Islamabad, Nov 15: Federal Minister for Law and Justice, Mr. Azam Nazir Tarar, visited the head office of the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) on Friday. The Chairman CCP, Dr. Kabir Ahmed Sidhu, along with CCP members Mr. Salman Amin, Mr. Abdul Rashid Sheikh, Mr. Saeed Ahmad Nawaz, and Ms. Bushra Naz Malik, warmly greeted the Minister. During the visit, Mr. Tarar was briefed in detail on the CCP’s operational challenges and the legal barriers hindering its work. The Minister expressed his commitment to facilitating the prompt appointment of Chairman of CAT and members. The CCP shared its efforts in…
Author: Iqra Khan
Islamabad, Nov 15: Scott McDonald, Chief Executive of the British Council, has wrapped up his visit to Pakistan, which took place from 11-15 November, marking a significant occasion as the organization celebrates its 90th anniversary of fostering global connections. Throughout his visit, Scott engaged with various stakeholders, highlighting the British Council’s enduring commitment to education, culture, and social development in Pakistan. He attended a series of impactful events, including the launch of the second phase of the Pakistan UK Education Gateway, aimed at enhancing collaborative educational efforts between the two nations. The event gathered numerous participants from higher education institutions…
Islamabad, Nov 15: EU Fines Meta with €798 Million Fine over Facebook Marketplace’s Alleged ‘Abusive Practices’. Meta has been fined €797.72 million ($846 million) by the European Union for allegedly abusing its dominant position by unjustly favoring its own classified advertisements service by connecting Facebook Marketplace to its social network. The European Commission claims that Meta has a significant distribution advantage over rivals thanks to its integration strategy, which successfully pushes Facebook users into Marketplace. Meta’s implementation of onerous criteria on third-party classified ad platforms that advertise on Facebook and Instagram was also mentioned by the commission. According to reports,…
Islamabad, Nov 15: Pakistan’s Top 8 Most Polluted Cities Ranked. According to a recent survey on air quality, Multan has an alarming Air Quality Index (AQI) of 810, making it the most polluted city in Pakistan. With an AQI of 732, Lahore comes in second, making Punjab’s cities among the most polluted in the nation. Residents are at considerable risk for health problems due to the “hazardous” air quality indicated by this high AQI rating. Peshawar (242 AQI), Islamabad (256 AQI), and Rawalpindi (278 AQI) are other cities that are also experiencing poor air quality. The largest city in Pakistan,…
Islamabad, Nov 15: IMF Highlights Pakistan’s Pressing Fiscal Constraints Amid Economic Challenges. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says Pakistan’s finances are tight. The public debt-to-GDP ratio has increased dramatically in recent years, increasing by about 16 percentage points of GDP between FY17 and FY23, according to the Fund’s most recent Technical Assistance Report for Pakistan. A number of factors contributed to this, including lower-than-expected GDP growth, rupee depreciation, the high cost of responding to pandemics and natural disasters, underperforming State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), and general difficulties in achieving planned fiscal consolidation. Meanwhile, since FY17, the amount of budget money used for…
Islamabad, Nov 15: Telenor Pakistan CEO Inspires NUST Graduates to Prioritize Resilience and Drive Innovation. In recognition of the efforts and achievements of the graduating class of 2024, Khurrum Ashfaque, CEO of Telenor Pakistan, gave a keynote address at the 15th convocation of NUST Business School. Speaking to the audience, Khurrum praised the graduates as “torchbearers of a legacy that continues to shine brightly,” congratulating them on achieving this significant milestone and recognizing NUST’s historic reputation for excellence. Khurrum encouraged the graduates to confidently take advantage of the chances and challenges of the future, stressing that those who tackle the…
Islamabad, Nov 15: IMF Calls for Expanded Workforce in Finance Division to Strengthen Budget Preparation. In order to support budget preparation, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has advised Pakistan to increase forecast cycles and align them with the budget, as well as to improve the Finance Division’s ability to lead and coordinate macro-fiscal projections. The Fund’s technical assistance report also suggested actions to reduce dual (“recurrent/capital”) budgeting, including more guidance and binding ceilings in the Budget Call Circular, and implementing a strategic phase to the budget process in accordance with the Public Financial Management Act (PFMA) 2019 and the accompanying…
Islamabad, Nov 15: HEC and British Council Launch Phase-II of Pak-UK Education Gateway Initiative. Phase-II of the Pak-UK Education Gateway was launched Thursday at the HEC Secretariat by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan and the British Council. The main guest at the event was Mr. Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives. In addition, Vice-Chancellors and representatives from the British Council and HEC were present, including Ms. Farah Naz Akbar, Parliamentary Secretary for Federal Education and Professional Training; Chairman HEC Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed; Mr. Scott McDonald, Chief Executive of the British Council; Mr. Andrew Dalgleish,…
Islamabad, Nov 15: Champions Trophy Arrives in Pakistan Ahead of Anticipated Tournament Tour. As the country gets ready to host the renowned competition in 2025, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has brought the Champions Trophy to Islamabad, ushering in a new era in Pakistani cricket history. On November 16, this shining trophy, which has made its place in cricket history, will embark on its eagerly awaited tour, with the picturesque Skardu Valley serving as the first of many stops around Pakistan. After that, the trophy will go to some of the most famous towns in the country, including the ones…
Islamabad, Nov 15: Punjab Assembly Approves Landmark Bill to Tax Agricultural Income. The Punjab Agricultural Income Tax (Amendment) Bill 2024 was approved by the Punjab Assembly on Thursday. In order to enforce a larger tax structure on agricultural revenue, the legislation establishes a new taxation regime on agricultural income, including income from animals. Higher-earning farmers will pay taxes under the measure, and those who fail to pay taxes will be penalized 0.1 percent of their entire income each day. While some claim that the bill ignored farmers’ concerns, others describe it as a vital change for the agriculture sector. A…
