RAWALPINDI: February 15 –
A vendor displaying the different kinds of decorative stuff using during marriage ceremonies at his workplace.
RAWALPINDI: February 15 –
A view of on open man hole at Chungi No 9 needs attention of the concerned authorities.
SARGODHA: February 15 –
Steel industry acknowledge Prime Minister for assuring support.
ISLAMABAD, Feb 15 (APP):A delegation of Pakistan Association of Large Steel Producers (PALSP) on Thursday met with caretaker Prime Minister for Anwar ul Haq Kakar and acknowledged the government support for industry.
The delegation included leading member of long steel manufacturers which included senior members of PALSP including Senator Nauman Wazir Khattak, Abbas Akberali, Javaid Mughal, Saqib Riaz, Hussain Agha, Zarak Khan Khattak, Hassan Farid and Wajid Iqbal Bukhari- Secretary General, PALSP. The meeting was also attended by senior officials of Finance, FBR, SBP and NHA, said a press release issued by PALSP here.
PALSP delegation briefed the Prime Minister about the challenges and most pressing issues of steel sector.
The members of delegation expressed their concerns over current difficult period for industries amid exorbitant interest rates, sky rocketing cost of inputs especially electricity prices etc.
In order to bring the Steel Industry out of the current situation, the PALSP delegation urged the PM that the Govt must take effective measures to facilitate steel sector.
PM Kakar keenly heard all the issues of industry and assured govts full cooperation and support.
He recognized the pivotal role that the steel sector can play in fortifying the country’s economy and directed the relevant authorities to formulate policies aimed at supporting steel industry to contribute more to the economy.
PM advised the industry to develop a consortium and come up with proposal for steel industry transformation especially extraction of iron ores and Pakistan Steel Mills privatization.
He said SIFC is the best platform for industry to suggest transformative measure and innovative ideas that can boost industry. ThePALSP highlighted that current unprecedented tough situation has forced companies to either halt/shut down their operations or to operate at minimum capacities.
As a result, many companies declared heavy losses and others have meager profit margins of 1% to 2% for current year. In such grim of situation where companies are facing losses the high rate of 1.25% Turnover Tax (on manufacturing) is regressive & extremely unjustifiable. To ease the situation and stabilize the local steel industry there is need to rationalize Turnover tax rate and increase its adjustment period to 5 years.
The members updated the PM that the inordinate delay in incorporation of required enabling provision in Export Facilitation Scheme Rules (“EFS Rules”) is hindering steel industry’s copper export potential. During the meeting, the PM was apprised that some of the key players of steel industry are fast diversifying in the exports of non-ferrous products/copper and in the last few years, steel industry emerged as the fastest growing exporting sector securing 5th place in top exporting sectors. In FY 2023, the value of exports of copper touched USD 1350 million mark, exhibiting Year-on-Year increase of around 20%. With Chinese annual copper imports of around USD 200 billion and FTA with China providing competitive advantage, copper exports could easily cross USD 5 billion mark within two to three years.
PALSP members also highlighted that the menace of flying GST invoices is biggest threat for documented players. PALSP apprised that the flying sales tax invoices are being circulated for sale/purchase of local steel scrap by unorganized/small players of the industry and approximately 80% of the local scrap sales are routed via Flying Sales Tax Invoices. This deprives the national exchequer in the form of huge revenue loss of billions of rupees. The Association suggested to disallow sales tax input on purchase of local steel scrap.
The Association also asked for curbing the menace of smuggling. PALSP appreciated that govt has took all preventive measures to stop the menace of smuggling but from last couple of months the smuggling activity has again started picking.
– A delegation of READ Foundation call on President Dr Arif Alvi, at Aiwan-e-Sadr.
ISLAMABAD: February 15 –
Two minor sisters burn to death as hut catches fire
MUZAFFARGARH, Feb 15 (APP):Two minor sisters burn to death while another girl sustained injuries as hut of wood caught fire in Basti Goram Pitafi chowk on Thursday.
According to Rescue officials, three minor girls including two sisters were present into their house when suddenly fire erupted in hut made with wood near Basti Goram Pitafi chowk Mondka road.
As a result, seven years old Hijab d/o Ansar and 8 Nayyab d/o Ansar burn alive while 8 Dua Fatima d/o Abid sustained serious burn injuries as 84 percent body burnt.
Rescue 1122 shifted the injured girl to district headquarters hospital after providing first aid.
PPP contact & coordination committee meets Bilawal
ISLAMABAD, Feb 15 (APP):The members of the contact and coordination committee of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Thursday met with the party Chairman of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
They briefed Bilawal Bhutto about their meetings with the other political parties, said a press release issued by the party secretariat.
