Daily Islamabad Post Sept 04https://centreline.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/IP-04-09-2020-A.pdf
PM orders crackdown against housing societies duping overseas Pakistanis
ISLAMABAD : Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday took notice of fraudulent housing societies and ordered authorities concerned to launch a crackdown against housing societies cheating overseas Pakistanis.
As per details, PM Imran Khan chaired an important meeting regarding investment in the real estate sector here in Islamabad and directed authorities to take measures in protecting the investment of overseas Pakistanis in real-estate.
Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Overseas Pakistanis, Zulfi Bukhari, taking to twitter said that major crackdown will be launched on all illegal housing societies selling to Overseas Pakistanis through external channels (expos, digital, overseas offices).” No one will be allowed to cheat innocent overseas Pakistanis,” he said and added that he will share mechanism to provide better real estate investment channels.
On August 16, the federal government had announced to provide digital banking facilities to the overseas Pakistanis within the country.
The digital banking facility under Roshan Digital Account programme will enable overseas Pakistanis to open their accounts in the country and operate it from abroad.
India given another chance to appoint defence counsel for Jadhav
ISLAMABAD : The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday gave another chance to India to engage defence counsel for spy Kulbhushan Jadhav.
A larger bench of the high court comprising Chief Justice Athar Minallah, Justice Amir Farooq, and Justice Mian Gull Hassan Aurangzeb heard the case.
“The Government of Pakistan shall once again convey the orders passed in this petition to the Government of India to enable the latter to consider taking appropriate measures in order to ensure compliance with the judgement of the International Court,” the bench said in its verdict issued after the hearing.Attorney General (AG) Khalid Javed Khan stated before the court that the Government of Pakistan offered Delhi third consular access to the RAW agent to ensure implementation of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) judgement in letter and spirit but received no response. India still has the option to accept or reject the offer, he added.
He submitted that the federal government wants Indian High Commission in Islamabad to appoint legal representative for Jadhav but Delhi doesn’t want to benefit from legal assistance extended to the spy. He informed that Jadhav has also not changed his decision of not engaging any defence counsel.
The hearing was put off until Oct 6.
On July 22, the federal government filed a petition in the IHC seeking appointment of defence counsel for Kulbhushan Jadhav.
Ambassador of Kuwait Calls On Deputy Chairman Senate
Islamabad , 3rd September, 2020
Deputy Chairman Senate Saleem Mandviwalla has underlined the need of enhancing trade with Kuwait which also offers good potential for export of many Pakistani products. He expressed these views in a meeting with Ambassador of Kuwait Nasar Abdul Rahman J. Almutairi at the Parliament House on Thursday. He said that Kuwait has tremendous potential, especially for Pakistani Halal food products and a serious attention towards this particular sector could give a quantum jump to our exports.
He emphasized close collaboration between the two sides in various other fields of mutual interests including agriculture, energy, trade, commerce and investment and proposed strong linkages between trade chambers to explore new avenues of mutual collaborations and interactions with right counterparts.
He observed that Pakistani businessmen are interested to explore Kuwait for business prospects, but Kuwait’s strict visa regime for Pakistani nationals was a major hindrance in pursuit of such efforts. He called for resolving this issue at the higher levels to ensure easy visas for Pakistani entrepreneurs so that they could step up efforts for promoting trade with Kuwait.
He opined that Pakistani missions abroad need to identify export potential of Pakistani products in foreign markets and pass on such study reports to local Chambers that would help in boosting up our trade and exports. Kuwaiti businessmen can explore Pakistan for investment and joint ventures, especially in solar energy, coal mines, rice and other sectors.
He thanked Kuwait government and people of Kuwait for their support to Pakistani community during pandemic and said that both countries enjoyed cordial relations based on mutual trust and respect. He also underlined the need for enhanced people to people contact and enhanced exchange of parliamentary delegations to bring people of the two sides more close. He said that parliamentary diplomacy is an effective tool to promote bilateral and multi-lateral cooperation in diverse areas. “ Pakistan places its ties with Kuwait at high esteem and desires to further expand the fraternal relations in vast areas” , Saleem Mandviwalla.
