ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has registered 150,000 retailers as first-time taxpayers and witnessed a 30 percent increase in revenue collection in the last fiscal year, the finance ministry said on Tuesday, as the country strives to broaden the tax net following the approval of a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout program.
Pakistan’s narrow tax base and persistent issue of tax evasion have led to insufficient revenue collection, burdening the fragile national economy. This shortfall exacerbates the government’s tendency to run a high fiscal deficit, often financed through domestic and international borrowing, which increases the nation’s debt burden.
Earlier this month, Pakistan reached a staff-level agreement with the IMF for the $7 billion loan, the latest move to seek assistance from the global lender to keep the country’s economy afloat. The development came just days after the government presented its first federal budget of $67.8 billion, setting an ambitious tax collection target of $46.7 billion.
The ministry said in a statement that Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb had a Zoom meeting with representatives of a global credit rating agency, Moody’s, in which he gave an overview of the country’s overall economy, highlighting the increase in forex reserves and remittances, and the decline in inflation.
“He also noted that over 150,000 retailers have registered as first-time taxpayers, marking a significant stride toward broadening the tax base,” the finance ministry said in an official statement. “He emphasized a 30 percent rise in tax collection in FY2024 and outlined reforms to broaden the tax base, including new agricultural taxes and digital initiatives at the Federal Board of Revenue.”
The statement said Aurangzeb mentioned the government aimed to increase revenues by three percent of GDP by FY2027, with plans for a primary surplus of one percent of GDP, demonstrating Pakistan’s commitment to fiscal sustainability and growth.
It added the finance minister updated Moody’s representatives about the successful completion of the country’s nine-month IMF stand-by arrangement secured last year, which had a positive impact on the country’s macroeconomic indicators.
He also highlighted multilateral institutions’ confidence in financing Pakistan’s developmental projects by referencing the recent IMF agreement.
The minister underscored ongoing reforms in the energy sector and state-owned enterprises, including privatization and rightsizing efforts aimed at improving operational efficiency and governance.
The statement said Moody’s representatives appreciated the comprehensive briefing and expressed confidence in Pakistan’s economic trajectory, underpinned by robust fiscal reforms and strategic initiatives.
Pakistan adds 150,000 retailers to tax net, sees 30 percent revenue boost in last fiscal year
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Pakistan adds 150,000 retailers to tax net, sees 30 percent revenue boost in last fiscal year
- The finance minister shares the details of the national economy with representatives of Moody’s in a virtual meeting
- He also underscores the ongoing reforms in energy sector, privatization process and the new IMF staff-level agreement
India releases five fishermen among nine Pakistani prisoners — Pakistan high commission
- Pakistan and India exchange lists of prisoners in each other’s custody through diplomatic channels on Jan 1 and July 1 each year
- Indian and Pakistani fishermen are routinely detained by both maritime agencies on charges of illegally entering each other’s waters
ISLAMABAD: India has released nine Pakistani prisoners, including five fishermen, who have been repatriated home, the Pakistani high commission in New Delhi said on Friday.
Pakistan and India exchange lists of prisoners in each other’s custody through diplomatic channels each year on Jan 1 and July 1, in pursuance of the Consular Access Agreement of 2008.
On July 1, India shared the names of 366 civilian prisoners and 86 fishermen in its custody who are Pakistanis or believed to be Pakistanis, according to a report published by The Hindu, citing Indian foreign ministry.
Similarly, Pakistan shared the names of 43 civilian prisoners and 211 fishermen in its custody who were Indians or were believed to be Indians.
“Today, 9 Pakistani civil prisoners & 5 fishermen were repatriated through Attari-Wagah border,” the Pakistani high commission said on X.
“Our efforts will continue for the release and repatriation of all Pakistani prisoners in India.”
Indian and Pakistani fishermen are routinely detained by both maritime agencies on charges of illegally entering each other’s territorial waters.
The nuclear-armed nations’ borders are not clearly defined in the Arabian Sea and many fishing boats lack the technology to steer clear of any intrusion.
