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ISLAMABAD NEWS

03 fBr will achieve aNNual tax collectioN target coMfortaBly: pM

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pRIME Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday said that he is optimistic that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will “comfortably achieve” the annual tax collection target of Rs5.82 trillion following the authority ’s collection of Rs850 billion during the first two months of the current fiscal year (2MFY22).

The FBR exceeded the assigned twomonth target of Rs690 billion by over 23 per cent. Taking to Twitter in this regard, the premier said this reflects the growth of 51pc in revenue over the same period last year. “At the present rate, annual collection target of Rs5,829bn will be comfortably achieved InshaAllah, ” said the prime minister.

In a media briefing on Tuesday, FBR Chairman Dr Mohammad Ashfaq Ahmed had informed that FBR collected Rs434bn in August, which is Rs85bn more than the target of Rs349bn.

He said that FBR released Rs364bn refunds besides getting Rs4,721bn revenue in FY21.

“FBR has also created Rs2,600bn demands against the big business through audits, ”Ashfaq added.

“Our and the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) destination is the same. The IMF had instructed to impose new taxes and abolish exemptions whereas we have not imposed new taxes and will achieve the tax target to run the economy, ” he said.

He mentioned that they are in close coordination with the World Bank on the implementation of reforms.

About reforms in FBR, he said that Pakistan has established 16 reform commissions; however, there is a dire need for restructuring instead of reforms. “We want to do better for the country and will improve the tax system” .

Qureshi warns int’l community against abandoning Afghanistan

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Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Wednesday cautioned the West of serious consequences of abandoning Afghanistan, which could result in civil war and economic collapse.

In an interview with Sky News, the foreign minister urged the international community to engage withTaliban as otherwiseAfghanistan could descend into another chaos

He said: “It will give space to the organisations we all dread; the international terrorist organisations that we do not want their footprint to grow in Afghanistan. ”

“That’s a dangerous option. That’s an option of abandonment ofAfghan people, ” he said, adding such mistake was committed during 90s.

Qureshi urged the international community not to repeat the same mistake again.

To a query regarding withdrawal of foreign forces, Qureshi said that there was a failure to listen to Pakistan’s concerns as the withdrawal process was not “responsible or orderly ” .

Pakistan was persistently emphasising that peace and dialogue processes and withdrawal of foreign forcesshouldbesimultaneouslycarriedout,headded.

The foreign minister termed the initial statements from the Taliban leadership as positive and encouraging, adding the West should test them to make sure they were true to their word.

He expressed the hope that Taliban would act responsibly. “They should have learned from their mistakes, ” he said, adding “And I think the attitude and the approach they are taking, is reflective of a different approach. ”

“If they ’re sensible, they should, in my view, respect international opinion and international norms, ” he further added.

The minister opined that Afghans would need humanitarian and financial assistance, otherwise, there would be an economic collapse.

The foreign minister to a question maintained that baseless allegations had always been levelled against Pakistan regarding Taliban. Taliban were present in Afghanistan, they were leading Doha talks and had been in control of forty to forty-five per cent of Afghanistan prior to their takeover, he added. Qureshi said Pakistan had been hosting millions of Afghan refugees on its soil for the last four decades.

Govt committed to improve business environment: Alvi

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President DrArifAlvi has said that steps are being taken to improve the business environment of the country by providing various incentives and facilities to the business community.

The president expressed these views while talking to a delegation of the Haripur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HCCI), which led by its President Shahbaz Majeed Sheikh.

PresidentAlvi said that the economy of the country is heading in the right direction that reflects the confidence of the business community in the economic policies of the government. He said that the business community is playing a significant role in the economic development of the country and a number of steps have been taken to facilitate them, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic.

He added that the government, despite tough financial constraints, had provided a financial stimulus package worth Rs1.2 trillion to protect the business community and underprivileged strata of society from the adverse impacts of the pandemic.

The president highlighted that the country ’s exports have also witnessed a significant surge which have reached $25.3 billion during the last fiscal year. He expressed satisfaction over the economic performance of the country, saying that the collection of Rs850 billion by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), exceeding the target by Rs160 billion, during the first two months of the current fiscal year is a testament that the economic health of the country is improving.

He said that the government is focusing on creating an optimum business environment and due to its efforts, Pakistan’s rank in the Ease of Doing Business Index has improved from 136th to 108th position.

The president also appreciated the role of HCCI and the business community in the national development and assured them of all possible support to help address their problems. Earlier, Shahbaz Majeed Sheikh apprised President Alvi of the role being played by the chamber in the economic development of the country. The delegation also briefed the president about certain problems being faced by HCCI.

