Day: April 2, 2021

Ufone awarded contract worth Rs2.07 billion for providing mobile broadband services

ISLAMABAD: The Universal Service Fund (USF) on Friday awarded a contract amounting Rs2.07 billion to Ufone for providing high speed mobile broadband services in Kech district of Balochistan province.

Federal Minister for Information Technology (IT) and Telecommunication, Syed Amin Ul Haque and Federal Minister for Defence Production, Zubaida Jalal witnessed the contract signing ceremony held at the USF office.

The contract was signed by Haaris Mahmood Chaudhary, CEO, USF with Nadeem Khan, Acting CEO & Group Chief Financial Officer, Ufone. Federal Secretary for IT and Telecommunication, Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui and Chairman PTA, Maj. Gen (R) Amir Azeem Bajwa were also present at the ceremony.

Sector Commander South, Brigadier Atif Bin Saeed and senior government officials from Turbat virtually attended the ceremony. Chief Guest of the ceremony, Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication, Syed Amin Ul Haque said: “In light of the Prime Minister’s vision of Digital Pakistan, the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication through USF has awarded yet another project for the socio-economic betterment of the people of Balochistan.

“Through the contract being awarded today, residents of Kech district will reap the benefits of High Speed Internet in a span of 12-18 months. It is our priority to ensure that Balochistan remains at the forefront of technology development as we continue to work towards building a robust Digital Pakistan. The digital connectivity will open unprecedented new possibilities for the marginalized communities of Kech district; enhancing their ability to work and transact online and engage in the digital economy.

“I would pay my special gratitude to the Federal Minister of Defense Production, Ms. Zubaida Jalal who has played a significant role in highlighting the region for digital transformation and emphasizing on the importance of digital inclusion for the growth and prosperity of the youth.”

The Ministry of IT and Telecommunication through USF has contracted various development projects worth approximately Rs 7 billion to provide High Speed Mobile Broadband services in districts of Chagai, Noshki, Bolan, Mastung, Panjgur, Gwadar, Ziarat, Jaffarabad and Pishin.

These projects are expected to be completed within 12 to 18 months from the date of commencement.

The Federal Minister for IT also said: “Today, in this regard, it is pertinent to highlight the progress of National Highways program. The Ministry of IT and Telecommunication through USF has initiated development projects worth approximately Rs1.8 billion to provide High Speed Mobile Broadband services to commuters on all National Highways in Balochistan, thereby covering a road segment of 1,780 km. NH 10 and NH 25 is 75 percent completed whereas NH 50 and NH 70 are 50 percent completed.

Likewise, NH 25 and NH 65 are 25 percent completed. All National Highway projects will be completed within the next 6 to 9 months.”

In Balochistan, the youth are benefiting from DG Skills and Virtual University’s education programs. So far, 25,000 youngsters have completed free licensing courses amongst others through DG Skills.

Similarly, through Virtual University programs, offline centers have been established in 9 districts whereby thousands of students can access educational courses without any internet service.

Four new software technology parks are being established in Quetta, Khuzdar, Turbat and Gwadar in Balochistan where in lieu of rent, the government will give a 25 % subsidy and other facilities.

Federal Minister for IT shared that 3,500 students from Balochistan will be provided a 6 month paid internship with a monthly stipend of PKR 20,000. Other than this, new national incubation center campuses will be opened.

With the help of Ignite, new projects for the youth in research and development will be initiated as well. Syed Amin Ul Haque stated that the people of Balochistan should not be disappointed as we are working very hard for the development of Balochistan.

The Prime Minister is very clear in his vision that there is no national progress without progress in Balochistan. This is the reason whereby upon my instructions, Federal Secretary for IT and Telecommunication, Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui and all attached departments working under our ministry undertook a tour to Quetta and apprised the Government of Balochistan regarding its development projects.

While addressing the ceremony, Federal Minister for Defence Production, Zubaida Jalal thanked the Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication, Syed Amin Ul Haque and said that the Ministry of IT’s development projects for the people of Balochistan are in line with the true spirit of Digital Pakistan and will play an important role in alleviating the marginalization of Balochistan and supporting the province to come at par with the developed world.