Pakistani resident of Canada arrested on US terror charges
- Muhammad Shahzeb Khan aimed to carry out a mass shooting in support of Daesh at a Jewish center in Brooklyn
- The attack was planned on the October 7 Hamas attack anniversary, US wants to seek his extradition from Canada
WASHINGTON: A Pakistani man living in Canada has been arrested on charges of plotting to carry out an attack on Jews in New York City, the US Justice Department said Friday.
Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, 20, also known as Shahzeb Jadoon, was arrested on Wednesday on charges filed in the United States, the department said.
“The defendant is alleged to have planned a terrorist attack in New York City around October 7 of this year with the stated goal of slaughtering, in the name of (Daesh), as many Jewish people as possible,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.
“Thanks to the investigative work of the FBI, and the quick action of our Canadian law enforcement partners, the defendant was taken into custody,” he said.
According to the criminal complaint, Khan planned to travel to New York and carry out a mass shooting in support of Daesh at a Jewish center in Brooklyn on the anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.
He revealed his plans in conversations with conspirators who were actually undercover law enforcement officers, it said.
Khan was taken into custody by Canadian authorities in the town of Ormstown some 12 miles (19 kilometers) from the US-Canada border.
The Justice Department said it will seek his extradition from Canada.
Khan is charged with attempting to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization. He could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
Pakistan army chief urges nation not to let ‘political differences turn into hatred’
- The statement appeared to be directed at supporters of jailed ex-PM Imran Khan, who has waged an unprecedented campaign of defiance against the country’s military
- Gen Asim Munir says any efforts to weaken national solidarity will never succeed, urges the Pakistani nation to demonstrate unity, tolerance and harmony in social affairs
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Army Chief General Asim Munir on Friday urged the nation not to let “political differences turn into hatred,” maintaining that unity among the country’s armed forces and the nation will continue to keep the enemy designs from succeeding.
The army chief said this while addressing a ceremony at the army headquarters in Rawalpindi to mark the country’s Defense Day, which commemorates the sacrifices of the heroes of the 1965 war against India.
The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Azad Kashmir prime minister, and senior military and government officials as well as families of the martyrs.
During his address, the army chief urged the Pakistani nation to demonstrate unity, tolerance and harmony in social affairs.
“The ulterior motives to weaken national solidarity will never succeed,” he said. “It is a must for national solidarity that we stay above religious intolerance and protect the rights of minorities as per the Constitution of Pakistan, and not to let political differences turn into hatred.”
Gen Munir’s statement appeared to be directed at the supporters of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, who has waged an unprecedented campaign of defiance against the country’s military since his ouster in a parliamentary no-trust vote in April 2022.
Khan has accused the then army leadership of orchestrating his ouster together with his political rivals as part of a United States-backed “foreign conspiracy.” The military, Khan’s rivals and Washington have repeatedly denied this.
In May 2023, supporters of the ex-premier went on a rampage after he was briefly arrested, vandalising military installations across the country in one of the most serious challenges to the Pakistani military that has ruled the country for nearly half of its history.
During his address, Gen Munir said the principles of “unity, faith and discipline” of Pakistan’s founder Muhamad Ali Jinnah were a guiding light for the nation.
“Apart from its geographical location, Almighty Allah has blessed Pakistan with countless natural resources,” he said. “Our real asset is the public, especially our young generation that has a critical role in the country’s integrity and development.”
He paid a tribute to the civilians and officials and soldiers of the armed forces and law enforcement agencies, who laid their lives for the independence, security and honor of the country.
“As long as such dignified sons are present on this soil, the defense of the country will remain invincible,” the army chief added.
On Defense Day, Pakistan inducts two new warships in its naval fleet
- Pakistan celebrates Defense Day on Sept. 6 to honor soldiers who fought against India in 1965
- The ships, Babur and Hunain, have been equipped with anti-ship and anti-air warfare weapons
KARACHI: Pakistan on Friday inducted two new warships, Babur and Hunain, into its naval fleet, the Pakistan Navy said, as the nation marked its Defense Day.
The South Asian country celebrates its Defense Day each year on September 6 to honor the soldiers who fought against India in the 1965 war.
A ceremony for the induction of MILGEM Class Corvette Babur and Offshore Patrol Vessel HUNAIN was held at the Pakistan Navy Dockyard in Karachi.
