LAHORE, Apr 08 (APP):Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on Sunday welcomed the Tax Amnesty Scheme announced recently by the Prime Minister.
LCCI President Malik Tahir Javaid, Senior Vice President Khawaja Khawar Rashid and Vice President Zeshan Khalil said here in a media statement that the scheme was a major breakthrough that would help expand tax net as collection of revenue had always been remained under pressure due to various reasons.
They termed this government’s initiative as mega tax reform and hoped that it would attract more and morepeople to get registered with the relevant tax collection authorities.
Lahore Chamber’s office-bearers were of the view that government had made reasonable progress at economic fronts and took bold decisions in the larger interest of the economy.
They said that foreign assets were useless for Pakistan but now these could be brought into the country with payment of only five percent tax that would ultimately ensure huge financial benefits to Pakistan.
These foreign remittances would be used for creation of
new employment opportunities as well as expansion of local
industry on modern lines, they added.
They said that in the past, there was energy crisis
and vulnerable law and order situation due to which the
people had transferred their assets to other countries, but
now the situation had improved substantially and amnesty
scheme would help bring those assets back to Pakistan.
Since other countries were putting in place tough
policies for foreigners, the amnesty scheme would prove to
be a great opportunity for overseas Pakistanis to transfer
their assets to their home country, they added.
It was a good omen that the government had also accepted
their long-pending demand of giving Computerised National
Identity Card (CNIC) number the status of National Tax Number (NTN),
they said.
Lahore Chamber welcomes Tax Amnesty Scheme
Daily walk in green area safeguards brain & heart health, overall body
An APP feature By Seema Mir
ISLAMABAD, Apr 8 (APP): A daily walk for at least 30 minutes in a green area like a park or on a trail does wonders for body in general and for brain and heart in particular.
Walking is a powerful mood medicine that safeguards brain health and sharpens memory.
Medical specialists are of the view that just 12 minutes of walk in a green area increases joviality,vigor,attentiveness and self-confidence as compared with the same time spent in sitting.
Medical practitioner Dr. Saima Razak laying emphasis on the importance of walk said it was a physical activity in the open and had its own merits.
She further said, “Walk reduces depression,boosts self-esteem and improves overall body functions.”
According to Medical experts,while walking, breathing in cooler air can help regulate and even lower the temperature of brain and a cool brain is more pleasurable to body and mind than a warm brain.
Moreover, deep breathing exercise in open aid some of the systems of body which are harmed by stress.
Further, these exercises can reduce blood pressure and may even be able to change the expression of genes.
According to psychiatrists, a daily walk for at least 30 minutes prompts the body to release hormones endorphins which reduce perception of pain and also trigger a positive feeling in the body.
This positive feeling ,they say is good for over all well being of the body in general and for heart and brain in particular thus endorsing the popular saying that a healthy body has a healthy mind.
According to scientific studies the consumption of volume of oxygen (VO2) by the body for regular functioning of its parts is essential because more the volume of oxygen consumed by the body,the more perfectly its parts work.
It merits a mention here that highly oxidative organs such as the heart has a high demand for oxygen and therefore has a relatively high oxygen consumption.
Similarly, the brain consumes about 25 percent of a person’s oxygen intake.,
Consultant physician and Chest Specialist Dr. Zaheer Ahmed told APP that a brisk walk for 30 to 45 minutes daily in a park or along roadside in the morning was best for staying healthy.
He, however, cautioned that a heart patient should go for a walk after consultation with his doctor.
Symptoms of heart disease as pointed by Dr. Zaheer were:
-Tiredness after walking a lilttle bit.
-A rapid heart beat after going upstairs.
-Congestion in the chest or chest pain after a brisk walk.
Dr. Zaheer advised that anybody having the above mentioned symptoms should immediately consult a doctor.
When asked what should be the diet to prevent heart diseases he stressed that it should be very simple based on vegetables,fruits and fruit juices.
“Too much red meat should not be used; only once a week or once a month it should be taken .”
Dr. Zaheer advised that white meat and fish should be preferred.
The use of salt and oil, he said, should be minimal.
Reportedly,a French cyclist continued to chase records at the age of 105 by biking 14 around a track in an hour.Robert Marchand completed 92 laps within an hour in front of hundreds of fans at the velodrome at Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines in france.
Merchand has set multiple cycling records in the over-100s category,including traveling 16 miles in an hour at the age of 102,and a new over-105s category to accomodate his new achievement.
According to doctors Merchand’s VO2 maximum oxygen consumption is the same as a man of half his age who doesn’t do any sports.
Different medical practitioners while talking to APP recommended daily walk for 30 minutes to make body healthier.
