FBR to investigate emergency procurement attempt worth $400m under PRR program
The Federal Board of Revenue has ordered a fact finding inquiry to investigate the failed attempt of emergency procurement under the $400 million Pakistan Raises Revenue Program (PRRP) through the World Bank. Sources said that Chairman FBR has designated Chief Commissioner RTO Rawalpindi Dr Khalid Mahmood Lodhi to conduct a fact finding inquiry to investigate the failed attempt of emergency procurement under PRRP through World Bank. Article continues after this advertisementThe inquiry officer shall also look into the aspect with regard to contribution of the World Bank officials and procurement specialist towards the failed procurement attempt. Under the PRR Program, Pakistan and WB agreed to increase Pakistan’s tax to GDP ratio to 17 per cent, increasing the number of active taxpayers to 3.5 million, reducing the compliance burden of paying taxes, and improving the efficiency of customs controls. Earlier, it was also reported that CIO Mansoor sultan also resigned from his position due to differences over his salary packageThe scribe approached spokesperson of FBR Asad Tahir for comments on fact finding inquiry but no reply was received till filing of story.
Source:Pakistan Today
February 19, 2022 04:57 UTC
Los Altos boys soccer tops Arroyo in thriller, advances to CIF-SS semifinals for first time
EL MONTE — The Los Altos boys soccer team has felt its share of heartbreak over the years in the CIF Southern Section playoffs. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)Ernesto Figueroa #45 of Los Altos celebrates after scoring against Arroyo in the first half of a Division 5 boys soccer quarterfinals at Arroyo High School in El Monte on Friday, February 18, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)Sebastian Villasenor #13 of Arroyo fights for the ball against Los Altos in the second half of a Division 5 boys soccer quarterfinals at Arroyo High School in El Monte on Friday, February 18, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)Jaime Jimenez #22 of Arroyo controls the ball against Los Altos in the first half of a Division 5 boys soccer quarterfinals at Arroyo High School in El Monte on Friday, February 18, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)Ernesto Figueroa for the win.
Source:The Express Tribune
February 19, 2022 04:18 UTC
Peshawar BRT gets international award
Planning Minister Asad Umar on Friday congratulated Defence Minister Pervez Khattak and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service in Peshawar being awarded the Gold Standard Service award. The BRT was inaugurated by then chief minister of the province Khattak in 2020 and received the award on Thursday for providing passenger-oriented, environment-friendly facilities to the people of Peshawar. Well done peshawar on being given the gold standard rating for it's BRT and thus becoming only the 11th city in the world to get the gold standard rating. #Pakistan's #Peshawar is now officially 1st in subcontnt, 3rd in Asia 11th city globally to receive Gold Standard. Earlier, the BRT had also received the certificate of International Sustainable Award by the International Transport Organisation while the UN Women has also honoured the BRT for providing the best and safe travelling facility to women.
Source:The Express Tribune
February 19, 2022 00:08 UTC
'Those not trusted even at home moving no-trust against PM'
“They [opposition] are destined to fail as even their own parliamentarians will not stand by them,” he added. The opposition leaders should first learn to stand on their own feet, if they wanted to launch a long march, he added. However, “they have no guts and political prowess to challenge Prime Minister Imran Khan who fully enjoys the trust of the whole nation”. Fawad also came hard on PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif for resorting to excuses in the court which was about to indict him in the money laundering case. He extended gratitude to the prime minister for giving multiple mega projects to the people of Jhelum.
Source:The Express Tribune
February 18, 2022 23:36 UTC
Campbell makes 45 saves, Maple Leafs top Penguins 4-1
TORONTO — Morgan Rielly and Auston Matthews each had a goal and an assist, and Jack Campbell made 45 saves to lead the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 4-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night. Matthews ran face-first into the crossbar of the Maple Leafs net as he pursued Penguins captain Sidney Crosby with 13:19 remaining in the third period. Rielly increased the Maple Leafs to 2-0 with a breakaway, power-play goal. Pittsburgh entered the game with the second-best penalty-killing unit in the league, while the Maple Leafs have the most efficient power play. The Maple Leafs showed off their stingy penalty kill with a short-handed goal from Kampf late in the second period.
Source:The Express Tribune
February 18, 2022 07:46 UTC
Scholarships complaints portal launched
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday launched a portal to exclusively register complaints related to the educational scholarships which, he believed, would ensure meritocracy, transparency and uplift the students with more hunger and drive. Linked with the Prime Minister Citizen Portal, the facility would help scholarship-holders to register their complaints regarding the problems faced by them, besides ensuring the judicious use of the allocated resources. The prime minister said that a team of academics would constantly oversee the portal and guide the government to grant scholarships in particular subjects keeping in view the needs of the market as well as the country. The purpose of the education system should be the nation building. Prime Minister Imran said the portal would also help save the precious time of the students and make them focus on their education who otherwise had to go from pillar to post to register their scholarship-related complaints.
