Day: June 9, 2023

The government has budgeted Rs. 72.597 billion from 4G licenses under the head of non-tax revenue for the next fiscal year of 2023-24 against Rs. 50 billion budgeted for the outgoing fiscal year which was later revised upward to Rs. 74 billion.

According to the budget documents 2023-24, the government has budgeted Rs. 10 billion from the mobile handset levy for the next fiscal year against the budgeted Rs. 10 billion for the outgoing fiscal year which was later revised to Rs. 8 billion.

Under the head of income from property and enterprise (Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (Surplus), the government has projected to generate Rs. 1.628 billion for the next fiscal year against the budgeted Rs. 9 billion for the outgoing fiscal year which was later revised to Rs. 1.628 billion.

The government has budgeted Rs. 7.203 billion in the budget for 2023-24 from Regulatory Authorities (surplus/penalties) against Rs. 695 million budget for the current fiscal year which was later revised to Rs. 438 million.

Source: Pro Pakistani

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb says two billion rupees have been allocated for the Film Finance Fund and one billion rupees for the Artists' Health Insurance in this budget.

In a tweet on Friday, she said that these measures will play a major role in the growth of our film industry and improvement in the welfare of our nation's artists.

The Minister further said that this will play a key role in the promotion of Pakistan's narrative, heritage and culture through films, as well as the growth of screen tourism in Pakistan.

Source: Radio Pakistan

The government has proposed special incentives for the Agriculture sector in the federal budget 2023-24 including duty exemption on the import of seeds and abolishment of sales tax on plant saplings, combine harvesters, dryers for agricultural products, no-till-direct seeders, planters, trans-planters, other planters and bovine semen.

The annual target for agriculture loans is proposed to expand from Rs. 1,800 billion to Rs. 2,250 billion.

Proposals also include a concessionary tax rate of 20 percent on the banking company’s income for additional advances to agriculture and an exemption on importing shrimps/prawns/juveniles for breeding in commercial fish farms and hatcheries.

In order to encourage textile exports, a 5 percent regulatory duty on locally-made synthetic yarn is recommended to abolish. The government has also recommended a 1 percent final tax rate through the online platform to promote agriculture commodities for indirect exporters.

The finance bill also recommends Rs. 10 billion for concessionary agricultural loans and blanket tax exemption for five years to agro-industrial units in rural areas having annual turnover of more than Rs. 800 million.

The government also recommended allocating Rs. 6 billion for subsidy for Urea import and Rs. 10 billion additional to provide low-interest loans to small landholders in cooperation with provincial governments.

Source: Pro Pakistani

The Lost and Found Centre of the Pakistan Hajj Mission, Makkah has successfully returned over 317 missing items, including bags, wheelchairs, mobile phones, and purses, to intending pilgrims of the government hajj scheme.

During an interaction with Javed Iqbal, Incharge Lost and Found Centre Naseerudin said that his team is actively engaged in searching for 80 missing bags that need to be returned to their rightful owners.

Additionally, they have encountered a challenge with 20 bags that have yet to be identified.

They are currently putting significant effort into locating the owners of these bags in order to facilitate their return.

The Lost and Found Centre has the services of 35 dedicated Moavineen e Hujjaj who are assigned to different hotels where buses and trucks unload the luggage of hajj pilgrims.

These staff members visit each building to ensure the proper delivery of luggage to government scheme hajj pilgrims.

He mentioned that hajj pilgrims who have misplaced their baggage should contact the Lost and Found Centre at 0567119736 for assistance.

Furthermore, he strongly advised incoming hajj pilgrims to take precautionary measures by clearly writing their passport numbers and names on their bags.

Source: Radio Pakistan

Chairman NDMA Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik presided over a special National Emergencies Operation Centre' session to review the development of severe cyclonic storm BIPARJOY over Arabian Sea in Islamabad today.

In a meeting, relevant stakeholders including PMD, PDMA Sindh, PDMA Balochistan, K-electric and PMSA HQ attended the session.

The forum provided an update on the cyclone, stating that there are currently no major threats to coastal areas in Pakistan.

However, the cyclonic system may intensify further due to favourable environmental conditions.

It has slightly changed course and is moving in a north-northeast direction, possibly drifting towards the Makran Coast of Pakistan.

Chairman NDMA informed the session that the developing situation is continuously being monitored in NEOC, and NDMA Alerts will be provided every three hours on the NDMA Twitter handle and website for public information.

Chairman NDMA instructed PDMAs to conduct a local-level needs assessment, deploy manpower and machinery, and work closely with relevant departments.

During the meeting, PDMAs of Sindh and Balochistan shared their progress on mass communication efforts, risk assessment, and logistics support for areas at risk of disaster. The focus was on proactive measures to manage disasters effectively.

NDMA urges public to stay informed and follow local authorities’ guidance in any emergency situation due to the cyclone.

Source: Radio Pakistan