Pakistan frets over security threats from Afghanistan

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There is growing concern among officials in Pakistan about security in neighbouring Afghanistan, as the Taliban tries to form a government and stabilise the country following the departure of the US and other foreign forces.

Islamabad is particularly worried about militant fighters from Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, a separate, proscribed Afghanistan-based militant group, crossing from Afghanistan and launching lethal attacks on its territory.

Thousands of people have been killed in Pakistan in militant violence in the last two decades.

Underlining the security threat withinAfghanistan, in the last few days, a suicide bombing claimed by an Afghan offshoot of Islamic State outside Kabul airport killed more than 100 people, including 13 US troops.

A rocket attack on the airport followed, and on Sunday militant gunfire from across the border in Afghanistan killed two soldiers in Balochistan.

“The next two to three months are critical, ” a senior Pakistan official said, adding that Islamabad feared a rise in militant attacks along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, as the Taliban tried to fill a vacuum left by the collapse of Afghan forces and the Western-backed administration. “We [the international community] have to assist the Taliban in reorganising their army in order for them to control their territory, ” the source added, referring to the threat posed by resurgent rival militant groups, including Islamic State.

US officials have long accused Pakistan of supporting the Taliban which — after fighting the American proxy war against the Soviet Union — fought in a civil war in the mid-1990s before seizing power in 1996. Islamabad denies the charge.

Pakistan has said that its influence over the movement has waned, particularly since the Taliban grew in confidence once Washington announced the date for the complete withdrawal of US and other foreign troops.

The official, who has direct knowledge of the security decisions, said Pakistan planned to send security and intelligence officials, possibly even the head of the Inter-Services Intelligence, to Kabul to help the Taliban reorganise their military.

An Afghanistan Taliban spokesperson did not immediately respond to Reuters‘ requests for comment on security relations with Pakistan. PAKISTAN EXPECTS TALIBAN COOPERATION: Though recognition of a new Taliban government was not immediately on the table, the official said, the world should not abandon Afghanistan. “Whether we recognise the Taliban government or not, stability in Afghanistan is very important. ” The official warned that Islamic State Khorasan (ISISK), a loosely affiliated offshoot of Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, was actively looking to launch attacks and recruit new fighters.

Left unhindered, it would almost certainly grow from relatively small numbers currently.

The United States recently launched two drone strikes targeting ISIS-K militants, including one in Kabul and one near the eastern border with Pakistan.

The strikes followed a pledge by President Joe Biden that the United States would hunt down the militants behind the recent suicide bombing.

Ncoc picks pfizer vaccine for under-18 youth

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The National Command and Operation Centre on Wednesday issued new guidelines and chose the Pfizer vaccine for youth under 18. People with low immunity between the ages of 12 and 17 will receive the Pfizer vaccine, the NCOC clarified. The number of daily coronavirus infections and fatalities in Pakistan has been steady for some weeks hovering around 4,000 cases and 100 deaths with no signs of any let-up. NCOC head Asad Umar said that single-day vaccination crossed one and a half million for the first time. “Yesterday (Tuesday) 1.59 million vaccinations were carried out. Both first dose and second dose vaccinations yesterday were highest ever with 1 million 71 thousand and 519 thousand respectively, ” he shared the news in a tweet.

ecp rejects pMl-N request to annul Sialkot by-election

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A two-member bench of the Election Commission of Pakistan rejected the request of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz seeking to nullify the PP-38 by-election held in July. A neck and neck contest between the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and the PMLN on July 28 resulted in the win of the ruling candidate, Ahsan Saleem Baryar, who defeated the opposition candidate, Tariq Akhtar Subhani, by a margin of 7,000 votes. The seat had fallen vacant after the death of Subhani’s father, PML-N MPA Chaudhry Khush Akhtar Subhani. In a petition submitted to the body, Subhani sought a forensic audit of the ballot papers, counterfoils and biometrics used in the Sialkot constituency. He alleged there was a great difference in forms 45 and 46 and it showed rigging in the election. He said a thorough inspection of polling material was required and the thumb impressions on ballot papers and counterfoils were needed to be audited. Signatures of presiding and assistant presiding officers on forms 45 and 46 were also different casting doubts on the credibility of the polling, he claimed. Subhani said he had attached enough evidence in favour of his demand to open the record of ballot papers and counterfoils and it was his constitutional right to challenge the election within 60 days of the polling. He had urged the ECP to ensure justice and declare the election void.

