Islamabad, November 20, 2024 – Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) Chairman Dr. Raghib Hussain Naeemi has categorically denied declaring virtual private networks (VPNs) “un-Islamic,” explaining that a “typo” in the council’s statement caused the confusion amid the government’s deadline to block all unregistered encrypted networks this month.
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Council of Islamic Ideology Calls Meeting on VPNs Usage
The Chairman of the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), Allama Dr. Raghib Naeemi, has convened a meeting today (Wednesday) to address concerns surrounding the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) in Pakistan. Dr. Naeemi has deemed unregistered VPNs illegal, immoral, and contrary to Shariah principles. He called on the Ministry of Interior and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to crack down on unregulated VPN usage.
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November Inflation in Pakistan Expected to Hit Record Low
Karachi, November 19, 2024 – Pakistan’s headline inflation, based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), is projected to drop to a 78-month low for November 2024, according to analysts at Topline Securities Limited.
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Pakistan Gets $500M ADB Loan for Climate Adaptation Program
Islamabad, November 19, 2024 – Pakistan and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) formalized a $500 million loan agreement on Tuesday under the Climate and Disaster Resilience Enhancement Program (CDREP), signaling a significant step toward addressing the country’s climate challenges and disaster vulnerabilities.
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Senate Opposes VPNs Blockage, Warns of $400M Freelancer Loss
The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication has strongly opposed the proposed blockage of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) from November 30, citing potential losses of $400 million in IT remittances. The committee, chaired by Senator Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan, criticized the move as illegal, noting no law permits blocking such technology.
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Experts Advocate Strong Tobacco Taxation for Public Health
Islamabad, November 16, 2024 – Experts at a seminar titled “Taxing Tobacco: A Path to Reducing Consumption and Saving Lives” highlighted the pressing need for a comprehensive and sustainable tobacco taxation policy in Pakistan.
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Government Keeps Petrol, Diesel Prices Unchanged for Fortnight
ISLAMABAD: The federal government has decided to keep fuel prices unchanged for the next fortnight, according to a notification issued by the Finance Division. This decision is based on the price trends of petroleum products in the international market during the last two weeks, as calculated by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA).
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Weekly SPI Inflation Increases by 0.55%
Islamabad, November 15, 2024 – The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), which measures weekly inflation, recorded an increase of 0.55% for the week ending November 14, 2024, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). The rise reflects notable price hikes in essential commodities, impacting households across the country.
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SBP Modernizes Agriculture Loan Process with New Alternatives
Karachi, November 15, 2024 – The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has introduced streamlined procedures and documentation requirements for agricultural loans, aiming to simplify the process for farmers and financial institutions alike.
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Punjab Approves New Agricultural Income Tax Amendments
Lahore, November 15, 2024 – In a significant move, the Punjab Assembly passed the Punjab Agricultural Income Tax (Amendment) Bill 2024 on Thursday, despite opposition protests and a walkout by members of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
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