PESHAWAR - The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has lifted the ban on recruitment in government departments, following directives from Chief Minister Ali Amin Gundapur. A letter issued from the Chief Minister’s secretariat to the Chief Secretary instructed the removal of the ban on all types of recruitment across the province. Chief Minister Gundapur had initially imposed the ban on March 3, with exceptions for cases already undergoing processing at the Public Services Commission. Subsequently, an investigation into recruitments conducted during the caretaker government’s tenure in KP has been initiated. Upon assuming office, Chief Minister Gundapur requested a detailed report on all recruitments made between March 1, 2023, and February 29, 2024, directing concerned authorities to compile the information within a week.
Source:The Nation
June 28, 2024 10:23 UTC
Supreme Court Judges' Intriguing Conversation with ECP Lawyer During Reserved Seats CaseSupreme Court judges engaged in an interesting conversation with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) lawyer during the reserved seats case hearing.
Source:The Express Tribune
June 28, 2024 07:11 UTC
Criticism of Mohsin Naqvi by Asad Qaiser and Zartaj Gul | PTI's Concerns in Punjab | Breaking NewsQaiser and Zartaj Gul openly criticized Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, raising serious questions about his actions and priorities.They demanded to know,"Where is the interior minister? Updated 19 hours ago
Source:The Express Tribune
June 27, 2024 16:07 UTC
The cash-strapped government has raised new debt worth Rs908 billion by selling debt securities, including Pakistan Investment Bonds (PIBs) and treasury bills (T-bills), to domestic commercial banks. This substantial borrowing through T-bills helped overcome the financing gap faced due to banks’ demands for higher rates of return on longer-tenure PIBs auctioned on Tuesday. The stable markup rate compared to the previous auction held two weeks ago allowed the authorities to secure higher financing. It raised another Rs221.9 billion through selling 12-month paper at a cut-off yield of 18.54%, down by 41 basis points from the previous auction. It raised another Rs13.90 billion against 10-year PIBs at 14.25%, reduced by five basis points from the previous auction.
Source:The Express Tribune
June 27, 2024 14:42 UTC
Initially, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) proposed tightening the additional income tax law for banks to close a loophole that banks used to avoid the tax. The additional income tax was introduced in 2022 to encourage banks to lend to the industry instead of making safe loans to the government. However, the advance income tax, the super tax and the ADR additional income tax of up to 15% are three distinct taxes and any advance or full payment cannot be an alternative to the 15% tax. In the 2023 tax year, banks made a gross profit of Rs1.6 trillion and paid Rs960 billion in income tax. Under pressure from banks, the government suspended the additional tax for 2023, but it became effective again in January 2024.
Source:The Express Tribune
June 27, 2024 14:37 UTC
Honorable judges’ remarks were less objective and more subjective. The demeanor of lordships throughout exhaustive court proceedings was less constitutional and more substitutional. Arguing lawyers were made to look like convicts while honorable judges restlessly pleaded the case for and against. Hooked on the court proceedings I felt that constitutional supremacy, rule of law, and balance of power were purely fictional concepts. However, it struck me as a regretful fall from grace for a few honorable judges.
Source:The Nation
June 27, 2024 13:05 UTC
ISLAMABAD - After almost 12 years, the federal cabinet has approved the payment of Rs 82 billion to Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) that was taken as a loan by Power Division. The ECC in 2020 approved the conversion of Rs82 billion OGDCL facility to public debt and an amount of Rs82 billion has been allocated in the federal budget for FY2023-24 for settlement of ensure principal portion of the subject facility. The payment of over-due principal is planned to be released to OGDCL till June, 2024 and consequently entire principal portion shall be settled. The markup amount shall be paid without any markup on markup by CPPA through PHL in 12 equal installments starting from July 2025. The source said that the federal cabinet has approved the payment of Rs 82 billion to OGDCL.
Source:The Nation
June 27, 2024 12:50 UTC
The shortcomings of previous military operations are being cited as reasons why another military campaign will not provide Pakistan with the essential security it needs. The last military operation was decided under the National Action Plan (NAP), but what we tend to forget is that NAP was not implemented in letter and spirit. In addition to a military offensive, military court trials and punishments, and the elimination of terrorists, NAP also sought to eradicate extremism from society. Hence, intolerance, religious compartmentalization, and religiously driven violence took root again, allowing groups like Tehrik-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) to flourish. Azm-e-Istehkam should not repeat the mistakes of previous military operations.