She further said that I am sure that the development projects in Kech district will be completed timely and I assure you that the youth from these areas will be as capable in terms of skills, capabilities and digital proficiency as youngsters from urban cities.

Sharing his thoughts at the ceremony, CEO USF, Haaris Mahmood Chaudhary said, “This project will benefit an unserved population of 0.34 Million, thereby covering an unserved area of 23,964 sq. km. of Kech district. Upon the directive of the Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication, our focus on providing access and connectivity to the remote and far-flung areas of the country remains distinguished. In the last two years, USF has contracts projects worth over Rs21 billion.

“This project has been awarded to Ufone through a through an efficient and transparent competitive bidding process. We strive to empower the people of Balochistan and bring ease into their lives through these projects.”

Sharing his views at the ceremony, Group CFO and Acting CEO PTCL & Ufone, Nadeem Khan, said, “Ufone is dedicated to the cause of a Digital Pakistan. Our telecommunications projects in Balochistan are an attempt to make lives easier for the millions that are residing in the province.

Through this project in the Kech district of Balochistan, we aim to provide telecom services to 306 muazas of the area. This dream would have never reached fruition without the support of USF, which has been devoted to the cause of providing connectivity in far-flung areas of Pakistan.”

Senior officials of the IT Ministry, USF and Ufone were also present at the ceremony.

April 2, 2021
Share market ends down by 127 points in volatile trading

KARACHI: The share market fell by 127 points on Friday in volatile trading sessions during the day.

The benchmark KSE-100 index of Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) closed at 44,301 points from previous day’s closing of 44,428 points, showing a decline of 127 points.

Analysts at Topline Securities said that volatility was observed during trading session as the index traded went up by 181 points and down by 230 points to close at 44,301 level.

Lack of investor interest was witnessed in the market as volume and traded value decline by 40 percent and 45 percent on DoD basis to 266 million shares and Rs.14.35billion, respectively.

Major contribution to the index came from COLG, LUCK, FCCL. ENGRO and HBL, as they cumulatively contributed 73 points to the index, whereas TRG, POL, DAWH, PAKT and SYS lost value to weigh down on the index by -115 points. TRG was today`s volume leader with 23 million shares.

April 2, 2021
FBR notifies transfer/posting of IR BS-19, BS-20 officers

ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Friday notified transfer and postings of Inland Revenue Service (IRS) officers of BS-19 and BS-20.

The FBR notified the transfers and postings of following officers:

01. Abdul Aziz Narejo (Inland Revenue Service/BS-20) has been transferred and posted as Commissioner Inland Revenue (Appeals-VI), Karachi from the post of Commissioner Inland Revenue, (Sukkur Zone) Regional Tax Office, Sukkur.

02. Muhammad Safdar (Inland Revenue Service/BS-20) has been transferred and posted as Commissioner Inland Revenue (District Zone) Regional Tax Office, Rawalpindi from the post of Commissioner Inland Revenue, (Cantt Zone) Regional Tax Office, Rawalpindi.

03. Abbas Ahmed Mir (Inland Revenue Service/BS-20) has been transferred and posted as Commissioner Inland Revenue (Cantt Zone) Regional Tax Office, Rawalpindi from the post of Commissioner Inland Revenue, (West Zone-III) Regional Tax Office, Islamabad.

04. Girdhari Mal Maghwar (Inland Revenue Service/BS-20) has been transferred and posted as Chief, (ST & FE) Federal Board of Revenue (Hq), Islamabad from the post of Chief, (Admin Pool) Federal Board of Revenue (Hq), Islamabad.

05. Fauzia Adil (Inland Revenue Service/BS-20) has been transferred and posted as Commissioner Inland Revenue (Legal) Corporate Tax Office, Lahore from the post of Additional Commissioner Inland Revenue, Corporate Tax Office, Lahore.

06. Mussarat Ullah Khan (Inland Revenue Service/BS-20) has been transferred and posted as Commissioner Inland Revenue (Special Zone for Builders & Developers ) Regional Tax Office, Islamabad from the post of Additional Commissioner Inland Revenue, Large Taxpayers Office, Islamabad.