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari graced the occasion as the chief guest, according to the navy’s Directorate General of Public Relations (DGPR).
“The Chief Guest dilated upon the precarious geo-strategic environment in the Indian Ocean and the need to have a potent Naval force to counter growing traditional and non-traditional challenges,” the DGPR said in a statement.
“He reiterated that induction of these ships in PN Fleet will consolidate and enable the Fleet to meet its ever-growing operational responsibilities.”
President Zardari formally handed over the ships’ scrolls to the commander of Pakistan Fleet, which marked the induction of the two warships.
Hunain is a multipurpose medium-sized offshore patrol vessel, equipped with state-of-the-art electronic warfare, anti-ship and anti-air warfare weapons, sensors, and self-protection and terminal defense system, according to the DGPR.
The Babur-class corvette is a subclass of the Turkish MILGEM project. The corvette class is heavier and larger than the Turkish Ada-class corvette and also equipped with vertical launch systems.
In his welcome address, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf termed the induction of these ships a “major milestone in capacity building of PN [Pakistan Navy] Fleet.”
“He acknowledged the government’s full support for providing best possible resources for this purpose,” the DGPR said.
The induction ceremony was attended by Turkiye’s Deputy Minister of National Defense Bilal Burdali, chairman of Pakistan’s Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, political leadership and high-ranking officials of the armed forces.
On Thursday, Pakistan’s Embassy in Abu Dhabi hosted a reception to mark Defense Day aboard Pakistan Navy Ship Shamsheer at the Cruise Terminal, Mina Zayed Port, the mission said in a statement.
Pakistan’s envoy to the UAE, Ambassador Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, along with Commodore Shahid Wasif SI (M), Mission Commander of the Pakistan Navy, welcomed chief guest General Salem Saeed Al Jabri, UAE’s Assistant Foreign Minister for Military and Security Affairs, and Brig. Abdullah Al Mohairbi, Deputy Commander of the UAE Navy, at the reception, which was attended by members of the diplomatic corps and officials of the UAE government.
Court orders removal of serving general heading Pakistan’s National Database and Registration Authority
- Lt Gen Munir Afsar was appointed NADRA chairman in Oct. 2023 and became the first serving army officer to be appointed on the key post
- The Lahore High Court on Friday ruled the appointment was made without requisite ‘authority of law’ and ordered Lt Gen Afsar’s removal
ISLAMABAD: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday declared as “unauthorized” the appointment of a serving lieutenant general as chairman of Pakistan’s National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), ordering his removal from the post.
Lt. Gen. Munir Afsar was appointed NADRA chairman in Oct. 2023 and became the first serving army officer to be appointed on the key post. The appointment was made by the caretaker government of then-prime minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar and confirmed by the elected government in March 2024 for a period of three years.
Petitioner Ashba Kamran had challenged the appointment in the LHC and stated in the petition that the appointment was “in violation of the provisions of NADRA Ordinance, 2000” and did not adhere “to the requirements of conducting a fair and competitive process for appointment by inviting potential aspirants.”
Presiding over a hearing of the case on Friday, LHC’s Justice Asim Hafeez ruled that the appointment was made without requisite “authority of law” and ordered removal of Lt Gen Afsar from the post.
“Illegality committed by way of an unauthorized appointment, by the appointing authority in absence of delegation, cannot be covered... Hence, discretion necessarily needs to be exercised, to end usurpation of the office,” the judge wrote in his verdict.
“In these circumstances, act of confirming the appointment of Respondent No 6 [Lt Gen Afsar] is unauthorized and otherwise inconsistent with the enactment, therefore, without requisite ‘authority of law’.”
The judge ruled that the “appointment, confirmation and continuing holding of the office of Chairman NADRA by respondent No. 6 is declared without the ‘authority of law’.”
Justice Hafeez ordered court officials to send a copy of the order to the federal cabinet, interior ministry and all concerned departments.
Afsar was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general in October 2022. He had taken over the position of NADRA chairman from Asad Rehman Gilani, who assumed the office in June 2023 following the resignation of Tariq Malik.
