Tag: commercial

  • Govt retrieves precious property worth Rs23 billion from illegal occupants

    Govt retrieves precious property worth Rs23 billion from illegal occupants

    The Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) has retrieved more than 3,500 acres of property worth Rs23 billion from illegal occupants, along with Rs650 million in rent arrears.

    This was revealed during the press conference alongside the ETPB chairman by Dr Shoaib Suddle, the chairman of the One Man Commission, according to The News. He claimed that in accordance with the Supreme Court’s instructions, a forensic audit of the trust board was carried out. Based on the audit’s findings, a plan of action was decided with the help of the ETPB and FIA.

    He said that the department’s revenue will increase as a result of the chairman board’s use of contemporary systems including the online billing system, complaints, geo-tagging, and e-office.

    The department had disposed of valuable trust land/property worth billions of rupees with the aid of FIA, the biggest undertaking in the board’s history to date, the ETPB chairman told the media representatives.

    In response to a query, he stated that various review sessions are held with the Trust Board and the FIA in accordance with the directives of the One-Man Commission, during which the action plan is formally implemented. Temples and Gurdwaras that are still in use have been renovated, and security measures have been improved.

  • Illegal commercial properties worth billions sealed in Lahore

    Illegal commercial properties worth billions sealed in Lahore

    The Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) has sealed 11 distinct commercial buildings and properties worth billions of rupees in Lahore on the Supreme Court’s directives.

    The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), a police team, and the administration conducted a raid and took action against encroachments under the direction of ETPB Chairman Habibur Rahman.

    In renowned commercial areas like Sheesha Moti Bazaar, Wichuwali, Hingana Street, Sutar Mandi, Ravi Road, Mohini Road, and Bradlaugh Hall, the team sealed numerous properties that were in illegal possession.

    Participating in the operation under the direction of Administrator Lahore Akram Joya were Deputy Administrator Taskinullah, Abdul Waheed Khan, Asim Ejaz, Ahmed Hassan, and Saad Butt.

    While, Director FIA Mohammad Zawar, SHO Raza Awan, SHO Benish Rehman, Rana Naeem, Kashif Gujjar also participated in the raid.

  • Miftah assures to address the issues of business community

    Miftah assures to address the issues of business community

    Finance Minister Miftah Ismail has assured the business community that their problems related to electricity bills and taxation will be resolved soon.

    He made this announcement during a meeting at the Finance Division with a Markazi Tanzeem-Tajaran Pakistan delegation led by its president, Muhammad Kashif Chaudary.

    Miftah tweeted on Sunday that he would meet with business leaders to discuss their concerns. “The Prime Minister has also called me and instructed me to ensure that small traders are completely satisfied with the new tax law,” Ismail tweeted.

    According to him, the government will exempt stores with invoices of less than 150 units from the tax in an effort to appease small enterprises.

    The government would charge Rs3,000 to retailers who are not registered with the FBR, and neither tax notices nor FBR officers’ visits to their stores will be made.

    Additionally, a new fixed income and sales tax scheme for small business or retailers was suggested. The coalition government in power declared in the budget for 2022–2023 that fixed income and sales taxes would also be collected in addition to electricity bills.

    The amount of this tax, according to Finance Minister Miftah Ismail, will range from Rs3,000 to Rs10,000.

    According to Kashif Chaudary, the business sector is crucial to the nation’s economic growth. Ismail also acknowledged the situation and gave his word that the government will take every necessary action to assist and support the neighbourhood.

    Previously, the business community urged that the federal government immediately stop collecting the “fixed tax” through electricity bills.

    Hasnain Khurshid Ahmad, president of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, stated that the government has been able to collect sales tax from Rs3,000 to Rs20,000 through power bills, which is incomprehensible to local business owners.

    The forced system of “fixed” sale tax on commercial power metres, which did not distinguish between small and large firms or godowns, was a reflection of the government’s anti-business policies and amounted to the economic murder of the community of merchants, according to Khurshid.

