DNA

Islamabad, AUG 18 – Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) organized an online “Weekly Celebrations of Independence” discussion on “Freedom and Our Fiction”. Discussion Presided over by Dr Anwar Ahmad, Muhammad Hameed Shahid was the Chief Guest and Mirza was the Guest of Honor.

Dr Zia-ul-Hassan, Dr Najiba Arif and Amjad Tufail presented papers. Dr Yousuf khushk, Chairman PAL presented an introductory note. Discussion moderated by Dr Adia Tahir. Dr Anwar Ahmad said that Pakistan had geography even before it came into existence and even before the establishment of Pakistan was the identity of Pakistan.

Dr Yusuf Kushk, Chairman, PAL, thanked the participants and said that all the literature written in Pakistan has described different aspects of Tehreek-e-Pakistan. If fiction in Urdu, Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto, Balochi and other languages is read, then every writer has described Tehreek-e-Pakistan, Qiyam-e-Pakistan instability of Pakistan in his own way. Such creative work requires thorough research.

DNA

Islamabad, AUG 18 – Dr. Fouzia Saeed, Director General, Pakistan National Council of the Arts congratulated all the recipients of civil awards. In her message coupled with bouquet from Pakistan National Council of the Arts to the laureates, Dr. Fouzia paid rich tributes to the legendary artistes of Pakistan and hailed their services and contributions. She declared these artists as true ambassadors of Pakistan.

She highly appreciated the services of these artistes which have been acknowledged worldwide. Artists are the ones who present the true image of a society and earn a good name for their country.

They play a very positive role in elevating and improving the mental approach of the people towards life by inspiring them through their art. Their lifelong services in the field have been recognized and acknowledged for their sheer commitment. She wished them prosperous and bright future.

These awards were announced by the President of Pakistan on the occasion of Pakistan’s 74^th Independence Day. These awards of “Nishan-e-Imtiaz”, “Sitar-e-Imtiaz” and “President’s Award for Pride of Performance” will be conferred upon  Talat Hussain, Bushra Ansari, Sultana Siddiqui, Hamayun Saeed, Ali Zafar, Abida Perveen, Prof. Zahoor-ul-Akhlaq, Madam Indu Mitha, Farooq Qaiser, and Muhammad Ali Shehki  in the field for Arts and Culture on March 23, 2021. DNA

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DNA

Islamabad, AUG 18 – Muhammad Ahmed Waheed, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) along with Malik Sohail Hussain, former Senior Vice President ICCI and Chief Coordinator UBG FPCCI held a meeting with Dr. Muhammad Ashfaq Ahmed, Member (Inland Revenue-Operations), FBR in his office and discussed with him tax related issues of business community for redress.

Dr. Muhammad Ashfaq Ahmed, Member (IR-Operations), FBR said that business community was playing important role in the economic development of the country and efforts would be made to address their key issues in order to facilitate them in business promotion. He lauded the role of ICCI in facilitating the growth of business activities as it was acting as a bridge between the government and the private sector. He was of the view that the close liaison and smooth working relations between FBR and ICCI were important to resolve issues and generate more economic activity in the region. He also shared the various initiatives being taken by the government to further improve the taxation system for promoting the economy.

Speaking at the occasion, Muhammad Ahmed Waheed, President ICCI said that FBR should focus on complete automation of income tax, sales tax and customs duty refunds for timely payment of all refunds that would address the liquidity issues of business community and help in promoting exports. He also discussed the issue of Sec-8B of Sales Tax Act that allowed adjustment of input tax amount of only 90 percent of the output tax for a period and emphasized that FBR should allow adjustment of input tax amount of the 100 percent of output tax to facilitate the business community in these tough time. He said a facilitation desk of Pakistan Customs has been setup in ICCI that would help in resolving customs related issues and further strengthen the relations between both sides. He discussed many options with Member (IR-Ops) FBR for broadening the tax base in order to further enhance the tax revenue of the country.

