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  • Pakistan abolishes visa fee for Afghans

    Pakistan abolishes visa fee for Afghans

    ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet in a meeting on Tuesday has approved the abolition of visa fees for Pakistani visas for Afghans coming into Pakistan.

    Prime Minister Imran Khan chaired the meeting of the federal cabinet.

    The cabinet approved the inclusion of Afghan businessmen in the list of Pakistan Business Visas for their convenience.

    It also approved in principle a code of conduct for issuing Pakistani visas to Afghans. The regulation will issue all visas online and will minimize the duration of the administrative process for obtaining a visa.

    At the beginning of the meeting, the Cabinet offered Fateha for late Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan. The Cabinet was briefed on the progress regarding introduction of electronic voting machines (EVM) and empowerment of Overseas Pakistanis to vote.

    The cabinet directed to celebrate Eid Milad-un-Nabi in a grand manner. The federal cabinet decided to have a look at the comparative prices of essential commodities in all its meetings.

    The meeting approved the renewal of Charter License Class-II (Domestic) of M/s K2 AIRWAYS (Pvt.) Ltd. The Cabinet approved the issuance of Charter Licence Class-II (Domestic & International) for M/s AIR SIAL Ltd.

    The Establishment Division briefed the Cabinet on the vacancies of CEOs and Managing Directors in various Ministries and state owned companies under their supervision. The Cabinet was informed that at present a total of 80 posts are vacant. Out of which 44 posts will be filled by following the due process, whereas posts in 18 institutions are being abolished. The Cabinet directed that the procedure of appointments should be completely transparent and merit-based.

    The federal cabinet approved the reconstitution of PEMRA Council of Complaints Islamabad and approved the appointment of Syed Muhammad Ali Bukhari as its Chairman. The council will consist of 6 members, including three women members.

    The Cabinet approved the establishment of a special riot police force to protect the lives and property of citizens of the federal capital Islamabad and to maintain law and order.

    This decision has been taken keeping in view the increase in urban population of Islamabad, the sensitivity of the federal capital and the needs of police. The force will be equipped with the latest technology and equipment to help prevent crime. Force personnel will be trained according scientific standards.

    The Cabinet approved the provision of Pakistan Online Visa facility for foreigners working on CPEC projects.

    The Cabinet approved the criteria and regulations for admission on merit in government medical and dental colleges run by the federal government. Following this decision, 50 per cent marks will be given to the marks obtained in the entrance test and the remaining 50 per cent marks will be given to the marks obtained in the intermediate examinations.

    The decisions taken at the meeting of the Economic Co-ordination Committee of the Cabinet on October 7, 2021 were partially ratified.

    The Cabinet postponed the agenda of the decisions taken at the meeting of the Committee on Transport and Logistics on October 4, 2021. The Cabinet set up a sub-committee comprising Minister of Energy and Minister of Maritime Affairs to review the matter and re-submit it to the Cabinet.

    The Cabinet approved the procedure for online verification of Power of Attorney documents for the convenience of overseas Pakistanis. The move will enable Pakistanis abroad to quickly verify legal documents, previously, it involved a lengthy waiting time.

    The Cabinet approved the establishment of a Real Estate Regulatory Authority to regulate the sale and purchase of land under the Islamabad Real Estate (Regulations and Development) Act, 2020.

    The Cabinet approved the establishment of Rehmat-ul-Ulameen Authority. The authority will include world-renowned Muslim scholars. The authority will conduct research on various aspects of Prophet’s life. The authority will propose a curriculum for the training of children in the light of teachings of Seerat-un-Nabi. The authority will also take steps to highlight true identity of Islam in the world. The authority will work to prevent the rise of sexual crimes, and will ensure tolerance in society.

    The Cabinet appreciated and commended the Prime Minister’s initiative and reiterated the great commitment of all members of the Cabinet to participate in the promotion of this great cause.

    OMCs must have 21 days stock of POL products, federal cabinet decides
  • Pandora papers: PM says returning taxpayers’ money

    Pandora papers: PM says returning taxpayers’ money

    ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday said that taxpayers’ money should be returned to Pakistan from those whose names were revealed by the Pandora papers.

    The prime minister has chaired a meeting of the federal cabinet.

