Tag: politics latest

  • ‘Stay surprised’: ISPR chief trolls Indian home minister over World Cup defeat tweet

    ‘Stay surprised’: ISPR chief trolls Indian home minister over World Cup defeat tweet

    Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor has trolled Indian Home Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Amit Shah over his congratulatory message to the Indian cricket team.

    “Another strike on Pakistan by Team India and the result is same [sic],” Shah had tweeted after India secured an 89-run defeat against Pakistan in the ongoing ICC World Cup on Sunday.

    He was referring to the aerial combat between the two neighbouring countries in February, which happened after Indian aircraft on February 26 carried out an airstrike on what it alleged was a “terrorist training camp” in Pakistan.

    “Dear Amit Shah, yes your team won a match. Well played,” Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor tweeted while responding to Shah’s tweet. He, however, advised the Indian home minister to not compared “two things with different denominators”.

    “Two things with different denominators can’t be compared. So are strikes and match. If in doubt, please see results of our Nowshera counter strikes and response to IAF violation on February 27, 2019, downing two Indian jets. Stay Surprised,” he said.

  • Buzdar beats Shehbaz in social sector reforms, increases education budget to Rs89.8bn

    Buzdar beats Shehbaz in social sector reforms, increases education budget to Rs89.8bn

    Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Sardar Usman Buzdar has beaten his predecessor Shehbaz Sharif in reforming the social sector, as an amount of Rs89.8 billion has been earmarked for the provincial education sector.

    As per the details, presenting the provincial budget on Friday, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government enhanced the education budget, which under the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) rule stood at Rs52.35 billion.

    In its last provincial budget for the fiscal year 2017-18, the outgoing PML-N government had allocated Rs52.35 billion for school education and Rs28 billion for providing basic facilities at government schools.

    An amount of Rs6.03 billion had been fixed for the construction of new classrooms in Punjab schools.

    According to the budget presented by the Buzdar administration, health stands second in the social sector with Rs47.5 billion. Water supply & sanitation will gain Rs22.4 billion, local governments Rs6.3 billion, social welfare Rs1 billion and women development Rs0.8 billion.

    Meanwhile, Rs350 billion have been allocated for the Annual Development Programme (ADP) 2019-20, which stood at Rs635bn under the Shehbaz administration in 2017-18.

  • Private bank fires employee for abusing journalist on Twitter

    Private bank fires employee for abusing journalist on Twitter

    A private bank has fired an employee for abusing journalist Hasan Zaidi during a Twitter spat earlier this week.

    As per the details, the bank’s Financial Reporting Unit head Fazeel Tajammul was fired after Zaidi reported him for abusing.

    Tagging the bank in his tweets with screenshots of Tajammul’s abusive remarks, Zaidi had urged the bank to take action against him.

    Zaidi also shared multiple similar tweets by the bank employee, which took the micro-blogging website by storm with people urging the bank to sack Tajammul.

    The campaign followed an official statement from the bank, wherein it announced having taken the “appropriate action” against Tajammul.

    Meanwhile, Twitterati are criticising Zaidi as well as the bank for the move, calling it unfair.  They allege that the journalist “used his influence to get Tajammul sacked”.

    Some are also seeking Zaidi’s removal for some of his abusive remarks.

    https://twitter.com/azbkt1122/status/1139393829193179136

    Tajammul, for the time being, has deactivated his Twitter handle.

  • Budget 2019-20: Expenses worth Rs2.3 million a day proposed for PM’s Office

    Budget 2019-20: Expenses worth Rs2.3 million a day proposed for PM’s Office

    Funds worth Rs860.28 million have been allocated for the Prime Minister’s (PM) Office in the federal budget for the fiscal year 2019-20, the Ministry of Finance has said.

    According to the proposed allocation, PM Office’s daily expenditure stands at Rs2.36 million (Rs2,356,931) at 365 days a year, which contradicts the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government’s earlier claims of reducing expenses for austerity.

    The proposal to spend over Rs2 million a day from taxpayers’ money comes just months after dozens of cattle and excess luxury cars of the PM House were auctioned to save money.

    The development had come after PM Imran Khan, in his first address to the nation on August 19, announced the austerity drive and vowed to cut down on government expenses.

  • Rs410m approved for maintenance of two VVIP aircraft as PTI touts austerity

    Rs410m approved for maintenance of two VVIP aircraft as PTI touts austerity

    The federal government has approved an additional amount of Rs410 million for the repair and maintenance of two VVIP Gulfstream aircraft said to be in use of President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, The News reported.

    The supplementary grant, that comes as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) touts austerity to lessen the burden on the national treasury, was sanctioned in March 2019 by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC).

    It has now been reflected in the budget document for formal approval by the parliament.

    The report further said that the Defence Production Division is responsible for the maintenance of these aircraft, however, ECC had failed to resolve differences between Ministry of Defence Production and Pakistan Air Force (PAF) regarding the transfer of said funds.

    Directorate General Defence Procurement had purchased the two VVIP aircraft (one brand new and one used) at a cost of $58.55 million ($58, 550,924) in September 2005 on the directions of Ministries of Finance and Defence.

  • Win for parents as private schools restricted from increasing fees

    Win for parents as private schools restricted from increasing fees

    After months of struggle, parents have secured a win over private schools with their owners being barred from increasing fees by more than 5 per cent a year, a private media outlet reported.

    According to reports, the Supreme Court (SC) delivered the verdict on Wednesday while hearing a case filed by owners of private schools. They had sought legal approval to increase fees by 15 per cent to 20 per cent every year.