Malik Sohail Hussain former Senior Vice President ICCI and Chief Coordinator UBG FPCCI expressing his views said that a taxation system characterised by low compliance cost and low tax rates would be instrumental in promoting tax culture and improving tax revenue of Pakistan and stressed that FBR should work on these lines.

Expanding its ecommerce footprint and propelling digitization in the country, Daraz, the leading platform for online shopping in Pakistan, has focused on innovative answers that will not only propel digitization in the country but also offer millions convenience in fulfilling routine tasks.

The platform has launched dBills – a channel dedicated to the payment of electricity, water, telephone-internet and gas bills which will eliminate the need for Pakistanis to step outside of their houses to clear their dues.

The COVID19 pandemic has proven a catalyst for change and digital adoption in Pakistan with consumers relying on digital solutions for entertainment, to shop and to make payments.  Daraz is focused on offering innovative answers that offer millions convenience in fulfilling routine tasks. dBills allows customers to make payments using a variety of digital payment methods including credit cards and offers discounts up to PKR 500. Daraz has simplified the payment process so customers can easily open their Daraz app, enter their details and make their payment. The platform has partnered up with NADRA to ensure that customers across the country are able to avail the channel.

“Customer-centric innovation remains the driving force at Daraz and over the past few months, we have focused more keenly on offering our users digital solutions for different areas of life. We are confident that dBills will revolutionize utility bill payments in Pakistan while offering unprecedented ease to millions of Pakistanis.” said Riaz Ali, Regional Head of Digital Channel at Daraz.

The launch of dBills has been preceded by the launch of dTravel through which customers have easy and immediate access to online bus tickets for intercity travel. The channel serves as a unique one-stop solution as it allows customers to browse routes, timings and prices from different bus services, eliminating the need for customers to visit different digital platforms to search for tickets that suit their preferences. Earlier this year, Daraz also launched Daraz First Games – an immersive free online gaming platform that provided users entertainment and helped them connect digitally with friends during a period of social distancing.

Daraz is confident that the new channels will help spur on digitization in the country and ensure that digital solutions become an integral part in the lives of millions of Pakistanis.

DNA

ISLAMABAD, AUG 18 – Missing Persons Commission has disposed of 4616 cases upto July 30, 2020 as per monthly progress report of mission persons released by Secretary (ColoED) on cases of alleged enforced disappearances upto July 30, 2020.

A total number of 6686 cases were received by the Missing Persons Commission upto June 2020. During July 2020, 43 more cases were received by the commission and total numbers of cases reached to 6729. The Missing Persons Commission disposed of 23 cases in July 2020 and thus total disposal of Missing Persons upto July 30, 2020 is 4616 and balance as on July 30, 2020 is 2113.

The Commission has already started hearings in cases under investigation. The visit of the Commission to Quetta and Lahore for convenience of families of Missing persons has also been planned. It may be mentioned that disposal of cases by the Commission includes 876 cases received from UN Working Group on Enforced in Involuntary Disappearances, Geneva and 256 cases are under investigation. During investigation of a number of cases, it has come to light that a large number of persons who are being reported as missing have actually left for Afghanistan and Syria on the instinct of jehadi elements like Daaish.

Honorable Mr. Justice Javed Iqbal, Chairman, Missing Persons Commission and other Honorable members have disposed of 4616 cases upto July 30, 2020. The relatives of missing persons have lauded the efforts of Honorable Mr. Justice Javed Iqbal Chairman Missing Persons Commission and other Honorable members of Missing Persons Commission for taking personal interest in locating their near and dear ones. Honorable Mr. Justice Javed Iqbal, Chairman, Missing Persons Commission is serving Missing Persons Commission in an honorary capacity and is drawing no salary and availing other faculties which are admissible as per law. We are making all out efforts with the help of Law Enforcement Agencies and Intelligence Agencies to resolve the issue with utmost sincerity.