    The cabinet was informed that initially, the Prime Minister’s Inspection Commission will meticulously review the record of all those Pakistanis which are named in Pandora Revelations and decide about legal proceedings according to the outcome of such investigations. “The taxpayers’ money should return to Pakistan,” the Prime Minister remarked.

    The meeting was briefed on the introduction of electronic voting machines and giving voting rights to Overseas Pakistanis.

     In this lieu the process of taking opposition on board is underway. Emphasizing the importance of EVMs the Prime Minister said that for the country’s greater good, the government wants to bring transparency in election process.

    Effective awareness campaign should be launched to highlight the usefulness of electronic voting machines, he added.

    SAPM for National Health Services Dr Faisal Sultan gave a detailed briefing to the Cabinet on admission test in medical colleges. The meeting was told that the admission test is conducted to produce professionally competent doctors and dentists. High standards of medical education are necessary as doctors have to save human lives.

    In this regard, a uniform entrance test at par with prevalent international best practices is set up which is marked with the help of modern technology. The purpose of the entrance test is to test the actual intelligence and not to merely pass the exam on the basis of the rote learning. Each student’s exam is different from the other so that the chances of copying are eliminated.

    About 200,000 students take the medical admission test every year for 20 thousand seats. Due to lack of resources, it is not possible to arrange computers or laptops for 200000 students at the same time during admission tests. The pool of questions for the exam is made in accordance with the syllabus in which different questions are included in the questionnaire.

    The Supreme Court has directed that medical entrance tests be conducted uniformly across the country. The cabinet agreed that Effective and transparent admission test system is of great importance and is necessary as these individuals, later on, have to save human lives by becoming doctors.

    The cabinet allowed the MetLife-Alico company to move abroad its capital (received in lieu of its sale proceeding) in accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan’s regulations.

    The Cabinet approved a reduction in the punishment of prisoners on the auspicious occasion of Eid Milad-ul-Nabi. The Cabinet directed that Eid Milad-ul-Nabi (PBUH) be celebrated on a grand scale. Moreover, it was decided that the ten days from 3rd Rabi ul Awwal to 13th Rabi ul Awwal will be dedicated to Rehmat al Alameen (PBUH).

    The Cabinet approved the appointment of experts in committee on drug research under Drug (Research) Rules, 1978. These experts posted hail from Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. These experts will help in research on medicines in Pakistan.

    The Cabinet allowed the promotion of important and life saving drugs in light of the recommendations of the Drug Regulatory Authority.

    In order to provide winter relief for domestic consumers and keeping in view the paucity of Natural gas, the Cabinet approved usage of electricity instead of gas on the recommendation of the Cabinet Committee on Energy. In addition to the above, the domestic electricity customers will also have the facility that if they use more units this winter than the previous year, they will be charged additional units at a lower price.

    The decisions taken by the Economic Coordination Committee in the meeting held on 30 september 2021 were also ratified. The decisions taken by the Cabinet Committee on Legislation in the Meeting of 30 September 2021 were also ratified.

    The Cabinet directed all ministries to use E-Procurements System. All the tenders should be run in a completely transparent manner and the procurement process should eliminate corruption. The Cabinet directed to form a three members committee that will make a comprehensive assessment of electricity and construction contracts entered by the previous governments, especially road construction contracts and will present the report to the cabinet. The committee will comprise Federal Ministers Fawad Ahmed Chauhdary and Hammad Azhar.

    The Cabinet approved submission of the recommended Code of Conduct by Census Advisory Committee to the Council of Common Interests for the Seventh Census.

    The Census Rules contain the following recommendations:

     -The census will be conducted in accordance with the Constitution and law.

     -Adherence to the principles laid by United Nations for Census.

    -Setting up of a census-specific unit and master plan.

    -Updation of maps.

    -Taking on board all Stake Holders.

    -Questionnaire for census

    – Conducting Pilot exercise for Census

    – Census Awareness Campaign

    -Training of Personnel

    -Code for Data Collection

    – Monitoring of Field Teams

    -Security arrangements for field teams

    – An after census Survey for verification

    -Establishment of National Census Liaison Centre

    Keeping in view the security reasons, the Cabinet approved the appointment of Security personnel for by-elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

    The Cabinet approved the allotment of land in Islamabad for the construction of purpose-built buildings for Panahgahs.

