ISLAMABAD, JAN 2 (DNA) – The management of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has collected revenue of Rs 1.92 billion for the approval of building plans in 2020. While maps of 2315 buildings were approved in 2020.

According to details, Capital Development Authority (CDA) management has collected record revenue in the year 2020 for the approval of maps of commercial and residential buildings despite the worst outbreak and lockdown of COVID-19. From 1.1.2020 to 31.12.2020, the authority has approved maps of a total of 2315 buildings.

In these maps, 2075 residential and 138 commercial buildings have been approved. Last year, completion certificates of 359 buildings have been issued by this authority. However, revenue of Rs. 1.92 billion has been collected in respect of building approval fees.=DNA

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ISLAMABAD – Minister for Interior Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Saturday vowed that action would be initiated within 72 hours against anyone found using derogatory language against the Pakistan army and state institutions.

Rashid’s remarks, made while speaking to reporters in Rawalpindi, come a day after Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that the opposition’s movement would no longer be directed only at the government but also against it’s “backers”.

Rehman had also stated that the alliance’s possible long march to the capital “could also be to Rawalpindi”. He had also said that the opposition will participate in the upcoming by-elections, but indicated that there had been no decision on contesting the Senate elections.

In today’s press conference, the interior minister said that the PDM has “accepted defeat” because of its decision to contest the upcoming by-elections.

He welcomed the development as “good news”, adding that no “political stage should be left vacant”. Rashid said he was vindicated since he maintained the PDM would contest the elections and now “there are no resignations […] they’re not boycotting elections nor are they boycotting the Senate”.

Elaborating on the government’s response to the PDM’s long march, he said the government is ready to welcome them. He said the government does not plan to trouble anyone and will respond in kind to the PDM’s actions so “democracy, [the] Constitution and the law” are not besmirched.

People won’t pay heed to PDM protest plans: PM

On Friday, Prime Minister Imran Khan said people will pay no heed to the PDM’s call for a ‘long march’ and rejected the opposition’s allegation of a ‘puppet’ premier, arguing that if it was true why he did not hold talks with them even after the military leadership had asked him to do so in order to end political instability.

While reiterating that he would never give any National Reconciliation Ordinance-like relief to the opposition leaders facing corruption references, the PM said: “Pakistani nation takes to streets only against corruption and for their genuine rights, but this time they know PDM leaders are planning the long march only to save their ill-gotten money.”

Asked about the opposition’s one-month deadline before holding a long march against his government, the prime minister said: “I can give in writing that Pakistani nation will not come out on the streets on the call of PDM.”

Responding to another question, he said: “If I am a puppet and if the army has asked me to hold talks with the opposition then why I am not doing so.”

He said if he was a puppet, why he was not making any compromise on the manifesto of ruling PTI. “The fact is that army stands by me in implementation of my government’s manifesto. Army wants stability and progress of the country and that is why it is with me,” he said, adding that the government did not interfere in the affairs of state institutions including the army.

“I am ready to hold negotiations with opposition on important national issues. I am ready to talk but I will commit treason if I give NRO to the opposition. Whatever they (opposition) will do, I will not give them NRO,” the premier had declared.

DNA

LAHORE, JAN 2 – The top leadership of United Business Group  (UBG) Saturday reaffirmed that it firmly believed in democracy, rule of law and supremacy of constitution but outrightly rejected the rigged election result of top slot of president Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

UBG Presidential candidate Muhammad Khalid Tawab talking to media in city today alleged that despite securing equal number of 178 votes biased election commission unlawfully announced his rival Mian Nasir Hayat Mangoon  of Businessman panel as president. He said it’s tradition that in case of tied election ,the fate of office bearer is decided very next day through toss at the annual general meeting of the FPCCI but unfortunately in an undemocratic move and through unlawful recounting of votes, engineered and manipulated result of the election of President was  announced on December 31 while results of SVP and all VPs were declared same day of polling on
December 30.

Khalid Tawab further explained that it was also unanimously agreed by the polling agents of both groups that three disputed votes will not be included in the voting but again election  commission unilaterally and without any lawful authority counted these three votes in favour of his rival in a clandestine manners showing an edge over him with 180 votes.He further explained that actually during counting in presence of polling agents his rival got 177 votes while he was polled 178 votes but election commission illegally opened the sealed vote of Pak Afghan Joint Chamber Balouchistan making the total number of votes equal.He said that DGTO had already cancelled the votes of all joint chambers across the country and didn’t allow them to take part in election process. but his opponents were bent upon to clinch the top slot by hook and crook.

