Tag: government

  • ‘Na Imran Khan ka admi hona chahiye na kisi aur ka’: Imran Khan about Army chief appointment

    ‘Na Imran Khan ka admi hona chahiye na kisi aur ka’: Imran Khan about Army chief appointment

    In a press conference on Monday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said that the appointment of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) should be on merit.

    He stated: “Na Imran Khan ka admi hona chahiye na kisi aur ka” (COAS should neither be my man nor someone else’s.)

    He was of the view that high-profile appointments like the COAS should not be made by “criminals like Nawaz or Zardari”.

    Moreover, he claimed that his party has been “sidelined” many times despite him trying his best not to cause any harm to institutions.

    Taking a jibe at Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif, Khan said that Nawaz is scared of elections because he fears defeat.

    Imran said Nawaz is waiting for the PTI’s wave of support to diminish before elections could be held.

    Khan gives time to the government

    Khan said that he is giving some more time to the government to announce a date for elections or else he will announce the long march date, adding that preparations for the march have been completed.

    “I am giving them [government] time just for the sake of the country,” he said. “I repeat that they still have time to announce elections, and if they don’t, I will begin my march, and my preparations are almost complete.”

    He said dialogue is out of the question with the ruling elite. “There’s no negotiation with criminals. You can hold reconciliation talks with Baloch or Sindhi nationalists, but not with felons like them,” Khan added.

    Rigging in NA-237

    Imran demanded the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to hold re-election in Karachi’s NA-237 constituency which he lost on Sunday to Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)candidate. He claimed that the PPP clinched the seat in the by-poll on through “rigging”.

    He said that the government did not wish to hold elections and used floods as an excuse. “They said that there were floods. But in the constituencies where elections were held, floods did not have an effect.”

    “Sindh’s election commissioner was on the provincial government’s payroll. We reject [Malir’s] by-election and demand re-election. The PPP swung the polls to their advantage through indiscriminate rigging,” Khan alleged.

  • IMF expects Pakistan’s govt gross debt to decline by 6.7%

    IMF expects Pakistan’s govt gross debt to decline by 6.7%

    According to projections made by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Pakistan’s government gross debt will decrease from 77.8 per cent of GDP in 2022 to 71.1 per cent in 2023.

    The predictions for Pakistan’s fiscal year 2022–2023, however, are made using data as of the end of August 2022 and do not take the current floods’ effects into account.

    The net debt for Pakistan is predicted to decrease from 71.5 per cent of GDP in 2022 to 66.1 per cent in 2023, according to the IMF study “Fiscal Monitor, Helping People Bounce Back.”

    According to projections, government revenue will represent 12.4 per cent of GDP in 2023 and 12.8 per cent of GDP in 2024, compared to 12.1 per cent during the same time in 2022.

    The primary balance of the government was predicted by the Fund to be 0.2 per cent in 2023 as opposed to -3.0 per cent in 2022. Furthermore, compared to 2022, 2023 is expected to see a decrease in the government’s overall balance of 4.8 per cent.

  • Did Khan just confirm Bushra Bibi’s ‘prove them traitors’ audio leak is legit?

    Did Khan just confirm Bushra Bibi’s ‘prove them traitors’ audio leak is legit?

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in the spur of the moment likely confirmed the audio leak in which his wife Bushra Bibi is allegedly instructing Khan’s former Focal Person for Digital Media, Dr Arslan Khalid, to run a campaign to ‘prove them traitors’.

    “From my house, [Bani Gala] from my secure line, Bushra Begum made a call to someone [Arsalan Khalid] that too was leaked,” said Khan while speaking with journalist Moeed Pirzada on 92 News.

    It is pertinent to mention here that in the alleged leaked audio, Bushra Bibi could be heard saying, “Khan Sahib told you to run a hashtag of treason. I have been getting calls from people that your social media was very active but after a week, it is not. You should have been very active nowadays.”

    She also allegedly said that former PTI leader Aleem Khan and others will talk against her, her friend Farah and Imran Khan as well. “They will make so much fuss and they will also give testimonies of people but you don’t have to make any issue of it. Just link them all with treason,” says Bushra Bibi.

    “I am telling you, you don’t have to discuss this issue with anyone. They are after him [Imran Khan] because of this. But you have to link it with treason.”

    The former first lady allegedly asks Khalid to direct his team to take up the issue of the government not buying oil from Russia and link it with how Imran Khan was being betrayed.

    “You cannot let this matter die down,” Bushra Bibi allegedly says to him, asking him to make a trend so people know that the country and Khan are being betrayed.

  • ‘Biggest liar on earth’: PM Shehbaz calls out his rival Imran Khan

    ‘Biggest liar on earth’: PM Shehbaz calls out his rival Imran Khan

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has called Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan the “Biggest liar on earth”.

