ISLAMABAD, Dec 26 (DNA): The Federal Board of Revenue has collected
double the amount of income tax this year: Rs31 billion. Last year, it
was Rs16 billion.

“This year there was a two-fold increase in income tax paid with the
annual returns,” an FBR spokesperson said. This year, the number of
taxpayers who filed their income tax returns went up to 2.19 million
people.

Meanwhile, the total number of income tax filers in Pakistan has crossed
the two-million mark this year. Last year, it was 1.98 million.

The number of taxpayers, who filed their income tax returns by December
8 was 1.78 million. But now the number increased by another 377,766
persons by December 25.  DNA

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ISLAMABAD, DEC 26 (DNA) – The Capital Development Authority (CDA) administration is working on several projects to provide clean drinking water to the citizens.

An estimated Rs. 495 million has been earmarked for other projects including repair and maintenance of rotten water pipelines, tube wells, water tankers, replacement, installation of new pipelines.

According to the details, the water supply department of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) is highly active in providing clean drinking water to the citizens. In this regard, not only rotten and broken water lines are being repaired but also tube wells.

Minor faults and damaged motors are also being repaired and replaced. On the other hand, tankers of water supply department are also serving the city day and night for the supply of water to the city, while the said water tankers are also being repaired.

Tube wells have been repaired and renovated in G-10, G-11, F-11, I-9 and I-10. The water supply reservoirs are also being repaired. Water supply has been restored by repairing tube wells in G-6, G-7, G-8, G-9, G-10, G-10/3, G-11, F-6 F-7, F-8, F-10, I-9, I-10, H-9, H-10, Humk Town, Rawal Dam, Poona Faqiran and other areas.

The water supply department has also repaired 12 faulty water filtration plants after which now 35 water filtration plants have become operational. On the other hand, repair work of rotten water lines in Sector I-9, I-10, G-11, F-11 and F-10 is underway.=DNA

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ISLAMABAD, DEC 26 (DNA): Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Shibli Faraz has said that expulsion of senior leaders from the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) for their due criticism of party chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman is the worst form of dictatorship and fascism.

In a tweet on Saturday, The information minister said that this decision shows that the JUI-F is under dictatorship.

The Minister said Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who did not tolerate slight criticism by his old companions has shown people how much democratic he really is.

He also asked whether this is the level of freedom of expression in the JUI-F. DNA

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DNA

ISLAMABAD, DEC 26 – Our success lies in following the words and principles of Quaid-e-Azam. These views were expressed by Prof. Fateh Mohammad Malik in the national seminar on the theme of “Hum Pakistani” In his presidential address.Ifthikhar Arif, Dr Aslam Ansari, were present in the praesidium while Dr Ehsan Akbar, Amjad Islam Amjad and Munir Ahmad Badini were the special guests.

Muhammad Hassan Hasrat (Gilgit Baltistan) Dr Rubina Tareen (Punjab), Dr Sajid Awan (Islamabad), Munir Ahmad Badini (Balochistan), Abasin Yousafzai (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Ahmad Ataullah (Kashmir), Farhat Jabeen Virik(Islamabad) expressed their views. Chairman PAL, present keynote addresses on the subject. The proceedings were conducted by  Rubab Tabassum.Prof Fateh Mohammad Malik said that we have succeeded in following the words and principles of Quaid-e-Azam. Iftikhar Arif said that Iqbal and Quaid-e-Azam were connected in terms of thought and ideology.  He said that we should make our new generation aware of the thoughts and ideas of Quaid-e-Azam. Dr Aslam Ansari said that Quaid-e-Azam had an amazing personality.

They organized our collective self and awakened the national consciousness.Dr Ehsan Akbar said that Quaid-e-Azam was a great thinker and politician. His enemies also appreciated his abilities. It was due to his tireless struggle that we got Pakistan. Dr Yusuf  Khushk, Chairman, PAL said that we celebrate the birthday of Quaid-e-Azam every year because we are able to build and shape Pakistan according to the vision of the Quaid. And we have to account for how far we are from our destination. He said that Allama Iqbal presented a map of Pakistan in his Allahabad address.