07. Muhammad Nawaz (Inland Revenue Service/BS-20) has been transferred and posted as Commissioner Inland Revenue (West Zone-III) Regional Tax Office, Islamabad from the post of Additional Commissioner Inland Revenue, Regional Tax Office, Rawalpindi.

08. Muhammad Saleem (Inland Revenue Service/BS-19) is presently posted as Commissioner Inland Revenue, (OPS) Commissioner Inland Revenue (Appeals-I), Multan. The officer is assigned Additional Charge of the post of Commissioner Inland Revenue (OPS) (Appeals-II), Multan as per rules.

09. Abdul Shakoor Shaikh (Inland Revenue Service/BS-19) has been transferred and posted as Commissioner Inland Revenue (OPS) (Sukkur Zone) Regional Tax Office, Sukkur from the post of Secretary, (Admin Pool) Federal Board of Revenue (Hq), Islamabad.

The FBR said that the officers who are drawing performance allowance prior to issuance of this notification shall continue to draw this allowance on the new place of posting.

April 2, 2021
Sales of POL products surge by 44pc in March

KARACHI: The sales of petroleum products have climbed up by 44 percent year on year (YoY) in March 2021 due to low base of March 2020 as the government last year enforced lockdown that resulted in slowdown in sales volume.

Analysts at Arif Habib Limited said that total petroleum and lubricant sales clocked-in at 1.49 million tons in March 2021, depicting a gigantic growth of 44 percent YoY (ex- furnace oil growth of 32 percent YoY and 4 percent MoM) and 6 percent MoM due to extra working days compared to February and low base of March 2020 given the incumbent government enforced a lockdown last year resulting in a slowdown in sales volumes.

The growth in sales volumes is primarily attributable to: i) Economic growth driving retail fuel sales, ii) Surge in trade activity (exports and imports) and better agricultural yields resulting in higher sales of HSD, iii) double digit growth in automobile offtake, iv) preference to private transport over public transport to reduce chances of contracting Covid-19, and v) strict surveillance on borders and various parts of country in order to control supply of illegal or dumped fuel from Iran.

During 9MFY21, sales of total petroleum products increased by 15 percent YoY to 14.15 million tons against 12.27 million tons in 9MFY20.

Dissection of data revealed that major contribution to growth came from HSD and FO with offtake undergoing a jump to 5.38 million tons and 2.30 million tons, up by 17 percent and 43 percent YoY against 4.60 million tons and 1.61 million tons in SPLY.

April 2, 2021
Key changes made through Tax Laws (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 2021

KARACHI: The federal government recently introduced amendments to Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 through a presidential ordinance namely Tax Laws (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 2021.

According to a chartered accountant firms following are the key changes made through the Amendment Ordinance:

(1) Exemption for inter corporate dividend for those group structures which are eligible for group relief has been withdrawn. This amendment needs to be reconsidered in view of the overall framework and policy for promoting group / holding company structures.

(2) Donations eligible for direct deduction from income has been transposed into tax credit regime. As a result of that, overall upper limit for tax break for the donors, in respect of charitable donations, has been reduced.

(3) Tax credit regime for the NPOs has been further simplified and clarified. Certain religious and welfare organisations and international NGOs are allowed to avail tax credit regime subject to registration under the relevant laws and regulations.

(4) Tax exemptions of following businesses have been transposed into full / partial tax credit regime, resulting that these businesses can now avail tax breaks subject to certain compliances:

(i) coal mining projects of Sindh

(ii) startup businesses certified by Pakistan software board

(iii) export of software, IT and IT enabled services.

(iv) greenfield projects / ship building

(v) undertakings engaged in manufacturing of plant and machinery with dedicated use of generation of renewable energy.

Appropriate amendments are required to be made in the relevant provisions and SROs so that those eligible for tax credit regimes are issued exemption certificates and they do not suffer tax Withholdings which are eventually refundable.

(5) Tax credit for enlistment of a company on stock exchange has been withdrawn.

(6) Certain penalty provisions have been rationalised.