    In an interview with The Guardian, Shehbaz Sharif stated that Khan was responsible for injecting poison into society to “Dangerously polarise the electorate” after he was ousted from office earlier this year.

    Shehbaz termed Khan “A liar and a cheat” whose policies had left the economy in ruins. “Khan ran on an anti-corruption manifesto, of conducting the country’s affairs to suit his own personal agenda in a manner which can be only described as the most inexperienced, self-centred, egotistical, immature politician in the history of this country,” said the premier.

    Mincing no words while talking about the recent leaked audios, the Prime Minister said that they were “An irrefutable endorsement that he [Khan] is the biggest liar on the face of the earth. I’m not saying this with a sense of glee but a sense of embarrassment and concern. My country’s image has been been damaged hugely by these lies told out of mean personal interest.”

    Shehbaz said Khan had to be held accountable for these “conscious criminal acts”.

    The prime minister highlighted the significant challenges he has to deal with alongside Khan mobilising on the streets, building a narrative against the government.

    “Never before was I concerned about our country’s future,” stressed the PM, blaming Imran Khan for injecting “Ifinite amount of poison in this society and made it hugely polarised as never before … he is distorting facts and creating hate.”

    Discussing his brother Nawaz Sharif’s, involvement in government, Shehbaz Sharif was diplomatic. “Of course I consult Nawaz, he is my leader and my older brother,” he said. “But he has given me completely free rein to make decisions,”‘ he insisted.

    Commenting on Khan’s criticism of dynastic politics in Pakistan, the premier said, “It’s about competence: it’s about public support, it’s about people’s trust,” he said. “It’s not about dynasty.”

    Prime Minister Shehbaz also highlighted how several world leaders, who he [Shehbaz] refused to name, had personally raised questions on Khan’s conduct. “Some leaders told me in person about his personality,” said the PM. “They told me he was rude, he told lies and he is a ‘narcissist’, quote unquote.”

  • IK rejects his own statement suggesting COAS extension

    IK rejects his own statement suggesting COAS extension

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan rejected his own statement on Tuesday suggesting the extension of the tenure of Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa till the next elections.

    In a meeting with journalists, Khan said: “I never talked about the extension of the army chief’s tenure, I just proposed to defer the appointment of the army chief till the new elections.”

    “I did not say anything to elicit a statement from Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR)”, Khan added.

    The PTI chief also decided to call on the nation to protest against the government in September.

    PTI ❤️ ARMY or PTI ARMY: PTI former ministers clash on Bajwa

    Shireen Mazari, senior leader of PTI, took a jibe at anchor Kamran Khan, accusing him and others of misquoting Imran Khan regarding his suggestion to extend the tenure of COAS.

    “What Khan actually said on army chief and what Kamran Khan and PMLN trolls deliberately tried to misquote. The problem here is when the anchor wants to assert his own view or agenda despite IK making his position clear on the same issue. Such anchors should do monologues instead”, she said.

    Fawad Chaudhry agrees with IK’s suggestion to extend COAS tenure

    On the contrary, another senior leader of PTI, Fawad Chaudhry, took to Twitter to give approval to his party chairman Imran Khan’s suggestion to extend the COAS tenure.

    “Yesterday, Imran Khan presented a practical formula for the country’s political future and the restoration of democracy. There is a need to move forward on this formula. The economic condition of the country will not be able to bear the burden of political instability. The status quo can be maintained for the elections.” he tweeted.

    Khan ko kya hua? IK says Gen Bajwa should be given an extension till the next elections

    In an interview with Kamran Khan on Dunya News aired on Monday evening, Imran Khan suggested that the COAS, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, be given an extension in his tenure of service.

    Talking about the possibility of appointing a new Army Chief, Khan said, “There can be a provision in relevance to the selection of the new COAS. When the next government comes, they can appoint a new COAS.”

    When Kamran Khan asked Imran Khan if he was suggesting that until a new government comes to power, Gen Bajwa should continue as army chief, Khan said the country is facing extraordinary circumstances because of floods. He was of the view that for now, the main focus should be on how to get the country out of the crisis.

    During the show, he reiterated that the appointment of a new army chief should be on merit.

    “Neither Asif Ali Zardari nor Nawaz Sharif is qualified for taking this decision on merit,” he said.

    It is pertinent to mention that COAS Qamar Javed Bajwa is due to retire in November this year.

    Speaking on general elections, Khan said, “Mai baat karnay ke liye tayyar hoon”, [I am ready to talk with the government].

    Khan confirmed meeting with former US ambassador

    Imran Khan confirmed that he met with former American ambassador and CIA analyst Robin Raphel. He said, “She is not associated with the government, but is working with a think tank”, adding that Pak-US relations should be good.

