, he would make sure that the economy would flourish, and there would be people coming from overseas to work in Afghanistan. Mr. Dilawar stated that the field’s oil would be refined in Afghanistan, though it is unknown if China would be willing to set up a refinery there.

Attracting New Foreign Investments

Afghanistan has 1.75 trillion cubic feet of confirmed natural gas reserves and some oil in addition to its tremendous mineral wealth. The Chinese investment reflects the current state of improving political and economic nature of the nature. It will attract newer foreign investments in the related fields. Besides, China agrees to follow its long-standing policy of non-interference and to respect Afghanistan’s internal politics in exchange for this agreement. While providing the United States with a significant edge and different option. Other investors may get some insights from this.

Promoting Economic Growth and Stability in the Region

With this investment, in Afghanistan, China has had a significant role in a number of areas, including energy and minerals. The nation has recently made large expenditures in the infrastructure and development of Afghanistan’s natural resources, which has aided in promoting economic growth and stability in the area.

Growing Mineral Industry

China has also grown to be a significant role in Afghanistan’s mineral industry in addition to the energy industry. China has been involved in the exploration and mining of these resources. The nation is thought to have enormous quantities of minerals, including iron, copper, gold, and lithium. For instance, one of the biggest copper mines in the world, Mes Aynak in Afghanistan, has been developed in part by the China Metallurgical Group Corporation (MCC). It is anticipated that the development of this mine will provide thousands of jobs and significantly strengthen Afghanistan’s economy.

Another Milestone for the BRI

The overarching Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a worldwide infrastructure development initiative aiming at tying together nations in Asia, Europe, and Africa through a network of roadways, trains, and ports, includes China’s involvement in Afghanistan’s energy and mineral industry. Afghanistan is viewed as a crucial participant in the BRI and as a means for China to expand its economic and political clout globally.

Energy Assurance for China

China has benefited from the expansion of Afghanistan’s oil and mineral industries in addition to the country itself. China is able to assure a consistent stream of energy and minerals for its own use by investing in Afghanistan’s natural resources, assisting in the country’s long-term economic progress. Additionally, China’s investments in Afghanistan’s infrastructure and resources have improved trade and transit connections between the two nations, further solidifying their economic ties.

Exploration of New Gas Fields

But, the estimated oil reserves at the Amu Darya site are not that much significant. However, there is hope that a massive gas field that is just across the border from Turkmenistan extends into Afghanistan; if this is the case, it could make Afghanistan’s economy as important as it is for Turkmenistan.

Facing the Odds: Real Challenges to be Addressed

The Chinese influence in the region will be confronted with strategic and diplomatic approaches by the Unites States of America and other regional actors. Besides, the country is surrounded by so many challenging terrains that it will be a massive task for China to channel out the resources to its destination. The local politics should also be taken into account since local war lords are heavily armed and can make huge obstacles in many areas. But in the end, this is a sign of new competition in the region in terms of economic prospects and the Taliban regime may find a new economic instrument to strengthen its grip in power.

Energy Dilemma on Paris Agreement

on February 27, 2023
By Syarifah Huswatun Miswar



In the 21st century, energy is an important issue for policymakers, academics and entrepreneurs to consider. Energy is a resource that is used for many purposes, including the provision of electricity, heat, light and more. With increasing global energy consumption, the availability of energy is very important to meet human needs.

When it comes to energy shortages, there are many factors that have an impact on the level of energy available. This includes natural factors that may reduce existing energy supplies and human factors that may increase energy demand. Here are some of the main reasons for the current energy shortage.

First, there is limited power availability. Energy shortages may be due to a lack of subsurface energy reserves. Most sources of renewable energy, such as water, wind and solar, are non-renewable and renewable. Energy reserves like oil and natural gas may also be depleted at some point.

Second, the cost of producing power is high. The cost of producing energy from natural resources like oil and gas is high. That increases the cost of producing power. High energy generation costs mean that energy prices will rise, reducing the amount of energy available.

And third, ineffective energy use. Although there are many new technologies that can minimize energy use, there are still many inefficient uses of energy. Ineffective use of energy can lead to excessive use of energy, reducing the amount of energy available.

Fourth, pollution comes from the burning of fuel. Combustion of fuels like oil and natural gas can cause air and water pollution. This pollution can decrease the quality of the environment and harm human health. In addition, such pollution may decrease the amount of energy available.

