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Cabinet
approves Hajj 2023, Clean air policies
The Federal Cab net on Thursday approved the Hajj Policy 2023 and the Nat onal Clean Air Pol cy Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, chairing the cabinet meet ng said the authorities shou d prepare a comprehensive and effective strategy as soon as possible n cooperat on with the officials of Saudi Arabia to provide the best possib e travel and lodging faci ities to p lgrims during the Hajj
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He appreciated the Ministr y of Climate Change for formulating the C ean Air Policy and directed that necessar y steps should be taken for its effect ve implementation
The Ministr y of Climate Change presented the new policy before the cabinet for approva The cabinet was to d that in the previous years air pollution had risen to dangerous evels in many big cities
According to the Air quality Index Report 2022-23 Karachi and lahore were the cities most affected by air pol ution
It mentioned that due to air po lution the average life of people was reduced by 2 7 years
As per the 2016 report of the World Bank Pakistan s economy was suffering huge osses because of the air polut on problem
In recent years the number of accidents caused by smog n cities and different diseases spiraled
The M nistr y of Climate Change prepared an extens ve po icy covering a number of subjects ncluding protection of health of citzens steps to reduce per year deaths promotion of agriculture reduction in air pollution and for improvement in qual ty of air in urban and rural areas
The policy recommended to encourage and promote upgradation of fue from Euro 5 standard to Euro 6 introduce str ct laws to control industrial em ssions modernize agriculture
The effective enactment of policy would be ensured by a National Act on Committee, which wou d provide long term guidance for its implementation and also br ng changes in t after ever y f ve years keeping in view the ground realities
A techn cal committee would also be constituted to come up with a strategy to ensure execut on of the policy and send period cal reports to the Nat ona Act on Committee
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday sought Rs15 bill on from the federal government for gearing up preparations for elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) in the l ght of a Supreme Court verdict
According to detai s demand for the funds was made during a meeting held between off cials of the Election Commission of Pakistan and the F nance Min str y Media reports said that officials from finance m nistr y tabled an over view of the countr y s economic situation The m nistr y was facing severe difficulties for day-to-day expenses” reports said while quoting officials Dur ng the meeting the ECP sought Rs15 bill on from the government for conducting elections in Punjab KP Sources added that the finance ministr y has already provided Rs5 bi lion to commission in this regard The electoral watchdog has tabled its demand to immed ate release of Rs10 bill on Meanwhile sources claimed the ministr y has assured ECP that its demand wil be tabled before the government Offic a s noted that the withdrawal of res gnations from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNAs saved cost of the by-election
A day earl er the Elect on Commiss on of Pakistan (ECP) had summoned a meet ng with the officials of the Interior and Finance ministries to seek funds and security for the upcoming elections
Ear ier on Monday, the ECP refuted media reports claiming that it had asked for funds from the prime min ster s off ce for upcom ng e ections n Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
In a statement ssued, an ECP spokesman brushed aside the al egations and stated that the commission had not sent any such letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif
PUnjab PollS: The Elect on Commiss on of Pak stan has announced the election schedule for the general election in Pun ab Pol ing for the election of Punjab provincial assembly w ll be held on April 30, the election commission announced Accord ng to the election schedule cand dates could submit their nomination papers from March 12 to 14 while scrutiny of the papers will be held on March 22 The candidates cou d withdraw their nomination papers up to April 05 and election symbols to candidates wi l be allotted on April 06 the ECP announced
FbR imposes 25pc sales tax on a wide range of luxur y items
er electric rickshaws secondhand and worn clothing or footwear c nematographic equipment and other items specif ed n the Eighth Schedule to the Sa es Tax Act 1990 In addit on to the above the FBR has imposed a 25% sales tax on a range of other goods These goods inc ude aerated water and juices confectioner y vehicles in CBU condit on sanitar y and bathroom wares, carpets (exclud ng those from Afghan stan) chandel ers and light ng devices or equipment choco ates c garettes cigars and e-c garettes, corn flakes and other ready-to-use cereals cosmetics and shaving tems tissue papers crocker y kitchenware and tableware household articles decorat ons or or- namental art c es dog and cat food only, doors and window frames, fish, footwear fru ts and dr y fruits (excluding those imported through land route or barter mechanism) furn ture home appl ances CBU ice cream ams ellies preser ved fru ts and fruit and vegetab e uices eather jackets and appare s, mattress and sleeping bags, fresh chilled frozen preser ved or processed meat musical instruments pasta arms and ammun tion (exc uding defence stores), shampoos, sunglasses tomato ketchup and sauces a ship designed or adapted for use for recreat on or pleasure or private use an aircraft designed or adapted for use for recreation or pleasure or private use, articles of jewe r y (both precious meta s and imitation) wristwatches loca ly manufactured or assembled SUvs and CUvs oca ly manufactured or assembled vehicles hav ng an engine capac ty of 1400cc and above and ocally manufactured or assemb ed doub e cab n (4×4) pick-up vehicles This new tax regime s expected to generate signif cant revenue for the government which has been grappling with a widening f scal deficit and the economic fa lout of the COvID-19 pandem c The FBR has urged all relevant parties to comply with the new regulations and pay the requ red sa es tax in a timely and accurate manner