The medical experts observed that people in communities with abundant green space generally enjoy better health.
Three golden rules to stay away from diseases as advised by medical expert were:
-Regular walk
-Simple food (Maximum consumption of fruits and vegetables)
-No heavy diet.
Renowned singer Asad Amanat Ali death anniversary observed
ISLAMABAD, Apr 8 (APP):Renowned classical and ghazal singer Asad Amanat Ali Khan`s eleventh death anniversary was observed on Sunday.
Asad Amanat Ali Khan was born on September 25, 1955 in the renowned Patiala Gharana of musicians, in Lahore. He was engaged with classical music from his earliest years, recording his first song at the age of ten.
His great grandfather Ali Buksh Khan, the founder of the Patiala Gharana, passed on his legacy to Akhter Hussain, who then transferred the gift and training to his sons Fateh Ali Khan, Amanat Ali Khan and Hamid Ali Khan. Amanat Ali Khan passed on the torch to his son, Asad Amanat Ali Khan.
Asad was never really interested in academics, and therefore joined a private institution and began singing professionally after completing his FA.
He started his musical career by performing `Thumri` and then went on to record some of his most popular Punjabi numbers and ghazals, such as Umra lagian, Zara zara, Kal chaudwin ki raat, and Ghar wapas jab.
One of the songs that he performed in almost every concert, arguably his father (Ustad Amanat Ali Khan`s) biggest hit, was Insha ji utho.
Asad worked for Pakistan Television for several years. Nisar Bazmi, composer and PTV producer, who passed away in 2007, gave him his first break, introducing the artist to the world on live television.
He retained his affiliation with television through the years, recording over 1,000 songs. Asad also contributed to the Pakistani film industry, featuring on a number of soundtracks. Moreover, he caught the attention of Bollywood and contributed soundtracks there too.
Asad Amanat Ali was also famous for his `soz-o-salam` recitations in Urdu describing the events of Karbala during Ashura in Muharram, and appeared on many radio and television specials about Karbala over the years before his death.
Like his father, Asad was given the president`s award for Pride of Performance. The government of Pakistan acknowledged Asad Amanat Ali Khan`s contribution to Pakistani music by awarding him the Pride of Performance on March 23, 2007.
Pakistan-Afghanistan agree to operationalize APAPPS Working Groups
ISLAMABAD, Apr 8 (APP): Pakistan, Afghanistan have agreed to operationalize the working groups under Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS).
According to Foreign Office statement on Sunday, the understanding was reached during recent visit of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to Kabul.
It was agreed that Pakistan to support the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation.
Both countries will undertake effective actions against fugitives and the irreconcilable elements posing security threats to either of the two countries.
Both the countries to commit to deny use of their respective territory by any country, network, group or individuals for anti-state activities against either country, it Added.
A joint supervision, coordination and confirmation mechanism will be put in place through Liaison Officers (LOs) for realization of the agreed actions.
The two countries commit to avoid territorial and aerial violations of each other’s territory.
Both sides to avoid public blame game and instead use APAPPS cooperation mechanisms to respond to mutual issues of contention and concerns, it added.
Establish Working Groups and necessary cooperation mechanism as per APAPPS for full implementation of the APAPPS and the above mutually reinforcing principles.
FO called US envoy to Ministry of Foreign Affairs over accident case
ISLAMABAD, Apr 8 (APP):The Ambassador of United States (US) in Pakistan David Hale was called to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here on Sunday and a strong protest was lodged by the Foreign Secretary on the tragic death of the motorcyclist and serious injury to the co-rider in the traffic accident yesterday that involved a US diplomat.
According to Foreign Office, the US Ambassador expressed his deep sympathy and sadness over the loss of life and assured that the Embassy would fully cooperate in the investigation.
The Foreign Secretary conveyed that justice will take its course in accordance with the law of the land and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961.
Data of tax evaders to be provided to FBR within thirty days: Miftah
ISLAMABAD, Apr 8 (APP):Advisor to Prime Minister on Finance, Revenue, and Economic Affairs, Miftah Ismail has said the data of tax evaders would be provided to Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), within thirty days.
The tax evaders would be identified and the data would be provided to FBR to broaden the tax network in the country, he said while talking to a private news channel.
The government had announced the amnesty scheme and reduced the tax rate to facilitate the people, he said.
“We will identify the people through National Database Registration Authority (NADRA), and the list would be provided to the department concerned before holding the next elections,” he
said.
To a question, he said it was strange that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief who had been beneficiary of an amnesty scheme, was opposing this scheme announced by the present government.
To another question he said about 1,200,000 people were paying tax and that the number would increase in days to come.