Hanif Gohar UBG Chief Polling Agent present on the occasion said that former FPCCI President Mian Anjum Nisar and his over ambitious team not only sabotaged the results but ransacked the annual general meeting which speaks of their immortality and glaring violations of code of ethics which was once a hallmark of August office of Federation President.

He said UBG will toe the all legal course of action including DGTO and superior courts for justice and restoring the lost glory of apex body of chambers and trade associations.

LAHORE, JAN 2 /DNA/  – The Pakistan Industrial & Traders Association Front (PIAF) has greeted Businessmen Panel (BMP) Chairman Mian Anjum Nisar for clinching the historic victory in the annual elections of the country’s apex trade body, retaining almost all the main seats of the office for second year in a row. 

PIAF chairman Mian Nauman Kabeer, senior vice chairman Nasir Hameed and vice chairman Javed Siddiqi congratulated the BMP candidate Mian Nasser Hyatt Magoo for his election as FPCCI president and Khawaja Shazaib Akram as senior vice president after fighting a tough battle. 

Mian Nauman Kabir said that credit of historic success goes to the top leadership of the group for working day and night for the betterment and welfare of the business community. He hoped that FPCCI President, SVP and other body members will take up the issues, being faced by the business community, with the government. He hoped that FPCCI leadership will accord top importance to the prompt solution to collective problems and issues being confronted by the business community. He said that candidates for the FPCCI elections-2021 deserve appreciation for becoming part of a democratic process and also for ensuring a good atmosphere for the elections. He said that BMP victory clearly reflects the confidence of business community in judicious policies being followed by this group leadership. He hoped that the BMP would now push the government to initiate long-term economic planning for the betterment of business community of Pakistan, as they have the ability to change the fate of Pakistan and transform it into a prosperous country.  

PIAF vice chairman Javed Siddiqi suggested that FPCCI should be strengthened to enhance the role of the private sector in the country’s economic development. 

He said that FPCCI advocates collective opinion, concern and aspiration of the private sector and offered helpful advice and assistance to the government in its efforts to promote exports, encourage foreign investment and stimulate economic activity in the country. 

PIAF leadership on this occasion also said that the business community wants to see more employment opportunities, greater economic activity and an increase in the growth rate. 

He said the government’s aim should be raising exports so businessmen can earn more. For that the export sectors should be offered loans at lower interest rate. 

“Our industry has a potential to double its exports if provided level of playing field. Unless and until the cost of doing business is not reduced desired results as per incentives given for increasing exports would not be achieved,” they added.

DNA

ISLAMABAD, JAN 2 – The Pakistan Information Commission has directed the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to provide minutes of the meeting and file noting to the information seeker, in which PTA had decided to ban TikTok Application in the country.

The Commission asked PTA to ensure provision of information and minutes of the meeting to the applicant within 10 working days.

As per details, the scribe approached the PTA to get information regarding total number of complaints received against TikTok Application, copies of the letters/emails communication with TikTok management, and copies of the notes and minutes of meeting in which the decision of banning the application was taken.

Initially, the PTA refused to share the requested information as the information request was made through Pakistan Citizen Portal, but later, after the intervention of the PIC, the PTA submitted its response and stated that copies of the email send to and received from received from the TikTok Application management and copies of the notes and minutes of meeting in this regard can not be shared with the applicant under the section 7(e) of Right of Access to Information Act 2017.

The commission in its order stated that Section 7 (e) relates to records pertaining to the defence forces of the country.

Furthermore, disclosure of “Copies of the letter(s)/ email (s) between the Respondent and the company managing TikTok application is not likely to adversely impact national security of the country nor the commercial activities of the company which manages TikTok application.

The Seven-page verdict, authored by Information Commissioner Zahid Abdullah, states that ‘noting on the files’ and ‘minutes of the meeting’ are given qualified and not absolute exclusion from disclosure. Exclusion of ‘noting on the file’ and ‘minutes of the meetings’ is subject to a final decision. The disclosure of ‘minutes of meetings’ and ‘noting on the file’ during the deliberative process is protected to ensure that outside influence does not create hindrances in the deliberative process.

However, once a public body has taken a final decision, as is the case in the instant appeal, noting on the files and minutes of the meetings cannot be treated as excluded records. ‘Noting on the file’ and ‘minutes of the meeting’, once final decision has been taken, reflect the quality of input by different officers which become basis for the final decision. Therefore, citizens of Pakistan have the right to have access to ‘noting on the files’ and ‘minutes of the meetings’ which led to the imposition of ban on Tiktok application so that they can judge for themselves the input provided by officers involved which led to the ban through the final order.

This commission is of the view that the disclosure of ‘file notings’ and ‘minutes of the meetings pertaining to the imposition of ban on Tiktok application will contribute to Making government more accountable to citizens, Greater level of participation of citizens in the affairs of the government, reducing corruption and inefficiency, promoting sound economic growth’ and Promoting good governance and respect for human rights in the country, Order states.

