Al-BAHRIA CSS INSTITUTE

&
Punjab Judicial Officers Academy
DAWN Editorials: 23 March 2024, Saturday

Pipeline under fire Sr.# Word

Meaning
in Urdu
Synonyms

While US Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu`s recent Evidence,

testimony before a Congressional panel contained no 1. Testimony (N) ‫وبثت‬،‫وگایہ‬
Proof
bombshells about the cipher saga, the American
diplomat`s replies to questions from lawmakers about Story,
2. Saga (N) ‫اہکین‬
the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline should certainly be cause Tale
for concern. American reservations over the gas project
clearly infringe on Pakistan`s sovereign right to take Hesitations,
3. Reservations (N) ‫اظفحتت‬
independent foreign policy decisions. Mr Lu told Doubts
lawmakers that it was an American `goal` to ensure the
،‫الخفورزیرکان‬ Invade,
pipeline is not completed. Using highly undiplomatic 4. Infringe (V)
language, he observed that if `they [Pakistan] get in bed ‫للخرک اان‬ Intrude
with Iran, it will be very serious for our relationship`.
Undiplomatic Direct,
5. ‫ت‬
‫ریغافسر ا‬
(Adj) Ill-judged
The Foreign Office reaction to these comments was
measured, as the spokesperson told the media that there ‫ابز‬
‫ ا‬،‫دتسربداری‬ Renunciation,
was no room for discussion on a third-party [US] 6. Waiver (N)
‫انہم‬ Abdication
waiver, while the pipeline plays an important role in
Pakistan`s energy security. It is hoped that the state Support,
remains steadfast in upholding its commitments to the 7. Uphold (V) ‫نھک‬
‫ربرقارر ا‬ Sustain
project, and rejects unwarranted foreign pressure. Until
the caretaker government gave the go-ahead for Refresh,
revitalising the pipeline last month, the scheme had 8. Revitalize (V) ‫دوابرہاحبلرکان‬
Revive
been in the doldrums for over a decade, mainly out of
concern over attracting America`s wrath. Pakistan Stagnations,
9. Doldrums (N) ‫تک‬
‫ےبرح ا‬،‫ااکٹؤ‬
should be the best judge of its energy requirements, and Lethargies
unsolicited advice such as that offered by Mr Lu should
be rejected with thanks. The American official also Anger,
10. Wrath (N) ‫ہصغ‬
questioned how Pakistan would procure the financing to Rage
complete the scheme. Again, that should be Pakistan`s
Unwanted,
headache, not anyone else`s. The fact is that the Iran 11. Unsolicited (Adj) ‫ب‬
‫ریغولطم ا‬ Uninvited
pipeline appears to be a viable energy project, as the
other major regional scheme the Turkmenistan- Obtain,
Afghanistan-Pakistan-India pipeline is in deep freeze 12. Procure (V) ‫احَص ل ر‬
‫ک اان‬ ‫ل‬
Acquire
particularly after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.
Moreover, if Pakistan reneges on the deal with Iran, it Feasible,
risks entering a messy litigation process, and paying a
13. Viable (Adj) ‫مع‬
‫اقِلب ا‬
Practicable
hefty $18bn in penalty.
‫ابت‬
‫ ا‬،‫رتکرکان‬ Default,
14. Renege (V)
Mr Lu`s comments should also serve as a warning to our ‫نٹہ‬
‫ےسےھچیپ ا‬ Back out
policymakers of the demands some of our friends may
make of us in future as geopolitical turbulence Trial,
15. Litigation (N) ‫ی‬
‫دقمہمابز ا‬
increases. For instance, today, Washington has issues Hearing
with CPEC and the Iran pipeline; tomorrow it could let
its displeasure be known regarding our relations with Commotion,
16. Turbulence (N) ‫ی‬
‫اگنہہمزیخ ا‬
Moscow or other American foes. Pakistan should be Confusion
ready to face such criticism, and take decisions that are
Captive,
in the national interest. Pakistan values its ties with the 17. Hostage (Adj) ‫ل‬
‫ریامغ ا‬
Detainee
US and other Western states. But this does not mean
relations with other states/ blocs should be held hostage Urge,
to the whims of its Western partners. However, it is also 18. Whim (N) ‫وخاشہ‬ Impulse
true that Pakistan can only take truly independent
decisions when it does not have to depend on others to ‫یتلچ‬
‫ ا‬،‫ریتتوہیئ‬ Floating,
keep its economy afloat. India and China can ignore US 19. Afloat (Adj)
‫وہیئ‬ Resilient
strictures about not trading with Russia because of their
economic heft. Pakistan must heal itself if it wants to Criticism,
achieve true sovereignty. 20. Stricture (N) ‫ارتعاض‬
Rebuke

