ISLAMABAD: A team of the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) on Tuesday kicked off a four-day security assessment of the Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, with the exercises aimed at improving the aviation security standards in the South Asian country.
The GCAA’s team last week reviewed aviation security measures at the Islamabad International Airport in Pakistan’s capital. The two-member GCAA delegation led by Abdullah Al Kaabi, senior director of Avsec Affairs, arrived in Karachi on Tuesday for the four-day assessment, the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) said in a statement.
“Over the next four days, the team will be inspecting the implementation of various security measures at the airport, with a specific focus on measures for flights to the UAE,” the PCAA said.
The PCAA said the assessment is part of ongoing collaborative efforts between the GCAA and the PCAA to enhance aviation security standards in Pakistan.
Pakistan and the UAE enjoy decades-old fraternal relations. Several airlines operate multiple flights per day connecting Pakistan’s major cities such as Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar to the UAE’s Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Dubai.
ISLAMABAD: After a string of lackluster performances in the recently concluded T20 World Cup, Pakistan’s under-fire leg-spinner Shadab Khan notched two consecutive four-fers in the ongoing Lanka Premier League tournament this week.
Cricket analysts and critics have questioned skipper Babar Azam’s decision to include Khan regularly in Pakistan’s playing XI squad, especially in red-ball cricket formats, despite his abysmal performances with the ball in the past year-and-a-half.
Khan, who was once regarded as a top-all-rounder for Pakistan, has conceded expensive runs and failed to perform with the bat as well over the past couple of matches for Pakistan. However, Khan returned figures of 4-22 and 4-21 for the Colombo Strikers— the franchise he plays for in the Lanka Premier League— in their last two consecutive matches against the Galle Titans and Kandy on Wednesday and Tuesday, respectively.
“Khan-tastic,” the Strikers wrote on their social media platform, featuring a picture of the Pakistani leg-spinner. “Picking up from where he left last night.”
However, Khan’s 4-21 failed to deliver the Strikers the win as they lost to the Titans by seven runs in a thriller, courtesy of a fiery half-century by Niroshan Dickwells. On Tuesday against Kandy, Khan’s 4-21 figures were instrumental in the Strikers picking up a comfortable 51-run victory over their opponents.
Angry cricket fans and commentators have demanded the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) take drastic measures to improve the national squad’s performance after Pakistan’s dismal performance in the T20 World Cup last month.
The South Asian country lost to minnows USA in their tournament opener and later to India, forcing them to crash out of the tournament in the first round. This was Pakistan’s second dismal performance within the last 12 months in an ICC tournament, as the green shirts failed to perform up to the mark in the 50-over ICC World Cup in India last year. Azam’s side lost to India, Australia, Afghanistan, South Africa and England, which meant Pakistan failed to qualify for the semifinal stages of the tournament.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters last month he would perform a “surgery” to improve the team’s performance. However, he has so far not announced any major decisions related to the cricket team.
ISLAMABAD: Scientists from Pakistan and other Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states are taking part in a month-long vaccine development training program in Jakarta, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported on Thursday.
The third phase of the training program has been launched by the Standing Committee for Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH), one of the four OIC standing committees, in collaboration with Indonesia’s health ministry, vaccine developer PT Bio Farma and the Padjadjaran University.
Twelve researchers from Indonesia, Cameroon, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Egypt, Pakistan, Somalia, Tanzania, and Uganda have been enrolled in the program for training in virology and vaccine technology.
The third phase of the month-long training program is being held in Jakarta and will also be conducted in Bandung, West Java. The first two phases of the same program were conducted in Indonesia in 2022 and 2023.
“The program offers a comprehensive learning experience, encompassing the workshops, industry visits, and laboratory training,” APP said.
Trainees will undergo intensive training at PT Bio Farma’s laboratory and central laboratories of UNPAD Bandung and Jatinangor.
“The program is designed to foster knowledge sharing and equip researchers with the necessary skills and expertise in virology and vaccine technology,” APP said. “Ultimately strengthening vaccine development and manufacturing capabilities within OIC member countries.”
Indonesia’s Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin stressed the role of the program in strengthening the capabilities of researchers from OIC countries in vaccine manufacturing.
“He highlighted the importance of expanding vaccine research and development beyond developed nations, aiming for a more equitable global vaccine production capacity,” APP said.
A vital part of the OIC, COMSTECH aims to strengthen cooperation among member states in science and technology and enhance their capabilities through training in emerging areas.
Pakistan blocks 210,000 SIM cards to encourage tax payment
Only 2.5 million people out of over 240 million people filed income tax returns two years ago in 2022
Pakistan is struggling to increase revenue base but is hampered by largely undocumented economy
Updated 04 July 2024
AFP
KARACHI: Pakistan’s tax authority said Thursday it has blocked 210,000 SIM cards of users who have not filed tax returns in a bid to widen the revenue bracket.
Only 5.2 million people of the more than 240 million population filed income tax returns in 2022.
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) passed the edict in April and has since sent orders to the telecommunications authority to block the connections of 210,000 SIM cards, with 62,000 of them later restored, according to the board’s data.
“We have unblocked the SIMs of those who have paid their taxes,” FBR public relations official Bakhtiar Muhammad said.
