Islamabad, Feb 11: Chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Rashid Mahmood Langrial assured on Tuesday that there will be no tax increase on vehicles up to 800cc. His remarks came during a session of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue, where members reviewed the proposed Tax Laws (Amendment) Bill 2024. The discussion covered key issues, including vehicle taxation, digital invoicing, and measures to combat tax evasion. During the session, FBR emphasized its push for businesses registered under the Point of Sale (POS) system to transition to digital invoicing. This move aims to enhance transparency by allowing real-time…
Author: Iqra Khan
Islamabad, Feb 11: After more than two years, Pakistan has officially resumed U.S. soybean imports, marking a significant milestone for the country’s poultry and oilseeds industry. The ceremony, held at Fauji Akbar Portia Marine Terminals Ltd. (FAP) in Karachi, was attended by key stakeholders, including the All-Pakistan Solvent Extractors Association (APSEA), the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC), and officials from the U.S. Embassy and the Environmental Protection Agency of Pakistan. A Renewed Partnership The reopening of U.S. soybean trade follows extensive industry efforts to secure import approvals for genetically modified (GM) soybeans. Pakistan was previously an emerging destination for U.S.…
Islamabad, Feb 11: Telenor Pakistan has reported an impressive 12.0% growth in service revenue, primarily attributed to its successful monetization strategy. Despite a 2.7% decline in the subscription base, the company’s Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) increased by 13.0%, reflecting a shift towards quality customers and controlled churn management. On the cost efficiency front, the decline in fuel prices has helped ease macroeconomic pressures, supporting Telenor Pakistan’s ongoing cost optimization efforts. This, combined with strong revenue growth, led to a solid EBITDA increase of 25.2% for the period.
Islamabad, Feb 10: President Asif Ali Zardari had a brief meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a stopover at Istanbul Airport while en route to Portugal. The Foreign Minister of Turkey, Hakan Fidan, warmly welcomed President Zardari at the airport.
Islamabad, Feb 10: The Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination has established a high-level committee to review the draft rules for carbon market trading in Pakistan. The 24-member committee is chaired by the Joint Secretary (Climate Finance) from the Ministry of Climate Change and includes representatives from various federal ministries, provincial planning departments, financial institutions, and private sector experts.
Islamabad, Feb 10: The Faceless Assessment System (FSA) has led to a significant increase in the volume of transshipment (TP) consignments, with figures rising sharply from 15,335 in November 2024 to 23,187 in January 2025, marking an impressive 50% increase. Official data indicates that the system’s impact became particularly noticeable during its full enforcement period from December 16, 2024, to January 31, 2025. During this timeframe, 33,960 Goods Declarations (GDs) were processed for TP consignments, a 33% surge compared to the 25,538 consignments recorded in the pre-FSA period, spanning November 1 to December 15, 2024. Lahore stood out as the…
Islamabad, Feb 10: Romina Khurshid Alam, Coordinator to the Prime Minister for Climate Change, highlighted the mounting climate challenges faced by developing countries, particularly the members of the African Asian Rural Development Organization (AARDO). Speaking at a training program on “Disaster Management and Climate Change Adaptation”, she stressed that limited financial resources and inadequate infrastructure significantly amplify the impacts of climate change, urging for immediate global cooperation and the adoption of sustainable climate solutions. During her address, Alam emphasized that climate change is an urgent global issue, with developing countries within AARDO particularly vulnerable. She mentioned that countries like Pakistan…
Islamabad, Feb 10: The Punjab government is set to introduce the Punjab Spatial Planning Authority (PSPA), a key initiative aimed at regulating urban growth and land use through master and spatial planning. The bill for its establishment will be presented in the Punjab Assembly following approval by the cabinet. A senior official has revealed that the Chief Minister is prioritizing organized urban expansion and has instructed authorities to accelerate the process as part of broader governance reforms. This move is aimed at ensuring more controlled and sustainable urban development across the province.
Islamabad, Feb 10: The government’s decision to dissolve the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) and replace its independent members with bureaucrats has sparked controversy, especially among environmentalists and former officials. The Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination issued a notification on Friday announcing the formation of a new board, which will consist of senior government officials instead of independent environmental experts. The new board will include members such as the ministry’s secretary, joint secretary for administration and development, the environment member of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), a high-ranking officer nominated by Islamabad’s mayor, and the deputy commissioner of…
Islamabad, Feb 10: Jasprit Bumrah’s participation in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy is still uncertain as the deadline for final squad submissions to the ICC looms on February 11. While Bumrah was initially included in India’s 15-man provisional squad for the tournament, his fitness has become a major concern, with his recent back issues keeping him out of the team’s ODI series against England, which is India’s final preparation before the Champions Trophy. Despite expectations that Bumrah might feature in the third ODI against England, he was sent for further assessments in Bengaluru, with sources indicating that his fitness is…
