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Print - 2020-01-03
Ahsan Iqbal discharged from hospital

Ahsan Iqbal discharged from hospital

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Secretary General Ahsan Iqbal was discharged from Lahore's Services Hospital on Thursday.
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Three dead, dozens feared buried in Sukkur building collapse

Three dead, dozens feared buried in Sukkur building collapse

Three people including a child died while other nine sustained injuries after a three-storey building on Thursday collapsed in Sukkur, where several people were feared buried under the debris, Aaj News reported.
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
UAE fund allocates $200m to support projects

UAE fund allocates $200m to support projects

The de facto United Arab Emirates ruler, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, instructed the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development to allocate $200 million to support small and medium economic projects in Pakistan, state news agen
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
SC urged to suspend operation of November 28 order

SC urged to suspend operation of November 28 order

The Supreme Court has been urged to suspend the operation of its 28th November order regarding extension to incumbent Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa. A three-judge bench, headed by then Chief Justice of Pakistan Asif Saeed Khan Khosa
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Amendments in Army Act; Bill to get parliamentary sanction today

Amendments in Army Act; Bill to get parliamentary sanction today

The Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill, 2020 would be tabled today (Friday) in the National Assembly for passage without being referred to the relevant standing committee of the house to extend the tenure(s) of the Chief of the Army Staff and Chairman Joint C
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
ETF to be launched on PSX anytime soon

ETF to be launched on PSX anytime soon

For the first time, Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) is expected to be launched on Pakistan Stock Exchange in next few weeks.
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Non-residents: Tax regime simplified

Non-residents: Tax regime simplified

The federal government has simplified the tax regime for non-residents to encourage investment in long-term debt securities.
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
The sooner the better
Letters

The sooner the better

It is a matter of great satisfaction for teeming millions in Karachi that Green Line bus project is likely to become functional anytime soon. That Karachi, country's largest city, lacks the required public transport network is a fact. Lack of public trans
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Commercializing Pakistan Railways - I
Articles

Commercializing Pakistan Railways - I

Pakistan Railways (PR), a State-Owned Enterprise (SOE) under the Ministry of Railways (MoR), which has been working as a natural monopoly has not been able to pay adequate attention to improving its service for consumers - passengers and freight - for the
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
'Unconstitutional' taxation by provinces
Articles

'Unconstitutional' taxation by provinces

The imposition of any kind of legislation that include levy of any tax or duty, cess etc having extraterritorial impact and involving entities operating on trans-provincial levels by any provincial assembly is patently against Article 141 of the Constitut
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
A step forward

A step forward

According to a press report, a new non-formal education and skill training programme is about to be launched in Punjab and Sindh in partnership with an NGO having extensive experiences in social issues related projects. The World Bank is to provide $2.73
Updated 03 Jan, 2020 11:16am
Raise in Ehsaas Kifalat stipend

Raise in Ehsaas Kifalat stipend

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Dr Sania Nishtar announced that the government has increased quarterly cash grant for 4.3 million beneficiaries of Ehsaas
Updated 03 Jan, 2020 11:16am
Five new polio cases confirmed in KP

Five new polio cases confirmed in KP

The National Institute of Health Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Thursday notified five new cases of polio virus from Tank, D I Khan, Bannu and districts taking the total case count to 88 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 123 in the country.
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Musharraf didn't abrogate Constitution: Saif

Musharraf didn't abrogate Constitution: Saif

A senator from treasury benches, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, on Thursday strongly put his weight behind General Pervez Musharraf (retd), saying that "no one is born in Pakistan to hang Pervez Musharraf," while contending that the former dictator did not
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Panel says NA may adopt FGEHA Bill

Panel says NA may adopt FGEHA Bill

The National Assembly Standing Committee on Housing and Works on Thursday gave assent that the National Assembly may pass "the Federal Government Employees Housing Authority Bill, 2019," seeking to provide affordable houses to employees of the federal gov
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Firdous for not politicising national matters

Firdous for not politicising national matters

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan Thursday said that matters of national interest should be kept away from politics.
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Hafeez asks FBR to forcibly enforce POS registration
Taxes

Hafeez asks FBR to forcibly enforce POS registration

Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister on Finance, has directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to enforce Point of Sale (POS) registration forcibly in the markets across the country.
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Gas blasts claim two lives