Source:The Nation
June 27, 2024 11:47 UTC
The Punjab government has approved the Act, Information Minister Azma Bukhari announced on Wednesday. Addressing a press conference in Lahore alongside Minister for Minorities Affairs Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, Azma stated that the Act would be effective immediately. Minister for Minorities Affairs Ramesh Arora reiterated that protecting minority rights had been a cornerstone of Chief Minister Maryam's administration since day one. He confirmed the passage of the Act and mentioned that rules for the Hindu Marriage Act would soon follow. Showcasing CM Maryam's initiatives for minorities, Arora mentioned a special grant provided to 10,000 Christian families on Easter.
Source:The Nation
June 27, 2024 09:17 UTC
He can be reached at tayyarinam@hotmail.com and tweets @20_InamLast week we debunked certain myths surrounding Afghanistan, and more pertinently the IEA. Pashtuns in Pakistan would want to reunite with parent state of Afghanistan, hence the bogey of greater Pashtunistan. In the prevalent stable political construct, Pakistani Pashtuns look up to Islamabad, whereas Afghan Pashtuns throw their lot with Kabul. Hostile Afghanistan presents Pakistan with two-front war scenario, simultaneously with India and Afghanistan. In all three Indo-Pakistan wars, Afghanistan despite friendlier ties with India, never ever postured to take military advantage of the situation.
Source:The Express Tribune
June 27, 2024 03:57 UTC
The HEC has been phasing out these two-year programmes in 2019, with an extended deadline set for June 30, 2022. Despite the clear directions, certain higher education institutions have continued to enrol students in these obsolete programmes. Consequently, the HEC has stated unequivocally that degrees awarded from these programmes after the specified deadlines will not be recognised or attested by the authority (HEC). The HEC clarified that institutions offering these programmes are not affiliated with the state educational system. This disaffiliation means that degrees from such programmes are not considered valid by the statutory body responsible for higher education in Pakistan.
Source:The Nation
June 26, 2024 22:08 UTC
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday extended “another chance” for dialogue to PTI founder Imran Khan, terming it the “sole option” for the incarcerated former premier if he wants to ease his jail hardships. Speaking in the National Assembly, Sharif said, “If Imran Khan has problems in jail, so let's sit and talk.” The premier recalled proposing a compact economy in his first speech, only to have it rejected outright. Sharif extended an offer to discuss the economy again, questioning who is responsible for the current bitterness that has prevented even the simplest of gestures, like shaking hands. The prime minister recounted his own time in jail, sharing that he was denied leave when his mother passed away. Highlighting the distinction between the rights of undertrial and convicted prisoners, PM Shehbaz emphasised the need to avoid subjecting Imran Khan to similar mistreatment.
Source:The Express Tribune
June 26, 2024 20:46 UTC
The has forecast a spell of rainfall in Karachi and other districts of Sindh from Wednesday (today) to July 1st. Monsoon currents from Arabian sea and Bay of Bengal are penetrating eastern parts of the country from 26th June and a low pressure also lies over the south of Indian Gujarat. Rain with wind/thundershower is also expected in Balochistan’s Lasbella, Khuzdar, Awaran, Jhal Magsi, Kalat, Naseerabad, Jaffarabad, Dera Bugti, Kohlu, Zhob and Barkhan districts from 26th to 28th June. Strong winds could bring temperatures down in the city to provide relief from the ongoing searing weather. The weather department earlier predicted that the sea breeze will resume in Karachi from Wednesday evening and the temperature are likely to drop gradually.
Source:The Nation
June 26, 2024 19:49 UTC
RAWALPINDI - The officials Punjab Police and City Traffic Police have established desks at the Business Facilitation Center (BFC) in Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) to provide a range of services, an RDA spokesperson said on Tuesday. He said that the task was done on request of DG RDA Kinza Murtaza to facilitate businessmen. Additionally, the Traffic Police will provide services such as issuing new regular driving licenses, renewing licenses, issuing international licenses, providing duplicate driving licenses, and issuing learning licenses. The Director General extended an invitation to the public to take advantage of these newly available services at the BFC. The Business Facilitation Center in Rawalpindi aims to streamline services from various departments under one roof, facilitating business owners.
Source:The Nation
June 26, 2024 12:50 UTC
The federal cabinet on Tuesday approved the decisions taken by the National Action Plan's Central Apex Committee, including the Operation Azm-e-Istehkam. To resolve the issue, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said the government would satisfy the PTI and other opposition parties over the military operation. Asif said that the federal government would ensure providing satisfactory answers to the concerns of the PTI over the anti-militancy operation. Govt clears air on 'misconceptions'With much criticism from the opposition, the PMO had issued a detailed late Monday, clarifying that "no large-scale military operation is being launched" in the country. “Therefore, no large-scale military operation is being contemplated where displacement of population will be required,” the PMO said.
Source:The Nation
June 26, 2024 07:33 UTC