And the Pakistan Resolution was passed on March 23, 1940. Chairman PAL, said that literature of Pakistani languages is full of Tehreek-e-Pakistan and national sentiments.Amjad Islam Amjad said that both Iqbal and Quaid-e-Azam wanted to see the new generation in line with modern requirements, we should prepare our new generation for the challenges of the modern world.Munir Ahmad Badini said that Khudabakhsh Murree and Gul Khan Naseer have played an important role in Balochi literature in terms of Balochi culture and values.Muhammad Hassan Hasrat, Dr Rubina Tareen, Dr Sajid Awan, Dr Abasin Yousafzai, Ahmad Attaullah and Farhat Jabeen Virik presented his papers on the topics of Zikr-e-Quaid in Pakistani poetry which benefited a large number of attendees, listeners and online people.

DNA

ISLAMABAD, DEC 26 – The experts speaking at an event on Saturday urged the authorities and government institutions to control undue human interventions and constructions in the Margalla Hills National Park to protect the habitats of wildlife. Most of the efforts are focused on hills alone while the Rawal Lake and Shakarparian area are flooded with construction and visitors. We need to control incoming vehicles and visitors and strictly restrict change in the land-use within the MHNP boundaries.

They urged the authorities to work according to their mandate and scope of work without any influence, and discrimination to conserve the natural ecosystems and habitats of the Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP). Communities shall be taken onboard and engaged in the wildlife and protection efforts.

Stringent implementation of laws, capacity building of communities to understand the importance of the habitat they are living in, and participation of citizens and other stakeholders are very important in planning and implementation of the plans for the National Park. Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) and other public institutions shall be strengthened with more budget, staff and with necessary amendments in the legislative framework.

The event “Snapshot Wildlife Margalla Hills National Park” was organized by the Development Communications Network (Devcom-Pakistan) and DTN in connection with the 10^th Pakistan Mountain Festival on Saturday in collaboration with Mivida Pakistan and Pakistan Wildlife Foundation (PWF).

The Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) chairperson Rina Saeed Khan was the guest of honour on the occasion. The speakers included former Deputy Director General WWF Pakistan and biodiversity expert Dr. EJaz Ahmed, Executive Director Devcom-Pakistan Munir Ahmed, former Director National Council of Conservation for Wildlife (NCCW) Umeed Khalid, Dr Muhammad Rafi, and Vice Chairman PWF Safwan Shahab Ahmed.

The young wildlife photographer Abdul Hadi gave a pictorial presentation of the MHNP wildlife. The young conservationists who spoke on the occasion included Minahil Safwan, Sana, and Shaaref Munir.

IWMB chairperson Rina Saeed Khan said PKR 1.8 billion PC-I has been submitted to the Ministry of Climate Change for approval. The funding will help strengthen the IWMB while the new initiatives in the pipeline include conversion of the zoo to a wildlife conservation centre, developing and maintaining the trails in the MHNP, wildlife rescue service, and a centre for the National Park services.

She said IWMB was established under the instructions of Islamabad High Court in 2005 since then it lacked funds and staff. Hopefully it will come up as a strong institution in the near future. All stakeholders and communities living within the park would be taken on board for all the initiatives planned in the MHNP.

Devcom-Pakistan Executive Director Munir Ahmed said undue human interventions in the national park is the result of failure of the government authorities that could not ensure the implementation of its legal framework. Mafias are ruling over the National Park without any hesitation and hindrance. There is no check and control over the change of land-use. Even the CDA has given blank chit to the many businesses to unduly expand and come up with eye-soaring construction of hotels, restaurants and houses. Heavy street lights, massive traffic and no system of sewage and solid waste management are the main challenges which are being ignored by the hand-cuffed government institutions.

 Dr Ejaz Ahmed said we mainly focus on the hills while the Rawal Lake and Shakarparian shall also be looked after. These areas are heavily encroached by the government and private constructions. The cultural centres attract a huge number of visitors and the stress causes extinction of biodiversity and wildlife habitats.