Arranged by: Prof Naveed Sabri

21 Babar Block, New Garden Town, Near Barkat Market Lahore
0333-4438610 0300-4469650 0300-1905555 042-35911609
 Al-BAHRIA CSS INSTITUTE
&
Punjab Judicial Officers Academy
DAWN Editorials: 23 March 2024, Saturday

Bandit raj Sr.# Word

Meaning
Synonyms
in Urdu
Murder, kidnapping for ransom and armed robbery Robber,
have become facts of life for the unfortunate souls 1. Bandit (Adj) ‫ڈا اک‬ Gangster
residing in the riverine areas of upper Sindh and
neighbouring districts of Punjab. Here, bandits have Payment,
2. Ransom (N) ‫اتوان‬
established a reign of terror: armed with heavy Payoff
weaponry and knowledge of the terrain, they Control,
operate with ruthless brutality looting, abducting 3. Reign (N) ‫وکحتم‬،‫راج‬
Rule
and killing as they please. No one is safe: even the
police forces of the two provinces so agile and Land,
4. Terrain (N) ‫ق‬
‫الع ا‬،‫زنیم‬
fearsome when facing down unarmed protesters in Territory
the cities seem helpless when it comes to
Cruel,
challenging these violent criminals. Meanwhile, 5. Ruthless (Adj) ‫ح‬
‫ےبر ا‬
Merciless
policymakers in Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi
continue to dither over how best to deal with the Atrocity,
6. Brutality (N) ‫ربربتی‬،‫ملظ‬
nuisance, even though countless millions have Barbarism
already been poured into efforts to contain them.
‫س‬ Active,
This week, these armed criminals crossed an 7. Agile (Adj) ‫ ُ ا‬،‫رھُپالیت‬
‫چ‬
Alert
unforgivable line. They killed a teacher in the
Kandhkot-Kashmore area simply for refusing to Hesitate,
8. Dither (V) ‫اچکچہان‬
quit his duty. Allah Rakhyo Nandwani, who taught at Pother
a primary school in the Nasrullah Khan Bijarani
Irritation,
village, would have been a national hero had his 9. Nuisance (N) ‫رپاشیین‬
Annoyance
story been better known. He had repeatedly defied
the bandits in his determination to travel to `no-go` Dispense,
10. Pour (V) ‫ڈا انل‬،‫اراسلرکان‬
areas to educate the children residing there. Discharge

Challenge,
Citizens like Allah Rakhyo are an asset to the 11. Defy (V) ‫اقمہلبرکان‬ Confront
societies they serve, and it is a matter of shame for
those tasked with protecting the citizenry that a Conscientious Careful,
12. ‫یمض‬
‫اب ا‬
dutiful, conscientious citizen lost his life to (Adj) Meticulous
miscreants and troublemakers. The authorities must
be asked: how long will these meaningless `clean-up Scoundrel,
13. Miscreant (N) ‫دنسپ‬
‫رش ا‬ Wrongdoer
operations` continue to be rinsed and recycled? Why
is it that the `progress` against armed gangs often Battle,
seems like the state taking one step forward and two
14. Combat (V) ‫نٹمن‬
‫ا‬ Fight
steps back? We have been hearing since last year
that significant resources and personnel have been Smokescreen ‫ایسیزیچوجچس اک‬ Cover-up,
15.
allocated to combating the bandit problem. Were (N) ‫ئ‬
‫اپھچ ا‬ Camouflage
these claims just a smokescreen, or did the efforts to Terrible,
establish the state`s writ fail? How long will the 16. Abysmal (Adj) ‫وخانفک‬ Dreadful
people living in the affected areas be left to their
Assorted,
fate? Clearly, those tasked with the nation`s internal 17. Ragtag (Adj) ‫ونگارا‬،‫ہتسخاحل‬
Dubious
security, are doing an abysmal job in this respect.
They must realise that they paint a sorry picture ‫ُُن‬ Attacker,
considering that ragtag gangs of goons are so easily
18. Goon (N) ‫ ُ ڈ‬،‫دباعمش‬
‫غ اہ‬ Assailant
outsmarting them. The problem must be dealt with
Overcome,
at its source. Those who back, finance, and supply 19. Outsmart (V) ‫امتدانی‬
Outwit
these gangs must be traced and eliminated. This
malaise must not spread. Malady,
20. Malaise (N) ‫ی‬
‫ےبرقار ا‬،‫ےبینیچ‬ Sickness