    Justice Ijazul Ahsan read out the reserved verdict.

    The top court upheld the verdict of the Sindh High Court (SHC) and overturned the Lahore High Court (LHC) decision in favour of the private schools.

    The schools have been ordered to return or adjust the extra amount they charged parents since the first ruling in the case.

  • VIDEO: ‘PTI govt paying media houses to like them?’, Hamid Mir trolls Faisal Vawda

    VIDEO: ‘PTI govt paying media houses to like them?’, Hamid Mir trolls Faisal Vawda

    Senior journalist Hamid Mir has trolled Federal Minister for Water Resources Faisal Vawda for claiming that “anti-Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)” media houses had started liking the government after financial benefits.

    Speaking on Mir’s show, Vawda on Tuesday said that media outlets, known for their alleged affiliation with opposition parties, were now highlighting achievements of the PTI government as they had been “provided with ease of doing business”.

    “It wasn’t our job, but we fought against lay-offs in the media industry. We made doing businesses easy by giving them [media houses] budgets,” he said.

    When Mir asked if he meant the government had paid media houses any money, Vawda agreed, saying the PTI had “paid them against government advertisements”.

    It wasn’t later that both Mir and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Khurram Dastgir Khan broke into laughter.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    Senior journalists have time and again expressed concerns over the state of Pakistani media ever since the PTI government took reins of the country.

    With cuts in government advertisements, a shakeout has been triggered and hundreds of thousands of media workers have gone jobless. Some journalists have also accused the PTI of using “stoppage of government ads to media as a weapon”.

  • VIDEO: PM Imran spotted dancing ‘to mock opposition’ during budget session

    VIDEO: PM Imran spotted dancing ‘to mock opposition’ during budget session

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has been spotted dancing on the floor of the National Assembly, in what appears to be an attempt to mock the opposition.

    As per the details, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government on Tuesday presented its first federal budget while members of opposition parties recorded a strong protest against PM Imran.

    They raised slogans, held placards and wore black armbands during Revenue Minister Hammad Azhar’s budget speech.

    As the minister concluded presenting the budget, the premier was seen being escorted out of the house, waving his hands in the air — suggesting he was least bothered about the ruckus.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    Earlier, a Rs7 trillion austerity budget for the fiscal year 2019-20 was presented by the PTI government. It received severe criticism from opposition parties who termed the budget “anti-people”.

  • Budget 2019: Things you need to stock up on before they get too expensive

    Budget 2019: Things you need to stock up on before they get too expensive

    The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government on Tuesday announced its first federal budget for the fiscal year 2019-20, which received mixed reactions from people.

    It was presented by Federal Minister for Revenue Hammad Azhar, who delivered his speech while opposition members protested against Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and his government.

    Amid all the confusion over the increase in prices of different products, which may follow the budget, here is a list of stuff The Current suggests you stock up on before an inflation bomb is dropped.

    Rooh Afza

    That was exactly our reaction. But, a new health tax has been proposed on sugary drinks, which will make it costlier to buy sharbat. It’s not just that though…

    Soft Drinks

    You heard that right. Those little soft drink breaks during summers will be costing you more now as the health tax will also be jacking up soda prices. The excise tax on soft drinks has been increased from 11.25 per cent to 13 per cent, which is not too much, but will ultimately affect you.

    The good part? The money will reportedly be used to provide free medical treatment to people using Sehat Cards that offer treatment up to Rs720,000 from a private or government hospital.

    Cooking Oil/Ghee

    Branded cooking oil and ghee prices will also be rising as a 17 per cent sales tax will be imposed. You must be thinking that it doesn’t really affect you much, but you never know how it may or may not affect food prices.

    The good news, however, remains no increase in General Sales Tax (GST) in case you’re planning to dine out.

    Sugar

    The price of sugar is expected to increase by Rs3.60/kg since the government is unhappy with the tax collection from the sector. The new budget recommends increasing sales tax on sugar from 8 per cent to 17 per cent. 

    We don’t endorse the next thing you need to stock up on, but let’s be honest, we know a lot of people who smoke.

    Cigarettes

    The budget has also recommended a federal excise duty of Rs5,200 on every 10,000 cigarettes be imposed, which means every pack of 20 cigarettes you buy will cost you at least Rs10 more.

    Just so you know, tobacco consumption kills nearly 160,000 Pakistanis every year, and a lot of people are supporting the move.

  • Sheikh Rasheed calls Naeemul Haque ‘sick’ for criticising VIP culture

    Sheikh Rasheed calls Naeemul Haque ‘sick’ for criticising VIP culture

    Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rasheed has called Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s close aide Naeemul Haque “sick” for criticising VIP culture and ministers who “have police squads accompanying them”.

    “Naeemul Haque is sick. Pray for him,” Rasheed said when asked to comment over PM’s special assistant on political affairs’ remarks during a press conference on Saturday.

    Earlier, Haque had tweeted to criticise protocol being used by VIPs and ministers.

    “A large number of VIPs and ministers are still promoting VIP culture by having police squads accompany them everywhere,” he had said, adding that it was against the directives of the premier.

    “Police squads are allowed to only those who face a real threat to their lives. This practice must stop.”

    The war of words is being termed as another episode of the tussle that is allegedly continuing between elected and non-elected members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government.

    Elected members, including Federal Minister Fawad Chaudhry, have time and again expressed their concerns over the “interference of non-elected members in affairs of different ministries”.