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PM LAUDS 42% RISE IN TAX REVENUES, URGES FULL SCALE DIGITAL ENFORCEMENT, TAX NET EXPANSION Thursday, 3 July, 2025 | 7 Muharram, 1447
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WITH RS865BN INCREASE AND IMPROVED REVENUE-TO-GDP RATIO, PRIME MINISTER CALLS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY, RESPECT FOR TAXPAYERS AND END TO INSTITUTIONAL COMPLACENCY
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Premier appreciates Saudi role in Middle East peace, Pakistan-India ceasefire ISLAMABAD
staff report
RIME MINISTER Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday commended the Ministry of Finance and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for delivering a record 42% increase in federal tax revenues for fiscal year 2024–25 — the highest annual growth recorded in the past ten years. Chairing a weekly high-level review on FBR’s digitization and reform agenda, the prime minister was informed that policy reforms and the enforcement of new tax laws enabled the government to collect an additional Rs865 billion over the previous year — an eightfold increase. The federal revenue-to-GDP ratio also improved significantly, rising to 11.3%, up 1.5 percentage points from the last fiscal cycle. Emphasizing that no institutional complacency would be tolerated in the pursuit of fiscal targets and economic reforms, the prime minister reaffirmed his personal oversight of all phases of revenue collection and policy implementation. He urged all departments to work with absolute dedication to achieving the government’s economic goals. Shehbaz Sharif also stressed the impor-
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staff report
tance of treating taxpayers with dignity and instructed the FBR to remain fully accessible to both the business community and individual taxpayers. He directed public sector institutions to provide full cooperation to the revenue authority, while calling for the expansion of the national tax net through sustained digital enforcement. Among key directives, the prime minister ordered the expansion of the Track and Trace Digital Production System to cover all stages of manufacturing and distribution, aimed at bringing untaxed production under
the tax net. He also mandated compulsory digitization of production processes for noncompliant industries and pushed for greater deployment of the Point of Sale (POS) system across the retail sector to strengthen documentation and fiscal transparency. Congratulating the participants on the successful passage of the new fiscal year’s budget, Prime Minister Sharif reiterated the government’s firm commitment to building a stronger and more resilient economy for Pakistan’s future. During the meeting, it was revealed that the Track and Trace system has already been
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday praised the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its ongoing efforts to promote peace in the Middle East and its significant role in facilitating the recent ceasefire understanding between Pakistan and India. The Prime Minister made these remarks during a meeting with the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia in Islamabad, Nawaf bin Saeed Al Malkiy. During the conversation, PM Sharif fondly recalled his telephone discussion with Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on June 24, where the two leaders deliberated on the current regional situation. In the meeting, the Prime Minister conveyed his warm regards to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, as well as to the Saudi Crown Prince, Mohamed bin Salman. PM
fully implemented in the sugar, tobacco, and fertilizer sectors, and will soon be extended to the cement and other key industries. The session was attended by Federal
AC among five killed in Bajaur’s ‘remote-controlled’ blast KHAR
staff report
Five people, including an assistant commissioner and two policemen, were killed and 11 others injured on Wednesday in a ‘remote-controlled’ blast targeting a government vehicle in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bajaur district, the police confirmed. Confirming the casualties, Bajaur District Police Officer (DPO) Waqas Rafique said that five people, including two policemen and a civilian, were killed in the explosion that targeted the government vehicle on Nawagai Road in Khar tehsil’s Sadiqabad area. “The deceased include Nawagai Assistant Commissioner (AC) Faisal Ismail, Tehsildar Abdul Wakil, Subedar Noor Hakim, and police constable
Rashid,” the police officer informed. He stated the blast was so intense that it destroyed the vehicle completely. He added that 11 people were injured in the blast and immediately transported to Khar District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital for treatment. DPO Rafique said security was beefed up in the area with a search operation underway. The incident report from the hospital’s medical superintendent to provincial health authorities said the bomb blast occurred at 2pm, adding that four bodies and 18 injured were brought to the facility. KP Health Adviser Ihtisham Ali contacted Khar DHQ’s district health officer and the medical superintendent to inquire about the well-being of those injured in the attack.
