Pakistan dispatches second tranche of relief goods to earthquake-hit Afghanistan
Pakistan on Friday dispatched the second tranche of humanitarian assistance for the earthquake affectees in a C-30 aircraft of Pakistan Air Force to Afghanistan. NDMA Chairman Lieutenant General Akhter Nawaz and officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Afghan Embassy in Pakistan were present on the occasion, an NDMA press release said. This second consignment arranged by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) consisted of family tents and essential food items. The Afghan charge d’affaires thanked the Pakistani government for sending humanitarian assistance promptly for the Afghan people in the hour of need. The NDMA sent its first consignment of relief goods on June 23 via road.
Source:The Nation
June 25, 2022 04:37 UTC
Super Tax Announced
Continuing the trend of taking tough decisions at the expense of political capital, PM Shehbaz Sharif has announced that the government will be imposing a 10 percent “super tax” on large-scale industries in order to control surging inflation. The intention to tax high earners so that more funds can be diverted towards education, health, infrastructure, skills education, and other important sectors should be applauded. The markets too have reacted negatively to this news as the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) crashed minutes after the taxes were announced. As the government has explained, this is a one-time tax on large-scale industry for one year which will help raise crucial revenue. At the same time, however, the government must pursue serious measures to broaden the tax net, regardless of the political cost and friction in question.
Source:The Nation
June 25, 2022 02:59 UTC
Hina Khar leads Pakistan delegation at CFAMM in Rwanda
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar has called for recognizing democracy, rule of law, good governance and respect for human rights as bedrocks of peace and stability within and among the nations. She was addressing the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministerial Meeting in Kigali, Rwanda. Issues of common concern including sustainable and inclusive development, post-Covid recovery and democracy, peace and governance came under discussion. On the sidelines, the Minister of State held useful bilateral meetings with the UK Minister for South Asia, Commonwealth and the UN Lord Tariq Ahmad, Foreign Minister of Jamaica Kamina Johnson Smith, Foreign Minister of Dominica Dr Kenneth Darroux and Foreign Minister of Sierra Leone, Professor David J Francis. The Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting is taking place after four years, making it the first such Commonwealth gathering in the post Pandemic period.
Source:The Nation
June 24, 2022 23:57 UTC
Sanaullah says TTP’s FATA demand against Constitution
Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has termed the demands of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) pertaining to the reversal of Fata merger and military withdrawal from tribal areas bordering Afghanistan as against the Constitution, saying that “talks are possible with only those who are willing to surrender their arms”. In May, 2018, the National Assembly had paved the way for the merger of Fata with Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Shedding light on the strength of the TTP fighters, Sanaullah said the proscribed terrorist group comprised at least 4,000 to 5,000 members. Sanaullah maintained that the military leadership had given assurance on possessing the capacity and power to sort out the prevailing issues with the TTP effectively. He concluded that interference of foreign elements could not be ruled out in terrorist attacks across the country.
Source:The Express Tribune
June 24, 2022 19:34 UTC
‘Four-nation T20I series idea is still alive’: Ramiz Raja
LAHORE, Jun 24: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ramiz Raja has said that the idea of an annual quadrangular T20I series involving Pakistan, India, Australia and England was still alive with the International Cricket Council (ICC) and it has not been shelved. He said the audiences have started to own Pakistan cricket and this filled the coffers which is a good omen for cricket. He urged the media to highlight the achievements of the cricketers and cricket board instead falling for the negativity. He said Pakistan Junior League (PJL) will also attract money for the PCB, adding that the board has been envisaging new ideas and properties. He said the cricket pitches against Australia were dead, and that is all pitches have been replaced in 107 centers in the country and a Dubai-based company will stitch artificial grass on these pitches.
Source:The Nation
June 24, 2022 18:59 UTC
Prince Charles says Commonwealth nations free to chart own course
KIGALI: Prince Charles told Commonwealth leaders Friday that the choice to become a republic or abandon the queen as head of state was theirs alone, and expressed “personal sorrow” at Britain’s legacy of slavery. Republican movements are taking root in a number of Commonwealth nations and some are seeking reparations for colonial-era injustices like slavery. Charles acknowledged the change underfoot and said the Commonwealth — which represents one-third of humanity — would always be “a free association of independent, self-governing nations”. “The Commonwealth contains within it countries that have had constitutional relationships with my family, some that continue to do so, and increasingly those that have had none,” he told an audience of presidents and prime ministers. “I cannot describe the depths of my personal sorrow at the suffering of so many, as I continue to deepen my own understanding of slavery’s enduring impact,” he said.
Source:The Nation
June 24, 2022 17:55 UTC
Afghanistan earthquake victims face struggles getting aid
Getting donations to Afghanistan earthquake victims will be far more difficult compared with other disasters due to sanctions against the country’s Taliban government and its troubled relationship with Western nations, experts say. Humanitarian aid organization Direct Relief says its shipment of 1 million doses of donated prenatal vitamins is still being held by customs weeks after it arrived in the country. Direct Relief says it has offered the World Health Organization’s Afghanistan office emergency medicines and supplies needed for trauma care. The World Food Programme reported it has sent at least 18 trucks carrying emergency supplies to the area near the quake’s epicenter. For those looking to donate to help those affected by the Afghanistan earthquake, McIlreavy, of the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, said focusing on groups currently working in Afghanistan would be important.
