Pakistan News update
news update
Agility extends PaCCS till March 31
May 13th
FBR chairman pledges resumption of negotiations for full-scale implementation.
KARACHI:Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Salman Siddique is expected to visit the headquarters of Kuwait-based software developer Agility over the weekend, well-informed sources told The Express Tribune on Thursday.
FBR’s decision to resume dialogue with the firm responsible for developing, implementing and maintaining the Pakistan Automated Container Clearing System (PaCCS) came after Agility announced it would shut down the terminal that facilitated automated clearing of containers from various ports of entry to the country.
According to a representative of Agility, Siddique has assured the software and logistics company that he would visit their More >
Several hurt as Sunnis, Shiites clash in Bahrain
May 12th
Residents hold a Bahraini flag in front of riot-police after a fight broke out between nationalised Sunni and Shiites in Hamad Town, south of Manama March 3, 2011. PHOTO: REUTERS
HAMAD TOWN: Several people were hurt in fighting between Sunni and majority Shiite Muslims in a town in central Bahrain on Friday, the first sectarian violence since protests erupted in the Sunni-ruled kingdom two weeks ago.
The overnight clashes were triggered by a family dispute or a car accident, or both, according to different accounts, although the government said the cause of the dispute was “simple”.
“There were about a hundred people involved,” More >
FIA’s female employees submit petition
May 12th
SC approves applications of 130 FIA female employees against gender discrimination in departmental promotions.
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday has approved the applications filed by 130 female employees working for the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) against gender discrimination in departmental promotions.
The petitioners, some of whom joined the FIA as far back as 2002, while others were inducted in 2007, have yet to be promoted to the next grade. However, their male colleagues inducted in the FIA in 2008 have already been promoted, their counsel, Hafiz SA Rehman argued before the court. “The women have been deprived of the right to More >
Female players to receive training in Dubai
May 11th
Tennis federation in talks with sponsors for setting up coaching facility.
KARACHI:The Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) is looking to arrange a foreign coach to train its female players in Dubai later on this year.
According to the PTF Secretary Mumtaz Yousuf, the players’ performances in the Fed Cup earlier this year convinced the federation that the female players need to have more international exposure that will give them the confidence needed to win tournaments abroad.
‘Development of female players needed’
Yousuf told The Express Tribune, “We want our women to make a mark on the international tennis circuit the way Aisam did last More >
Textile industry profit almost triples
May 11th
Spinning sector continues to lead the pack in the first half of fiscal 2011
KARACHI:The textile sector’s profits rose 183 per cent to Rs12 billion in the first half of the current fiscal year 2010-11 on the back of healthy profits from the spinning sector.
A selected sample of companies, which represented up to 95 per cent of stock market capitalisation in their respective sub-sectors, showed that the spinning, weaving and composite sectors registered notable earnings performances, with the spinning sector, once again, recording the greatest improvement.
Sector sales augmented 39 per cent to Rs202.9 billion compared with Rs146 billion in the More >
Reforms in every sector necessary: minister
May 10th
Govt devising strategy to tackle energy crisis
ISLAMABAD:Reforms in every sector of the economy are inevitable and the government is taking steps to tackle the circular debt, according to Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh in a briefing at the National Defence University on Friday.
Speaking on price levels and the circular debt, Shaikh said that consumers and power distribution companies are to blame for the circular debt. He explained that consumers did not regularly pay their bills, while the distribution companies often billed consumers incorrectly and stressed the need for joint efforts to tackle the problem.
Shaikh underlined that it was Pakistan More >
Blasphemy laws: ‘MQM will protect Pakistan from religious tyranny’
May 10th
MQM chief proposes Jinnah’s minorities speech be made national anthem
KARACHI:Revolution in Pakistan like in the Middle East is inevitable and is approaching fast, but the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) will not allow religious maniacs to take over and impose tyrannical rule, said MQM chief Altaf Hussain on Friday.
He was addressing a large gathering organised by the Defence and Clifton Residents Committee (DCRC) and the Council of Professionals (COP) of the MQM at the DCRC lawn near Two Swords in Clifton.
Hussain urged religious scholars belonging to all schools of thoughts to sit together to review Clause 295 C of the More >
Actress Jolie visits Afghanistan: UNHCR
May 9th
Angelina Jolie meets a refugee in Kabul on her two-day visit. PHOTO: REUTERS
KABUL: US film star Angelina Jolie made a surprise two-day visit to Afghanistan to meet refugees in the war-torn country, the UN’s refugee agency said Wednesday.
Jolie, star of films such as “Mr & Mrs Smith” and also a UNHCR goodwill ambassador, spent two days meeting refugees, afterwards calling for more to be done to reintegrate former exiles into Afghan society.
Over 5.5 million people have returned to Afghanistan since 2002, the year after the Taliban were ousted by a US-led invasion, according to the UNHCR.
Most of them had fled More >
OGRA notifies price reversal
May 9th
Government formally halves the almost 10 per cent increase in petroleum products prices.
ISLAMABAD:The government beat yet another hasty retreat under intense political pressure on Friday after it formally halved the almost 10 per cent increase in petroleum products prices.
The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) issued the notification late Friday night. According to Ogra and the petroleum ministry officials, the notification will be effective from March 5.
The decision, experts say, is likely to result in a massive shortfall in petroleum levy collection.
An official of the finance ministry said that the government move would cause an additional loss of Rs3.5 More >
Sri Lanka elect to bat v Australia
May 8th
Sri Lanka fans cheer before the start of the ICC Cricket World Cup group A match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Colombo March 5, 2011. PHOTO: REUTERS
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara won the toss and opted to bat first against Australia in their World Cup Group A match at on Saturday.
Holders Australia, who have not lost a World Cup match since 1999, are seeking their third straight win in the tournament but the co-hosts Sri Lanka are aiming for their third victory in four matches.
Sri Lanka opted to play all three front-line spinners Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis and More >