Gas blasts claim two lives

Incidents of gas explosions and leakage claimed two lives, while 13 injured amid shivering weather across the country on Wednesday night and Thursday morning. A father and a son died of suffocation in Chowk Azam town of district Layyah in Punjab due to ga
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Expeditious uplift of Faisalabad top of agenda: DC

Expeditious uplift of Faisalabad top of agenda: DC

Expeditious uplift of Faisalabad Division is on top of my agenda and in this connection a progressive strategy has been evolved to resolve administrative as well as development problems on daily basis, said Divisional Commissioner Faisalabad Ishrat Ali.
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
HR&MA received 34,584 complaints in 2019

HR&MA received 34,584 complaints in 2019

As many as 34,584 complaints were handled by human rights and minorities affairs (HR&MA) department since January 2019, 31,231 complaints were forwarded to relevant departments.
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Umar for accelerating exploration & development of mineral resources

Umar for accelerating exploration & development of mineral resources

Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives, Asad Umar has emphasized the need for coordinated efforts to accelerate exploration and development of indigenous mineral resources to reduce huge spending on imported materials.
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
NBFCs: SECP makes major changes in regulatory framework
Stocks

NBFCs: SECP makes major changes in regulatory framework

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has made major changes in regulatory framework for non-banking finance company (NBFCs) and introduced the definition of "infrastructure finance company (IFC)."
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Candidates term FPSC exam's date sheet 'unfair'

Candidates term FPSC exam's date sheet 'unfair'

A number of Central Superior Service (CSS) aspiring candidates have termed the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) examination date sheet unfair which may put many students at disadvantage.
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
ZTBL urged to revisit decision about mark-up rate

ZTBL urged to revisit decision about mark-up rate

Secretary General (Federal) of the Businessmen Panel for Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), Ahmad Jawad has said that Zarai Taraqiati Bank Ltd (ZTBL) should revisit its decision about markup rate which currently stands at 18
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
KPRA issues notice to telecom co for non-payment of STS
Taxes

KPRA issues notice to telecom co for non-payment of STS

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Revenue Authority (KPRA) on Thursday issued suspension of Registration Notice to one of the biggest Telecom Companies of Pakistan for not paying due taxes for the last six months despite collection from their users/customers.
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Economy now heading toward stability, says KP minister

Economy now heading toward stability, says KP minister

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Information, Shaukat Ali Yousafzai on Thursday said that good effects of tough decision have started emerging and the economy has started moving towards stability.
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Telenor Pakistan launches Bizmine
Telecommunication

Telenor Pakistan launches Bizmine

Telenor Pakistan on Thursday launched Bizmine, an analytical framework that enables business leaders to de-clutter crucial information and get essential data insights to take smart decisions. The launch event was held at Telenor Pakistan's Campus, 345, wh
Updated 03 Jan, 2020 05:02pm
Foreign reserves surge to $18 billion mark

Foreign reserves surge to $18 billion mark

The country's total liquid foreign reserves crossed $18 billion mark at the end of the last week supported by bilateral and multilateral inflows. According to State Bank of Pakistan's (SBP) weekly report issued on Thursday, Pakistan's total liquid foreign
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Zia Ul Mustafa made SAFA president

Zia Ul Mustafa made SAFA president

Zia Ul Mustafa, President of the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Pakistan has been appointed as President of South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA) and Prof Mamtaz Uddin Ahmed, Council Member of the Institute of Cost and Management A
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Efforts being made to misuse MQM for breaking government: Wasim

Efforts being made to misuse MQM for breaking government: Wasim

Mayor Karachi Wasim Akhtar on Thursday said his party, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) had been used for making governments in past and now again efforts were on to misuse it for breaking the government. MQM would make decisions in the interest of the city
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Prices of urea fertilizer may rise by Rs 40kg

Prices of urea fertilizer may rise by Rs 40kg

The prices of urea fertilizer are expected to be further increased by Rs 40 kg per bag due to government's recent decision which restricts claimability of input sales tax from unregistered dealers through the Tax Laws (Second Amendment) Ordinance 2019.
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Gold price rises

Gold price rises

Gold was traded for Rs88300 per tola on Thursday in the local market, up by Rs150, according to traders.
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Hyderabad SITE body chief regrets closure of tech centres