Online earning may not be a gravy train, warn experts
ISLAMABAD, Apr 8 (APP):Tempting and seductive advertisements of significant online earning may be a trap by cyber-mafia to pick pocket vulnerable people, specially youth.
Information technology (IT) experts have warned the youth that there should be specific steps to ensure that the process is secure and fully judge the credibility of such sites, offering income and profit while staying at home.
An expert from the Ministry of IT, requesting anonymity, explained the myths and realities of online earning to APP.
He said, “One click doesn’t bring money rather it requires skilled hard work and patience”. But he regretted that the country’s educated unemployed youth were more prone to the Internet crooks and urged to raise awareness among
the exposed segment.
He said the temptation usually came from random sites and the unskilled
people were more attracted as the required job description was tactfully prepared
by the schemers to make them fit for the job. Enticing narrations such as “Ghar
bethay 50,000 rupay mahana kamaeye, sirf computer ka istehmal jan’na zaroor hai,”
somehow attract the unemployed youth.
He regretted that there was no national institution to create public awareness against
such mafia and the vulnerable, particularly the youth, who had been left at the mercy of
racketeers.
He, however, said one could easily judge the credibility of such sites’ source by checking
their status on “alexa.com” and “domaintools.com” that provided complete information of a
website. “The positive thing is that a fake site does not have security certificate as it is
too costly,” he added.
Another software engineer Attique ur Rehman, highlighting the different ways of online
earning, said,“It is a complex subject as genuine sites do not require mere registration but
seek a user’s full information. There are different kinds of online earning, such as online
trading, freelancing through ads and affiliating market.”
The earning through ads, he claimed, was the most popular way as lot of people in
Pakistan were earning considerably via AdSense (in which one can upload ads on his
websites or YouTube channels) that also required consistency from a user.
The most popular among all was stock exchange’s business, but “expertise is
a prerequisite for trading on Internet and there is high risk of losing money before
one logs in to an authentic business entity,” he added.
Attique warned that without proper knowledge and safety measures, the
initiative could financially cost a person.
The enticers, he said, would demand to deposit Rs 5,000 to 10,000 as registration
fee to start earning but later disappeared and reappeared in some cases with a
different name as a new stratagem.
Highlighting the importance of blogging for educated segment of the society, Attique
said, “One can sell his skills, especially, writing skill on Internet to anyone across the
world by making his own blog that increases one’s earning with the boost in his ranking.”
He said one’s profile was updated keeping in view of his clientele that boosted his ranking.
Attique said the skilled unemployed youth could be engaged after some training to earn
livelihood through Internet and boost the country’s IT sector. He, however, urged the authorities
concerned to introduce short courses and training on online earning like the developed nations
where the IT sector was the most revenue generating entity and contributing to their national
economies.
Masood calls for immediate moving of UNMOGIP’s reports to UN Security Council members
MIRPUR (AJK), April 9 (APP)::President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Sardar Masood Khan Sunday emphatically said that the reports prepared by the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) must be presented to all UN Security Council members so that India is brought to task for human right abuses being committed in IOK and across the Line of Control (LOC) in AJK.
The President made these remarks while chairing the AJK All Parties Conference (APC) hosted by Raja Farooq Haider Khan, Prime Minister AJK here in Muzaffarabad.
The President on the occasion said that the participation of all political parties in the APC along with the representatives of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) is vital in displaying our unified stand on the issue of Kashmir.
The President paid rich tribute to the people of IOK who were being subjected to severe human right violations perpetrated by the Indian occupation forces. He condemned the recent wave of violence in Shopian, leading to the martyrdom of over 20 innocent Kashmiris. He said these killings are not sporadic or a one-off event, but rather, the heavily armed Indian forces kill innocent Kashmiris on a daily basis with impunity.
President Masood Khan said that Pakistan is the only sovereign window for the people of Kashmir and it has politically, morally and diplomatically supported the Kashmiris’ right to self-determination, but India has always created hurdles and used delaying tactics in avoiding the plebiscite. India, through RSS goons and their village defence committees unceasingly threaten Kashmiris into leaving their homes and giving up their freedom struggle, all the while avoiding talking to Hurriyat leaders and Pakistan over the Kashmir Issue, he said.
President AJK said that the bilateral talks have been a hoax which India has used to buy time and maintain a status quo in Kashmir. The President said that India wants to exclude Kashmiris from the dialogues, which is incomprehensible as they are the key constituent to the issue and arriving at a viable solution without their political consent is impossible.