Fifth, climate change Climate change has the potential to impact energy availability. Climate change can cause extreme weather conditions, like droughts or floods, that can reduce energy availability. Climate change may also affect energy production, as an unstable climate may affect energy production processes.

Sixthly, political instability. Political instability has the potential to influence energy availability. Countries experiencing military or political conflict may reduce their energy output or limit their energy exports. This can lead to reduced global energy availability.

Seventh, over-use of energy Over-use of energy can increase energy demand, which can reduce energy availability. In addition, excessive use of energy can raise energy production costs, increasing energy prices for consumers.

Eighth international disagreement The lack of international consensus on how to solve energy problems may lead to energy shortages. Countries competing for control of energy resources may limit energy production and distribution, leading to energy scarcity.

Energy Constraints in the Paris Agreement

Energy shortages do not occur in a specific region, but globally. It is natural that human nature should cooperate in dealing with the same problem. To address this issue of scarcity, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was created.

In order to achieve the goals of the Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), strengthened by the Paris Agreement, many countries are working together to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and reduce climate impacts. Sustainable energy development is one of the tools employed to reach this goal. However, in the context of continued efforts to build sustainable energy, there is a dilemma. While sustainable energy promises environmental benefits, there are a few barriers that must be overcome.

First, we have economic constraints. While the cost of sustainable energy has declined, there are still costs associated with technology that need to change. That can create economic problems for countries that are trying to comply with the Paris Agreement.

Secondly, there are technical restrictions. Although there are many development technologies for building sustainable energy, there are still technical limitations inherent in each technology. This may hinder efforts to develop sustainable energy across different countries.

Thirdly, there are policy constraints. While many international agreements govern sustainable energy development, many countries still refuse to help achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement. This creates political conflicts between various countries and hampers efforts to build sustainable energy.

In addition, there are social constraints. Many countries implement technologies for sustainable energy development, which have an impact on local communities. For instance, hydro projects in many countries have affected human rights. This results in social conflict and hampers efforts to build sustainable energy.

Those constraints are the source of an energy dilemma in the Paris Agreement. Consequently, a solution is necessary to reduce the obstacles to the construction of sustainable energy. A solution that can be implemented is to increase the involvement of the community and others. Community involvement can contribute to the reduction of social conflict and the improvement of human rights. The government must also commit to increasing investment in the sustainable energy sector and to a firm commitment to achieve the objectives of the Paris Agreement. Countries should also collaborate to promote better technologies.

It is important to bear in mind that solutions must be based on the needs of each country and must focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Countries that have made efforts to build sustainable energy must commit to pursuing their efforts to achieve the objectives of the Paris Agreement. Some countries should also encourage others to contribute to global efforts to meet the objectives of the Paris Agreement.

In resolving the energy dilemma in the Paris Agreement, it is important to find a solution that respects human rights, accommodates economic, technical, political, and social interests, and most importantly, is a solution that focuses on reducing GHG emissions. There must be a greater awareness of the impact of sustainable energy development and a stronger commitment to meet the objectives of the Paris Agreement.

The solution to the energy dilemma of Paris Agreement.

As a matter of fact, there are many solutions to the energy dilemma of the Paris Agreement. These solutions include the application of renewable energies, such as the use of wind and solar energy for electricity production, and the development of sustainable energy infrastructure. Increased investment in the energy sector, legal protection for sustainable energy development, and a mix of renewable and fossil fuels. However, these solutions will not work properly in the absence of strong engagement and strict oversight. It also requires a comprehensive assessment to ensure that the responsible party can achieve the objectives of the Paris Agreement.

 Future Potential of Fusion Energy

February 28, 2023
By Nimra Javed



Fusion power is a sultrily debated topic in the pursuit of cleaner energy. Recently, it gained renewed attention due to the climate crisis. Fusion energy is engendered when atomic nuclei fuse into heavier elements through nuclear fusion, just like in the sun and other stars. In fusion reactions, hydrogen isotopes are heated and subjected to high pressure, causing their nuclei to fuse and relinquish energy. Despite its potential as an approximately illimitable and clean energy source, significant technical challenges must be overcome to make fusion energy authentic. Perpetual research is being conducted to address these challenges.” In December 2022, scientists at the US Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory promulgated that they achieved a fusion reaction with net energy gain for the first time. In place of a tokamak, they utilized a massive laser array to fire two megajoules of energy at a metal sphere containing deuterium and tritium, resulting in a fusion reaction that gave off three megajoules of energy. However, the lasers consumed more energy than the system engendered. To engender commercial fusion energy, scientists must engender multiple fusion ignition events minutely, which is a significant challenge in both science and technology. Apart from the techniques, some practical quandaries require a solution to make scientific breakthroughs efficacious.

