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Category: National

National news coverage from Pakistan including politics, economy, society, and major developments shaping events across the country.

  • Petrol price increases to Rs103.97 per liter

    Petrol price increases to Rs103.97 per liter

    ISLAMABAD: The government has increased prices of petroleum products effective from August 01, 2020. The price of petrol has been increased by Rs3.86 per liters.

    According to a statement issued on Friday, the government decided to revise the existing prices of petroleum products in view of the rising oil prices trend in the global market.

    The new prices effective from August 01, 2020 are as follows:

    The price of MS (Petrol) has been increased by Rs3.86 per liter to Rs103.97 from Rs100.11.

    The price of High Speed Diesel (HSD) has been increased by Rs5 per liter to Rs106.46 from Rs101.6.

    The price of kerosene oil has been increased by Rs5.97 per liter to Rs65.29 from Rs59.32.

    The price of light diesel oil has been increased by Rs6.62 per liter to Rs62.86 from Rs56.24.

  • FBR to notify withholding tax exemption for wheat import

    FBR to notify withholding tax exemption for wheat import

    ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) soon to issue exemption from withholding tax on import of wheat in order to ensure availability of the commodity in the country.

    Omar Hamid, Secretary Ministry of National Food Security and Research (NFS&R), said while chairing a meeting on wheat import on Monday.

    He said that taxes and duties have already been abolished by the federal government including, regulatory duty 60 percent, custom duty 11 percent, sales tax 17 percent and withholding tax 06 percent.

    “The waiver of withholding tax will be notified in matter of days,” he added.

    He said that private wheat importers would be given priority.

    Secretary NFS&R was of the point of view that legitimate concerns of importers will be solved at the earliest.

    He mentioned that NFS&R is working in PM Imran Khan Direction of to ensure uninterrupted supply countrywide. NFS&R will help wheat importers at all levels.

    So that ultimately public can get wheat at affordable price. NFS&R is facilitating wheat importers by helping them in priority berthing, storage,multiple ports and clearances on the landing of shipment.

    He said that imported wheat is exempted from the Anti- Hoarding Act imposed by the provincial governments on producing verified import record by the importers.

    The meeting was attended by wheat importers, representatives from NFS&R, Ministry of Maritime Affairs, FBR and Finance Division.

  • Pakistan mulls opening tourism spots by mid-August

    Pakistan mulls opening tourism spots by mid-August

    ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is considering to open tourist spots across the country by mid of August provided that the COVID-19 situation was remained under control, said Special Assistant to Prime Minister of Pakistan Syed Zulfiqar Abbas Bukhari.

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  • Board starts scrutiny of civil servants under directory retirement rules

    Board starts scrutiny of civil servants under directory retirement rules

    ISLAMABAD: A board constituted under Civil Servants (Directory Retirement from Services) Rules, 2020 will start scrutiny of civil servants by end of this month, a statement said on Wednesday.

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  • Pakistan Stock Exchange terror attack; all terrorists killed

    Pakistan Stock Exchange terror attack; all terrorists killed

    KARACHI: The security forces have failed a terrorist attack on Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Monday morning and killed all the four terrorists. However, four security guards and police personnel also died in this attack.

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  • Senate advises salary increase by 10 percent

    Senate advises salary increase by 10 percent

    ISLAMABAD: The Senate of Pakistan has recommended increase in salary of government employees by at least 10 percent for fiscal year starting July 01, 2020.

    As per the general consensus recommendations of the upper house after the debate on budget 2020/2021, it is recommended that salary of government employees should be enhanced at least 10 percent.

    The upper house further recommended that the federal government should double the budget for education and health sectors.

    It is recommended that all important debt agreements must be placed before the parliament for scrutiny immediately.

    The budget allocation for ministry of national health services, regulations and coordination must be enhanced to a minimum five percent as per WHO recommendations.

    The 11 percent cut imposed on the share of the provinces in violation of National Finance Commission (NFC) Award must be revised immediately.

    The Senate of Pakistan recommended to the National Assembly that the allocation for Ministry of Education must be increased by 20 percent.

    It is recommended that salaries of the medical and para-medical staff working in ICT should be enhanced reasonably.

    The Senate recommended that the government should allocate more funds for management of rain water reservoirs. A special fund should also be allocated for construction of new small/mini dams.

    Budgetary allocation of Higher Education Commission (HEC) should be enhanced to Rs100 billion.

    The upper house recommended that the government should allocate funds for improvement in the aviation sector and to upgrade airports all over the country.

    The government should expedite the process of loss making projects in a transparent manner.

    The government should raise the amount of funds allotted for locust control in 2020/2021, from Rs4 billion to Rs8 billion keeping in view of the losses suffered by small farmers in locusts affected areas.

    It is recommended to raise at least 50 percent in the corona stimulus package for fertilizer subsidy, loan remission and other relief to the farmers, keeping in view of covid-19 situation and food insecurity on account of locusts attacks.

  • SBP, banks discuss Naya Pakistan Housing Program

    SBP, banks discuss Naya Pakistan Housing Program

    KARACHI: Governor State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Dr. Reza Baqir called a meeting of Banks on Wednesday for deliberations on the measures proposed by Naya Pakistan Housing and Development Authority (NAPHDA) and identify way forward to ensure sustainable market-led financing of housing projects and mortgages.

    The meeting was chaired by the SBP Governor Dr. Reza Baqir, and attended by Chairman NAPHDA, Lt. General Anwar Ali Haider, and members of the think tank formed by the government including Shaukat Tareen, Arif Habib and Aqeel Karim Dhedhi among others.

    Banks were represented by their respective presidents.

    The SBP governor at the outset praised the work of Lt. General Anwar Ali Haider and NAPHDA for its significant potential contribution in meeting the shortage of housing in the country and accelerating economic activity in the country.