DNA

Islamabad, AUG 18 – More than 1900 Pakistani workers struck in United Arab Emirates have been brought back by Memon Khidmat Forum (MKF). “After outbreak of Covid-19 thousands of Pakistanis, who lost their jobs in UAE, were helped to fly home under the spirit of service to humanity”, said Chairman of the organization Haji Masood Parekh.

He said MKF received thousands of messages from stranded expatriates seeking to return home and we managed a special charter flight to bring them back immediately and the remaining were brought via ordinary flights. These were the expatriates who had lost jobs due to outbreak of corona virus and they were unable to purchase tickets and live there anymore.

On return to Karachi airport all these people were given candies, blankets, chocolates, ladies suits and five thousand cash as well so they could not be ashamed in front of their family members.

He said on this occasion we are also grateful to Chaudhry Nisar of Alamgir Welfare Trust for his cooperation in making this work possible.

Haji Masood Pareikh said that the Saudi authorities gave permission and we are also taking steps to bring back the Pakistanis stranded in Saudi Arabia soon.

He also thanked his team members Arif Punjabi, AK Memon, Amin Sharif, Haji Arif and Amin Manda who worked day and night to make this operation successful.

ISLAMABAD : The Islamabad High Court rejected the intra-court appeal by sugar mill owners against the formation of the Sugar Inquiry Commission, whose report made startling revelations about the scandal.

The SIC report released last month had laid bare startling revelations about how the prices of sugar are fixed, how exports of the commodity are faked to avail rebates on sales taxes, and how billions of rupees are overcharged by sugar mills owners.

The court announced its verdict in the case today (Tuesday) which it had reserved on July 24.

Justice Mian Gul Hasan Aurangzeb and Justice Lubna Saleem Pervez, in the verdict, rejected the appeal by the owners, upholding the earlier decision of the single bench.

On July 25, the IHC reserved its judgment on an appeal of the Sugar Mills Association against the constitution of the sugar inquiry commission.

The petitioners had called for the sugar inquiry report released on May 21 to be declared void and the actions ordered by the prime minister in this regard suspended.

The plea, filed by Advocate Salman Akram Raja, stated: “The scope of the Impugned report clearly exceeds the constitutional mandate and limitations of a Federal Commission of Inquiry constituted under the 2017 Act, as it trespasses into matters within the exclusive legislative and executive domains of the Provinces. The entire inquiry has been carried out in a completely illegal, unlawful, opaque, biased and discriminatory manner.”

“It has been conducted in complete contravention to the requirements of the 2017 Act and the relevant terms of reference. The principle of natural justice as well as the Fundamental Rights of the petitioners including the right to due process, fair trial and non-discrimination have been violated,” read the petition.

It was filed after the government’s announcement that it is forwarding cases to the National Accountability Bureau, FIA and other federal agencies to take punitive actions against those involved in the scandal.

Sugar Inquiry Commission’s report

The Sugar Inquiry Commission report had revealed how the price of sugar is fixed and how billions of rupees are overcharged by sugar mills owners.

According to sources, the report mentioned in depth how the amount of sugar exported to Afghanistan is routinely inflated to show as if 75 tonnes of the commodity were being exported per truck.

However, this is barely possible, given that the maximum capacity of a truck, even when overloaded, does not exceed 30 tonnes.

The scam also seemingly has another purpose: laundering money. If sugar is being exported to Afghanistan, the payment should also be coming in from the same country.

However, it was found by the commission that many sugar mill owners were receiving telegraphic transfers for payments for sugar sold to Afghanistan from the US and Dubai, therefore seemingly whitening money and earning dollars at the same time.

Another important finding highlighted in the report is that sugar mills paid an estimated Rs22bn in taxes to the Government of Pakistan, but out of that total amount, Rs12bn was reclaimed in rebates. Hence, the net contribution was close to around Rs10bn.