Umeed Khalid suggested a close collaboration between Islamabad and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on the conservation efforts for wildlife and biodiversity being interlinked mountain habitats. We need to provide wildlife a well-conserved corridor for their movement.

Safwan Shahab said we need to adhere to laws strictly and check the land-use change. Stakeholders and communities are not included in the planning stage for any initiative being taken in the National Park. Citizens are seen nowhere in the planning and monitoring of the projects. Same is the case of the Margalla Hills National Park. We need to understand and realize that the National park is an asset for us, and we need to protect its biological and natural heritage.

Shaaref Munir, a student of Hospitality and Tourism Business Management at the Özyeğin University (Istanbul) said that wildlife could bring paid-tourism such as safaris in the National Park. Government shall restrict the movement of vehicles, and construction of buildings in the park to allow free movement of wildlife. It will help improve the ecosystems and habitats.

TAXILA: Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar on Saturday hoped that the ban on the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to operate flights to and from the European countries would be lifted soon as the concerns raised by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) over the safety atandards have been addressed.

Addressing the media in Taxila, the federal minister said eight new planes are being added to the PIA fleet and the EU’s concerns raised regarding the process of issuing licences to commercial pilots have been addressed.

The suspension imposed by Easa took effect on July 1, 2020, after it came to light that countless pilots possessed “fake” licences.

The ban was a big blow to PIA, which was already under scrutiny across the world due to the recently uncovered pitfalls within Pakistan’s aviation industry.

In December, however, Easa had expressed its satisfaction over certain steps taken by the Civil Aviation Authority to improve the situation. The Easa had said a further audit by the agency’s officials was imperative to revoke the ban.

The startling revelations came as the aviation minister presented the interim report on the probe into the May 22 PIA plane crash.

Following the report, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) had expressed concern over the “serious lapse in-licensing and safety oversight by the aviation regulator”.

Criticising opposition leaders and its anti-government coalition Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), Sarwar said that PDM’s tactics will not hinder the process of accountability.

He said that PDM is increasing pressure to bargain and the Opposition wants an amendment to the NAB rules. “Most people of PPP will not resign. A group within PML-N will also not resign,” he claimed.

He went on to add that the Opposition just wants a show of hands to avoid horse-trading in the Senate elections.

Karachi (DNA) Mian Anjum Nisar, President “The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry” (FPCCI) while appreciating the Prime Minister of Pakistan for introducing Amnesty Scheme for Construction Industry, said that the scheme has boosted the socio-economic status of daily wagers and supported the construction and its allied sectors. It was a tremendous decision for the mitigation of COVID-19 impact over Pakistan.

This incentive scheme attracts the builders, developers, and purchasers of housing units and plots who have not availed of it yet. Even the negative economic effects of Covid-19 pandemic have not hindered the Construction Industry in providing immediate jobs back to the millions of daily wages earners.

He informed that Prime Minister Imran Khan had announced the tax amnesty scheme for the real estate and construction sector in April 2020 and will remain valid till 31st December 2020. The relief package was for the construction industry with twofold aim of providing employment to daily wage earners, and spurring economic activity. Those availing of this scheme need to register with the designated FBR portal since the ordinance was promulgated from April 2020 to December 31, 2020.

The immunity from declaring the source of income was also available to builders, developers, and the purchasers of the housing societies and projects, and tax on gains on investment had been waived for all citizens who wanted to sell their homes. The tax amnesty had been given as part of the Prime Minister Package to lessen the impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak on the construction sector.

President FPCCI urges the Prime Minister to extend the time period of the Amnesty Scheme for Construction Industry and introduce the same amnesty scheme facility to other sectors and industries. This scheme can support the economy of Pakistan during the second wave of COVID-19 and it will proved to be a turning point for the economy of Pakistan & for the revival of the housing and construction industry in Pakistan.

He further said that if the Amnesty Scheme continues for another year the daily wagers, the most vulnerable segment of the population can get back to work to earn a respectable earning for their families as they were fighting with the second phase of COVID-19 and poverty at the same time.