Source:The Express Tribune
June 24, 2022 14:23 UTC
Unlocking Financing
A $2.3 billion loan agreement with a Chinese consortium, announced by Finance Minister Miftah Ismail on Wednesday, indicates that the government is indeed exploring multiple avenues for financing. This injection is reportedly going to be directed towards shoring up our foreign reserves, which is extremely important in the current period of stagnation and low growth. Going forward, one of the key tasks for the finance team of the government in the next year should be to shore up our foreign reserves. This will be crucial in stablising the Rupee and bringing up its value if the government also looks to adjust other policies alongside. The government’s move to make this financing option available for us in record time—even before the IMF deal has been officially reinstated—is nothing short of an achievement.
Source:The Nation
June 24, 2022 12:12 UTC
Govt to plug tax loophole for rich
The government could amend the Income Tax Ordinance through the Finance Act 2022 to plug a loophole which is often exploited by the rich Pakistanis to avoid tax payment, according to sources in the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). During the past few years, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) governments brought substantial changes to the Income Tax Ordinance 2001 aimed at improving tax recovery from abroad. In the budget, the government has also proposed 1% capital value tax on the movable and immovable assets abroad. The proposed changes may still exclude one capital asset under self-occupation owned by the resident person from the deemed income tax. Sources said that the finance minister considered the options to again lower the advance income tax on mobile phone calls amid opposition by the FBR.
Source:The Express Tribune
June 24, 2022 09:00 UTC
New taxes introduced as PM Shehbaz announces 'tough' decisions to tackle economic crisis
ISLAMABAD – Pakistan has imposed a 10 percent 'super tax' on large-scale industries and sectors to tackle the deepening economic crisis and save poor segment of society. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif made the announcement while addressing the nation on tough decisions being taken by the incumbent coalition government to revive the $6 billion IMF loan programme. The premier announced that super tax or poverty alleviation tax will be imposed on automobile, cement, steel, sugar, oil and gas, fertilizer, banking industry, cigarette and other sectors. PM Shehbaz Sharif said that the first budget of the incumbent government will give an economic vision to the country. He also urged affluent people of the society to spare a portion of their wealth to drive Pakistan out of the deepening economic crisis and help poor.
Source:The Nation
June 24, 2022 06:52 UTC
Rabbani for joint parliamentary session to discuss talks with TTP
ISLAMABAD – Senator Raza Rabbani on Thursday asked the government to summon an in-camera joint session of the parliament (Majlis-e-Shoora) to seek input of the parliamentarians regarding the ongoing negotiations with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Speaking on a point of public importance in the Senate, he said the parliament should be taken into confidence regarding negotiations with the TTP. Senator Mushtaq Ahmed also called for taking the parliament on board about the talks with TTP. Haji Hidayatullah Khan called for devising a strategy to rid the country of the ever increasing loans. Sana Jamali urged the government to switch over to alternate energy sources for producing cheap energy as producing power from fuel was very costly.
Source:The Nation
June 24, 2022 01:34 UTC
PM vows to steer Pakistan out of current economic crisis
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has reiterated that the coalition government will complete its constitutional term and steer the country out of the current economic crisis. Addressing the Senators of PML-N in Islamabad today (Thursday), he said the nation is facing economic challenges due to the wrong decisions of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf government. The Prime Minister said the PTI government accepted the conditions of the International Monetary Fund to impose 30 rupees Petroleum Development Levy and 17 percent General Sales Tax and later violated this agreement. Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed government’s stance of restoring the cordial relationship with China, brother Islamic countries, and global institutions. He said government is taking practical steps to end load-shedding in the country.
Source:The Nation
June 23, 2022 23:48 UTC
Contract comparisons for Jesse Puljujarvi and Kailer Yamamoto
Jesse Puljujarvi and Kailer Yamamoto will be getting significant raises when they sign their new deals. Yamamoto and Puljujarvi are eligible to file for arbitration and they have until July 18th at 3 p.m. MT to file. They can’t choose a two-year deal if a player is only one year from being an unrestricted free agent. Yamamoto produced 20-21-41 in 81 games (0.51 PPG) while Puljujarvi scored 14-22-36 in 65 games (0.55 PPG). Puljujarvi has 29-32-61 in 120 games (0.51 PPG) and Yamamoto scored 28-34-62 in 133 games (0.47 PPG).
Source:The Nation
June 23, 2022 21:47 UTC
Economic situation to improve in three months, says Miftah
Finance Minister Miftah Ismail on Thursday said the government was aware of the financial hardship faced by the people due to record inflation as he defended the need to make “difficult decisions” to stabilize the economy. In a press conference alongside Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, the finance minister claimed that the government would be able to control the economic situation within three months. He added that former prime minister Imran Khan violated the agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which resulted in the country's current economic difficulties. During the press conference, Miftah also lashed out at Imran Khan for leaving the country on the “brink of bankruptcy”. He added Imran left a deficit of $120 billion.
Source:The Express Tribune
June 23, 2022 21:26 UTC
Never wanted to bring in COAS of my choice: Imran
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan has finally broken his silence on a theory purportedly fed to the media by his political rivals that he had fallen out with the military leadership because he wanted to bring in the next army chief of his choice. I never planned who I will approve as the next army chief in November [2022]. Point to ponder here: Does this mean they were convinced that their accountability would cease if someone else becomes the army chief? Or does it mean they want to bring in an army chief of their choosing who could help them,” Imran asked. “I said in my CNN interview that this official must be sacked for his bad manners,” the PTI chairman said.
Source:The Express Tribune
June 23, 2022 13:55 UTC