Arranged by: Prof Naveed Sabri

21 Babar Block, New Garden Town, Near Barkat Market Lahore
0333-4438610 0300-4469650 0300-1905555 042-35911609
 Al-BAHRIA CSS INSTITUTE
&
Punjab Judicial Officers Academy
DAWN Editorials: 23 March 2024, Saturday

Energy theft Sr.# Word

Meaning
Synonyms
in Urdu
By involving the FIA in the exercise, the Clampdown,
1. Crackdown (N) ‫اپدنبی‬
government has admitted that the ongoing Restriction
crackdown against power and gas theft in the
Wanted,
country has so far failed to produce the desired 2. Desired (Adj) ‫ولطم اب‬
Anticipated
results since its launch last September. The
antitheft drive led by the utilities, with support Against theft,
3. Antitheft (Adj) ‫ف‬
‫وچریےکالخ ا‬
from the provincial administrations, seems to Contra robos
have already lost its initial momentum. The Reestablish,
4. Restore (V) ‫دوابرہاحبلرکان‬
decision to bring in the FIA to energise the Reinstate
campaign seems to be driven by an IMF Feasibility,
statement that restoring the `energy sector`s 5. Viability (N) ‫دلمعاری‬
‫ا‬ Possibility
viability` would be one of the four key areas of
Changes,
reforms under the Fund`s next medium-term 6. Reforms (N) ‫ت‬
‫االصاح ا‬
Modifications
loan that Pakistan is seeking for reducing its
external sector vulnerabilities and shoring up Vulnerabilities Weaknesses,
7. ‫ں‬
‫زمکورای ا‬
international reserves. Even at the peak of the (N) Susceptibilities
campaign between September and December, the ‫وبضمط‬
‫ ا‬،‫انکرےاگلان‬ Reinforce,
effort had resulted in power theft reduction of 8. Shor up (V)
‫رکان‬ Strengthen
just Rs14bn, and arrear and detection bill
recoveries of Rs58bn. That compares with a total Due,
9. Arrear (N) ‫اقبای‬
electricity theft of Rs237bn in 2022. In September Liability
2023, the caretaker set-up had put power sector Temporary,
losses at Rs589bn. In 2020, the Prime Minister`s 10. Caretaker (Adj) ‫ض‬
‫اعر ا‬،‫رگنان‬
Custodian
Inspection Commission had found almost $2bn
Yearly,
worth of annual losses in the gas supply chain 11. Annual (Adj) ‫اسال ان‬
Once a year
due to theft and other factors.
Soared,
12. Shot up (V) ‫زیتیےسڑبانھ‬
That power and gas theft is a major contributor Increased
to the combined energy sector circular debt, Happiness,
13. Euphoria (N) ‫وخیش‬
which has shot up to over Rs5tr, is no secret. Over Ecstasy
the next several weeks, we may be fed `success
Disappear,
stories` until the euphoria fades away. Complete 14. Fade away (V) ‫ددنالھرکمتخوہاج اان‬
Dissipate
elimination of energy theft, the cost of which is
being paid by honest consumers in the shape of Elimination Abolition,
15. ‫اخہمت‬
(N) Eradication
higher tariffs or through budget subsidies, is
imperative to stop the growth of the circular debt Tax,
16. Tariff (N) ‫ل‬
‫وصحم ا‬
and reduce electricity and gas prices, a major Duty
reason why people steal power and gas. However, Grant,
the government cannot control the situation with 17. Subsidy (N) ‫ص‬
‫وصحملِاخ ا‬
Aid
administrative measures alone. It will have to
invest in distribution infrastructure and quickly Imperative Essential,
18. ‫ہ‬
‫تہبا ا‬،‫انزگری‬
(Adj) Urgent
move towards smart metering if it wants to
achieve lasting results. Liability,
19. Debt (N) ‫رقہض‬
Duty
Lingering,
20. Lasting (Adj) ‫دریاپا‬ Remaining

Arranged by: Prof Naveed Sabri

21 Babar Block, New Garden Town, Near Barkat Market Lahore
0333-4438610 0300-4469650 0300-1905555 042-35911609