    Some obstacles challenging construction sector: PM
  • Petrol price increases to record high at Rs127.30/liter

    Petrol price increases to record high at Rs127.30/liter

    The government on Thursday announced a significant hike in the price of petrol, increasing it by Rs 4 per liter, bringing the cost to an all-time high of Rs 127.30 per liter. This marks the highest petrol price in Pakistan’s history. The new prices, along with adjustments to other petroleum products, will take effect from October 1, 2021.

    (more…)
  • Sales tax on high speed diesel reduced by 31.5%

    Sales tax on high speed diesel reduced by 31.5%

    ISLAMABAD: The federal government has announced a reduction of sales tax rate by 31.5 per cent on supply of High Speed Diesel (HSD). The rate sales tax on HSD has been reduced in order to lower the impact of higher prices pass on to the consumer.

    The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) issued SRO 1225(I)/2021 dated September 18, 2021 to notify the reduction in sales tax on HSD.

    According to the SRO the sales tax rate on HSD has been reduced to 11.64 per cent from previous level of 17.00 per cent.

    Previously, the FBR issued SRO 1072(I)/2021 dated August 26, 2021 to revise the sales tax on petroleum products.

    In the latest SRO only sales tax rate on HSD has been reduced. The sales tax rates on other petroleum products have been kept unchanged. The sales tax rates on petroleum products are: Petrol 10.54 per cent; HSD 11.64 per cent; Kerosene oil 6.70 per cent; Light Diesel Oil 0.20 per cent.

    It is worth mentioning that the federal government on September 15, 2021 announced an increase in the prices of petroleum products.

    With the announcement the petrol prices have gone up to the all-time high level. However, it is even more important that the sales tax rates are on the lowest side when compared with the rates applicable during year 2015.

    The government has increased latest prices owing to fluctuations in petroleum prices in the international market and exchange rate variation.

    Following are the rates of petroleum products, which will take effect from September 16, 2021:

    The rate of petrol has been increased by Rs5 to Rs123.30 per liter from Rs118.30.

    The rate of high-speed diesel has been increased by Rs5.01 to Rs120.04 per liter from Rs115.03.

    The rate of kerosene oil has been increased by Rs5.46 to Rs92.26 per liter from Rs86.80.

    The rate of light diesel oil has been increased by Rs5.92 to Rs90.69 from Rs84.77.

    In the latest SRO 1225(I)/2021 dated September 18, 2021, the sales tax rates on petroleum products are: Petrol 10.54 per cent; HSD 11.64 per cent; Kerosene oil 6.70 per cent; Light Diesel Oil 0.20 per cent.

    The present sales tax rates on petroleum products are much lower when compared with sales tax rates prevailed about six years ago. The FBR issued SRO 963(I)/2015 dated September 30, 2015. The sales tax rates under this SRO are: Petrol 26 per cent; Kerosene 30 per cent; High Speed Diesel 50 per cent; Light Diesel Oil 29.50 per cent.

    Petrol price increased to all-time high at Rs123.30/liter
  • Work on CPEC projects in full swing: Asad Umar

    Work on CPEC projects in full swing: Asad Umar

    ISLAMABAD: Asad Umar (Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives) on Friday said that work on projects under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) are continued in full swing.

    He dispelled the impression of slowing down the pace of the CPEC projects saying that major work of the CPEC projects was completed during the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) government.

    He said in first phase of CPEC, two major sectors- power and infrastructure, were under the main focus.
    “Power projects with an installed capacity of 3,340 MW were completed during the previous government while 5,864 MW of power projects were being completed during the current government’s tenure,” he said while addressing a press conference here.

    Apart from it, he started work on another 1824 MW project that had also been started recently that would be completed after the tenure of the current government.

    In the infrastructure and road sector, the minister informed that the PML-N government completed 394 kilometers long motorways and highways under CPEC while the current government had so far completed 413 km of the motorways and highways.

    Asad Umar said the PML-N government totally ignored the Western Corridor that was the heart of CPEC.

    He said the Gwdar-Hoshab road was completed by the previous government while the Hakla-Dera Ismail Khan motorway was initiated by the PML-N government who completed 42% of the project while the rest was completed by the current government.

    Apart from these two projects, the previous government could not reach even the initial approval stage of any of the road projects on the Western alignment, he added.

    The minister said the DI Khan-Zhob road (210 km) was approved and a loan application had been submitted while negotiations for the loan were in process.