A scientific breakthrough like this is consequential, yet, without collaborating factors, this size would not transmit much about fusion energy. First, the energy sector gets funding from the public sector. However, to engender electricity, a plethora of funding is required; moreover, funding for electricity projects is precarious. In addition, getting a patent on electricity is arduous, and private companies shy away from investing in projects like these early on. Another quandary with fusion energy was the decentralization network. Decentralization is consequential because it can engender competition between firms and jump-start invocations. Secondly, the regime should invest in research and development, and then other companies will join.

Historically, the work on fusion energy was centralized. The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) in France is the most sizably voluminous and sumptuous scientific experiment in history, with collaboration from the EU, US, Russia, China, India, Japan, and South Korea. The project was sparked by a meeting between US President Ronald Reagan and Soviet bellwether Mikhail Gorbachev in 1985 to utilize nuclear fusion for peaceful purposes. The ITER project was formally launched in 2007, progress has been slow and arduous due to technical and organizational issues. The most sizably voluminous-scale fusion project, ITER, is intergovernmental, but private sector startups are joining and investing in fusion energy.

According to Forbes, the fusion companies recently launched reported funding of 4.8 billion dollars. Funding for fusion energy witnessed a 139 per cent increase. First, in history, funding in the fusion sector was more than regime funding. This year, Fusion Industry Sodality (FIA) conducted an ecumenical study to establish a directory of the companies and businesses participating in fusion energy. This year, 33 companies developing commercial fusion took part; last year, the number was 23. This year’s survey included advanced players in many industries. Since the publication of this survey, six incipient companies have raised $200 m. There were some eminent investments, for instance, $ 1.8 billion for the Commonwealth Fusion System and $ 500m for Helion energy.

The regimes are additionally incrementing the investment and fixating on fusion energy. The UK government included fusion energy in its energy security bill. Moreover, the US additionally decided to increment public-private funding in line with their Bold Decadal Vision. China is heavily investing in fusion energy as well. In January 2022, the Chinese 1 trillion dollars nuclear fusion reactor got five times sultrier than the sun and achieved a temperature of 70 million degrees Celsius. Chinese top weapon scientist, Peng Xianjue, unveiled the first nuclear fusion reactor. The Chinese regime additionally orchestrated building the first pulsed reactor by 2028. With these investments, fusion energy will also need transmission equipment and manufacturing of the fusion equipment has already commenced. Last year, Kyoto Fusioneering, which makes advanced equipment for fusion labs, promulgated the construction of an integrated testing facility for fusion power plant equipment. It aims to demonstrate the utilization of fusion energy by 2024. Now, the crucial question arises when the dream of fusion energy will become authentic.

The fusion energy is moving in the right direction. Firstly, the regimes have to step up investment in the fusion industry. Secondly, the decentralization of fusion research is transpiring. Incipient startups are growing, companies are taking an interest in fusion energy, and private-sector investment is transpiring at an expeditious rate. According to a survey by FIA, 93 percent of people working in the fusion industry believe that fusion energy will reach the grid by 2030. In the last year, the survey percentage of these people was 83 per cent. In the same survey, 84 percent of respondents believe that fusion energy is going to be efficacious. The top Chinese scientist believes that fusion energy will become authentic by 2028. These people might be partial towards the prospects of fusion energy because they work in the fusion industry; however, fusion energy is, without a doubt, moving in the right direction.

 Energy Crisis in Pakistan

 March 11, 2023
By Usama Rehman


Pakistan is land with ample indigenous natural resources. These resources can play a pivotal role in helping and running country’s economy. The mismanagement of the resources and ignorance can lead to several crises. The governance and leadership in Pakistan seems to be ignoring and undermining these factors. This ignorance for a developing country like Pakistan which is already going through a tumultuous economy has many ramifications. Pakistan is encapsulated with a number of problems ranging from social, economic to political domain. All these factors have been unattended by the leadership for many years. It has a Herculean task to solve and addresses these issues. Amongst them is the energy crisis that has remained unaddressed for many years.

