In partnership with Wednesday, 12 March, 2025 I 11 Ramazan, 1446
Profit
Rs 50.00 | Vol XV No 246 I 40 Pages I Islamabad Edition
104 RESCUED, 22 TERRORISTS KILLED AS OPERATION UNDERWAY FOR SAFE RESCUE OF ALL PASSENGERS JAFFAR EXPRESS ATTACK
g
g TERRORISTS ARE IN TOUCH WITH THEIR THOSE RESCUED INCLUDED 58 MEN, 31 WOMEN AND 15 KIDS, BESIDES 17 INJURED OVERSEAS HANDLERS THROUGH SATELLITE TAKEN TO HOSPITAL: SECURITY SOURCES PHONES, SECURITY SOURCES
S
g
TALAL SAYS SECURITY FORCES TREADING CAREFULLY BECAUSE OF LIVES INVOLVED ISLAMABAD/QUETTA STAFF REPORT
ECURITY forces have rescued 104 passengers from terrorists following an attack on Peshawar-bound Jaffar Express train, travelling through Balochistan’s Bolan Pass and killed 22 terrorists while continued operation safe rescue of all passengers and to eliminate the last terrorists, security sources, state media and government officials confirmed on Tuesday night. The Security forces have successfully rescued 104 passengers from terrorists, including 58 men, 31 women, and 15 children who have been transferred to Machh Railway statement in a rescue train, according to security sources. They said that as of now, 22 terrorists have been eliminated, and 17 injured individuals have been transferred to hospitals for medical treatment. Earlier, state-owned media outlets – Radio Pakistan and PTV News – reported “citing security sources” that terrorists attacked Jaffar Express in Balochistan’s Dhadar area of Bolan Pass and had taken passengers, including
women and children as hostages. They reported that the terrorists remained in contact “through satellite phones” with their “foreign facilitators and handlers,” while the security forces have surrounded the area and launched a clearance operation that would continue till the last terrorist was eliminated. Meanwhile, Divisional Superintendent of Railways Imran Hayat confirmed 10 deaths while talking to the media. He said the dead included the engine driver
Bilawal backs Zardari’s call, warns no new Indus canals without Sindh’s consent ISLAMABAD
MONITORING REPORT
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Tuesday threw his weight behind President Asif Ali Zardari’s call for a national consensus on building new canals from the Indus River, warning that unilateral decisions on water distribution could fracture the federation. Speaking to reporters outside Parliament House, Bilawal lashed out at those he accused of playing politics with an issue he described as existential for Sindh. “Water is not just a political issue for us—it’s a matter of life and death,” he declared, adding that the people of Sindh have “serious reservations” about any move to divert more water from the River Indus without their consent. “The PPP has always stood at the forefront when it comes to protecting Sindh’s water rights,” Bilawal asserted. “Our chief minister and provincial ministers have consistently raised their voices. Anyone claiming we have remained silent is either misinformed or deliberately misleading the public.” Bilawal backed President Zardari’s warning to the government not to impose decisions on water projects. Zardari had earlier told parliament that building new canals without consulting all provinces would be a mistake, especially in a country already grappling with climate change, water scarcity, and regional disparities.
and nine passengers belonging to the security forces who were on their way to their hometowns for a holiday. They were shot dead. Imran Hayat said that some of the militants fled towards the mountains and also took 17 hostage passengers with them to the mountains. Some of the attackers are still holding the passengers and crew hostage at the scene. According to the railway controller, the released passengers said that the at-
tackers had put the railway staff and passengers together and put guns on them. “According to security sources, terrorists split into small groups due to security forces’ operation. Injured passengers have been shifted to nearby hospital while additional security squads are taking part in the operation in the area,” the state media reported. On the other hand, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry while talking to a private TV channel, said the train was taken hostage around noon in the remote area. “Some passengers were freed as security forces started reaching the scene,” he said, adding that he could not yet disclose the numbers. He added that the freed passengers were being taken to the nearest station and eventually their intended destinations. “Many people have been taken off the train to the mountainous area and women and children are being used as a shield [by the terrorists],” Chaudhry added. The state minister said security forces were treading carefully because of the lives involved, saying that the operation was still underway.