The commission in its order has also established that Citizens can seek information from the government departments using the option of Right to Information in Human Rights category of Pakistan Citizen Portal.

Section 11 (2) of the Right of Access to Information Act 2017, clearly states that a citizen can file a request for information “in any manner”. Furthermore, PM Portal has provided a facility to citizens to file information requests under the Act.

DNA

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan categorically rejected completely unwarranted assertions by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in connection with the Hindu temple incident in Karak. This is not the first time the Indian Government has tried to feign concern for minority rights elsewhere while being the most egregious and persistent violator of minority rights itself.

From discriminatory Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) to National Register of Citizens (NRC); from the Gujarat massacre of 2002 to the Delhi pogrom of 2020; from the reprehensible demolition of BabriMosque in 1992 to the despicable acquittal of all the accused by Indian court in 2020; from blaming Muslims for spreading Coronavirus to banning of inter-faith marriages; from cow vigilantism and mob lynchings to terming the Muslims of West Bengal ‘termites’ and threatening to ‘throw them into the Bay of Bengal’; from extra-judicial killings of innocent Kashmiris to blatant attempts to turn Muslims into a minority in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK) through distribution of ‘fake domicile certificate’, the RSS-BJP regime’s record is replete with instances of gross and systemic violations of the rights of minorities, in particular Muslims.

As a perennial purveyor of state-sponsored discrimination against its minorities, India is in no position to pontificate on the issue of minority rights elsewhere.

The clear difference between India and Pakistan in respect of minority rights can be gauged from the fact that the accused in the Karak incident were immediately arrested, orders were issued for repair of the temple, the highest level of judiciary took immediate notice, and senior political leadership condemned the incident. Whereas, in India, the blatant acts of discrimination against Muslims and other minorities take place with state complicity. The Indian leadership is yet to condemn the perpetrators of the Delhi massacre in February 2020, let alone bring those criminals to justice.

Given these incontrovertible facts, the Indian Government would be well advised to set its own house in order rather than feigning concern for minority rights elsewhere.

DNA

ISLAMABAD, JAN 2 – Fatma Azim, Acting President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) said that the economic reforms process of the government was quite slow due to which recovery of business and economic activities was not picking up momentum up to desired level and stressed that the government should put the reforms process in fast gear to create a conducive environment for better growth of business activities. She said the Prime Minister has already announced that the new year will be the year of economic growth for Pakistan and added that this goal could only be achieved by putting the reforms process in top gear.

She said this while talking to a delegation of local industrialists that called on her led by Mian Akram Farid, Chairman Founder Group, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry and discussed with her the key issues of the economy. Tariq Sadiq, Mian Shaukat Masud, Ch. Waheed ud Din, Nasir Qureshi and Aslam Khokhar were in the delegation. Abdul Rehman Khan, Vice President ICCI was also present at the occasion.

Fatma Azim said that one of the better options for the government to accelerate the pace of business and industrial activities is to bring down the policy interest rate to at least 3 percent level, which would make significant reduction in credit cost for the private sector and give a boost to business and investment activities in the country. She said that the businesses were still struggling to combat the impact of Covid-19 pandemic and in these tough times, reducing policy interest rate to 3 percent would provide them great relief.

Speaking at the occasion, Mian Akram Farid Chairman Founder Group Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that industrialization should be the priority focus of the government to put the economy on the path of sustainable growth and create employment opportunities. She said that PM had announced an attractive package for the construction industry due to which the construction activities were now flourishing in the country as many big construction projects have been launched recently. She demanded that the similar kind of relief package should be announced for other major industries that would accelerate the pace of industrialization in the country. She further emphasized that the government should reduce import duties and taxes on industrial machinery, equipment and plants so that the local industry could upgrade its manufacturing set up and produce value added products that would increase our exports significantly.

Mian Akram Farid said that women were over 50 percent of the country’s total population and the government should form conducive policies for economic empowerment of women so that they could play a more effective role in the national development of the country. She said that the government should make new policies for promoting women entrepreneurs that would bring progress and prosperity to the country.

Abdul Rehman Khan Vice President ICCI said that FBR remained short of Rs.16 billion in collecting the projected tax target of Rs.2.21 trillion during the first half (July-Dec) of the current fiscal year, which necessitated the speedy reforms in the tax authority to improve its performance. He said that high tax rates in Pakistan were a major cause of tax evasion in the country and stressed that government’s reforms efforts in FBR should focus on reducing tax rates and broadening the tax base that would help in fostering tax culture and improving tax revenue of the country.