LARKANA
A gypsy woman busy in washes pots in front of her makeshift huts
LARKANA
LDA conducts operation against encroachments, land grabbers in Johar Town
LAHORE, Aug 29 (APP):On the directions of Commissioner Lahore and DG LDA Muhammad Ali Randhawa, LDA teams conducted an operation against encroachment and land grabbers mafia in the Johar Town.
The LDA teams took action against the land grabbers, evacuated and got possession of 10 plots worth crores of rupees. The operation was conducted by Director Housing VII Moazzam Rashid under the supervision of Additional DG Housing Captain (R) Shahmeer Iqbal.
Plots evacuated from grabbers include Plot No. 370, 340, 341, 345, 346, 328, 396, 403, 321 and 322. As a result of the inquiry by the Anti-Corruption Establishment, the ownership of File No. NB1/187 was declared bogus.
All the evacuated plots consists on one kanal area each. Heavy machinery was used in the operation.
On the direction of Commissioner and DG LDA, an indiscriminate operation against illegal constructions, land grabbers mafia and encroachments is going on across the city.
Caretaker govt has nothing to do with election date: Solangi
ISLAMABAD, Aug 29 (APP): Caretaker Minister for Information and Broadcasting Murtaza Solangi on Tuesday said that the caretaker government had nothing to do with the election date which was a mandate of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) under the new amendments in the Election Act.
Talking to a private channel, the minister said the government was committed to assist the ECP in holding the election in line with its schedule.
It was the legal and constitutional responsibility of the caretaker government to assist the ECP in holding the election, he added.
He said the ECP had issued its schedule for the delimitations of the constituencies following the approval of a fresh census by the Council of Common Interest which was subsequently notified during the previous government’s tenure.
Solangi said it was imperative to give 54 days to all the political parties after delimitations for election campaigns in line with the Constitution.
He said according to Article 218 (3) of the Constitution, it was the responsibility of the ECP to hold free, fair and transparent elections.
To a query, he said the Federal Cabinet today deliberated over the recommendations of the Energy Ministry on the issue related to inflated electricity bills.
Some proposals were discussed during the meeting, he said, adding it was imperative to take the International Monetary Fund on board in this regard.
He said Minister of Finance Shamshad Akhtar was in contact with the IMF and soon the government would be in a position to announce its decisions over the issue related to the bills.
The minister said the decisions would be made after reviewing primary surplus and circular debt data.
Urdu translation of book Maai Mujawar launched
HYDERABAD, Aug 29 (APP):Urdu translation of the book, Maai Mujawar, written by renowned poet and writer Gul Muhammad Koondhar was launched here in Government Degree College and Post Graduate Center Latifabad on Tuesday.
Addressing the ceremony Koondhar said the objective of the translation of the book was to introduce not only urban society to rural society but also make it familiar to the rest of the world.
Honorary guest and former president Kali Mori College University Prof. Nasir uddin Shaikh urged intellectuals to highlight the role of society, scenarios as well and related issues.
Senior journalist Niaz Panhwer said that GulKoondhar has revealed the roles of society with honesty.
Famous writers Sajid Chandio, Dr. Pervaiz Iqbal, Prof. Rafiq Ahmed, Prof.Khalid Rajpoot, Prof. Abdul Latif Ansari, Prof. Shafiq-ur-Rehman, Prof. Anwer Ansari, Hanif Durani and others also spoke on the occasion.
FPCCI concerns over power hike; demands cut in taxes
LAHORE, Aug 29 (APP):Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) President Irfan Iqbal Sheikh said on Tuesday that Pakistani households and businesses were facing mounting power tariff.
He demanded for renegotiating capacity charges and put a halt to sales tax, besides reducing the ratio and number of taxes in the electricity bills.
Addressing a press conference here at FPCCI Regional office, he added that NEPRA’s latest forecast for power purchase prices for the fiscal year 2023-24 reveals a substantial financial burden, with consumers to bear 68 percent of costs for fixed capacity payments; primarily benefiting coal plants.
Irfan Iqbal Sheikh explained that substantial fuel costs – particularly petroleum imports –potentially pose extreme volatility and strain on foreign exchange reserves; with no clear solution or strategy in sight. As a result, end consumer tariff had been increased and applicable with effect from July 1, 2023.
The FPCCI rejected the recent hike in electricity prices; because it was debilitating both for residential and commercial consumers; and, inflation already affecting negatively the businesses and rendering them unprofitable.
The FPCCI President added that currently, residential consumers were unable to pay their electricity bills across the country; and, on an average, residential and commercial consumers pay 15 to 20 percent extra in the form of uniform quarterly adjustment; fuel price adjustments and additional surcharges.
Additionally, residential consumers pay an extra 20 to 25 percent in the form of electricity duty, sales tax and income tax; and, residential consumers were subjected to pay Rs. 35.57 per kWh for off-peak load and Rs. 41.89 per kWh for peak load, he claimed. “It is important to note that these charges exclude taxes, fuel cost adjustments, uniform quarterly adjustments and additional surcharges,” he mentioned.
Whereas, commercial consumers were also charged with further tax and extra tax in addition to electricity duty, sales tax and income tax. In current bills, commercial consumers were paying 37 to 40 percent of the total electricity charges in taxes and duties, he continued.
Irfan Iqbal Sheikh explained that a commercial consumer with electricity consumption of 5000 kWh had to pay Rs. 381,785 in electricity bill, while around Rs. 135,994 would go into taxes and duties; not including additional surcharge and fuel cost adjustment.
Sheikh Irfan Iqbal stressed that a better and more viable option should be explored to curb circular debt and provide affordable electricity to consumers. The immediate solution to reduce the power tariff was to reduce the operational costs of all power distribution companies, i.e. withdraw the provision of free electricity to WAPDA employees; reduce transmission & distribution (T&D) losses and eliminate electricity theft.
The FPCCI President proposed that government needs to negotiate with power plants to increase the debt payment period to reduce the capacity component in the power tariff. “We urge the government to halt the imposition of sales tax for 6 to 8 months in order to reduce cost of doing business,” he suggested.
Irfan Iqbal Sheikh maintained that businesses could not survive with the provision of unaffordable electricity; economic growth would be jeopardized and many small & medium enterprises would shut down. “Our profits are already marginalized as a reduction in sales due to record inflation in the country.”
Artists performing on the stage during Khathak dance performance (Me Raqsam) directed by Makhna in collaboration with Lahore Arts Council at Al-Hamra
LAHORE
LAHORE
Participants of the training workshop students performing on the stage during a Theater play titled (Apne Madad Aap) directed by Rukhsana Khan and written by Syed Zeeshan in collaboration with Lahore Arts Council at Al-Hamra
LAHORE
LAHORE
LAHORE
Artist Mohsin Gillani giving the certificates to the Arts students after completing one month workshop and performing on the stage during a Theater play titled (Apne Madad Aap) Directed by Rukhsana Khan and written by Syed Zeeshan in collaboration with Lahore Arts Council at Al-Hamra
LAHORE
LAHORE
LAHORE
President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Faisal Bank Limited, Yusuf Hussain, Mufti Muhammad Najeeb Khan, President (SCCI) Abdul Ghafoor Malik are addressing to seminar on Islamic Banking
SIALKOT