  • City Traffic Police Lahore to check overcharging, overloading by transporters on Eid

    City Traffic Police Lahore to check overcharging, overloading by transporters on Eid

    The Lahore Traffic Police have declared a crackdown on transport company owners who overcharge and overload passengers during the Eid holidays.

    According to Lahore’s Chief Traffic Officer (CTO), Muntazir Mehdi, thousands of people depart for their hometowns to celebrate Eid with their loved ones. It’s terrible that dishonest transportation owners take advantage of them, he says. Mehdi stated that police had developed a thorough plan to combat exploitation this year. He announced the deployment of at least 84 wardens at Lorry Adda, Badamibagh, Babu Sabu, Niazi Chowk, Thokar Niaz Beg, Shahdara Chowk, Begum Kot Chowk, Gajjumatta, and other key bus stations.

    The traffic police have also issued orders to transportation companies to display fare information prominently on their vehicles. Those who charge high rates to commuters deserve no concessions, according to the CTO, who directed all circle officers to speak with transporter owners in their respective zones. He announced the impoundment of vehicles found overcharging or overloading.

    Police is taking precautions against overcrowding to ensure safe travelling, according to Mehdi, who also stated that additional police officers have been stationed at the city’s entry and exit points. He asked people to phone Police Helpline 15 if they needed assistance or had a complaint. He also stated that people who overload their buses will face consequences.

    Read more: Shopkeepers fined in Islamabad for not adhering to DC rates

    The CTO stated that transportation owners and drivers are required to charge a fixed rate and display a fare list prominently on the vehicle. According to Mehdi, automobiles should be seized if their owners are proven to be overcharging and overloading. Traffic teams have been dispatched to ten locations to investigate overcharging and overloading.

  • Pak-China trade to resume through Khunjerab pass after 2-year hiatus

    A lucrative trade route connecting Pakistan and China, the Khunjerab Pass will finally reopen for trade activities on April 1, 2022 after more than a 2-year hiatus. The pass was closed in November 2019 as a preventive measure against the spread of COVID-19.

    As per a credible resource, Chinese authorities sent Pakistan a letter requesting the reopening of the border, in reference to the agreement made in May 2013 between the neighboring countries.

    Port authorities on the Chinese side have been advised to take all preventive measures related to the COVID-19 outbreak.

    Likewise, the Pakistani border authorities have also been instructed to take all necessary precautions to prevent the spread of coronavirus spread.

    The Khunjerab Pass was temporarily opened for less than two weeks from July 29, 2020 to August 10, 2020 to allow the passage of stranded containers filled with goods. The prolonged closure of Khunjerab Pass had caused severe financial hardships to the local business community.

  • VIDEO: PTI minister, senior journalist lose it over Mehwish Hayat’s new biscuit ad

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker and minister of state for parliamentary affairs, Ali Muhammad Khan, and senior journalist Ansar Abbasi have lost it over a biscuit television commercial (TVC) wherein actor Mehwish Hayat was seen dancing.

    Here’s what Abbasi tweeted:

    The tweet that sought action against what Abbasi said was an “obscene dance to sell biscuits”, led to a viral hashtag seeking ban on “vulgarity on Pakistani TV” as hundreds of others tweeted in its favour.

    Ali Muhammad Khan, on the other hand, added fuel to fire as he tweeted to call the same advert “anti-Islamic”.

    Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Science & Technology Fawad Chaudhry took a dig at journalist Abbasi as well as Minister Khan.

    “Why are you and Ali always digging out vulgarity? Try doing something productive,” he tweeted.

    This isn’t the first time Abbasi has made his way to the limelight with such a concern.

    Last month, he had drawn the ire of several netizens for urging Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, Federal Minister for Information Shibli Faraz and Special Assistant to PM (SAPM) on Information Lt Gen (r) Asim Bajwa to take notice of a woman exercising on state-owned Pakistan Television (PTV) News.

    Fawad had not let go of that tweet either.