04 NEWS FaCtory owner arrested In ConneCtIon wIth raPe oF two gIrls In lahore

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aLahore factory owner was arrested on Wednesday for his alleged involvement in the gang rape of two girls in Lahore, police officials said, adding that the search for other suspects is still underway.

Lahore Capital City Police Officer Ghulam Mehmood Dogar took notice of the incident which occurred in the limits of Gujjarpura police station, reported Dawn. “The other suspects involved in the incident will be arrested soon, ” said the CCPO, adding that the girls will be provided protection.

A first information report was registered by a woman, Afshan Bibi, on September 1 (today) under Sections 375-A (rape) and 337-J (causing hurt by means of poison) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

According to the FIR, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, the woman said her daughter, Nisha, 18, had gone to pick up clothes with her cousin, Shazia, 16, from Fazal Park on August 31 but did not return. The FIR said she and other family members got worried and started searching for the two girls but they were not found.

The FIR said her daughter had called a close family friend and informed that unidentified men had forcefully abducted her and her cousin at 8pm from Chowk Begum Kot and taken them to an unknown place at Karol Khatti where they drugged the two and raped them throughout the night. The woman went to Karol Khatti where she found the two girls at the gate of afactory,accordingtotheFIR.Itidentified thefactoryowner,Nadeem,twoindividuals both named Muhammad Irfan and four unknown individuals as suspects who had allegedly drugged and raped the girls.

“A rape case should be registered againstthemandjusticeshouldbedonewith us after a medical analysis of my daughter and niece, ” the woman said in the FIR.

Meanwhile, Punjab Deputy Inspector General of Police (Operations) Suhail Chaudhry too said the suspects were being traced and would be arrested soon. He said senior police officials were involved in the investigation and that a factory owner, Nadeem, had been arrested upon being identified by the girls who were in police custody.

“Other aspects of the matter are being investigated with the help of CDR (call data record). Protection of women has been made a priority [and] we will ensure every possible measure, ” he said.

Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar also took notice of the incident and sought a report from the CCPO. He also ordered the immediate arrest of the suspects involved in the alleged incident.

“Justice should be provided to the girls who were a target of injustice at any cost. It is the responsibility of the government to bring justice to the affected girls, ” he said. CM Buzdar said suspects involved in such incidents did not “deserve” any concession.

Pakistani e-sports market gains momentum

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Pakistan has gained promising momentum in e-sports as it enjoys a celebrated reign in online arenas with skill and sportsmen spirit. Recent trends that show Pakistani youth is increasingly attracted towards the e-sports industry, considered as a new kind of Hollywood due to the kind of sponsorship and organisations involved. The research journal focusing on market trends, Market Watch, narrates that following the footsteps of Europe andAmerican markets, Pakistan's information technology (IT) sector is fast growing with a contribution of 1 per cent, about 3.5 million USD, to the country's GDP. "With the induction of the e-sports ecosystem, this net gross is expected to boost by a sizeable margin, " it said. It may be recalled that Dew GamersArena 2020 offered a prize pool worth Rs3.2 million to participants, recently concluded PUBG Mobile Club Open (PMCO) Pakistan region had a prize pool of $29,200, PUBG Mobile National Championship (PMNC) held earlier inAugust had a prize pool of $30,000, Free Fire Pro League Pakistan (FFPL) held in July had a huge prize pool of Rs10 million. E-sports sensations like ArslanAsh and Sumail Hassan are active Pakistani gamers pursuing their career in the online industry. The latter is currently ranked 10th in the the world by earnings with total earnings of over $3 million.As the current market improves, prize pools are much higher and acceptance for gaming grows day by day. However, ban culture in the country threatens to impact e-sports growth in Pakistan with the most recent ban on PUBG in July last year making investors and organisations wary of the business potential in this area.

Builders lament rising cement, steel prices

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CPI inflation remains in single digit

