August 10, 2020

COVID-19 claims 10 more lives in Sindh

Karachi, August 10, 2020 (PPI-OT): Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said on Monday that coronavirus had claimed 10 more lives in Sindh, lifting the province-wide death toll to 2,282. In a statement, Shah said that with the new deaths, the death ratio had reached 1.8 percent. He added that 278 more virus patients were detected when 8,397 samples were tested which constituted three percent detection rate.

The CM said that so far, 834,655 tests had been conducted all over Sindh which detected 124,127 cases, of them 115,984 or 93 percent patients had recovered, including 243 overnight. The CM said that currently, 5,861 patients were under treatment, of them 5,463 were in home isolation, six at isolation centers and 392 at different hospitals. He added that the condition of 251 patients was stated to be critical, of them 45 had been shifted to ventilators.

According to the CM, out of 278 new cases, 93 had been detected in Karachi, including 27 in district Central, 22 Korangi, 20 East, 13 central, six West and five Malir. Kambar has 18 cases, Sukkur 13, Hyderabad, Dadu and Khairpur 12 each, Shikarpur 11, Sanghar nine, Shaheed Benazirabad and Thatta eight each, Sujawal, Ghotki, Matiari and Naushehroferoze seven each, Jacobabad, Jamshoro, Tando Mohammad Khan and Umerkot four each, Badin three, Tando Allahyar two and Larkana one, says statement.

The chief minister said that he had allowed all social and business activities to start operation again but we have to ensure social distancing, wearing masks while going out, while washing hands frequently and avoiding handshaking is also necessary so that COVID-19 can be contained further.

For more information, contact:
Press Secretary,
Chief Minister House, Sindh
Tel: +92-21-99202019(Ext: 336)
Website: www.cmsindh.gov.pk

August 10, 2020

Lockdown restrictions lifted, other activities to open after September 15: Nasir Hussain Shah

Karachi, August 10, 2020 (PPI-OT): Provincial Minister for Local Government, Information, Forests and Religious Affairs Syed Nasir Hussain Shah said Monday that the restrictions under the lockdown imposed in Sindh to protect human lives had been lifted after five months, while marriage halls, trade centers, expo halls, all educational institutions, including training institutes, will be opened from September 15, while the Home Department had also issued a formal notification in this regard.

According to the statement, restrictions have been lifted on beauty parlours, playgrounds and shrines. Shah said that according to the decisions taken under the Corona Task Force in Sindh, the Sindh government had decided to end the lockdown in the province. The info minister said that the Sindh government sincerely respects the court decisions and it was the principled position of the Sindh government that no effort should be spared in the service of the people. Shah said that the vision of Sindh government was nothing but public welfare and the implementation of rain emergency would continue till the rainy and monsoon season was completely removed from the province.

The provincial minister said that the final decision to end encroachments on drains was taken in the last meeting which had been implemented and in the light of the feasibility report, illegal constructions from all drains would be phased out. Shah bluntly said that in the light of the directives given by the Supreme Court of Pakistan, billboards would not be allowed to be hung anywhere and in any case, protection of human lives and property would be ensured. Shah further said that the date of September 15 had also been given for the opening of schools and wedding halls before which any adventure or haste must be avoided.

For more information, contact:
Sindh Information and Archives Department
Government of Sindh
95-Sindh Secretariat 4-B, Karachi, Pakistan
Tel: +92-21-99204423, +92-21-99204401
Email: pressinformationzubair@gmail.com
Website: http://sindhinformation.gos.pk

August 10, 2020

Construction of Malal Bridge on Lehtarar Road

Islamabad, August 10, 2020 (PPI-OT): Construction of Malal Bridge on Lehtarar Road will start shortly as financial bids for the project have been opened. Capital Development Authority had earlier invited bids from construction firms through newspapers. NIT of the project was 100.818 million, however, due to healthy competition and transparency in the process, lowest bid amounting to Rs. 70.00 million has been received which is 22% below estimated cost.

This is second development project by incumbent administration of Capital Development Authority on Lehtarar Road in short period of time .Construction of 700 meters dual road near PINSTEC is also part of the project. Construction of Burma Bridge at Lehtarar Road is also at final stages.

Lehtarar Road was dualised in 2007\2008 however two important bridges i.e Burma Bridge and Malal Bridge were not constructed at that time resulting in traffic congestion on road as regular feature causing problem for local population. People of the area were demanding construction of both bridges for long time. Being sensitive to the situation, the CDA Administration started construction work at Burma Bridge earlier this year and has now initiated process for construction of Malal Bridge. Project will be completed in 12 months and at its completion, the project is sure to bring ease in the lives of local population.