    Similarly, the contractor for the Zhob-Queta project had been mobilized and PC-1 of the Quetta-Khuzdar road was approved while funding for this project had already been allocated in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2021-22.

    He informed that the current government had completed 67% of the work of the 110 km Khuzda-Basima road while it would also complete the rest work soon.

    Likewise, the 146 km Hoshab-Awaran road project had also been approved and the contractor had been mobilized. The Hoshab-Awaran project is an integral part of the CPEC central alignment that connects the port city of Gwadar with Sindh.

    “In fact, real work on Western Corridor of CPEC was started during PTI government,” he said adding that it did not wait for the Chinese investment and started work on the projects with its own resources under PSDP.

    The minister informed the government was also starting work on the connecting roads to the Western Alignment.
    Peshawar-DI Khan Motorway project is one such project which has recently been approved.

    Similarly, the 460 km Karachi-Quetta-Chaman road has also been approved and one of the portions would be completed by the government itself while the other sections of this project would be constructed under Public-Private Partnership.

    Likewise, the government has also accorded approval to other such roads such as Nokundi-Mashkel road, Mashkel-Panjgur road, Awaran-Jhal Jhao road.

    The minister said these connecting roads and the Wester Alignment were being built to take maximum benefit of the opportunities to be open up in Afghanistan after peace and stability prevailed in the country.

    Asad Umar said after completion of the first phase, we were entering in the second but very important phase of CPEC under which investment would come to a range of sectors including industrialization, agriculture, livestock, science technology, and other social sector development sectors.

    He said when the current government took over, not a single Special Economic Zone (SEZ) under CPEC was operational but now two SEZs Allama Iqbal Industrial Zone in Faisalabad and Rashakai in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were operational while another SEZ named Dhabeji would also be functional soon once the Sindh government has selected the contractor for the SEZ.

    Agriculture, he said was an important sector in which the Chinese had vast experience who would help Pakistan in strengthening the sector.

    So far eight important initiatives in the agriculture sector have been approved under CPEC under which the Chinese would help Pakistanis to develop the sector.

    He said the Chinese would help Pakistani farmers in increasing the per acre yield of the crops. Similarly, he said the Chinese would help in removing foot and mouth disease from the animals as this disease was the major hurdle in way of exporting Halal meat to the world.

    Gwadar Airport to be fully operational in two years
  • Petrol price increased to all-time high at Rs123.30/liter

    Petrol price increased to all-time high at Rs123.30/liter

    ISLAMABAD: The price of motor spirit (petrol) has been increased to all-time high at Rs123.30 per liter and will take effect from September 16, 2021.

    The Finance Division on Wednesday issued the rates of petroleum products for the next fortnight. The government has increased the prices of all petroleum products for the next 15 days.

    The government has increased the prices owing to fluctuations in petroleum prices in the international market and exchange rate variation.

    Following are the rates of petroleum products, which will take effect from September 16, 2021:

    The rate of petrol has been increased by Rs5 to Rs123.30 per liter from Rs118.30.

    The rate of high-speed diesel has been increased by Rs5.01 to Rs120.04 per liter from Rs115.03.

    The rate of kerosene oil has been increased by Rs5.46 to Rs92.26 per liter from Rs86.80.

    The rate of light diesel oil has been increased by Rs5.92 to Rs90.69 from Rs84.77.

    Prices of all petroleum products reduced
  • Gerry’s dnata awarded handling for Gulf Air in Pakistan

    Gerry’s dnata awarded handling for Gulf Air in Pakistan

    KARACHI: Gerry’s dnata, Pakistan’s leading ground services provider, has been awarded a multi-year contract by Gulf Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

    The partnership will see Gerry’s dnata provide quality and safe ground, passenger and cargo handling services to the airline at six airports in Pakistan, including Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Multan and Faisalabad.

    Syed Haris Raza, CEO of Gerry’s dnata, said: “We are proud to be the ground handler of choice for Gulf Air in Pakistan. We consistently invest in infrastructure, cutting-edge technologies and training to deliver the best possible services for our customers.

    “Our new contract is a vote of confidence in our quality offering, and a testament to our team’s hard work and commitment to safety and service excellence. We look forward to a long-standing partnership with the airline.”