Hyderabad SITE body chief regrets closure of tech centres

The Chairman Hyderabad SITE Association of Trade and Industry Mazhar-ul-Haq Choudhry has expressed his deep regrets over closure of technical training centres in Hyderabad by Sindh Small Industries Corporation adding that such steps will only enhance unem
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Magnetic stripe ATM cards will continue to work: SBP
Taxes

Magnetic stripe ATM cards will continue to work: SBP

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has said that existing magnetic stripe ATM cards will continue to work till the issuance of new EMV chip cards. SBP has categorically rejected rumours that the existing ATM cards with magnetic stripe have stopped working s
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Universities' rising budget deficit perturbs Senate body

Universities' rising budget deficit perturbs Senate body

The Senate Standing Committee on Science and Technology has expressed strong displeasure over the increasing budget deficit of universities across the country and their difficulties in running day-to-day affairs.
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
'APC on gas shortage under study'

'APC on gas shortage under study'

"Sindh has no role in discovering the gas; it is federal government's subject and Sindh still cooperates with Islamabad in this task. Govt must take action against federal minister and authorities in failure of management of gas supply to Sindh."
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Senate's finance body meeting put off

Senate's finance body meeting put off

A meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance convened on Thursday was postponed because its chairman is abroad and consequently important agenda was not taken up. An official on condition of anonymity stated that as per rule, members of the commi
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
HIV/AIDS: NA panel deplores lack of cooperation among provinces

HIV/AIDS: NA panel deplores lack of cooperation among provinces

A National Assembly panel on Thursday expressed grave concerns over lack of coordination among the provinces regarding the efforts and surveys to overcome the HIV/AIDS in the country. The National Assembly Standing Committee on National Health Services, R
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
5th Pakistan Edible Oil Conference on January 11

5th Pakistan Edible Oil Conference on January 11

Pakistan holds a significantly higher ranking on the list of edible oil importing countries (third largest importer of the world), which it shall retain in decades to come due to persistent demographic, agronomic and geographic compulsions. Indeed the sin
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
ATC grants pre-arrest bail to Hassaan Niazi

ATC grants pre-arrest bail to Hassaan Niazi

An anti-terrorism court on Thursday granted afresh pre-arrest bail to prime minister Imran Khan's nephew Hassaan Niazi in case of attack on Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) by lawyers.
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Domestic cement dispatches grow by 3.54 percent

Domestic cement dispatches grow by 3.54 percent

The cement sector maintained the dispatch pattern of previous six months as the Northern region excelled in domestic dispatches but performed poor in exports. On the other hand, the Southern region over excelled in exports but its performance in the domes
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
High cost of electricity undermines country's industrial growth

High cost of electricity undermines country's industrial growth

High cost of electricity has almost reduced the electricity consumption by the cottage industry by half in last five years, as the usage of B1 connections (meant for cottage industry) has come down to 278 million units in 2018-19 against 578 million units
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Quddus Bizenjo meets Punjab Assembly speaker

Quddus Bizenjo meets Punjab Assembly speaker

Acting Governor Balochistan Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo called on Speaker Punjab Assembly Ch Parvez Elahi at his Gulberg residence, here on Thursday and exchanged views on prevailing political situation in the country, affairs of Balochistan government and m
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Buzdar vows to make Punjab hub of economic activities

Buzdar vows to make Punjab hub of economic activities

Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar on Thursday said that the province of Punjab would be made hub of trade and economic activities in this year and 10 Special Economic Zones (SEZs), to be set up in different areas, would change the destiny of the people.
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
PMEX signs with Cloudasset to digitise payments

PMEX signs with Cloudasset to digitise payments

Pakistan Mercantile Exchange (PMEX), country's first and only multi-commodity futures exchange, signed an agreement with Cloudasset on December 16, 2019. Under this agreement, Cloudasset will provide a unified digital transaction service platform to PMEX.
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Farmers voice concern over closure of sugar mills in Punjab

Farmers voice concern over closure of sugar mills in Punjab

Farmers showing anxiety over the closure of sugar mills in the Punjab province have appealed the Chief Minister Punjab to intervene and calculate the cost of production of sugar being produced by millers and let the sugar price be determined by market for
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Government put the economy in right direction: Sarwar

