Asad Umar lauds National Financial Inclusion Strategy

ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Asad Umar on Saturday chaired a meeting of the Economic Advisory Council’s (EAC) Sub-Groups on National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS) and Fiscal Sector in Islamabad.

The meeting was attended by all major stakeholders and members of the sub-group from the Ministry of Finance, State Bank of Pakistan, Federal Board of Revenue and Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan.

State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Tariq Bajwa presented a National Financial Inclusion Strategy to improve quality and increase access to financial services in Pakistan.

He outlined targets and necessary policy actions to be taken at various levels in the coming years to achieve these targets.

The discussion revolved around fast-tracking digitization of financial services to reach out larger number of consumers, small and medium business and newly emerging entrepreneurs throughout country.

The minister appreciated the strategy and emphasized on diligently time-lining the goals, targets and actions to be taken, and cautioned against delaying the implementation process of the strategy.

In the fiscal policy sub-group meeting, FBR representatives gave a presentation on the problems currently ailing tax administration system in Pakistan, and ad-hoc-ism of tax policy; it was noted that these issues consequently lead to low tax collection contributing to massive fiscal imbalances.

The Sub-groups also considered solutions to fix crippling tax system of Pakistan by recommending policy measures targeting two major areas, tax administration and tax policy. It was noted that information technology had a greater role in getting more and more people into tax net, and spotting tax-avoiders.

Also coherent and continuous coordination among the federal government and the provincial governments is of paramount importance in avoiding incidence of double-taxation.

Asad Umar issued directives for setting timelines of various proposed administrative and policy reforms so that the huge fiscal burden facing our economy is reduced to minimal possible level and the government gets much needed fiscal space.

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Pakistanis stranded in Kuwait to depart for Lahore tonight: FO

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday came to the rescue of the Pakistani passengers left stranded at Kuwait International Airport after Lahore-bound flights were cancelled owing to unstable weather conditions.

Spokesperson for the Foreign Office Dr Muhammad Faisal said some of the stranded Pakistanis have been issued boarding passes for a Lahore-bound flight set to depart tonight, while the rest would be accommodated tomorrow.

He tweeted: “Due to heavy rains Kuwait declared emergency for three days and its airport suspended operations for few hours on Thursday. Some Pakistani passengers transiting through Kuwait were stranded due to cancellation of Kuwait airlines flights to Lahore.”

 He said, “On receipt of information, Embassy team was sent to the Airport to get in touch with Pakistanis and provide immediate assistance. Ambassador spoke to the head of kuwait airlines Operations and pressed for accommodating women/children in today’s flight.”

“As a result some passengers were issued boarding passes for the flight leaving for Lahore tonight. Remaining would be accommodated tomorrow, inshaallah.”

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Former CJP Saeeduz Zaman’s wife escapes gun attack

ISLAMABAD: Former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saeeduz Zaman Siddiqui’s wife on Saturday narrowly escaped when unidentified gunmen opened fire at her vehicle in Rawalpindi, ARY News reported.

According to the details, former CJP Saeeduz Zaman’s wife was travelling in her vehicle when unidentified armed men ambushed at her in Rawalpindi. No causality was reported in the firing incident.

Police confirmed ARY News, that the former CJP’s wife escaped in a gun attack, which took place in judicial colony.

Whereas, Justice (retd) Saeed-uz-Zaman Siddiqui’s son submitted a written application in police station Murree Chock Trait about the incident. He said in the application that the accused also held her mother among three in illegal confinement.

The police gathered bullet casings and other evidences from the spot and launched investigations into the incident.

Civil judge survives murder attempt in Rawalpindi

It is pertinent to mention here that police, on Saturday, arrested three accused allegedly involved in an attempt to kill a civil judge of Islamabad in Rawalpindi.

As per details, unidentified armed men opened fire at the vehicle of Civil Judge Suleman Badar near Rawalpindi’s Chakri Interchange.

The judge was travelling along with his family to Islamabad from Lahore, when his car was ambushed at Chakri Interchange. No casualties were reported in the firing incident, said local police.

Soon after the attack, the police conducted search operation for the arrest of attackers in Trinol area and took three suspects into custody.

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Pakistan condemns ‘farcical’ Indian charge sheet against Asiya Andrabi

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Saturday strongly condemned the “farcical” Indian charge sheet against Dukhtaran-e-Millat Chairperson Asiya Andrabi.

Foreign Office spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal in a twitter statement said continuing Indian attempts to label the legitimate Kashmiri struggle for self determination as terrorism have failed miserably.

He said continuing Indian incarceration of Kashmiri leaders on baseless charges violated the human rights charter & made a mockery of Indian claims of being a “democracy” as Asiya Andrabi is incarcerated while Syed Geelani was released from house arrest after 8 years.

“India needs to accept the reality of its failure to try to label every Kashmiri, from women to old men and children, as a “militant/terrorist”. We call upon the Int. Comm to expedite establishment of COI as recommended in OHCHR and #APPKG reports,” he said.

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Govt not considering any proposal to accept Israel, president tells ulema

ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi on Saturday once again clarified that the government is not considering any proposal to accept Israel. 

He met a delegation of ulema from different schools of thoughts at the Governor House Lahore. Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar was also present during the meeting.

President Alvi stressed the need to highlight true essence of Islam while projecting Islam’s inherited positive, polite and peaceful aspects. He reiterated the government’s resolve to protect Namoos e Risalat.

He said the government will consult ulema to play their effective role so that Tahafuz e Namoos e Risalat and Blasphemy Laws are not misused. Ulemas should fully cooperate with the government to ensure that sacred notions are not misused to create conflicts, aggression and destruction of peace in the country, he added.

The president said the government is not considering any change in the Blasphemy Law (clause 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code).

Alama Ayub Safdar assured on behalf of the ulema’s delegation that ulema will extend all possible help to ensure peace in the country and will cooperate effectively to make Pakistan a welfare Islamic state.

The president said that the government is not considering any proposal to accept Israel. He further said that the process of registration of Mosques and madaras will be smoothened and facilitated as per laws so that registration process gets completed soon.

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SC orders immediate revival of Karachi Circular Railway

KARACHI: The Supreme Court on Saturday directed the authorities concerned to immediately revive the Karachi Circular Railway. 

The direction came during a meeting chaired by Justice Gulzar Ahmed at the apex court’s Karachi registry. He directed the civic authorities to clear all railway tracks across the city of encroachments.

The Deputy Superintendent of the Pakistan Railways informed that railway tracks in various areas of the city have been encroached upon. The top court judge directed the deputy commissioners to remove encroachments from the railway tracks.

Meanwhile, the court also ordered the revival of a tram service in the city. A tram service be launched on the route between the old city areas and Saddar to promote tourism, said Justice Gulzar.

According to sources, the municipal authorities in coordination with railway officers would determine a route for the Karachi Circular Railway.

The apex court directed the authorities to pull down shops built under the FTC flyover and remove all sorts of encroachments along Shahrah-e-Faisal and Rashid Minhas Road.

It also directed the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) and all cantonment boards to raze illegal constructions within their jurisdictions.

In Sept, this year, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah sought the assistance of Chinese authorities in the revival of the Karachi Circular Railway and other mega projects.

The chief minister, while speaking to Chinese Consul General Mr Wang Yu, said that projects such as the Karachi Circular Railway, Dhabeji Economic Zone and Keti Bandar left incomplete at the conclusion of his last tenure as chief minister were being continued.

CM Sindh said that the KCR project was most important for Karachi. “It was included in the CPEC and then delayed due to some reasons but now time has come to take it up once again,” he said.

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