Qamar Zaman Kaira, Syed Murad Ali Shah, Nawab Sanaullah Zehri, Shuja Khan, Saeed Ghani, Nadeem Afzal Chan and Bahadur Khan Sehar were present in the meeting.
Meanwhile, Chairman PPP also met with former Governor of Punjab Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar at Zardari House in which the political situation of the country was discussed.
Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani, Syed Naveed Qamar and Sherry Rehman were also present during the meeting.
Former Member Norwegian Council Aamir Sheikh calls on President Azad Jammu and Kashmir Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry at Kashmir House.
ISLAMABAD: February 15 –
South Punjab Secretariat nears completion
MULTAN, Feb 15 (APP):The Civil Secretariat South Punjab is swiftly advancing towards its final stages, marking a significant milestone for the region.
Noteworthy progress includes the near-completion of the secretariat building itself, with the Government Officers Residences (GOR) already finalized.
In a review meeting held on Thursday, chaired by Additional Secretary Muhammad Farooq Dogar and attended by officials including Deputy Secretary Abdul Saboor Thakur, Section Officer Development Hafiz Khurshid Malik and Project Director IDAP Faisal Zaman, essential steps were outlined to ensure the seamless integration of modern amenities.
The meeting also discussed about the allocation of funds for the purchase of computers, sound systems, office furniture, and solar power systems, underlining the commitment to efficiency and sustainability.
Addressing the meeting, Additional Secretary Muhammad Farooq Dogar stressed the importance of outfitting secretaries’ offices with state-of-the-art equipment to facilitate seamless communication, including video conferencing capabilities and high-speed laptops tailored for the e-filing system.
Project Director Faisal Zaman briefed the meeting about upcoming installation of solar power systems. With contracts slated for the installation of 1 MW solar system within the Secretariat and a 90 KW system in GOR, sustainability remains at the forefront of the project.
The meeting also highlighted significant financial investments, with 77 million rupees earmarked for the purchase of furniture and plans underway for the construction of additional residences in GOR, further bolstering infrastructure development in the region.
ATC declares 11 PTI leaders proclaimed offenders
LAHORE, Feb 15 (APP):An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Thursday declared 11 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders proclaimed offenders (POs) in a case of torching a container at Kalma Chowk, during May 9 riots.
The leaders include Azam Khan Swati, Muhammad Zubair Khan Niazi, Murad Saeed, Hammad Azhar, Mian Aslam Iqbal, Imtiaz Ahmad Sheikh, Wasiq Qayyum Abbasi, Musarrat Cheema and Jamshed Cheema.
ATC Judge Muhammad Naveed Iqbal passed the orders while allowing an application, filed by the police for the purpose.
The investigation officer had filed the application for declaring the PTI leaders proclaimed offenders, stating that hectic efforts were made for the arrest of the accused but they could not be arrested as they went into hiding to avoid arrest. He submitted that non-bailable arrest warrants had already been issued against the accused, but they failed to surrender to the law. He requested the court to declare the accused proclaimed offenders.
Naseerabad police had registered a case against the PTI leaders.
MTT-WOP to complete oil pipeline from Karachi to Peshawar
ISLAMABAD, Feb 15 (APP): The Machike-Thallian-Taru Jabba White Oil Pipeline (MTT-WOP) project aimed to complete the oil pipeline backbone from Karachi to Peshawar, achieving energy-efficient movement of petroleum products, preventing adulteration, and increasing safety.
It will connect Punjab from Machike, near Lahore, to Tarujabba, near Peshawar explained the Petroleum Division in a news release issued here on Thursday.
The pipeline consists of two segments: Machike-Thallian and Thallian-Tarujabba along the Motorway with connectivity options to Attock refinery, Chakpirana, and Faqirabad, completing the infrastructure supply chain from Karachi to Peshawar.
This project may be called a flagship project spearheaded by FWO jointly supported by PSO and ISGS.
The 477 km long pipeline aims to ensure a smooth supply chain of petroleum products from Karachi to Peshawar with an initial carrying capacity of 7 MTPA, extendable to 10 MTPA.
The pipeline is expected to significantly reduce traffic congestion, environmental pollution, and transportation costs.
The signing ceremony of the MoU between the Stakeholders on the Consortium Formation for the Machike-Thallian-Tarujabba White Oil Pipeline Project took place on February 14, in Islamabad.
The heads of consortium entities, i.e., MD Pakistan State Oil (PSO) Syed Muhammad Taha, DG Frontier Works Organization (FWO) Major General Abdul Sami, MD Interstate Gas Systems Pvt. Ltd (ISGS) Nadeem Bajwa, signed the historical Memorandum of Understanding.