    He said that housing finance has not only remained under-developed in Pakistan as compared with other emerging economies but seen little progress over time. In this regard, therefore, this initiative is of great national interest.

    He emphasized that the construction and housing sectors have strong linkages with the rest of the economic sectors and offer a commercially viable and long term business proposition for banks.

    He also stressed that supporting economic activity in these sectors would support economic growth and particularly employment in current times of economic stress.

    He encouraged banks to view housing and construction finance as an opportunity to broaden their balance sheet and cater to the huge financing needs of the sector.

    The SBP governor reiterated central bank’s commitment to play a facilitative and supportive role while also supporting a healthy credit culture in the country.

    Chairman NAPHDA made a presentation to the banks on the key features of Naya Pakistan Housing Program. He shared the details of the underlying development model for the successful implementation of the initiative.

    Complementing the presentation, Shaukat Tarin, member of the government’s think tank, presented a financial model and elaborated the incentives being offered by the government and emphasized that these will make the financing of developers and mortgages commercially attractive for banks.

    The presidents of banks in their deliberations appreciated the Naya Pakistan Housing Program and expressed their readiness for participating in this initiative of national importance.

    They also made queries and suggestions in this regard. It was decided that banks, NAPHDA, and SBP would work together to prepare an overall roadmap and execution plans with support from the relevant sub-committees of Pakistan Banks Association.

  • Ban lifted on export of various personal protective equipment

    Ban lifted on export of various personal protective equipment

    ISLAMABAD: The government on Tuesday lifted ban on export of various personal protective equipment (PPE) with immediate effect.

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  • Shopkeepers to implement ‘no mask, no service’; NCOC discusses easing lockdown

    Shopkeepers to implement ‘no mask, no service’; NCOC discusses easing lockdown

    ISLAMABAD: Market associations to be engaged for implementation of COVID-19 guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for prevention the spread of coronavirus.

    This was discussed at a meeting of National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) held on chaired by Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umer.

    Umer said that the shopkeepers should strictly implement “no mask, no service” policy.

    Asad Umer directed the NCOC to concentrate on the plan to ease the lockdown while strictly implementing the Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs).
    The forum suggested taking strict punitive action on violation of SOPs.

    It must be noted that NCOC is working to devise a long and short term strategy on COVID-19 titled “Living with the Pandemic”.

    Asad Umar directed the pursuing of a vigorous mass awareness campaign to highlight the measures taken by the government to contain COVID-19 and underscore its achievements in this regard.

    The campaign should focus on ensuring behaviour change of the people regarding COVID-19 while also underlining that the main aim of the government was to safeguard the people from the pandemic.

    Expressing satisfaction over the availability of ventilators in countrywide hospitals, Asad Umar directed the concerned to provide latest information about the availability of beds and other related facilities for the information of the infected people.

    The forum was told that the Resource Management System (RMS) would be rolled out across country from the 1st of June.

    Under this system, the hospitals would also share the details of local resources available to them, total admitted patients, denial of admissions, no of beds and ventilators available, as well as other facilities being provided to them.

    Dr Zafar Mirza said that his Ministry was planning to mobilise retired doctors of public sector hospitals, young doctors, doctors on house jobs, and final year medical students to cope with the situation.

    Moreover, new doctors and paramedics would be recruited through walk-in interviews. The forum was apprised that the provinces had been asked to ensure community mobilisation and set up call Centres in their respective areas by June 15.

    The forum was told that Sindh and Balochistan governments were not agreeing on imposing smart lockdown. Instead, they preferred the home quarantine policy.

    The meeting was attended by Interior Minister Brig (Retd) Syed Ijaz Ahmed Shah, Minister for National Food Security and Research Fakhar Imam, Minister for Economic Affairs Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Security Dr Moeed Yousaf and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza.

  • NCOC recommends shutting educational institutions till August

    NCOC recommends shutting educational institutions till August

    ISLAMABAD: National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Saturday recommended that the educational institutions should be kept closed till August as the summer season and pandemic would be at its peak on July 15, 2020.

    The NCOC sought provinces’ feedback on negative list aiming to finalize the recommendations of opening some more sectors of the economy halted due to COVID-19 outbreak.

    A meeting chaired by Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar was held at the NCOC to discuss the long and short term strategy on COVID-19 titled “Living with the Pandemic”.

    The forum emphasized the need to revise its communication strategy for better messaging and public outreach on the COVID-19 issue.

    Minister for Industries and Production Hammad Azhar said that the restaurants under the negative list would have to completely close their services or partially initiate its functions with only take away services.

    The forum insisted that the marriage halls should only be allowed with limited number of guests, one dish and strict compliance of standard operating procedures (SOPs).

    Asad Umar directed the concerned authorities to calculate economic impacts of coronavirus pandemic in the first quarter of current calendar year.

    The NCOC stressed that capacity building and restructuring of the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination should be done as per approval by the federal cabinet.

    The forum was also apprised that the critical care resources would be increased owing to the surging risk of the pandemic.

    The forum was told that the testing capacity of COVID-19 was being increased to 672,000 tests.

    Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Khusroo Bakhtiar said that National Integrated Management System should be put in place for better coordination between the federal and the provinces.

    Dr Zafar Mirza said that although wearing of masks was mandatory, no punitive action was being taken against the violators.

    The meeting was attended by Interior Minister Brig (R) Syed Ejaz Ahmad Shah, Minister for National Food Security and Research Fakhar Imam, Minister for Economic Affairs Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar, SAPM for Information and Broadcasting and Chairman China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority Lt. Gen (R) Asim Saleem Bajwa, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Security Dr Moeed Yousaf, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Digital Pakistan Tania Aidrus.