Source:The Nation
February 18, 2022 05:26 UTC
Two Indians held in Nepal for possessing uranium-like substances
Two Indians were among eight people arrested in Nepal's Kathmandu for possessing uranium-like substances, which were brought from India to be sold illegally in Nepal, police said. The two Indians were identified as Upendra Kumar Mishra and Raju Thakur, both natives of Bihar, while the six others were all Nepal nationals, police said. Eight people have been arrested on charges of illegally trading in Uranium, according to Nepal Police headquarters sources. Pakistan has been consistently voicing its serious concern over the theft and illicit sale of radioactive material in India and by its nationals abroad. A leading US non-proliferation watchdog, Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) nuclear security index gave India the lowest ranking for its poor safety and security of nuclear material in its latest report.
Source:The Express Tribune
February 18, 2022 04:04 UTC
Best Weapons in Dying Light 2
Dying Light 2 just came out recently and we are all hooked on it! Dying Light is not a game that will offer you a non-lethal approach like Dishonored or Fallout 3! It doesn’t matter if you are a Dying Light 2 newbie or a veteran, Executioner’s Axe will get you out of desperate situations. Shoelace MacheteHands down, the Shoelace machete is one of the strongest weapons in Dying Light 2. Show your own list of the best weapons that helped you ‘Stay Human’!
Source:The Nation
February 18, 2022 02:51 UTC
PM praises Gates for his contribution towards poverty alleviation
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday praised Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates for his immense contribution towards polio eradication and poverty alleviation initiatives. Gates, who is also the co-chairman of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is on his first-ever visit to the country. "It was a pleasure to welcome Bill Gates who came to Pakistan on my invitation," the premier wrote on his official Twitter handle. "On behalf of our nation I thank him for his immense contribution towards polio eradication & poverty alleviation initiatives," he added. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan also took to his official Twitter handle to welcome Gates to Pakistan.
Source:The Nation
February 18, 2022 02:33 UTC
Ansted Elementary mixes math, food during event
VIRTUAL TOWN HALL. Please join me for a virtual town hall on Tuesday, March 1, at 530 p.m. I welcome all constituents to ask questions about what’s going on at the legislature. To participate, click on the Zoom link on my social media, email me, or call me. We will get you signed up.
Source:The Express Tribune
February 18, 2022 02:15 UTC
State holding on to funds meant for families
VIRTUAL TOWN HALL. Please join me for a virtual town hall on Tuesday, March 1, at 530 p.m. I welcome all constituents to ask questions about what’s going on at the legislature. To participate, click on the Zoom link on my social media, email me, or call me. We will get you signed up.
Source:The Express Tribune
February 18, 2022 02:10 UTC
Pakistan Navy’s maritime exercise Seaspark-2022 begins in Karachi
KARACHI: The opening Ceremony of Pakistan Navy’s major maritime exercise Seaspark-22 was held in Karachi. The biennial exercise is steered to assess war preparedness and validate operational plans of the Pakistan Navy against the envisaged threat spectrum, especially in the maritime domain. Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi graced the occasion as the chief guest. In the opening remarks, the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (Operations) presented the overview of the exercise. All naval platforms and assets of the navy, special forces and Pakistan marines detachments along with other elements of Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA), Pakistan Army, and Pakistan Air Force will participate in the exercise.
Source:Pakistan Today
February 17, 2022 23:54 UTC
Pakistan sees small increase in daily Covid-19 cases
ISLAMABAD: The nation reported 2,870 cases of coronavirus in the last 24 hours, up from 2,465 on Wednesday, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) said Thursday. Following the new emergence of new cases, the coronavirus transmission ratio inched up to 5.55 percent from 4.97 percent recorded a day earlier. A total of 4,692 people recovered from the disease during the period, bringing the total number of recoveries to 1,39 million, showed data from the NCOC. The number of active cases has dropped to 71,167 in the country, including 1,495 in critical condition. Sindh is the worst-hit province with 561,683 infections recorded, followed by Punjab, which has reported 497,307 cases so far.
Source:Pakistan Today
February 17, 2022 23:34 UTC
Ranking defensive trade targets for the Leafs
Contract Status: Out of 3. If they have an expiring RFA status contract it’s a 2. Also excluded were bubble NHL/AHL players and players who have been on the LTIR all season. The same is likely true of some of the other entry-level contract players on this list, but names like Mark Pysyk, and even Andy Greene stand out as savvy depth adds that shouldn’t cost much. Perhaps the biggest takeaway here is that there seem to be plenty of options, and likely plenty of willing sellers.
Source:The Nation
February 17, 2022 23:11 UTC
Oil transporters announce protest
“We have given call for an indefinite peaceful protest,” All Pakistan Oil Tankers Owners Association (APOTOA) spokesman Israr Ahmed Shinwari said while talking to The Express Tribune. However, no formal contact has so far been established between the government officials and the oil transporters. Later, they would lead a procession to the headquarters of the oil marketing company in Clifton. “We have updated our trucks by expanding oil carrying capacity to 24,000 liters on the demand presented by the oil marketing company,” he said. APOTOA (or Oil Tankers Owners Grand Committee) has no capacity to hold the protest.
Source:The Express Tribune
February 17, 2022 04:16 UTC