Pakistan is witnessing acute energy crisis. It has been observed that the electricity shortfall widened to 7,000 megawatts, which indicates that the energy crisis in Pakistan has deepened to such an extent. The sweltering weather conditions have amplified the demand to produce 28,200 megawatts whereas the power supply is 21,200. Currently, hydropower is generating 4,635 megawatts of electricity, the governments thermal power plants facilitates the country with 1,060 megawatts whereas 9,677 is manufactured by IPPs. The shortage of oil, gas and coal has led the country to shut several power plants. Due to this shortfall, different parts of the country are going under severe load shedding with duration of 10 to 12 hours. The lives of people have been miserable due to power cuts.

The looming energy crisis in Pakistan can be traced back to the 1990s. In 1970s, the government launched two massive projects in the form of Mangla and Tarbela dams. The energy crisis was averted with the launch of these mega projects. These projects not only proved fruitful to overcome energy crisis rather they lend a hand in economic growth. The economic growth soar the energy demand. Due to several factors, government was unable to keep up and satisfy demand. The inability to cope the situation, lack of policy making, mismanagement of resources has made the situation worse to the present day.

There are several reasons behind every problem. If the problem is not tackled in a proper way, it can affect societies, citizens, and economy of the country drastically. Pakistan is confronted with unprecedented energy crisis. It is essential for the prevailing government to assess the depth of the situation and take measures to bring out the best possible solutions. The production of energy is stagnant while the use of it increasing by every passing day. It seems that government has categorically excluded this aspect from priorities. This ignorance has resulted in energy crisis in Pakistan.

It is important for our politicians to work for the well being of the country leaving behind their differences. Pakistan can be steered on the right path of prosperity if there seems unanimity and consensus among the politicians. Unfortunately, the politicians and parliament is divided so badly that they are unable to realize the severity of the situation. The best example in this regard is Kalabagh dam. The disunity among politicians had shunned the idea of construction of the dam. If the dam had been constructed, it would have reduces the energy crisis. Since it’s been so long that Pakistan has not built any dam and water reservoirs, it has further aggravated and exacerbated the situation.

The other factor that contributed to the energy crisis is the incapability of government to collect funds in order to launch new power projects. The economic condition of any country plays an integral part in collecting funds. Pakistan’s current economic situation is not up to the mark to appeal to foreign funding. The collection of funds is dependent on budget deficit. According to Economic Survey of Pakistan, the Pakistan’s fiscal deficit is Rs.1.13 trillion in 2021. Due to high fiscal deficit, it is impossible to stat over new power projects without having specified amount of funds.

The factor that needs government’s attention is the use of modern technology. The leadership should ponder upon the use of technology. There is a dire need for the government to make use of advanced equipments to overcome the crisis. The energy crisis can be reduced to 50 years only by brining solar and wind energy into use. This method also failed to grab the attention of our politicians.

Apart from these factors, one of the causes leading to crisis is the theft of energy. People in Pakistan have adopted this norm very well without taking into account the consequences the country is going to face. Every year, 4,500 megawatts energy has been stolen and 100 billion bills are unpaid. This practice has adverse effects on economy. If the energy will be theft and bills would be unpaid, the country is not capable of purchasing energy with a circular debt that is increasing by every passing day. The energy theft was recorded to 2.73 trillion in the year 2021.

All these factors have led the country to experience the energy crisis. There are problems but effective measures and appropriate remedies can be used to encounter such problems. These factors provide an insight into plethora of problems that Pakistan is facing. The energy crisis has reached to an alarming stage which needs to be properly addressed. Our politicians need to take at deteriorating situation of Pakistan. They should keeps their personal interests aside and prioritize the country’s interests. Therefore, it is the need of an hour to take initiatives to halt the looming crisis of energy; otherwise darkness will be the fate of the country. Then there will be no use of crying over spilt milk.

Italian coastguards bring 1,300 migrants ashore in three separate rescue missions

The number is one of the highest in one day, putting more pressure on the government which has vowed to reduce the flow of asylum seekers

By Our Foreign Staff

11 March 2023 • 

Migrants come ashore in Reggio Calabria, southern Italy after being rescued from the Mediterranean 

CREDIT: MARCO COSTANTINO/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

More than 1,300 migrants were brought ashore in Italy on Saturday after three separate rescue operations in the Mediterranean, two weeks after at least 74 people died when their boat hit rocks near the coast.

The figure is one of the highest in a day. More than 17,000 people have reached Italy so far this year, including around 4,000 this week, compared to 6,000 in the same period in 2022. Hundreds have also died trying to cross the Mediterranean and reach Europe.

