September 26, 2021

COVID-19 claims 15 more patients, infects 724 others

Karachi, September 26, 2021 (PPI-OT):As many as 15 more patients of Coronavirus died overnight lifting the death toll to 7,350 and 724 new cases emerged when 15,565 tests were conducted. This was stated by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah in a statement issued here on Sunday. He added that 15 more patients of COVID-19 lost their lives lifting the death toll to 7,350 that constituted 1.6 percent death rate. Mr. Shah said that 15,565 samples were tested which detected 724 cases that constituted 4.7 percent current detection rate.

He added that so far 5,968,044 tests have been conducted against which 455,031 cases were diagnosed, of them 93.6 percent or 425,941 patients have recovered, including 321 overnight. The CM said that currently 21,740 patients were under treatment, of them 21,164 were in home isolation, 35 at isolation centres and 541 at different hospitals. He added that the condition of 488 patients was stated to be critical, including 39 shifted to ventilators.

According to the statement, out of 724 new cases, 250 have been detected from Karachi, including 75 from South, 63 East, 42 Korangi, 37 Central, 17 West and 16 Malir. Hyderabad has 63, Shaheed Benazirabad 45, Sanghar 34, Jamshoro 33, Thatta 32, Kamber 25, Badin and Larkana 21 each, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot and Tando Allahyar 20 each, Shikarpur and Tharparkar 19 each, Sukkur 18, Dadu and Naushero Feroze 15 each, Jacobabad 9, Kashmore and Tando Muhammad Khan 6 each, Ghotki 2 and Sujawal 1. Murad Ali Shah urged people to abide by the SOPs issued by the government.

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

September 26, 2021

FBR and traders reach agreement-traders postpone protest call

Islamabad, September 26, 2021 (PPI-OT):A delegation of elected leadership of small traders led by Mr. Kashif Chaudhry, Central President Markazi Tanzeem Tajiran, and Pakistan had been in contact with FBR for the last few days. The confusions of small traders, especially with reference to Tax Laws (Third Amendment) Ordinance-2021 were addressed and today as on 26th September (Sunday), the final meeting took place at FBR HQs where both FBR and elected leadership of Markazi Tanzeem Tajiran, Pakistan led by Mr. Kashif Chaudhry accompanied by elected leaders from across Pakistan successfully concluded discussions where all misunderstandings and confusions pertaining to Tax Laws (Third Amendment) Ordinance-2021 were clarified.

The decisions agreed were formally announced by Mr. Qaisar Iqbal, Member (IR Operations) FBR and the central leadership of traders in a joint press conference. Member (IR Operations) informed the media that all confusions and misunderstandings of small traders on the Tax Laws (Third Amendment) Ordinance were removed.

He thanked the elected leadership of the traders’ community for their understanding and cooperation and also assured them that all issues regarding tax laws and any other confusion shall be clarified by mutual discussions, leaving no space for unfounded propaganda or misinformation spread by irresponsible elements on social media.

Mr. Kashif Chaudhry, Central President of Markazi Tanzeem Tajiran, Pakistan on behalf of all representatives of small traders from all over the country who were also present in the press conference, announced to postpone the protest call scheduled for 27th September, 2021.

Member IR Operations categorically stated that POS did not pertain to small traders. While clarifying Section 114B of the Income Tax Ordiance-2001, Member IR Operations further informed that the general public is being misled by vested groups leading to believe that their electricity and gas connections will be disconnected and their mobile phones disabled. He clarified that only those persons who are not appearing on ATL will face this treatment.

While giving Clarification of Sub Section (1A) of Section 235 of the Income Tax, 2001, Member IR Operations stated that the change in rate of advance tax on electricity bill as introduced in the Tax Laws (Third Amendment) Ordinance-2021 will not affect small traders nor any other person who is income tax filer. He further explained that this provision had been introduced for bringing non tax paying “Professionals” in the tax net. He also added that this provision will not affect commercial consumers of electricity.

The delegation representing small traders from across Pakistan was led by Mr. Kashif Chaudhry, Central President Markazi Tanzeem Tajiran Pakistan who was accompanied by Khawaja Shahid Razzaq Sakka, Patron-in-Chief, Markazi Tanzeem Tajiran Pakistan and President, Anjuman Tajiran, Faisalabad, Khawaja Suleman Siddiqui, Chairman, Markazi Tanzeem Tajiran Pakistan, Mr. Sharjeel Mir, Central President Tanzeem Tajiran Punjab, and about two dozen office bearers of Markazi Tanzeem Tajiran from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Baluchistan, Sindh and across Punjab. All the trade leaders unanimously announced that they will keep playing their positive role and cooperate with FBR on vital issues related to tax compliance so that the national economy gets strengthened and our beloved country becomes economically self-reliant.