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The Consumer Price Index (CPI), based on monthly inflation remained in single digit, witnessing an increase of 8.4 per cent during the month ofAugust as compared to the corresponding month of the last year, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported here on Wednesday. On month-on-month (MoM) basis, it increased by 0.6 per cent inAugust 2021 as compared to increase of 1.3pc in the previous month and an increase of 0.6pc in August 2020.According to PBS data, the urban CPI based inflation increased by 8.3pc on year-on-year (YoY) basis inAugust 2021 as compared to an increase of 8.7pc in the previous month and 7.1pc inAugust 2020. On MoM basis, it increased by 0.5pc inAugust 2021 as compared to increase of 1.29pc in the previous month and an increase of 0.8pc inAugust 2020. The rural CPI increased by 8.4pc on YoY basis inAugust 2021 as compared to an increase of 8pc in the previous month and 9.9pc inAugust 2020. On MoM basis, it increased by 0.7pc inAugust 2021 as compared to increase of 1.4pc in the previous month and an increase of 0.4pc inAugust 2020. The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) inflation on YoY increased by 15.9pc inAugust 2021 as compared to an increase of 16.2pc a month earlier and an increase of 11.7pc inAugust 2020. On MoM basis, it increased by 0.7pc inAugust 2021 as compared to increase of 1.8pc a month earlier and an increase of 0.9pc inAugust 2020. Likewise, Wholesale Price Index (WPI) on a YoY basis increased by 17.1pc inAugust 2021 as compared to an increase of 17.3pc a month earlier and an increase of 3.3pc inAugust 2020. WPI inflation on MoM basis increased by 1.2pc in August 2021 as compared to an increase of 2.3pc a month earlier and an increase of 1.3pc in corresponding month i.e.August 2020.

Gold price jumps to Rs97,700 per 10gm

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Gold prices gained around 0.30 percent in the international market on Wednesday amid cautious trading.

At 1250 hours GMT, gold in the international market was available at $1,820 per ounce after gaining $4.90.

Meanwhile, the price of 10 grams of yellow metal in Pakistan increased to Rs97,700 after gaining Rs600. Depreciation of rupee against the US dollar in another reason behind this increase. The closing prices of the yellow metal in the country remained Rs97,100 onTuesday last.

According to experts, gold price is being challenged by a bunch of healthy support and resistance levels, as gold failed to hold at higher levels. They said the previous week and day ’s high at $1820 is the level to beat for gold bulls to make gains.

On the flip side, the intersection of the Fibonacci 23.6% one-week and SMA200 one-day around $1810 offers strong support. Sellers will then aim for the cushion around $1805, where the SMA5 one-day, pivot point one-day S1 and Fibonacci 38.2% one-week coincide. The last line of defense for gold buyers is the SMA10 one-day at $1798, they opined.

They said that the market mood remains upbeat, as investors shrug off global growth worries amidst expectations of more stimulus from China. The US Treasury yields are holding onto the recent rebound, weighing negatively on gold price. However, the US dollar fades its recovery momentum ahead of the critical US jobs data, cushioning the downside in gold. The mixed catalysts are likely to keep gold price wavering in a familiar range above $1800, they opined. As the prices of cement and steel rise in Pakistan, the stakeholders of the construction sectors are getting worried. Association of Builders and Developers of Pakistan (ABAD) Chairman Fayyaz Ilyas on Tuesday mentioned that in the past 10 months there has been an increase of Rs68,000 per tonne in cement prices. The price of steel in November was Rs110,000 per tonne while currently, it is Rs178,500 per tonne. On the other hand, the price of cement has moved up to Rs680 per 50kg bag. He believed that the rising prices would threaten the Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme (NPHS) and said, “Sixty per cent of the total cost of a high-rise building consists of cement and steel while this ratio is 30pc to 40pc in a normal residential project. In this situation, the federal government will not be able to fulfil its promise of constructing five million low-cost houses” Ilyas has requested the government to look into the matter and take immediate action against it. He believes that this is a conspiracy against the government initiative of the housing plan. Analysts are of the view that the price hike is due to the rising price of scrap and coal internationally. Moreover, they believe that cement demand in the northern areas has to lead to an increase in prices. However, Cedar Capital analyst Waqas Mustafa mentioned that the price of steel increased in Pakistan when the price of scrap was declining internationally.

Gender protection unit receives 500 complaints

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The gender protection unit of Islamabad police received more than 500 complaints since its inauguration in May, an official said, claiming that it took immediate action on most of them and provided justice to victims.

Assistant Superintendent of PoliceAmna Baig, the official in charge of the agency, said the complaints were registered at its toll-free helpline 8090.

A dedicated division of Islamabad police, the agency handles incidents related to gender violence, domestic and child abuse, and harassment.

The unit and an associated helpline are managed by female police personnel to make it easier for women to lodge their complaints.

Baig said a well-trained lady police officer is deployed at the front desk. The agency employs trained medical staff, including a psychiatrist, and legal aid groups to assist the vulnerable.

According to a report by the Sustainable Social Development Organization, at least 9,401 cases of violence against women and 1,920 instances of child abuse were reported only in the second half of 2020.