Growing numbers of migrant arrivals have piled pressure on Italy’s conservative government, which took office last October promising to reduce the flow only to see a sharp increase in such landings this year from both North Africa and Turkey.

The coastguard said one of its vessels had taken 500 migrants off one boat more than 100 miles (160 km) out to sea, and subsequently took them to the city of Reggio Calabria.

A further 379 migrants were removed from a separate vessel in the same vicinity and will be brought to land shortly.

“The rescues (were) complex due to the boats being overloaded with migrants and the unfavourable sea conditions,” the coastguard said in a statement.

Another packed fishing boat carrying 487 migrants was escorted into the Calabrian port of Crotone, lashed to a tug to help give it stability.

People march in solidarity with the families of the victims of a deadly shipwreck that killed at least 74 migrants  NOTE THE ANTIFASCIST FLAG IN FRONT

CREDIT: AP Photo/Valeria Ferraro

Local officials said a further 200 people had been picked up off the coast of Sicily and would be ferried to Catania later in the day, while the airforce was flying migrants out of a packed reception centre on the island of Lampedusa.

The body of a young girl was recovered on Saturday close to where a migrant boat broke apart on Feb 26, bringing the death toll from that one disaster to 74. Seventy-nine people survived the shipwreck, but around 30 are still missing, presumed dead.

In all, the United Nations estimates 300 migrants have died in the central Mediterranean so far this year.

Prosecutors are investigating whether Italian authorities should have done more to prevent the disaster. Giorgia Meloni, the prime minister, has rejected the suggestion and looked to pin the blame entirely on human traffickers.

Her cabinet on Thursday introduced tougher jail terms for people smugglers and promised to open up more channels for legal migration. Late last year, it cracked down on charity rescue boats, accusing them of acting as a taxi service for migrants.

The charities denied this was the case. The measure has led to a sharp reduction in the number of rescue ships patrolling the Mediterranean, without apparently dissuading migrants from putting to sea.

Protestors take to the street to demand strict Swiss neutrality
 

Many protestors, accompanied by a group in white shirts and with cow bells, waved Swiss flags. © Keystone / Anthony Anex

An estimated 3,000 demonstrators in the Swiss capital, Bern, have come out against the exports of Swiss war materiel and economic sanctions in the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
This content was published on March 11, 2023March 11, 20231minutes
Keystone-SDA/SWI
Other language: 1 (EN original)

The protest outside the parliament building was called by an alliance of right-wing critics, including groups opposed to the government's policy during the Covid pandemic.

Members of the right-wing Swiss People's Party and conservative civil society groups as well as from the far-right addressed the demonstrators according the Keystone-SDA news agency.

They demanded a policy of strict Swiss neutrality.

A week ago, a rally planned by a cross-party committee, trade unions and civil society groups from the opposite political spectrum was attended by more then 2,000 people in Bern. They called for more support for the people of Ukraine, effective implementation of sanctions and an active peace policy by Switzerland.

Zurich demo

In a separate demonstration on Saturday, an estimated 2,000 people took part in a street protest, organised by far-left groups in the city of Zurich to mark International Women's Day on March 8.

The participants called for an end of the "patriarchal system and capitalism".

The unauthorised demonstration passed off mainly peacefully amid increased police presence.

A previous, illegal demonstration in Zurich three weeks ago had ended in clashes between security forces and protesters.

 

Lula promises public works in Brazil to create jobs, boost economy

 11 March 2023 21:54 (UTC+04:00)

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva guaranteed Friday that his government will promote public works throughout the country to create jobs and boost economic growth.

"I want to travel around Brazil to inaugurate houses, schools, kindergartens, roads, universities and technical schools. We have to put this country to work," Lula said during a meeting in Brasilia to discuss infrastructure projects with some of his ministers.

According to Lula, the country's large public banks should play a leading role in the public works to boost the economy, granting credit to small and medium-sized enterprises, cooperatives, large businesses, and state and municipal governments so that they will be able to borrow.

He detailed that when he took office on Jan. 1, his government found 14,000 paralyzed projects throughout the country, many of them on the verge of completion.

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Chile’s Boric vows to keep pushing defeated tax plan

By AFP
PublishedMarch 11, 2023


Supporters of Chile's President Gabriel Boric celebrate his first year in office, outside the presidential palace in Santiago, on March 11, 2023

- Copyright AFP/File ALEXIS HUGUET

Chile’s leftist president Gabriel Boric marked his first year in office on Saturday and insisted he will continue pushing tax reforms seen as central to his ambitious social program.

