SCCI urges special relief package in budget for ‘war-affected’ traders of KP

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Mon, 5 Jun 2023, 9:53 PM

PESHAWAR, Jun 05 (APP):Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) on Monday urged the government to announce a special economic relief package for the ‘terrorism-affected’ business community of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) in the budget.

In the media talk with different private news channels regarding the upcoming fiscal budget here on Monday, the chamber’s acting president Ejaz Khan Afridi urged the government to present a business-friendly budget for the next financial year.

Ejaz sought a reduction in the ratio of taxes and opposed imposing the additional burden of taxes on existing taxpayers and poor masses. He furthermore asked to reduce electricity, gas tariffs and prices of petroleum commodities.

The SCCI acting chief said it was the dire need of the hour to provide relief to the business community in the budget in order to revive the ailing economy of the country.

Businessmen are faced with difficulties owing to high prices of electricity, gas and petroleum commodities, Ejaz said. The chamber’s acting chief furthermore asked for taking economic, industries and business growth-oriented initiatives.

He asked the government to incorporate the SCCI proposals in the upcoming fiscal budget so that relief should be given in light of the chamber’s recommendations to terrorism and natural calamity hit traders’ community of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

If the industries and businesses would be functional and working positions that will bring stability in the national economy, Ejaz remarked.

He added that a prosperous business community is a guarantee for a better economy, so the government should give them relief and special incentives at every level.

In response to reporters’ various queries, Ejaz Afridi urged the government to take pragmatic steps through the upcoming budget for the removal of hurdles in the way of the country’s export and bilateral trade.

He suggested the signing of a free trade agreement and launching joint ventures between Pakistan and Afghanistan and asked both governments to frame a concrete and comprehensive policy in this regard. Ejaz Afridi said enhancing bilateral trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan and Central Asian Republic countries is in dire need under the prevailing economic conditions, stressing the need to give special focus on this proposal.

Trans Eurasia rally reaches Pakistan

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Munir Hussain

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Mon, 5 Jun 2023, 9:51 PM

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ISLAMABAD, Jun 5 (APP):The Trans Eurasia car rally was given a warm welcome on Monday on reaching Pakistan after passing through 16 countries.
The car rally entered Pakistan through Taftan in Balochistan and in the next stage while racing through the picturesque areas of Balochistan will reach the northern areas.
From northern areas the rally will make its exit at Wagah border and will travel through India.
As many as 33 tourists travelling in 10 vehicles and on seven heavy bikes are part of the rally which began from Paris and will end in Kuala Lumpur.
The citizens of Pakistan welcomed the rally and expressed hope that the remaining journey of the rally will be pleasant and adventurous.
Pakistan is a safe tourist destination and its people are known around the world for their hospitality. Pakistan is an attractive destination for tourists because of its mighty snow capped mountains, lush green valleys, historical cities and exotic coastline.

Special measures in budget for relief to poor, middle classes: PM

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Munir Hussain

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Mon, 5 Jun 2023, 9:20 PM

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ISLAMABAD, Jun 5 (APP):Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Monday here decided to take major steps in the budget for the welfare of poor and middle classes.
He was chairing a meeting to finalize measures to provide relief to poor and middle classes of society.
The PM directed that despite economic challenges, special measures should be taken for the protection of vulnerable sections of society.
He said maximum relief should be given to public by utilizing the available resources in the best possible manner.
He ordered that a comprehensive plan should be devised for giving direct subsidy to the farmers.
The government would also assist the deserving farmers in converting tubewells to solar energy, he said adding the solarization of tubewells would decrease the fuel import bill and would bring down the per acre production cost of farmers.
He reminded that the government immediately brought down prices of petroleum products when the prices in the international market came down.
He instructed that the impact in reduction of petroleum prices should be transferred to the common man, adding the scope of Benazir Income Support Programme should be expanded to ensure inclusion of needy persons. It should be ensured that no needy widow was left out of the Benazir Income Support Programme.
He said deserving students should be equipped with higher education and technical skills.
For this purpose the government was ensuring establishment of an Education Endowment Fund, he informed
Shehbaz Sharif said his government always kept on priority provision of education, skills, laptops and jobs for the youth.
The government would equip youth with skills according to the international standards and contemporary demands, he continued.
He said the scope of Prime Minister Youth Loan Programme would be enhanced and youth would be given loans for businesses on easy conditions.
The exports of the information technology sector would be raised by facilitating youth in the IT sector. Youth would be given facilities so that they could get training for freelancing and technical education and get self-employed, he stressed.
The PM said in the last years of the previous government youth were instigated and filled with hate and chaos and sticks and petrol bombs were given in their hands.
“We will utilize capabilities of the young generation and use their energies to ensure progress of the nation and country.”
He said all facilities would be provided for the progress of small and medium enterprises.
Federal Ministers Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Ishaq Dar, Ahsan Iqbal, Advisor to PM Ahad Cheema, Minister of State Dr Musadiq Malik, Special Assistants Muhammad Jehanzeb Khan and officers concerned attended the meeting.
Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation Shazia Marri, Special Assistants Shiza Fatima, Qaiser Sheikh, expert of modern farming Ahmed Umair and Asif Pir of IT sector took part in the meeting through video link.

Public welfare, business friendly policies focus of budget: PM

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Munir Hussain

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Mon, 5 Jun 2023, 9:17 PM

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Public welfare, business friendly policies focus of budget

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ISLAMABAD, Jun 5 (APP):Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Monday said the focus of the budget for the financial year 2023-2024 will be progress, public welfare and business-friendly policies.
He was speaking at a high-level consultative meeting with the allied parties here on the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).
He said the size of PSDP in the budget would be increased from Rs 700 billion to Rs 950 billion in the next financial year to spur economic growth and create job opportunities.
He said the next financial year would be the year of economic progress for Pakistan, adding economic conditions were difficult and the government was adopting a policy of utilizing available resources in the best possible manner.
The PM said substantial funds would be allocated in the new budget for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the flood-affected areas.
During a briefing, the participants of the meeting were told that the long-delayed National Flood Response Programme would be restarted after a lapse of many years.
He said despite the damage caused to the national economy by the previous government, his government worked hard and brought economic stability.
He said he considered consultation with the allied parties very important, adding last year for the first time in the history of Pakistan, the 13-parties alliance saved the state by putting in danger their own politics.
“We cannot find this kind of effort to save the country’s economy, anywhere in the world.”
He said Pakistan was saved from economic destruction and agents of chaos.
Federal Ministers Ishaq Dar, Ahsan Iqbal, Moulana Asad Mehmood, Rana Tanvir Hussain, Maulana Abdul Wasey, Syed Aminul Haque, Agha Hassan Baloch, Sardar Israr Tareen, Advisor to PM Ahad Cheema, Ministers of State Hashim Notezai, Ehsanullah Reki, member National Assembly and Convener Muttahida Qoumi Movement Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, MNAs Aslam Bhotani, Mohsin Dawar and member Awami National Party Sardar Hussain Babak and officers concerned attended the meeting.
Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah, member National Assembly and Chairman Balochistan National Party Sardar Akhtar Mengal attended the meeting through a video link.
The leaders and members of the allied parties thanked the prime minister for taking them into confidence about the development budget and for including their suggestions.
The meeting was told in detail about the economic targets and figures and proposed projects of the development budget.
The PM directed the officials concerned and the Ministry of Finance to implement the suggestions of the allied parties and incorporate them in the upcoming budget.