Islamabad, Aug 27: During the fiscal year 2023–2024, transit trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan had a significant decline. Afghan imports from Pakistan have significantly decreased as a result of the federal government’s efforts to stop smuggling in transit corridors. Afghan transit commerce decreased by $4.21 billion, or 59%, in FY24. The amount of transit commerce with Afghanistan decreased to $2.89 billion during the period under review from $7.95 billion in FY23. The slide persisted into the first month of the new fiscal year, with trade in July 2024 declining 83% year over year to just $9.8 million from $583 million…
Author: Mawadat Fatima
Islamabad, Aug 27: In a recent statement to the National Assembly of Pakistan, the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoIT&T) of Pakistan confirmed that Starlink, a well-known satellite broadband service provider, has not yet obtained the license required to operate in the nation. The ministry cited concerns over potential interference between Geostationary Satellite Orbit (GSO) and Non-Geostationary Satellite Orbit (NGSO) systems as a significant factor in the delay in license approval. Starlink has not complied with the technical and regulatory framework established by the government. After registering as “Starlink Internet Services Pakistan (Private) Ltd.” with the Securities and Exchange…
Islamabad, Aug 27: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will spare retailers and shopkeepers from tax audits and remove sales tax on traders with an annual turnover of up to Rs. 100 million. Today at 3:00 PM, FBR and representatives of the business sector are scheduled to meet in a time-sensitive manner. Significant changes to the Tajir Dost Scheme are expected to be disclosed after the conference, according to sources. The changes include giving merchant representatives the authority to decide retailer taxes and giving Commissioners the same authority as the FBR Board. A draft of the clause exempting small business…
Islamabad, Aug 27: Before the second Test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh, which is scheduled to start this Friday at the Rawalpindi Stadium, spinner Abrar Ahmed and middle-order batsman Kamran Ghulam have returned to the team. Both players are now eligible for selection after missing out on previous action, which could boost the team as Pakistan looks to improve on its performance in the series. There is still uncertainty regarding the form of the pitch for the next Test, with rumors circulating about the kind of surface that the Pakistan team management has asked for. The contest may be significantly…
Islamabad, Aug 27: Under its whitelisting initiative, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has registered 20,437 Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), representing 1,422 businesses. Of these, 1,286 VPN corporations own 19,840 VPNs, and 136 freelancing companies have registered 180 VPNs. 417 VPNs connected to the Pakistan Software Houses Association (PASHA) have been registered by PTA. This registration drive is a component of a larger national effort to control VPN usage. Clause 37 (1) of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 requires the PTA to prohibit illegal online content, according to a document from the IT Ministry. Nevertheless, users may still…
Islamabad, Aug 27: An individual in Islamabad was given 22 residential plots by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) under dubious circumstances, according to an audit report for 2023–2024. Significant questions regarding possible wrongdoing inside the civic agency and procedural flaws have been brought up by this case. The audit report, titled “Doubtful Allotment of 22 Residential Plots,” describes how the CDA approved the allocation of 22 plots to a single person without objecting, despite the fact that the individual changed both his and his father’s names. Normally, the CDA requires extensive documentation for even a five-marla plot. These plots were…
Islamabad, Aug 27: Australia said on Tuesday that it would cap the number of new overseas students it will accept for enrollment at 270,000 until 2025. This move comes as the government attempts to control record migration, which has driven up the cost of housing. The decision is one of a series of steps taken since last year to remove COVID-era benefits for foreign workers and students in Australia, which aided local hiring while preventing foreign workers from entering the country due to stringent border restrictions. Education Minister Jason Clare stated at a news conference that “there are about 10%…
Islamabad, Aug 27: KARACHI: The Sindh education department has made the significant decision to fire instructors who have been vanishing from government schools in Karachi. The decision was reached, based on the details, to guarantee that ghost teachers do not receive compensation while also assisting in raising educational standards. The District and Taluka Education Officers have been instructed by the Sindh Education Department to provide a final list of these instructors to the department within a span of two days. The department claimed that these professors who have absconded have not gotten in touch with the appropriate officers despite numerous…
Islamabad, Aug 27: A new initiative by the Punjabi government lets individuals customize their license plates. The Excise, Taxation, and Narcotics Control Department launched this program to allow locals to personalize their cars. Personalized Number Plates: Customization Options Three customization categories are available in the scheme: The Platinum Category permits a maximum of eight characters, which may include names or significant terms. ·Corporate Category: Intended for companies to showcase their names. For greater flexibility, the Gold Category provides a combination of three letters and three digits. It is important to note that in order to ensure legal compliance, applicants who…
Islamabad, Aug 27: Punjab’s early-sown cotton fields have suffered greatly from the extreme heat, which has reduced overall productivity. A report issued on August 18, 2024, by the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) states that cotton production fell to 392,736 bales, a dramatic decrease from the 636,684 bales reported in the previous year. The severe weather also affected Sindh’s cotton harvest, resulting in a decrease in arrivals to 682,292 bales from 1.478 million bales the previous year. Along with a strong pest control plan supported by the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) and the Land Information and control System (LIMS),…