IMF discusses agricultural income tax with Pakistani officials during loan review
g
CONTINUED ON PAGE 03
PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS AND FINANCE OFFICIALS ENGAGE WITH IMF ON TAXATION FRAMEWORK PROFIT
NEWS DESK
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission and Pakistani officials held discussions on agricultural income tax as part of the ongoing negotiations for the next tranche under the $7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF). According to a media report, the IMF team met with representatives from provincial governments, the Ministry of Finance, and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to review the taxation framework for agricultural income. Further discussions with provincial officials are scheduled for today [Tuesday]. While policy-level talks for releasing the next $1 billion tranche were expected to begin the same day, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb did not meet with the IMF mission. In-
stead, other senior officials engaged with the Fund’s team. Provincial assemblies have enacted agricultural income tax laws, fulfilling a key requirement under the IMF programme, though not without resistance. Punjab was the first to pass the Agricultural Income Tax Bill in November 2024, with other provinces following suit in the subsequent months. Under Punjab’s new agri tax law, an “equitable” agricultural income tax system has been introduced. Farmers with higher incomes will face a super tax, while tax defaulters will be penalised with fines of 0.1% per day on unpaid amounts. Punjab farmers earning less than Rs1.2 million annually face a Rs10,000 fine for late payments, while those earning below Rs40 million will pay Rs25,000. For incomes exceeding Rs40 million, the penalty rises to Rs50,000 for
delayed tax payments. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa passed its Agricultural Income Tax Bill 2025 on January 27, 2025, despite opposition resistance. The law introduced a progressive taxation system, starting at 15% for annual incomes between Rs600,000 and Rs1.2 million and increasing up to 45% for incomes above Rs5.6 million. Additionally, a super tax applies to individuals earning over Rs150 million annually, reaching a maximum rate of 10% for those earning above Rs500 million. Balochistan passed the “Tax on Land and Agricultural Income Amendment Bill” on February 3, 2025, aligning its framework with IMF conditions. The Sindh Assembly followed on February 4, 2025, approving its Agricultural Income Tax Bill amid reluctance. Sindh’s legislation exempts incomes up to Rs600,000, while a maximum 45% tax applies to incomes exceeding Rs5.6 million annually.
IN TODAY’S ISSUE
ATTENTION Some readers have complained that they are not getting the magazine with their newspaper copy. Please call or WhatsApp us at the following number to register a complaint. Contact: 0307-7338168
PM announces Daanish University in capital with £190m NCA funds irfan.farooq@pakistantoday.com.pk
ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday announced the establishment of Daanish University of Applied and Emerging Sciences in Islamabad by utilizing £190 million amount that was transferred from the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) to the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s account. Initially repatriated to Pakistan in 2019, the funds were linked to property tycoon Malik Riaz, who was suspected of involvement in illicit financial activities. Riaz reached a settlement with UK authorities without admitting guilt. However, the money became the subject of controversy after it was deposited into the Supreme Court account instead of the national treasury to settle a financial penalty imposed on him in a separate case in Pakistan. The development occurred under the administration of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who was accused of accepting land worth millions of dollars as a bribe from Riaz by allowing him to benefit from the same amount he had forfeited in Britain. The case later contributed to the PTI founder’s who was sentenced to 14 years in jail for corruption. The prime minister, while chairing the Steering Committee meeting for the establishment of Daanish University of Applied and Emerging Sciences expressed his gratitude to the Chief Justice of Pakistan for ensuring the smooth transfer of the £190 million to the federal government account. The UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) had returned £190 million to Pakistan, which has been transferred from the Supreme Court to the federal government’s account. As per the vision of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, this amount will be utilized for building a state of the art Daanish University.
‘Pakistan to take decisive action against Afghan-based militants’ NEW YORK
NEWS DESK
Pakistan on Tuesday reaffirmed its resolve to take “all necessary measures” to protect its national security from terrorist groups operating out of Afghanistan. The statement was made by Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Munir Akram, during a UN Security Council briefing on Afghanistan. Ambassador Akram expressed concern over Kabul’s failure to curb the activities of outlawed groups, particularly the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), AlQaeda, and Baloch insurgent organizations like the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Majeed Brigade. He accused the Afghan authorities of not only tolerating but also being complicit in cross-border attacks targeting Pakistan. “Pakistan will continue to take all necessary measures to eliminate terrorist threats to our national security, in accordance with our right to self-defence under international law,” Akram said. He emphasized that the TTP, with an estimated 6,000 fighters, was the largest terror outfit using Afghan territory to orchestrate