UNGA: Pakistan slams India over human rights abuses, state terrorism UNITED NATIONS
staff Correspondent
Pakistan, in a strongly worded statement at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), accused India of widespread human rights abuses, religious persecution, and sponsoring terrorism within Pakistan. Responding to remarks made earlier by the Indian representative, Second Secretary at Pakistan’s Permanent Mission to the UN Rabia Ijaz said she was compelled to reply to what she termed a “misleading and hypocritical narrative” presented by New Delhi. “This is a classic case of an oppressor masquerading as the victim,” she said, adding that India had “weaponised hate, normalised mob violence, and institutionalised discrimination” against its own citizens, particularly religious minorities, as well as against the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). She rejected India’s invocation of the principle of Responsibility to Protect (R2P), arguing that a state system built on exclusion and repression had “no moral ground” to invoke such doctrines. The Pakistani diplomat stated that India, under the BJP-RSS nexus, had transformed into a “majoritarian autocracy,” where Muslims, Christians, and Dalits were living under “constant fear.” She pointed to a spate of mob lynchings, the use of bulldozers for collective punishment, the demolition of mosques, and discriminatory laws that strip citizenship on religious grounds as evidence of systematic state-sponsored oppression. On the Kashmir dispute, Rabia rejected India’s claims that the region is an internal matter while reiterating Pakistan’s long-standing position that Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognised disputed territory. Citing UN Security Council resolutions — including 47 (1948), 91 (1951), and 122 (1957) — she said the people of Kashmir must be allowed to exercise their right to self-determination through a “free and impartial plebiscite.” “India had accepted these resolutions and is bound under Article 25 of the UN Charter to implement them,” she said. “Its continued refusal is a persistent violation of international law.” Ijaz also accused India of launching unprovoked attacks on civilian areas in Pakistan on May 6 and 7 this year, resulting in the deaths of 35 innocent people. She condemned the strikes as a violation of the UN Charter and international humanitarian law. Raising the issue of children in conflict zones, the Pakistani representative noted India was responsible for the killing of 15 children in Pakistan in what she described as a “massacre.” She urged the UN to document these incidents in all relevant reports, saying the attacks were not the result of military engagements but deliberate targeting of civilians.
“An emergency has been imposed in Bajaur hospitals, and health department staff have been alerted for first aid,” he said in a statement. The health advisor strongly condemned the blast and expressed grief over the demise of AC Ismail and others in the incident. He assured the public that medical assistance would be provided to the injured. KP Inspector General of Police (IG) Zulfiqar Hameed sought a report on the blast from the Malakand regional police officer (RPO). He also ordered to speed up intelligence-based operations against TTP and directed the Counter-Terrorism Department’s additional inspector general of police to send a special team to Bajaur. “A special branch is obtaining intelligence related to the incident,” Hameed
said, adding that according to initial information, the TTP targeted the assistant commissioner’s vehicle. Hameed said that teams were formed “to arrest the elements involved in the incident while all necessary evidence is being collected from the spot,” adding that bomb disposal teams were present on site. Those elements disturbing the country and province’s peace will be strictly dealt with, the KP police chief said. KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur ordered an inquiry into the incident and directed that medical facilities be provided to the injured, according to KP government spokesperson Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif.
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Ruling coalition gains two-thirds majority as ECP allocates ‘PTI reserved seats’ ISLAMABAD
staff report
The ruling coalition ‘gained’ a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly on Wednesday after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) distributed the PTI’s reserved seats to the PML-N, PPP and the opposition Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) following the Supreme Court’s verdict. Last week, the Constitutional Bench overturned the Supreme Court’s earlier judgment in the reserved seats case—effectively taking away reserved seats from the PTI and handing them to their rival parties in the national and provincial legislatures. The decision, handed down by a majority of seven judges, supersedes the July 12, 2024 majority judgment by eight judges, which had declared the PTI eligible for reserved seats for women and non-Muslims in the assemblies. The Constitutional Bench’s decision effectively meant the PTI was no longer a parliamentary party. Acting on the court’s verdict, the ECP issued an order today withdrawing its July 24 and 29 notifications from last year that had declared returned candidates against general seats of the National Assembly
and the Punjab, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies as returned candidates of the PTI. In another order today, the ECP notified the names of the returned candidates under various categories of reserved seats with immediate effect, distributing 13 seats to the PML-N in the National Assembly, four to the PPP, and two to the opposition JUI-F. After this process, the ruling coalition achieves a two-thirds majority; in a house of 336, the magic number required to attain a two-thirds majority is 224. The National Assembly Secretariat’s Legislation Branch later issued the National Assembly composition reflecting the actual party position after the apex court’s verdict and ECP’s distribution. It showed the treasury benches as now having 235 seats to the opposition’s 98 seats, for a total of 333 seats, with one MNA suspended and two reserved seats being vacant. The ECP also distributed reserved seats in the provincial assemblies. In the KP Assembly, 10 seats were given to the JUI-F, seven to the PML-N, six to the PPP, and one each to the PTI-Parliamentarians and Awami National Party.
