ISLAMABAD, 05 JUN (DNA) —    A car overturned near roadside rest area at Chakri motorway service in Rawalpindi early Friday morning, leaving at least five people injured.According to details, rescue officials said that panic gripped commuters near Chakri Motorway after a car overturned, leaving five people injured, local media channel reported.

A rescue official said the accident apparently occurred due to the driver’s negligence; however, the exact cause of the incident has not yet been determined.  Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.

Rescue teams reached the scene shortly after receiving information about the accident and shifted the injured to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. Further investigations are underway. — DNA

ISLAMABAD, JUN 5: The federal government on Friday introduced a fixed tax scheme for small shop owners as part of its ongoing efforts to expand tax collection and document the economy.

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb announced the scheme during a joint press conference with State Minister for Finance Bilal Azhar Kiani, outlining its key features and objectives.

FinMin Aurangzeb said that economic stability must be maintained and that increasing the country’s revenue to a specific level remained important.

“Everyone says that instead of increasing tax rates at this time, there is a need to reduce them,” the finance czar said.

According to the finance minister, an estimated three to four million small traders fell within this category.

He welcomed the participation of traders who had not previously contributed to the tax net, saying they were now coming forward voluntarily.

Aurangzeb said that all stakeholders wanted to play their part in national resources and that the scheme was being introduced in line with consultations and demands from small traders.

Speaking on the occasion, Kayani said the simplified scheme would apply to shopkeepers whose annual sales do not exceed Rs200 million, saying the government was bringing the fixed tax framework to make it easier for small traders to fulfil their tax obligations.

“This is a one-page form on which traders will record the sale of their goods,” Kayani said, adding that the scheme was being introduced following consultations and demands from traders’ associations.

Key features
Outlining details of the initiative, Kayani said that the scheme carries a fixed tax rate of 1%, while any withholding tax already deducted will be adjusted against it.

Under the scheme, eligible retailers would be required to submit a simple one-page declaration form, available in Urdu, Pashto, Sindhi and Balochi languages, he added.

The minister said that participants would be required to deposit a minimum of Rs25,000 at the time of filing the form, irrespective of the amount of withholding tax already deducted.

Businesses with higher turnover would pay tax at 1% according to their sales volume, he added.

The minister said that both filers and non-filers could become part of the scheme by submitting the required form.

According to Kayani, the scheme was optional, and shopkeepers would have the choice either to join the new fixed tax regime or remain under the normal taxation system.

The minister said participants in the scheme would generally be exempt from tax audits.

In exceptional cases where an audit became necessary, it would only be conducted after consultation with, or intimation to, a notified committee comprising representatives of traders’ organisations.

Shopkeepers who neither joined the fixed tax scheme nor filed returns under the normal tax regime would face penalties of Rs10,000 in the first month, Rs25,000 in the second month and Rs50,000 in the third month, Kayani said.

He clarified that street vendors and pushcart operators remained exempted from the scheme.

According to Kayani, traders seeking to benefit from the programme must ensure their tax payment is at least equal to the previous year’s amount.

The minister said every trader enrolled in the scheme would receive a plate issued by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

The plate would display the trader’s name, shop name and declare him a responsible taxpayer, he added.

Kayani further said traders participating in the scheme would be exempt from FBR’s point of sale (POS) requirement, describing the measure as part of efforts to simplify tax compliance for small businesses.

ISLAMABAD, JUN 5 – Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has criticized the Azad Kashmir People’s Action Committee’s demand to abolish refugee seats, calling it undemocratic and an attempt to disrupt the upcoming electoral process.

In a statement on X regarding the Azad Kashmir elections, Asif said the polls are scheduled for July 27 and any demand related to representation should be placed before the people through the democratic process.

He said the Action Committee has demanded the abolition of 12 seats elected from Pakistan. He termed the demand, made ahead of the Azad Kashmir elections, as tantamount to sabotaging the electoral process.

The minister said democratic thinking requires that such a proposal should be presented before the people on election day so voters can decide for themselves.