(7) Number of tax exemptions and concessions in the Second Schedule have been withdrawn, some of which were either person-specific or were timebound whereas some of the exemptions/ concessions have been transposed into tax credit regime. Major businesses affected by withdrawal of exemptions / concessions include Modarabas, LNG terminal owners & operators, services/contracts rendered/executed outside Pakistan and those IPPs who will enter into agreement or to whom letter of intent will be issued for setting up of power generation project on or after July 1, 2021.

April 2, 2021
FBR transfers BS-21 officers of Pakistan Customs

ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Friday notified transfer and postings of BS-21 officers of Pakistan Customs Service (PCS) with immediate effect.

The FBR notified transfers of following officers:

01. Dr. Zulfikar Ali Chaudhary (Pakistan Customs Service/BS-21) has been transferred and posted as Chief Collector of Customs Enforcement (Central), Lahore from the post of Director General, Directorate General of Customs Valuation, Karachi.

02. Faiz Ahmad (Pakistan Customs Service/BS-21) has been transferred and posted as Chief Collector of Customs Appraisement & Facilitation (Central), Lahore from the post of Chief Collector Customs Enforcement (Central), Lahore.

03. Dr. Fareed Iqbal Qureshi (Pakistan Customs Service/BS-21) has been transferred and posted as Director General, Directorate General of Training & Research from the post of (Customs), Karachi Chief Collector Customs Appraisement and Facilitation (Central), Lahore.

04. Muhammad Iqbal Bhawana (Pakistan Customs Service/BS-21) has been transferred and posted as Director General, Directorate General of Law & Prosecution, Islamabad from the post of Collector, Collectorate of Customs (Adjudication-II), Karachi.

05. Ms. Shahnaz Maqbool (Pakistan Customs Service/BS-21) has been transferred and posted as Director General, Directorate General of Customs Valuation, Karachi from the post of Member, Federal Board of Revenue (Hq), Islamabad.

06. Ms. Seema Raza Bokhari (Pakistan Customs Service/BS-21) has been transferred and posted as Director General, Directorate General of Post Clearance Audit & Internal Audit, (Stationed at Islamabad) from the post of Member, Federal Board of Revenue (Hq), Islamabad.

The FBR said that the officers who are drawing performance allowance prior to issuance of this notification shall continue to draw this allowance on the new place of posting.

April 2, 2021
Rupee weakens by 25 paisas on import, corporate payments

KARACHI: The Pak Rupee weakened by 25 paisas against the dollar on Friday owing to demand for import and corporate payments.

The rupee ended Rs153.55 to the dollar from previous day’s closing of Rs155.30 in the interbank foreign exchange market.

Currency dealers said that higher demand of the foreign currency for import and corporate payments depreciated the rupee value.

They said that due to quarter ending corporate buyers were seen active in purchasing the foreign currency for repatriation of profit and dividend to their parent companies abroad.

Similarly, the higher import bill in March 2021 also put pressure on demand for the dollar.

April 2, 2021
Shahid Baloch posted as CCIR LTO Karachi

ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Friday posted Shahid Iqbal Baloch, a BS-21 officer of Inland Revenue Service (IRS), as Chief Commissioner Inland Revenue (CCIR) of Large Taxpayers Office (LTO) Karachi with immediate effect.

The FBR posted the chief commissioner of LTO Karachi on a regular basis after the retirement of Badaruddin Ahmed Qureshi almost two months after.

Badaruddin Ahmed Qureshi was retired on February 09, 2021 and since then Amir Ali Khan Talpur, the chief commissioner –IR of Regional Tax Office-II was given additional charge of the chief commissioner of LTO Karachi.

The LTO Karachi is the largest revenue collecting arm of the FBR and it contributes around 35 percent of the total revenue at the national level.

Sources at the LTO Karachi said that major decisions were pending due to the absence of a regular chief of the tax office.

The FBR also notified following transfer and postings on Friday:

01. Shaban Bhatti (Inland Revenue Service/BS-21) has been transferred and posted as Director General, (SPR&S) Federal Board of Revenue (Hq), Islamabad from the post of Member, Federal Board of Revenue (Hq), Islamabad.

02. Shahid Iqbal Baloch (Inland Revenue Service/BS-21) has been transferred and posted as Chief Commissioner Inland Revenue Large Taxpayers Office, Karachi from the post of Member, Federal Board of Revenue (Hq) (Stationed at Karachi).