Boric began the day meeting with his cabinet before greeting hundreds of people gathered in front of the presidential palace in Santiago.

Boric spent nearly an hour shaking hands, posing for pictures and receiving gifts and messages, while a smaller group of far-right demonstrators nearby staged an anti-Boric protest.

In the cabinet meeting, Boric said he would not give up on the reform program that was narrowly rejected Wednesday by the lower house.

“We are going to insist on the tax reform,” he said, without explaining how he hoped to do so.

The defeated plan would have imposed new taxes on the wealthiest Chileans and on the mining industry in order to finance greater spending on health and education, as well as a 25 percent increase in the universal basic pension.

“The year 2022 was not easy,” Boric conceded, before adding that “we have all the conditions to move forward and lay the foundations of a welfare state and guarantee social rights.”

Boric, a former student leader, became the youngest president in Chilean history when he took office a year ago.

While some Russian exiles join Georgia protests, others keep away

By AFP
Published March 11, 2023

Rights groups have also criticised Georgia's authorities for barring several Kremlin critics from entering the country - Copyright AFP/File ALEXIS HUGUET

Maxime POPOV

When thousands of Georgians protested this week to demand a bill similar to controversial Kremlin legislation be scrapped, some Russian exiles joined rallies that would have been unthinkable in their homeland.

Viktor Lyagushkin, 52, is one of tens of thousands of Russians who fled to Georgia in the aftermath of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine last year.

He joined the mass protests in Tbilisi that erupted after parliament gave initial backing to a bill on “foreign agents” reminiscent of Russian legislation used to suppress Kremlin critics.

Lyagushkin said “many” Russians but also Ukrainians had joined several days of the anti-government protests in Tbilisi this week.

“The possibility of going out and expressing disagreement is important for them because that’s what they were deprived of in Russia,” he said.

The legislation was dropped after three days of youth-led protests and an outcry from the West.

“I decided to participate because I am not indifferent to the fate of Georgia,” Lyagushkin added.

“I have many Georgian friends and I wanted to support them,” said the National Geographic photographer, dressed in yellow-and-blue clothes in the colours of the Ukrainian flag.

Lyagushkin used to live between Moscow, Kyiv, and Tbilisi before settling in Georgia after the Kremlin unleashed an all-out war on Ukraine in 2022.

– ‘I had to show support’ –

Since President Vladimir Putin sent troops into Ukraine, Russian authorities have ramped up a crackdown on dissent, jailing opposition activists or forcing them into exile.

Since the beginning of the war, thousands of cases were opened against Russians for “discrediting” Moscow’s army and some people were jailed.

Lyagushkin said he did not think that a popular opposition movement similar to what he has seen in Georgia could emerge in Russia.

He likened the protests in Georgia to a popular uprising in Kyiv that ousted Kremlin-friendly leaders from power in 2014, sparking a confrontation with Russia.

Bogdana Vashchenko, a Ukrainian who lived in Moscow for more than a decade, could not agree more.

The 46-year-old writer and journalist, who now lives in Tbilisi, took part in protests in the South Caucasus country together with Lyagushkin.

“As a Ukrainian and a human, I knew I had to show support for Georgia and my Georgian friends,” she told AFP.

Vashchenko said “the lies” of the Georgian ruling party were similar to those of Ukraine’s pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych, who was ousted in 2014.

“It’s as if they had the same agenda, the same plan,” she said.

– ‘Nothing will change’ –


But some Russian exiles here have other issues on their mind and seem indifferent to the recent political turmoil.

In bars and cafés just a few streets from where protests had taken place outside parliament, their conversations on Friday night centred around rising electricity prices, immigration prospects, and memories of their homeland.

Vladimir Kirsanov, who is in his thirties, arrived in Georgia in September after Putin announced a military mobilisation. He now wants to move to Argentina together with his partner Margarita, but they are not sure they can afford the move.

“Nothing will change in Russia for the next 10 years,” said Kirsanov, adding that he had no interest in meddling in Georgia’s affairs.

He also does not want to have problems with law enforcement in Georgia, where he has to stay for at least six months to be able to apply for a Schengen visa.

The Georgian authorities have recently come under criticism from rights groups and the opposition for barring some Kremlin critics from entering the country. Some observers have warned of the authorities’ dangerous drift towards Moscow.

