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PM announCeS 3-Month relIef for ProteCted eleCtrICIty ConSuMerS Wednesday, 10 July, 2024 I |3 Muharram, 1446
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XV No 10 I 8 Pages I Islamabad Edition
Move would benefit ‘94 per cent of country’s domestic consumers’ of electricity PROFIT
STAFF REPORT
N a significant move aimed at easing financial burdens on vulnerable households, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared a three-month relief period for lifeline consumers of electricity, who use less than 200 units per month. Announcing the initiative during a press conference in Islamabad, PM Shehbaz highlighted that the government would allocate Rs50 billion to provide relief to approximately 25 million domestic consumers from July through September. This relief package is expected to lower electricity costs by Rs4-7 per unit for qualifying consumers, benefiting a substantial 94% of the country’s domestic electricity users. “The decision to allocate Rs50 billion from our development budget underscores our commitment to public welfare, contrasting sharply with past administrations’ empty promises,” PM
Shehbaz affirmed. He further assured the nation of additional relief measures, pointing to enhanced fiscal space resulting from efforts to broaden the tax base and curb financial inefficiencies. Highlighting recent agreements with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), PM Shehbaz emphasized that the relief plan had
received IMF endorsement, demonstrating the government’s resolve to address economic challenges responsibly. Regarding structural reforms in the energy sector, PM Shehbaz outlined plans to transition thousands of tube wells in Balochistan to solar energy, potentially saving billions in annual expenditures on imported oil. Similar initiatives
are slated for other provinces, aiming to reduce foreign exchange burdens and promote sustainable energy practices. “The recent adjustments in electricity tariffs reflect our sensitivity to public concerns amidst economic adjustments,” PM Shehbaz acknowledged, referencing a revised tariff proposal aimed at mitigating financial strain on consumers during challenging economic times. In conclusion, PM Shehbaz reiterated the government’s commitment to equitable economic policies, urging the privileged classes to contribute towards national prosperity. He underscored the importance of revitalizing sectors such as agriculture, information technology, and mining to unlock Pakistan’s economic potential and reduce dependency on external financial support. The announcement comes amid rising public discontent over utility costs, signaling a proactive approach by the government to alleviate financial pressures on the most vulnerable segments of society.
Supreme Court reserves verdict in SIC reserved seats case ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The apex court on Tuesday reserved the verdict on the Sunni Ittehad Council’s (SIC) plea against the Peshawar High Court’s (PHC) verdict upholding the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision denying them the reserved seats. A 13-member full court bench led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa conducted the hearing today with Barrister Salman Akram Raja and SIC’s Faisal Siddiqui presenting their arguments before the court. The bench also comprises Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Muneeb Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Athar Minallah, Justice Syed Hassan Azhar Rizvi, Justice Ayesha Malik, Justice Shahid Waheed, Justice Irfan Saadat Khan and Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan. The whole reserved seats issue first emerged after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) backed independent candidates emerged victorious in the February 8 elections and subsequently joined the SIC in a bid to claim seats reserved for minorities and women. However, the PTI suffered a setback after the ECP, citing the party’s failure to submit its list of candidates, denied allocating the reserved seats to the SIC.
Govt allows ISI to trace calls, messages PTI to challenge permitting ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The government has allowed the country’s spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to intercept and trace calls and messages in the apprehension of an offence against national security, sources revealed on Tuesday. The federal cabinet has approved the relevant circular allowing a designated officer of the ISI to carry out the tracing of calls under Section 54 of the Telecommunication (Re-organization) Act 1996. However, the officer nominated by the agency cannot be of less than grade 18, the sources added. The aforementioned section of the
Telecommunications Act allows the federal government to authorise any person or persons to intercept calls and messages or to trace calls through any telecommunication system in the interest of national security. It also states that the government will have preference and priority in the telecommunication system over any licensee for the defence or security of the country against any foreign aggression. “The federal government in the interest of national security and in the apprehension of any offence is pleased to authorise the officers […] to be nominated from time to time by ISI to intercept calls and messages or to trace calls through any communication system,” read the notification issued
by the Ministry of Information on Monday. The move comes against the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led government’s steps towards stricter social media regulations citing national security concerns and the prevailing ban on popular social media platform X. In May, PM Shehbaz approved a draft to amend the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 which suggested the establishment of a Digital Rights Protection Authority. Moreover, the government is also installing a national firewall on different internet service providers (ISPs) to rein in social media with filters capable of blocking unwanted content from reaching a wider audience.
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ISI to tap phones
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insad (PTI) has announced its intention to challenge the government's notification which granted Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) permission to intercept and trace calls in the “interest of national security”. Earlier today, the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication authorised the intelligence wing to tap phones, stating that this authority was granted under Section 54 of the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organisation) Act, 1996. The Leader of the Opposition in the Na-
tional Assembly, Omar Ayub Khan noted that the government, via SRO 1005 (I)/2024 issued a notification allowing the ISI to tap any person's phone conversation on the pretext of "national security".He slammed the government, saying, "Only a fascist government would grant an intelligence agency complete authority to tap citizens' phones. "Shehbaz Sharif has practically cut his own throat with this decision," the PTI leader alleged, declaring that the move could backfire and may have great consequences. STAFF REPORT