Sharif acknowledged the Kingdom’s pivotal role in facilitating peace and stability in the region and expressed gratitude for their continued support. PM Sharif also emphasized that with Pakistan assuming the rotating Presidency of the United Nations Security Council for the month of July, Pakistan would look forward to Saudi Arabia’s support to ensure a smooth and successful tenure for the country at the UN. In response, Ambassador Nawaf bin Saeed Al Malkiy expressed Saudi Arabia’s appreciation for Pakistan’s significant contributions to regional peace and security. He also reaffirmed the Kingdom’s continued support for Pakistan in global and regional matters. The discussions further highlighted the mutual respect and cooperation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in maintaining peace and stability, particularly in the Middle East, as well as enhancing bilateral relations in various domains.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Federal Minister for Law Azam Nazeer Tarar, the FBR Chairman, and other senior government officials.
Pakistan earns renewed recognition, respect both regionally and globally: Kh Asif
ISLAMABAD
staff report
Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Tuesday said that Pakistan has earned renewed recognition and respect both regionally and globally, saying armed forces and diplomatic achievements have played a crucial role in “this great stature.” “Pakistan’s military achievements, diplomatic progress, and active participation in global forums have strengthened its position… and Pakistan is now being viewed with a new sense of dignity and stature,” Defense Czar Kh Asif stated while talking to a private TV channel. The defense minister emphasized that Pakistan’s newfound place on the international stage must not only be protected but also further strengthened. Referring to the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, the minister highlighted that Pakistan’s position received broad support from member states. He said that Pakistan’s constructive engagement and principled stance were acknowledged and respected across the platform. “India found itself isolated, while Pakistan’s position was backed by other member states,” he noted. The minister revealed that Pakistan presented concrete evidence of India’s involvement in terrorism in Pakistan specifically in KP and Balochistan. “The BLA, TTP, and other outfits are Indian-sponsored. We have undeniable proof. Even at global forums, we are being heard seriously,” he asserted. He said that the RSS-driven mindset now dominates India’s strategic and political outlook. This has regional consequences and fuels extremism, he added. On the Palestine issue, the minister reiterated Pakistan’s consistent support and said that Pakistan has upheld the Palestinian cause since its inception. “A two-state solution is the only viable path forward, and its realization would be a major diplomatic success for the Muslim world,” he added.
KP CM dares opponents to topple govt constitutionally as PTI reaffirms unity ISLAMABAD
staff report
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership unequivocally declared that the party’s leadership and entire cadre stand united like an iron wall despite all adversities, reaffirming their unwavering commitment to securing the immediate release of unlawfully incarcerated PTI leaders, including its patron-in-chief Imran Khan. They vowed that the party would leave no stone unturned to thwart any conspiracies aimed at destabilizing the only constitutionally elected government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), empha-
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sizing that no amount of pressure would shake their unity or deter their mission. Speaking at a press conference flanked by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, Central Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, Central Secretary of Information Sheikh Waqas Akram, and PTI KP President Junaid Akbar, along with other senior party leaders, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan reaffirmed that PTI firmly stood united under the unwavering leadership of its founder, Imran Khan. “Today’s parliamentary meeting reaffirmed our collective resolve and sent a clear message of unity and
strength to our supporters and opponents alike,” he added. He stated that there were no internal rifts within our ranks—‘we are one team, committed to the vision of Imran Khan and the democratic mandate given by the people.’ Gohar said that they reviewed the recent letter from PTI’s unlawfully detained leaders pertaining to the dialogue with the government threadbare. “Our founder has always advocated for meaningful and result-oriented dialogue, not political optics,” he added. Gohar remarked that PTI has consistently opted for peaceful, democratic solutions from day one, and any en-
gagement would be initiated only on the clear instructions of Imran Khan. “We reject the unconstitutional and politically motivated actions that led to the snatching of our seats, the filing of baseless references against our MNAs, and the denial of meetings on crucial budget discussions in KP, Sindh, Punjab, and at the federal level,” the PTI chairman maintained. He went on to say that these actions reflected a targeted attempt to silence the largest political party in Pakistan. “Let it be known—we will not retreat come what may.
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