Vashchenko sees the Russian people’s political apathy as the “root of evil” that bedevils the country.

She said it was important to stand by Georgia, which fought a five-day war with Russia in 2008. And a new war between Russia and Georgia could not be ruled out, she added.

“Yes, we are afraid, and I think Georgians are also afraid of the possibility of an invasion,” she said.

“But if we stay home in fear, then they will definitely come.”

Georgia targets ‘foreign agents’ as critics allege tilt to Putin

07.03.2023

Opposition parties, media and civil society groups have denounced what they call “the Russian law”

Georgia’s muted response to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has already drawn strong criticism inside the country

Photo credit: Shutterstock

For nearly two decades since the 2003 “Rose Revolution,” Georgia sought to escape Russia’s shadow by integrating itself with the European Union and NATO. 

Now, critics say, it risks tilting back toward Moscow, especially as the government pushes through legislation similar to an instrument President Vladimir Putin used to crush dissent in Russia.

A draft “foreign agent” bill that lawmakers began to debate last week would target media and non-governmental organizations in an initiative backed by the ruling Georgian Dream party. It would indirectly promote Russian interests by curbing the influence of groups that largely rely on funding from the US and Europe.

Georgia’s muted response to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has already drawn strong criticism inside the country — which fought a brief 2008 war with Russia — and from officials in Kyiv. 

“The intention of the authors of the Georgian bill is not to control the influence of the enemy country,” Nino Lapiashvili, director of Tbilisi State University’s Institute for European Studies, said by phone “It’s an unjustified attempt to retaliate against the substantiated criticism of governmental policies of those Georgian civil society organizations that are financed by the EU, USA or other Western strategic partners.”

The standoff over the draft law could culminate within days

Fines, Jail

The proposal threatens fines and imprisonment for up to five years to organizations or individuals who receive at least 20% of their income from abroad and fail to register with the government as an “agent of foreign influence.”

The standoff over the draft law could culminate within days as the proposed legislation makes its way through parliament, worsening tensions in the streets. Police arrested at least 36 people at protests Thursday outside parliament, with more than half still in detention.

Opposition parties, media and civil society groups have denounced what they call “the Russian law,” while leading business associations in Georgia warned the measure risks undermining the Caucasus republic’s already fading chances of gaining EU membership. President Salome Zourabichvili, who was elected as Georgian Dream’s candidate, has said she’ll veto the law, which has been sharply criticized by the EU and the US. 

Balancing Act

Although Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili condemned Russia’s “unjustified” aggression against Ukraine, he hasn’t imposed sanctions on Russia and has refused to provide military aid to Kyiv, accusing opponents of his policy of seeking to “create a second front in Georgia.” 

The ability to maintain trade ties with Russia, alongside the arrival of tens of thousands fleeing the Kremlin’s mobilization, has meant a boon for the $25 billion economy. It’s resulted in what a former central bank governor has called a “windfall” revenue of about $2 billion last year, more than quintuple what Georgia received in 2021.

The controversy has erupted at a sensitive time for Georgia. Former President Mikheil Saakashvili, who led the 2003 pro-western revolution, is languishing in prison as the government in Tbilisi faces increasingly loud expressions of concern for his health from leaders in Europe and in Moldova and Ukraine, which last year moved ahead of Georgia in the race for EU membership. 

Former President Mikheil Saakashvili, who led the 2003 pro-western revolution, is languishing in prison

The government says Saakashvili crossed into the country illegally in 2021 and that his health is being provided for. 

Supporters say the law is necessary to ensure political “transparency” and insist that it’s similar to the Foreign Agents Registration Act in the US. 

The legislation will enable “society to be informed about who is who,” said Eka Sepashvili, a member of the People’s Power faction in Georgia’s parliament that proposed the legislation with backing from Georgian Dream.

Sepashvili said two different versions of the bill adopted by parliament will be sent to the Venice Commission for review and the final draft will depend on which one it approves. Voting in the final two readings will take place after receiving the opinion of the Council of Europe’s legal advisory body, she said.

Many Georgian opposition media outlets and non-governmental organizations rallying outside the parliament building in the capital, Tbilisi, said they’d refuse to register should the law require them to do so. Paata Zakareishvili, a political analyst and former government official, said he’d rather go to jail. 

“Let them arrest me, I don’t care,” he told reporters Sunday.

©2023 Bloomberg L.P.