    In recent years Gerry’s dnata has significantly invested in facilities, equipment, training and technology, while continually expanding its operations in Pakistan.  Gerry’s dnata’s investments include a state-of-the-art import cargo centre at Jinnah International Airport (KHI) in Karachi. The 72,000 square feet facility is equipped with the latest technologies ensuring safe and efficient handling and storage of all types of cargo. Offering uncompromised temperature-controlled handling and storage solutions to airline customers, the GDP-certified facility has played a key role in the safe handling of COVID-19 vaccines, rapid test kits and other essential goods.

    Gerry’s dnata also expanded its operations at Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore (LHE) and opened a new export cargo terminal. The expansion nearly tripled the company’s cargo handling capacity in Lahore, supporting customers and their customers in increasing fruit export from the region.

    The excellent quality of Gerry’s dnata’s services is underpinned by the constant growth of its customer base. Having won over 10 new contracts in the past 18 months, Gerry’s dnata now serves over 30 scheduled and unscheduled airline customers at seven Pakistani airports.

    PIA transports 5.9 million new batch of COVID vaccines
  • PM praises investment of Toyota Motors

    PM praises investment of Toyota Motors

    ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday praised Toyota Motors for investing $100 million for locally production of hybrid electric vehicles.

    (more…)
  • PIA transports 5.9 million new batch of COVID vaccines

    PIA transports 5.9 million new batch of COVID vaccines

    BEIJING: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), the national flag carrier of the country, has transported 5.9 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines through two special flights from China.

    The PIA through its two special cargo flights transported a new batch of 5.9 million doses of vaccines from Beijing Capital International Airport to Islamabad.

    Special cargo flights – PK6852 and PK6853 took off from Beijing Capital Airport for Islamabad on Monday and Tuesday and transported 5.9 million doses, Qadir Bux Sangi, PIA Country Manager for China told state media here on Tuesday.

    On August 29, the national flag carriers airlifted around 12 million doses of anti-Covid-19 vaccines through its four special cargo flights.

    The PIA special flights PK-6852, PK-6853, PK-6854 and PK-6856 transported 12 million doses of Sinovac vaccine procured from China for vaccination of people under government’s ongoing prevention and control drive against Covid-19 pandemic, he added.

    He said that under able leadership of its Chief Executive Officer, Arshad Malik, the national flag carrier has so far airlifted over 63 million doses of anti-Covid-19 vaccine through 49 special flights.

    It is worth mentioning that the government under its mass vaccination drive has set a target to vaccinate 75 million population by end of 2021.

    Chinese vaccines namely Sinopharm, Sinovac and CanSino besides other vaccines are being used in the mass vaccination drive.

    The health authorities launched the nationwide vaccination drive with around a million doses of Sinopharm vaccine donated by China, starting with older people and frontline healthcare workers, in March this year.

    The drive began with a focus on the oldest people in the community, generally over the age of 80 but now the vaccine is being administered to the people aged over 18 years.

    Islamabad received the first COVID-19 vaccine consignment after a military aircraft transported it from Beijing on February 01, this year.

    PIA airlifts 12 million doses of Sinovac vaccines
  • Some obstacles challenging construction sector: PM

    Some obstacles challenging construction sector: PM

    ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that the government has removed many barriers but some more obstacles were challenging the construction sector.

    Prime Minister Imran Khan attends the inaugural ceremony of the three-day ICCI Housing Property, Housing and Construction Expo 2021 on Friday, to continue facilitating the construction industry for creating wealth and boost the country’s exports.

    Minister of State for Information Farrukh Habib, Special Assistant to PM Dr. Shahbaz Gill, Chairman Naya Pakistan Housing and Development Authority Lt General (Retd) Anwar Ali Haider, President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sardar Yasir Ilyas also attended the event.

    The expo featured the pavilions of the commercial banks, Board of Investment, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), companies, and businesses related to the construction industry, including real estate developers, marketing firms, cement, marble, tiles, electronics, cable, and many others.

    The educational institutes were also present there with aim of promoting the industry-academia linkage.

    The prime minister urged the business sector to ensure the availability of raw materials in the construction industry to reduce the import bill.

    He said introducing the housing finance facility by the government for the low-income group, that the country’s 220 million population would become an asset as the construction of houses would positively impact all allied industries.

    He further said that unfortunately, the previous governments never thought of the poor segment but the government had opened the avenue.