    However, earlier PTI had denied that the meeting took place. Fawad Chaudhry had categorically said that the meeting between Khan and Raphel took place three years ago.

    During the show, Khan also clarified that he is not anti-America.

    The PTI chief added that his party’s relationship with the US was not tense, but tensions arose after Khan visited Russia, right on the eve of when President Vladimir Putin attacked Ukraine.

    “I didn’t know”, he stated, adding that the US was upset following its tensions with Russia.

    Since being voted out of power, Imran Khan has blamed America for the “regime change”, while also attacking the establishment in thinly veiled words for turning “neutral”.

  • Government will soon lift the import ban on certain items

    Government will soon lift the import ban on certain items

    The government will lift the import ban on some items in the upcoming weeks, according to Finance Minister Miftah Ismail, but restrictions for cellphones, cars, and home appliances will remain in place.

    He stated that the Commerce Ministry has sent a summary to the federal cabinet for removing restrictions on the import of non-essential and luxury items while speaking at a seminar about the performance of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) here in the federal capital.

    According to the finance minister, the decision was made in light of a lower import bill as a result of restrictions placed on the import of new machinery and raw materials, as well as lower oil prices on the global market. “In the upcoming months, we anticipate a decrease in petroleum product imports. Lower imports will enable Pakistan to conserve its foreign currency, he continued.

    He continued by saying he was hopeful for higher dollar inflows compared to outflows starting in the upcoming month, which would ease pressure on the local currency.

    “Imports in Pakistan as of July 25 were $3.758 billion and our total imports are likely to be $4.824 billion. This number will be less than our exports plus remittance”, he had written on Twitter a day earlier.

    The ban on 30 categories and 83 Customs headings was reportedly requested to be lifted by the finance minister on Tuesday to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

    He did, however, suggest that the Commerce Ministry keep the ban on completely built units (CBUs), cars, and home appliances in place.

    Speaking with Profit, sources said that between May 19 and July 19, 2021, Pakistan imported CBU automobiles, mobile phones, and home appliances worth Rs399 million. However, after the ban was imposed on May 19, 2022, the trend of importing these items decreased.

    Pakistan imported goods worth Rs123 million between May 19 and July 19, 2022, a difference of Rs276 million compared to the corresponding months of the previous fiscal year.

    It is important to note that the government has outright banned the import of cars, mobile phones, home appliances, dry fruits (aside from those from Afghanistan), crockery, shoes, chandeliers, lights (except energy savers), headphones, and loudspeakers.

    Some items on the list included condiments, doors and window frames, travel bags and suitcases, sanitary ware, fish and frozen fish, preserved fruits, tissue paper, furniture, shampoos, confectionery, luxury mattresses, and sleeping bags, jams and jellies, cornflakes, toiletries, heaters, blowers, sunglasses, kitchenware, aerated water, frozen meat, juices, pasta, ice cream, cigarettes, shaving supplies, luxury leather apparel, and musical instruments.

  • ‘Kisi aur ka gandd hum kyun saaf karein,’ asks SAPM Hafiz Karim

    ‘Kisi aur ka gandd hum kyun saaf karein,’ asks SAPM Hafiz Karim

    Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) Shehbaz Sharif with the status of Federal Minister, Senator Hafiz Abdul Karim said that it is better to leave the government.

    “It is better to leave the government. We should not have taken the government,” said Karim.

    “Kisi aur ka gandd hum kyun saaf karein? Jo gandd laaye hain, wohi saaf karein.” [Why should we clean up someone else’s mess? They should clean up the mess that they created.]

    “If you want to govern, do not impose conditions of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that burden the people. Believe me, if there is no relief, leave the government and do politics,” said SAPM Karim while speaking with journalist Naeem Ashraf.

    On the other hand, despite the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) disastrous performance in Punjab, the federal government has decided to complete its constitutional tenure till August 2023.

  • ‘Military leadership’s stance is that Pervez Musharraf should return’: DG ISPR

    ‘Military leadership’s stance is that Pervez Musharraf should return’: DG ISPR

    Director-General (DG) Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Babar Iftikhar said on Tuesday that the military’s leadership believes that former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General (retd) Pervez Musharraf should return to Pakistan.

    “In such a situation, the institution and leadership’s stance is that Pervez Musharraf should return,” said DG ISPR in Dunya News programme, ‘On The Front with Kamran Shahid’.

    “Musharraf Saab is seriously ill. We have contacted his family. Once his family responds and the doctors allow him to travel, we can make the required arrangements.”

    Nawaz Sharif urges govt to facilitate Musharraf’s return

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif urged the government to facilitate Musharraf’s return to the country.

    “I have no personal enmity or animosity towards Pervez Musharraf. I don’t want anyone else to suffer the traumas I have had to endure for my loved ones. I pray to Almighty Allah for his health. If he wants to return to Pakistan, the government should facilitate him,” said Nawaz in a tweet.