“Nobody voluntarily comes up and pays taxes. We have to make ways for the people to pay their taxes.”
Pakistan has more than 192 million cellphone subscribers and four telecommunications service providers, according to the telecommunication authority.
Pakistanis must register a SIM card with their national identity number, which is often used for multiple connections.
“Access to telecom services is a basic human right and essential for many other fundamental services, including access to information, education, and emergency services,” an official at one of the four telecommunications companies told AFP on the condition of anonymity.
“We are in dialogue with the authorities, convincing them to use technology to help increase tax collection, as abrupt measures could disrupt the provision of these critical services.”
A man walks out of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) office in Islamabad on July 4, 2024. (AFP)
The South Asian country is struggling to increase its pitifully low revenue base but is hampered by a largely undocumented economy.
The government has been pushing for more loans from the International Monetary Fund to help balance its books but the lender wants Islamabad to do more to mobilize its own resources.
“This is an absurd move. Not everyone who has SIMs earns enough to fall under the tax-paying category,” Fareiha Aziz, a digital rights activist, told AFP.
“People’s livelihoods are tied to their phones, this is an overreach.”
The four telecommunications companies warned in a letter to the ministry of information technology in June that the new tax measures against non-tax filing cellphone users were “impractical” and “non workable” and would scare away foreign investment.
Tauseef Gilani, a 66-year-old businessman in Islamabad, said the novel move was going too far.
“Whatever income I earn, it’s my responsibility to contribute back to society,” Gilani said.
“However, blocking SIMs is unjust — it infringes upon freedom of expression and violates rights.”
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Thursday forecast “significant rainfall” in many regions of the country till July 9, warning the downpours could cause flash floods.
Last week, the NDMA warned of heavy rains in Pakistan’s Sindh and Punjab provinces, saying they could face an “emergency” situation. Pakistan is recognized as one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change effects in the world. Unusually heavy rains in June 2022 triggered flash floods in many parts of the country, killing over 1,700 people, inflicting losses of around $30 billion, and affecting at least 30 million people.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif formed a high-level committee to tackle any potential emergencies brought about by the monsoon floods.
“NDMA’s National Emergencies Operation Center (NEOC) anticipated significant rainfall across various regions of Pakistan until 9th July, 2024,” the disaster management authority said. It added that the heavy rainfall may cause urban flooding and rapid rises in water levels in nullahs and trigger flash floods across northern Punjab (Sialkot), KP and Azad Kashmir.
“Additionally, this precipitation is expected to result in high discharge levels within the eastern rivers,” the NDMA said. “Sutlej River is expected to experience a low flood stage with approximately 50,000 cusecs of water while Kabul River is predicted to reach a medium flood level with approximately 95,000 cusecs.”
The NDMA said extreme rainfall may also trigger additional releases from Indian reservoirs such as Salal, Bhakra, and Pong Dam, which could directly impact the Chenab and Sutlej rivers in Pakistan.
The NEOC predicted moderate to heavy rainfall in GB until July 8, 2024, warning it could trigger flash floods in local nullahs putting areas such as Chigar and Khaplu.
“Slightly heavy rainfall is expected in Gilgit-Baltistan, KPK, northern parts of Balochistan, and AJK until July 8, 2024,” the NDMA said. “The persistent heavy to moderate rains may cause localized landslides at Karakoram Highway along Hunza and some of the areas of District Nagar, Gilgit, Diamir, Kohistan, Battagram, Mansehra, and Abbottabad, potentially disrupting traffic flows and cutting off far-flung areas from main roads.”
The disaster management authority warned authorities and masses to take all necessary precautions to mitigate the impact of the floods and landslides. It said emergency response teams had been alerted and resources are being mobilized to ensure a “swift response” to any arising situations.
“Tourists are advised to avoid traveling to these areas during the forecasted period,” the NDMA said.
ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to implement new electricity rates from July, announced the power division on Thursday, adding the new tariffs would not have a huge impact on the monthly bills currently paid by consumers.
The announcement comes against the backdrop of the government’s efforts to secure a staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a bailout facility of more than $6 billion.
Some local media outlets reported the new rates reflected a per-unit increase of up to Rs5.72.
The Pakistani people have already been complaining of the high cost of living, especially since the announcement of the federal budget last month, which has fixed an ambitious tax collection target of nearly $47 billion.
“New electricity rates will be implemented from July 2024,” the power division said in a statement. “The new electricity tariff will have a slight impact on most people’s monthly bills.”
“To minimize the increase in electricity bills, the government will provide a subsidy of Rs440 billion,” it added. “For 16.8 million or 58 percent poor household consumers, the increase will be less than two percent.”
The statement said for the relatively wealthier 42 percent consumers, the average increase will be nine percent.
The power division said the electricity rates were expected to decrease as the economy improved.
“By January 2025, electricity rates for all consumers are expected to be on average 3 percent lower compared to June 2024,” it maintained.
The statement said the burden on the industrial sector had been reduced by Rs150 billion to promote production and strengthen the country’s economy.
“The notification of electricity prices will be issued after NEPRA’s [National Electric Power Regulatory Authority’s] hearing,” it added.