Khawaja Asif said the people should be allowed to determine the shape of their representation through the vote. He said placing the issue before the electorate on July 27 would reflect democratic thinking.

Otherwise, he warned, the demand would be seen as blackmail rather than a democratic position.

The defence minister said there is a full Kashmir Assembly seat from Sialkot city and tehsil. He questioned how refugees could be deprived of their rights after decades of hardship.

Khawaja Asif said these refugees had lived in difficult and helpless conditions for many years and had paid a very high price for freedom.

Asif stressed that those seeking changes in representation should adopt a democratic path. He said opinions should be recognized through electoral and constitutional means rather than through pressure before the polls.

The defence minister maintained that refugee communities must not be deprived of their political rights.

ISLAMABAD, JUN 5: Stressing the need for collective action against evolving security threats, Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, urged the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to strengthen regional cooperation in combating terrorism, organized crime, narcotics trafficking, cybercrime, and terror financing.

Addressing a special meeting of Interior Ministers and Public Security Ministers of SCO member countries in Bishkek, Naqvi said the region is facing increasingly complex and interconnected security challenges that require coordinated and forward-looking responses.
He noted that criminal and terrorist networks were rapidly adapting to technological advancements, exploiting artificial intelligence, digital platforms, online networks and cryptocurrency transactions to expand their activities. In response, he emphasized the importance of modernizing institutional coordination and enhancing intelligence-sharing mechanisms across the region.

“Shared threats demand shared solutions,” Naqvi told the delegates, calling for a comprehensive regional strategy to tackle transnational crime and emerging security risks.

Highlighting Pakistan’s commitment to the principles of the SCO, he said the country remains firmly dedicated to the “Shanghai Spirit,” which is based on mutual trust, equality, cooperation, and respect for sovereignty. He added that Pakistan has made unparalleled sacrifices in the fight against terrorism and extremism and continues to strengthen its security architecture to address evolving threats.
Naqvi pointed to Pakistan’s efforts under the National Action Plan, including enhanced intelligence coordination, improved border management, and stronger anti-money laundering measures. He said these initiatives have significantly strengthened the country’s capacity to combat terrorism and organized crime.

The minister also stressed the importance of expanding cooperation under the SCO’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), particularly in intelligence sharing, joint threat assessments, and efforts to counter online radicalization and extremist propaganda. Pakistan, he said, fully supports initiatives such as regional workshops and expert exchange programs aimed at building collective capabilities.
Naqvi said cybersecurity emerged as another key theme of his address He described cyber intelligence and digital forensics cooperation as an urgent regional requirement, noting that technological advances have created new opportunities for criminal organizations and terrorist groups.

On the issue of narcotics trafficking, he warned that the illegal drug trade remained a major source of terrorist financing. He called for a coordinated strategy against drug trafficking networks, online criminal operations and illicit financial flows facilitated through digital currencies. Pakistan’s Anti-Narcotics Force, he said, remains actively engaged in SCO-led counter-narcotics initiatives and stands ready to deepen cooperation with partner countries.
Naqvi further underscored the critical role of border security in ensuring regional peace and stability. He urged SCO members to increase collaboration in combating human trafficking, improving watch-list coordination, and preventing the use of forged travel and identity documents.

Addressing financial crimes, the interior minister said disrupting terrorist financing remains one of Pakistan’s foremost priorities. He highlighted reforms introduced to strengthen the country’s anti-money laundering regime and noted that Pakistan’s enhanced financial monitoring framework is playing an active role in detecting and preventing illicit financial activities.
“Strong regional cooperation is indispensable for dismantling terrorist financial networks,” he said, emphasizing that no country can effectively confront transnational threats in isolation.

Concluding his address, Naqvi reiterated that the challenges confronting SCO member states were shared and therefore required collective and coordinated action. He said the common goal of all member countries is to build a peaceful, secure, and stable SCO region.

The minister also extended an invitation to SCO partners, saying Pakistan looks forward to welcoming participating countries to Islamabad for the SCO Summit scheduled to be held in 2027, expressing confidence that deeper cooperation would contribute to lasting regional security and prosperity.