For more information, contact:
Public Relations Directorate
Capital Development Authority (CDA)
Main Office, G-7/4, Islamabad
Tel: +92-51-9252614
Email: getreply@cda.gov.pk
Website: www.cda.gov.pk

August 10, 2020

Organization of Consular Camp in Brisbane

Canberra, August 10, 2020 (PPI-OT): The High Commission for Pakistan organized a Consular Camp in Brisbane at the Browns Plains Centre on Saturday and Sunday 8-9 August 2020. The basic aim of the consular camp was to provide consular services to the Pakistan community living in and in the surrounding regions of Brisbane at their doorstep. The prevailing Covid-19 situation and related travel and social bans/ restrictions had made it difficult for the community to travel all the way from Queensland to our Missions in Australia for processing of their consular documents. It was therefore the community’s earnest desire that the consular team from Canberra should visit Brisbane and establish a consular camp. The following services were provided to the community:

a. Attestation of documents and Power of Attorney

b. Receipt of application for Child Registration, Police Clearance, Driving License

c. Receipt of Visa application

A large number of community members visited the Consular Camp to avail the above-mentioned consular services. The community members thanked the Government for taking the best care of them in the most pro-active way during these challenging and harsh times and applauded the High Commission for having organized the Consular Camp which was one of their pressing demand.

For more information, contact:
High Commission for Pakistan, Canberra
Postal Address: P.O Box 7130, Yarralumla, ACT 2600
Physical Address: 4 Perth Avenue, Yarralumla, ACT 2600 (Australia)
Tel: +61-2-62731114
Fax: +61-2-62731199
Email: phc@pakistan.org.au
Website: https://www.pakistan.org.au/

August 10, 2020

Federal Board of Revenue initiates action against irregularity, corruption and inefficiency

Islamabad, August 10, 2020 (PPI-OT): Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has decided to take action against irregularity, corruption and inefficient elements present in the organization. Since July, so far 26 officers and 19 officials have been suspended whereas three employees have been dismissed from service. Besides, permission has also been sought from the Prime Minister to initiate action against two senior officers. Those suspended included employees of Model Customs Collectorate Quetta, Peshawar, Hyderabad, Gwadar, Karachi, Directorate of Transit Trade Peshawar and Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation IR Hyderabad whereas the dismissed employees were posted in Regional Tax Office, Faisalabad.

FBR is determined to rid the organization of corrupt and inefficient elements. Prompt action will be taken against the officers and officials found involved in irregularity and inefficiency. The image of the organization will be raised and the perception of the taxpayers and people about the organization will be improved so that the taxpayers’ can pay their due taxes in time without any hesitation and suspicion thinking that their paid taxed would be utilized on the progress of the country and welfare of the people.

An Integrity and Performance Management Unit (IPMU) has been established in FBR to address the complaints of the taxpayers against any employee. The complainant can send his complaint through telephone, e-mail and letter which will be scrutinized and investigated by senior officers. FBR will continue to put its efforts to raise revenue for the Government and will strive to achieve the objectives of the organization at all costs.

For more information, contact:
Second Secretary (Public Relations)
Federal Board of Revenue (FBR)
FATE Wing, Federal Board of Revenue,
Constitution Avenue, Sector G-5,
Islamabad, Pakistan
Phone: +92-51-9217267
Fax: +92-51-9208456
Email: mujeeb.talpur@fbr.gov.pk, talpur35@gmail.com
Website: https://www.fbr.gov.pk/

August 10, 2020

Meeting on refunds held in Federal Board of Revenue HQ

Islamabad, August 10, 2020 (PPI-OT): A meeting was held in the Federal Board of Revenue, Islamabad to take stock of the issuance of refunds under the Inland Revenue Courts i.e. Income Tax, Sales Tax and Federal Excise. Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh presided over the meeting.

Muhammad Hammad Azhar, Federal Minister of Industries and Production, Muhammad Azam Khan Swati, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Abdul Razak Dawood, Adviser for Commerce, Textile and Investment, Naveed Kamran Baloch, Faizullah Kamoka, Secretary Finance and Chairman FBR Muhammad Javed Ghani were also present in the meeting.

Dr. Muhammad Ashfaq Ahmed, Member (IR-Operations), FBR made a presentation on the issue of refunds. The meeting was informed that a total of Rs. 142 billion of Sales Tax refunds were pending and Rs. 90 billion of Income Tax refunds were due for payment. The Member also informed the Ministers that export sector had been prioritized and an unprecedented amount of Rs.106 billion had been released to them. It was also explained that during 2020, fresh inflows and refund claims had matched the outflows and a total amount of refund released under the head Sales Tax was Rs.154 billion.

August 10, 2020

General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Army Staff visits Headquarters Inter-Services Intelligence, Islamabad

Rawalpindi, August 10, 2020 (PPI-OT): General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) visited Headquarters Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Islamabad today. COAS was given a detailed update on the internal and external security situation of the country. COAS appreciated the measures to optimize performance of ISI, ensuring that country responds effectively to threats across the spectrum. Earlier on arrival, COAS was received by Lieutenant General Faiz Hamid, Director General ISI.

For more information, contact:
Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR)
Hilal Road, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9271605
Fax: +92-51-9271601
Email: ispr@ispr.gov.pk
Website: www.ispr.gov.pk