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/

September 26, 2021

Afghanistan welcomes Pakistan’s decision to exempt fruit exports from sales tax

Islamabad, September 26, 2021 (PPI-OT):Afghanistan has welcomed the decision of Pakistan to exempt fresh fruit exports from Afghanistan from the 17 percent sales tax. In a Tweet, spokesperson of the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Abdul Qahar Balkhi said Afghanistan welcomes this decision and calls for increased trade and transit, and further facilitation between the two countries.

He said we hope that all countries including the United States and international organizations will continue to establish and enhance ties with the Afghan Government and continue to provide humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people.

For more information, contact:
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
Government of Pakistan
4th Floor, Cabinet Block, Pak. Secretariat, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9103557
Email: info@moib.gov.pk
Website: http://www.moib.gov.pk

September 26, 2021

Prime Minister exposed India’s fascist face before world: Fawad

Islamabad, September 26, 2021 (PPI-OT):Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain has said that Prime Minister Imran Khan, in his virtual address to United Nations General Assembly, exposed India’s fascist face before the world.

In a statement, he said the Prime Minister convinced the world how fascist government of India, based on hard-line RSS ideology, is committing genocide of minorities in India. The Information Minister said the Prime Minister had a reasoned and comprehensive discussion on Kashmir dispute, Afghan situation, looted wealth from poor countries and environment.

He said the Prime Minister also apprised of the steps taken by his government in the context of global responsibilities for the threats posed to the planet by climate change. Chaudhry Fawad Hussain appreciated the Prime Minister’s address and said that the entire nation congratulates and stands behind Imran Khan.

September 26, 2021

Prime Minister’s address to UNGA was constructive, reflective of his statesmanship: Foreign Minister

Islamabad, September 26, 2021 (PPI-OT):Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi says he is satisfied with the talks he held with a number of his counterparts and heads of international organizations on global and regional problems, especially Kashmir and Afghanistan. Addressing Pakistani news media representatives in New York, he said he feels there is a better understanding of Pakistan’s viewpoint now among the international community.

The Foreign Minister said Prime Minister Imran Khan’s stirring, wide-ranging address to the 193-member Assembly was constructive and statesman-like, especially his call for a probe to determine the background and the reasons that led to the collapse of Ashraf Ghani’s government and the return of Taliban to powers in Afghanistan. Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the Prime Minister in his speech exposed Indian propaganda about Jammu and Kashmir.

The Foreign Minister said he is pleased with the outcome of the meeting of OIC’s Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir in which his counterparts from Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan reaffirmed their stand on the Kashmir dispute.

Replying to a number of questions about his meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, he said the atmosphere at the meeting was good as the objective was to remove misunderstandings. Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the US Secretary of State appreciated Pakistan’s support for the evacuation of US citizens and other nationals from Afghanistan and its continued efforts for peace in the region.

September 26, 2021

Prime Minister expresses grief over sad demise of PTI worker Khurram Mahmood in US

Islamabad, September 26, 2021 (PPI-OT):Prime Minister Imran Khan has expressed grief over the sad demise of PTI worker Khurram Mahmood in the United States. In a tweet, he said Khurram Mahmood was a successful businessman a dedicated PTI social media activist. He said my condolences and prayers go to his family.

September 26, 2021

Minister for Interior terms Modi’s speech at UNGA as worthless

Islamabad, September 26, 2021 (PPI-OT):Minister for Interior Sheikh Rashid Ahmad has termed the Indian Prime Minister’s speech at the United Nations General Assembly as mind-numbing, worthless, insignificant and of inferior quality. Commenting on the Indian Prime Minister’s speech to the UN General Assembly, he said this short and poor speech was not up to the standard of such a world’s big forum.

He said Modi was speaking just like a Union Council leader who failed in proper marketing of Indian COVID-19 vaccine to convince the world leader to purchase it. Sheikh Rashid said Modi talked about minorities in Afghanistan but he didn’t say anything about what is happening with minorities in India who are living under miserable conditions.