Pakistan Today

ISLAMABAD: The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), while rigorously pursuing its objective of providing ease of doing business, has established its first ever "business centre" for swift incorporation of companies and to ensure instant response to investors' requests for information and queries. "The centre, located in the federal capital, is well equipped with a professional team and latest...

LAHORE: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has appointed All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) Patron-in-Chief Gohar Ejaz as head of its complaint resolution committee for settlement of sales tax matters. The FBR on Tuesday had constituted a special committee, which was tasked to review complaints related to sales tax; take prompt action for their resolution; follow up with field...

NEW DELHI: Hundreds of Indian women, including many widows of farmers who were believed to have killed themselves over debt, joined a protest on Wednesday against government reforms that farmers say threaten their livelihoods. Farmers have been protesting for nearly a month over the reforms, enacted in September, to deregulate the agriculture sector, allowing farmers to sell to buyers beyond...

ISLAMABAD: The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) on Tuesday announced that it had found firm evidence of cartelisation in the cement sector and had proven the involvement of All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) in anti-competitive activities. "Prominent cement players, namely Lucky Cement, Bestway Cement, DG Khan Cement, Attock Cement, Kohat Cement, Cherat Cement, Dewan Cement, Fecto Cement and Kohat...

ISLAMABAD: State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Dr Reza Baqir said on Tuesday that the International Monetary Fund, like the government, wants power sector reforms and reduction in circular debt. He was addressing the plenary on 'Pakistan's Economic Response to Covid-19 and Way Forward for an Inclusive Economic Recovery' on the second day of the 23rd Annual Sustainable Development Conference...

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Tuesday constituted complaint resolution committees for settlement of issues related to sales tax refunds in Punjab. The FBR constituted two complaint resolution committees for Punjab North and Punjab South. The southern committee shall comprise members falling under the jurisdiction of Multan, Bahawalpur and Sahiwal; whereas northern committee shall comprise members falling under...

ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC), in its upcoming meeting, is likely to approve the Rs739-billion Karachi Transformation Plan. As per details, Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh has summoned the ECC meeting on Wednesday (tomorrow) to discuss 13 agenda items, including the Karachi Transformation Plan. Sources said that the planning ministry had proposed the ECC to approve five Karachi infrastructure-related...

The government on Tuesday increased the price of petrol by Rs3 per litre. According to the Finance Division notification, a litre of petrol would now be sold at Rs103.69. Meanwhile, the price of high-speed diesel has been increased by Rs3 to Rs108.44 per litre, while that of kerosene oil has been hiked by Rs5 to Rs70.29 a litre. The new prices will...

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has relaxed the National Aviation Policy, 2019, to facilitate private airlines Airblue and Serene Air. Sources privy to this development informed that the Aviation Division had earlier this month proposed the federal cabinet to relax Article 4.5 of National Aviation Policy (NAP)-2019 in favour of Serene Air and Airblue so that the carriers may be permitted...

Taking advantage of Pakistan scurrying to buy arrange import of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in January at the last minute, bidders have quoted record high prices. This is the second time Pakistan authorities are attempting to fill the gap arising out of no bids for LNG vessels between Jan 8-18, with the government exercising emergency clauses of the procurement rules...

LAHORE: The Punjab cabinet has lifted a ban on the grant and renewal of coal mining concessions in the province. A spokesman for Punjab Mines and Minerals Department on Tuesday termed the development a historic decision of the Buzdar government to promote mineral development and investment. He said that the provincial cabinet has given a final approval to lift the 10-year...

PESHAWAR: Small traders of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have warned the provincial government of protests against the closure of shopping malls and other business centres under the guise of "violation of coronavirus SOPs". Traders informed that the district administration, citing violation of Covid SOPs, was imposing fines on the already struggling shopkeepers, causing millions of rupees worth losses to traders on a...

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan earned $100.920 million by providing different transport services in various countries during Q1FY21 as compared to the corresponding period last year, showing a decrease of 48.55 per cent as compared to $196.140 million earned through the provision of services during the corresponding period of FY20, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported on Tuesday. During the period under review,...

ISLAMABAD: Japan will provide Pakistan with a grant of Rs1.54 billion to fight against Covid-19. An agreement to this effect was signed in the federal capital on Tuesday. Japanese Ambassador to Pakistan Kuninori Matsuda and Secretary Economic Affairs Noor Ahmed were present in the signing ceremony. The grant will be helpful for the purchase of health-related equipment, particularly ventilators and oxygen...

Apple Inc plans to manufacture up to 96 million iPhones in the first half of 2021, a nearly 30pc year-on-year increase owing to strong demand for its 5G handsets, Nikkei reported on Tuesday. It has asked suppliers to produce around 95 million to 96 million iPhones, including the latest iPhone 12 range as well as older iPhone 11 and SE...