03. Muhammad Iqbal (Inland Revenue Service/BS-21) has been transferred and posted as Director General, Directorate General of Intelligence & Investigation (Inland Revenue), Islamabad relieving Dr. Bashirullah Khan of his additional charge. The officer will also continue with the additional responsibility of DG, DNFBPs. He was transferred from the post of Member, (Admin Pool) Federal Board of Revenue (Hq), Islamabad.

04. Ms. Aiysha Khalid (Inland Revenue Service/BS-21) has been transferred and posted as Director General, (WHT) Federal Board of Revenue (Hq), Islamabad from the post of Member, (Admin Pool) Federal Board of Revenue (Hq), Islamabad.

05. Muhammad Imtiaz (Inland Revenue Service/BS-20) has been transferred and posted as Chief, (Admn Pool) Federal Board of Revenue (Hq), Islamabad from the post of Director General, (OPS) (WHT) Federal Board of Revenue (Hq), Islamabad.

The FBR said that the officers who are drawing performance allowance prior to issuance of this notification shall continue to draw this allowance on the new place of posting.

April 2, 2021
FTO recommends disabling sales tax registration as soon application for de-registration received

ISLAMABAD: Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) has recommended disabling sales tax registration as soon application received for de-registration.

The FTO submitted proposals for budget 2021/2022, stating that in order to stop misuse of registration for issuing fake invoices, immediate disabling of the registration was proposed in electronic system as soon as the application for de-registration was received.

Sales Tax Registration of commercial importers was proposed to be allowed only to Income Tax filers along with other necessary cautions (i.e. declaration of Pakistan Customs Tariff (PCT) headings of the products they trade in) to check bogus registration.

Following budget proposals were also sent to FBR:

• to provide for immediate disabling of the registration in electronic system, pending final de-registration, as soon as the application for de-registration was received;

• to prescribe a list of documents/records to accompany the de-registration applications for the purpose of sub-rule (2) of rule 11; and

• suitable amendment to be made in rule 12(a)(vii) so that the Commissioner shall issue the orders of revocation of suspension within two weeks from the last date prescribed for issuance of show cause notice.

April 2, 2021
Headline inflation increases by 9.1 percent in March

ISLAMABAD: Headline inflation based on Consumer Price Index (CPI) has increased by 9.1 percent on year on year basis in March 2021 as compared to an increase of 8.7 percent in February 2021 and 10.2 percent in March 2020, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) said on Thursday.

On month-on-month basis, it increased by 0.4 percent in March 2021 as compared to an increase of 1.8 percent in the previous month and an increase of 0.02 percent in March 2020.

CPI inflation Urban, increased by 8.7 percent on year-on-year basis in March 2021 as compared to an increase of 8.6 percent in the previous month and 9.3 percent in March 2020.

On month-on-month basis, it increased by 0.3 percent in March 2021 as compared to an increase of 2.3 percent in the previous month and an increase of 0.1 percent in March 2020.

CPI inflation Rural, increased by 9.5 percent on year-on-year basis in March 2021 as compared to an increase of 8.8 percent in the previous month and 11.7 percent in March 2020.

On month-on-month basis, it increased by 0.5 percent in March 2021 as compared to an increase of 1.1 percent in the previous month and a decrease of 0.1 percent in March 2020.

Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) based inflation on YoY increased by 18.7 percent in March 2021 as compared to an increase of 11.9 percent a month earlier and an increase of 11.8 percent in March 2020.

On MoM basis, it increased by 5.7 percent in March 2021 as compared to an increase of 3.1 percent a month earlier and a decrease of 0.3 percent in March 2020.

Wholesale Price Index (WPI) based inflation on YoY basis increased by 14.6 percent in March 2021 as compared to an increase of 9.5 percent a month earlier and an increase of 9.3 percent in March 2020.

WPI inflation on MoM basis increased by 3.7 percent in March 2021 as compared to an increase of 2.2 percent a month earlier and a decrease of 0.9 percent in corresponding month i.e. March 2020.

April 2, 2021