The Ambassador thanked the Deputy Chairman Senate for the warm welcome at the Parliament. He assured his cooperation in boosting bilateral ties. He said that Kuwait is keen to further strengthen cooperation with Pakistan. He also expressed his condolences on the loss of lives and properties due recent rains. He said that Pakistan is close to our hearts and both the country have a shared dream to work toward promotion growth and economic development. Senators Sajjad Hussain Turi and Dr. Jahanzeb Jamaldini were also present during the meeting.
NAB unearths unaccounted transactions to Ex-PM Abbasi’s account
ISLAMABAD : The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has filed a supplementary reference against former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in the LNG scam, making startling revelations about transfer of funds to his account from a UAE-based firm.
According to the reference, the PML-N leader had been receiving funds from Trinity Company located in the UAE, said to be working with an India-based firm, Siddhart Private Limited.
A sum of $538,895 was transferred to Ex-PM Abbasi’s account in three installments from a Dubai bank, the reference revealed, adding that the UAE government provided the national graft buster with evidence in this regard as the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) also confirmed these transactions.
However, NAB added, the former prime minister, when confronted, was unable to give a satisfactory explanation as to these transactions. It disclosed that more than Rs637 million funds were transferred to the accounts of Abbasi and his son Abdullah.
Former prime minister Abbasi, Miftah Ismail, ex-PSO MD Imranul Haq and others are facing charges of corruption over awarding a LNG import contract allegedly at exorbitant rates in 2015, which caused a big loss to the national exchequer.
NAB sources said that Abbasi, in 2013, had awarded a LNG import and distribution contract to the Elengy Terminal in violation of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules and relevant laws.
Dr. Sani Nishtar calls on Adviser Finance
ISLAMABAD : September 3, 2020
Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue chaired a meeting here at the Finance Division with Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation (SP&PA) Dr. Sania Nishtar for an update on the preparations of release of second tranche of Ehsaas Cash Assistance package in response to Covid-19.
SAPM briefed the Adviser that during the first phase of the program as response to the Covid-19 pandemic, an amount of Rs.175 billion was disbursed by BISP to 14.6 million beneficiaries @ 12000 as one time assistance during 2019-20. Now under the instructions of the Prime Minister the second phase has to be started to provide additional cash relief to those who need it most urgently. The Special Assistant on SPPA briefed that there are 4.6 million regular beneficiaries of Kafalat program, and one time Emergency Cash Assistance was provided to 11.6 million beneficiaries during the pandemic to look after their cash needs.
The Special Assistant said that for the second tranche a revised list of Emergency Cash Assistance beneficiaries will soon be prepared (as the number might be reduced due to control in the spread of the disease and opening on businesses and markets) and all the necessary details will soon be shared with the Finance Division.
The Adviser appreciated the efforts of the Poverty Alleviation Division in looking after the poorest of the poor in the unexpected times and said that for the second tranche of the cash assistance program, Finance Division shall provide all possible help after the SP&PA Division works out the exact requirement of funds for the Kafalat Program, Emergency Cash Assistance and for paying bank Service charges. He also directed to provide an update to the Finance Division about the transparency standards and expenditure already made under round-1 of Ehsaas Emergency Cash Assistance Program.
PM Imran Khan to visit Karachi on Saturday
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran will arrive in Karachi on Saturday to resolve city’s civic and infrastructure problems.
As per details, the prime minister will now visit the port city on September 5 (Saturday) where he will announce a special package for the rain-hit city.
In a tweet on Thursday, Information Minister Shibli Faraz said that Karachi’s development is a guarantee of Pakistan’s prosperity. “PM Imran Khan is committed to restore the glory of Karachi as the city of lights.”
The prime minister would announce uplift projects to transform infrastructure in the city, besides also meeting the stakeholders and coalition parties from the metropolis.