Government put the economy in right direction: Sarwar

Punjab Governor Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar said on Thursday that PTI led coalition government has put the country's economy on the right direction. Current account deficit has been reduced to one billion dollar from 20 billion dollar in one year, while bull
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
SEZs to bring industrial revolution

SEZs to bring industrial revolution

United Business Group (UBG) central chairman Iftikhar Ali Malik on Thursday said that Special Economic Zones (SEZs) under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would bring industrial revolution in Pakistan.
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Golootlo, 1LINK sign partnership

Golootlo, 1LINK sign partnership

1LINK (Pvt) Limited (1LINK) and Decagon Pakistan (Pvt) Limited (Golootlo) have signed an agreement to enable 1QR as a channel to promote account based digital payments through 1IBFT across Pakistan. This shall allow Golootlo customers to avail year-round
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Julian Castro drops out

Julian Castro drops out

Julian Castro, an Obama-era cabinet member and the only Hispanic candidate in the US presidential race, ended his 2020 White House bid Thursday after failing to boost his flagging poll numbers in a crowded Democratic field.
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Trump far outpaces Democratic rivals in election fundraising

Trump far outpaces Democratic rivals in election fundraising

Donald Trump's re-election team on Thursday revealed that he sits atop a staggering campaign war chest, underlining the scale of the challenge facing the US president's Democratic rivals at the start of an election year.
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
French citizen dead in US custody

French citizen dead in US custody

A French citizen and native of Angola has died in the custody of US immigration agents, they said on Wednesday, the latest in a number of deaths during a US crackdown on illegal immigrants. A statement from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) identi
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Barcelona bans older, most polluting cars

Barcelona bans older, most polluting cars

Barcelona imposed a ban Thursday on older, more polluting vehicles during most of the day in a bid to reduce air pollution in Spain's second largest city. Gasoline-powered cars registered in Spain before 2000, and diesel-powered cars registered before 200
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Hillary Clinton named chancellor of Belfast university

Hillary Clinton named chancellor of Belfast university

Former US secretary of state and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton was appointed Thursday as the new chancellor of Queen's University Belfast. Clinton will serve for five years in the largely ceremonial role, the Northern Irish institution announced.
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Turkey parliament approves Libya military deployment

Turkey parliament approves Libya military deployment

Turkey's parliament passed a bill on Thursday approving a military deployment to Libya aimed at shoring up the UN-backed government in Tripoli, at a time of intensifying international tensions over the conflict.
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Firefighter killed in latest New Delhi factory blaze

Firefighter killed in latest New Delhi factory blaze

A fireman battling a blaze at a New Delhi factory was killed Thursday after the building collapsed, officials said, in the third major fire in the Indian capital in less than a month.
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
AI beats human breast cancer diagnosis

AI beats human breast cancer diagnosis

A computer programme can identify breast cancer from routine scans with greater accuracy than human experts, researchers said in what they hoped could prove a breakthrough in the fight against the global killer. Breast cancer is one of the most common can
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Poland's Chopin contest ever popular in Asia

Poland's Chopin contest ever popular in Asia

A record 500-plus young pianists, nearly half from Asia, applied to take part in the 2020 edition of Poland's prestigious Chopin competition, its organisers said Thursday.
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
US natural gas futures fall on mild weather
Energy

US natural gas futures fall on mild weather

US natural gas futures fell on Thursday, hovering close to a four-month trough, with weather forecast to stay mild for a couple of weeks and gas production nearing record highs.
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Activities of Karachi Port and Port Qasim

Activities of Karachi Port and Port Qasim

The Karachi Port handled 141,931 tonnes of cargo comprising 80,765 tonnes of import cargo and 61,166 tonnes of export cargo including 9,415 loaded and empty containers during the last 24 hours ending at 0700 hours on Thursday.
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Steady trend seen on cotton market
Cotton & Textile

Steady trend seen on cotton market

Steady trend was witnessed on the cotton market on Thursday as some needy buyers indulged in fresh deals to replenish their stock, dealers said.
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Turkish lira edges down
Money & Banking

Turkish lira edges down

The Turkish lira began the year on weaker footing on Thursday after shedding 11% in 2019, a year in which the currency steadied somewhat following a full-blown crisis in 2018.
Published 03 Jan, 2020 12:00am