    Intelligence agencies clarified in NSC meeting that there was no conspiracy against Khan: DG ISPR

    The military’s spokesperson expressed regret over the propaganda initiated against the army and the military leadership on social media. 

    DG ISPR once again reiterated that no conspiracy was hatched to oust former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan. He said that the military leadership was present in the National Security Council (NSC) meeting and the participants were clearly briefed by the intelligence agencies.

    “[They were] briefed that there was no conspiracy or evidence of any kind [against the then government], nothing like that happened. Participants were told in detail that there was no evidence of any conspiracy,” said the DG ISPR.

  • PM Shehbaz approves 15 per cent pay raise for govt employees

    PM Shehbaz approves 15 per cent pay raise for govt employees

    On Friday, the federal cabinet approved a 15 per cent raise in federal government employee salaries and a 5 per cent increase in pension payments.

    The federal cabinet convened to discuss the budget ideas. Finance Minister, Miftah Ismail will propose the budget to the National Assembly today, following cabinet agreement.

    The announcement comes less than an hour before the administration of Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif is expected to submit its first budget.

    The Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Marriyum Aurangzeb also tweeted in this regard that PM Shehbaz has ‘rejected’ the Finance Ministry’s recommendation of a 10 per cent pay raise for government personnel and approved a 15 per cent pay raise along with merging adhoc allowances into basic salaries.

  • Elimination, reduction of withholding taxes in budget 22-23

    On June 10, 2022, Pakistan will present its federal budget for 2022-2023. A number of new taxes measures are expected to be announced in the budget to raise additional income.

    It has been learned that a number of withholding taxes would be removed or lowered in the coming budget.

    The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will choose those withholding taxes that have lower revenue implications without jeopardising the goal of documenting as part of the budget planning process.

    According to Brecorder, to document future withholding transactions, a new Directorate-General for Synchronized Withholding Agents System would be developed.

    Withholding taxes cause inconsistencies will be reduced by the FBR, as all withholding taxes will be examined to see whether there are any distortions produced by income tax withholding, and adjustments will be made to correct them.

    This will be accomplished by making modifications to guarantee that all withholding tax received is either claimed or reimbursed in the return filed in response to the tax demand.

    Elimination of Taxes in budget 21-22

    The government had eliminated multiple withholding taxes, including the tax on royalty payments to residents during budget 21-22 such as cash withdrawals, banking tools, money transfers other than cash, tax collection from persons remitting funds abroad via credit, debit, or prepaid cards, tax collection on domestic and international air travel, mineral extraction, tax collection by a stock exchange registered in Pakistan, tax collection on marginal financing by NCCPL, CNG stations, and tax collection on certain petroleum products.

    Income Tax Ordinance

    The Income Tax Ordinance of 2001 contained 38 withholding tax measures. This large number of requirements adds to the complexity and places an excessive strain on different withholding agents to comply. It also has an impact on a country’s ease of doing business rating. In the last budget, 12 withholding taxes were eliminated in an effort to improve company ease and simplify tax rules.

    The Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) advocated that the withholding tax (WHT) structure be overhauled and reduced from its current twenty-six rates to just five for filers.

    Only inactive taxpayers should be subject to this tax. Alternatively, the 8% WHT rate on services is a minimum tax that applies regardless of the service provider’s actual taxable revenue. This tax effectively becomes an indirect tax, raising the cost of doing business for service providers; as a result, service tax should be flexible.

    Withholding Tax Regime

    The Withholding Tax Regime (WHT) is a worldwide phenomena, and it is the primary source of federal revenue received at the national level in Pakistan. The collection of withholding taxes, as well as the reliance on them, has increased throughout time. Various Withholding Taxes, which are distinguished by their adjustable and presumptive nature, collected Rs422(b) out of total Direct Taxes collection of Rs740(b) for the financial year 2012, accounting for 57 per cent of total Direct Taxes collection.

    Since the imposition of direct taxes by governments and taxpayers on two counts, the withholding tax regime has been a feature of the tax system in some form or another:

    1. The government receives revenue on a consistent basis throughout the year to fund its expenditures and operations.
    2. Provides taxpayers with the opportunity to pay down their debts in affordable installments.

    Many countries have been obliged to change their economies in recent years as a result of globalisation, in order to unify tax laws and align them with new trade and investment policies represented in free trade agreements. “Hang Together” is more relevant today than it has ever been. Neither countries’ borders nor their economies can be closed. Tax policies are also inextricably linked to foreign economies.

    Due to the requirement for an entity to oversee and manage the Withholding Tax Regime in such a competitive climate, the Directorate General of Withholding Taxes was established by the Finance Act of 2008 under section 230A of the Income Tax Ordinance 2001.