The federal government has also decided to release funds for the projects in the city and the matter would be discussed in the meeting of the coalition partners scheduled with the prime minister.
The prime minister will also chair a meeting to assess devastation from the torrential rains in the city.
Earlier on Wednesday, Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar on Wednesday said that they have agreed in principle over a package for Karachi and consultation over the funds have been completed.
Asad Umar said that projects for Karachi were under discussion for past some time, however, there was no mechanism to implement them.
IOSA team arriving in Pakistan on Sept 5 for safety audit of PIA
KARACHI : An IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) team will be arriving in Pakistan on September 5 to conduct a safety audit of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).
The team will assess the operational management and control systems of the national flag carrier during its stay in the country from September 7 to 12 and will also visit Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Multan and Islamabad airports for the purpose.
The audit is aimed at assessing the airline’s aircraft and safety standards.
It is noteworthy that the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) had in June suspended the Pakistan International Airlines’ (PIA) flight operations to and from Europe over safety concerns.
On Sept 1, a PIA spokesperson said that the national flag carrier has prepared its appeal against the decision in light of the EASA Safety Assessment of Foreign Aircraft (SAFA) programme and will file at an appropriate time.
Following the closure of Pakistan International Airlines flights to Europe, the PIA administration also decided to call back its employees deputed in Europe.
FBR to promote tax culture through educational institutions
ISLAMABAD : In line with the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan for promoting Taxation system in the country, a special signing ceremony of Letter of Understanding (LoU) between Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) and Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) was held in Islamabad to promote tax culture and tax awareness in all educational institutions.
A letter of understanding (LoU) was signed by FDE Director General Zia Batool and Chief (FATE) FBR Ayesha Farooq on Wednesday.
Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood, Parliamentary Secretary Wajija Akram Khan, FBR Chairman Javed Ghani, Federal Secretary Farah Hamid Khan, Additional Secretary Mohyuddin Ahmed Wani and others were present.The LoU shall serve to foster positive taxation culture and awareness among students and teachers through different sets of activities, skills and experiential learning for making them responsible citizens.
The training sessions will inculcate among the students about the significance of paying taxes and how to indicate tax evasion. FBR will educate and 220,000 students and 7,500 teachers through taxation syllabus, training sessions and seminars.
Speaking on the occasion, Chairman FBR Muhammad Javed Ghani stated that FBR has decided to launch countrywide awareness sessions through seminars and training sessions to promote tax culture.
Federal Minister for Federal Education & Professional Training Shafqat Mahmood also applauded the initiative and hoped that FBR would also collaborate with the provinces to follow this practice.
Dean Jones says all Karachi Kings’ overseas players available for Playoffs
Karachi : Dean Jones, head coach of the most popular franchise of Pakistan Super League (PSL) Karachi Kings, said all of their overseas players will be available for fifth edition’s playoffs in November.
Taking to Twitter, Jones confirmed that so far all overseas and local players of Kings will play the playoffs in November in Lahore.
“My understanding, all of our Karachi Kings overseas and local boys will be available for the PSL Playoffs from Nov 14-17,” he wrote.
On the other hand, Kings’ owner Mr. Salman Iqbal said that his boys are ready for the Playoffs. “Great decision by PCB, regarding the eliminators and finals. Karachi Kings is ready!” he wrote on Twitter.
It must be noted here that the final four matches will be played on 14, 15, and 17 November with only the Qualifier and Eliminator 1 to be a double-header. Eliminator 2 will be played on the following day, while the event will conclude on Tuesday, 17 November.
Fixtures (start times to be confirmed in due course):
Saturday, 14 Nov – Qualifier (Multan Sultans v Karachi Kings), Gaddafi Stadium; Eliminator 1 (Lahore Qalandars v Peshawar Zalmi); Gaddafi Stadium
Sunday, 15 Nov – Eliminator 2 ((loser Qualifier v winner Eliminator 1); Gaddafi Stadium
Tuesday, 17 Nov – Final; Gaddafi Stadium