India, he said, is trying to punish Pakistan for its support to Kashmiris by unleashing a three-pronged war against Pakistan; firstly, by unleashing terror on our Kashmiri brothers and sisters in IOK; secondly, it is targeting civilians across the LOC; and thirdly, India has launched a systematic proxy war to destabilize Pakistan by
abetting and sponsoring terrorist activities in FATA, the province of Baluchistan, Karachi and other cities of the country.
The President said that people of Pakistan have never compromised on the Kashmir policy nor will Pakistan’s strategy on Kashmir be allowed to change. This he said is because Pakistan considers Kashmiris as their own citizens. After Shopian incident, he said, people in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir came together and in a unified manner raising their voice against Indian atrocities.
A joint resolution was endorsed by the participants calling for a unified stance on Kashmir, re-strategizing efforts for the resolution of Kashmir issue and chalking out plans for organizing an APC at the national level along with organizing an international parliamentary conference on Muzaffarabad on Kashmir.
The APC was attended by former AJK Presidents Maj. Gen. (Retd) Muhammad Anwar Khan and Raja Zulqarnain; president PPP AJK Chapter, Jamaat e Islami’s MLA Abdur Rasheed Turabi;
leaders from Pakistan Tahrek e Insaf, Muslim Conference and Jamiat e Ulema Islam; leaders from All Parties Hurriyat Conference including Ghulam Muhammad Safi and Faiz Naqashbandi.
GB tourism potential highlighted at leading health & sports tourism event in Turkey
ISLAMABAD, Apr 8 (APP):A high level delegation from Gilgit-Baltistan, comprising Jafarullah Khan, Deputy Speaker of
GB Legislative Assembly (GBLA), Kazim Niaz, Chief Secretaryand Waqar Ali Khan Secretary
Tourism, visited Antalya, Turkey and attended the HESTOUREX World Health Sport Tourism
Congress Exhibition, held from 5-8 April.
GB Tourism Department had established a Pavilion at HESTOUREX 2018 whereas more
than 4000 participants from various countries attended the event, said a press release received
here from Pakistan embassy in Ankara.
The visitors greatly appreciated the natural beauty and adventure tourism potential of
Gilgit-Baltistan.
Among many prominent visitors, Foreign Minister of Turkey Mevlut Cavusoglu also
visited the GB Pavilion,
The Turkish Foreign Minister announced that he along with the Turkish Economy Minister,
would also visit Gilgit-Baltistan during the current year.
He emphasized for increasing the mutual tourist exchanges and linkages between the
two countries.
On the sidelines of the event, the delegation also held meetings with Munir Karaloglu,
Governor of Antalya, Menderes Mehmet Tevfik Turel, Mayor of Antalya Metropolitan Municipality,
Ercan Mutlu, Vice President, Antalya Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ATSO) and Firuz
Baglikaya, President, Turkish Travel Agencies Association (Tursab).
Meetings were focused on exploring the possibilities of Turkish tourists visiting GB,
Pakistan. Tursab President and ATSO Vice President conveyed that they would very
soon visit GB along with a delegation of tour operators in order to explore new avenues
of cooperation between GB and Turkey.
Leading private tour operators from GB also participated in the event.
Federal Committee on agriculture to meet on Tuesday
ISLAMABAD, Apr 8 (APP):The Federal Committee on Agriculture (FCA) will meet here on April 10 (Tuesday ) to review the Rabi crops production and fix the targets for Kharif for the crop season 2018-19.
The meeting will take stocks of the production targets fixed for major and minor cash crops of Rabi season including wheat, gram lentil, potato, onions and tomatoes for fulfilling the domestic requirements as well as to exports.
The FCA would fix the targets for major Kharif crops including cotton, sugarcane, rice, maize and minor crops like moong pulse, mash, chillies and other seasonal oil seed crops, said an official of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research.
Talking to APP here on Sunday he said that Minister for National Food Security and Research Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan would chair the high-powered meeting, where as the senior officials of the provincial governments, Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir would attend the meeting.
He said that the representatives of the other departments like State Bank of Pakistan, Zarai Taraqiatie Bank Limited, Pakistan Meteorological Department, Indus River Water System Authority, Federal Seed Certification Department would attend the meeting.
The other departments and agencies involved in supply of agriculture inputs like seed, fertilizers and pesticides would also attend the meeting and apprise it about the availability position of all inputs during the season, he added.
He further said that the provincial representatives would share the arrangements made by their respective governments for crops sowing during the season and action plan to enhance per-acre crop output and efficient use of inputs during the season.
It is worth mentioning here that the FCA is high powered federal committee on agriculture mandated to oversee strategic measures for ensuring the food security in the country and held its two meetings annually.
The major objective of the meeting is to enhance coordination to consolidate the gains and ensure further progress in all sectors of agriculture development.