Business

ECC okays export of 250,000 tonnes of sugar

Published

1 year ago

Farwa

Govt okays to export 250,000 tonnes of sugar.
Quantity includes export of 100,000 tonnes approved in last meeting.
Finance minister Ishaq Dar presided over ECC meeting.

The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet has greenlighted the export of 250,000 tonnes of sugar with the condition that the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) ensures that the prices of sweetener would not exceed Rs85-90/kg in the domestic market.

The Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Ishaq Dar presided over the ECC meeting on Tuesday. Those who attended the meeting include Federal Minister for Power Khurram Dastgir Khan, Federal Minister for Commerce Syed Naveed Qamar, Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Tariq Bashir Cheema, former PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Minister of State for Petroleum Musadik Masood Malik, SAPM on Finance Tariq Bajwa, SAPM on Government Effectiveness Muhammad Jehanzeb Khan, Coordinator to PM on Commerce & Industry Rana Ihsan Afzal, federal secretaries and senior officers.

The Ministry of National Food Security and Research submitted a summary on the export of sugar during the year 2022-23 and presented the recommendations of the 4th meeting of the Sugar Advisory Board (SAB).

The ECC after detailed discussions on the recommendation of SAB, allowed 250,000 tons of sugar for export inclusive of the previously permitted 100,000 tons by the ECC, on a first-come-first-served basis. The ECC further decided that the total quantity of export may be distributed among provinces based on their installed crushing capacity, to be determined by PSMA.

Petroleum Division tabled a summary on liquidity requirement of the PSO for import of LNG and petroleum products into the country. It was submitted that PSO has been engaged in the import of LNG into the country to meet the deficit in gas demand and supply and is obliged to clear its financial obligations of supplier within stipulated period.

In order to enable the PSO to remain current in its payment obligations to LNG suppliers as well as to maintain LNG supply chain, the ECC allowed release of Rs10 billion budgeted subsidy to Petroleum Division and allowed the government guarantee against bank financing upto Rs50 billion.

The Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination submitted a summary regarding transfer of amount to government of Afghanistan for functioning, maintenance, equipments and salaries of three Pakistani hospitals in Afghanistan.

The ECC after discussion, approved the revised mechanisms and modalities for transfer of funds to Afghanistan, as proposed by the Afghanistan Inter-Ministerial Coordination Cell (AICC) with the direction to attempt to release the amount in Pak rupees.

As per revised mechanism, the total amount already approved by the cabinet for salaries i.e. Rs1.009 billion would be transferred to Afghanistan in four tranches. These funds would be transferred through the ministry of foreign affairs and sent to Pakistan’s embassy in Kabul. The remaining three tranches would be transferred through banking channels to the embassy account opened for the purpose of disbursing salaries for doctors and other staff working in hospitals in Afghanistan constructed and operated by Pakistan.

The ECC further decided that dollar proceeds of exports will be recovered within sixty days of the LC opening. The Ministry of Industry and Production submitted a summary on the diversion of RLNG to Urea fertilizer plants upto 31st Jan, 2023.

The ECC, after deliberation, decided to reject the proposal of Ministry of NFS&R and Ministry of I & P and decided that the RLNG supply to these plants would be discontinued with effect from midnight of 3rd January, 2023. The ECC deferred a summary submitted by the Ministry of Industries and Production tabled on price fixation of imported urea, with direction to work out and submit detailed mechanism for sharing of subsidy by provincial governments.

Business

Pakistan’s lunar mission ‘ICUBE-Q’ reaches the moon orbit.

Published

5 hours ago

Farwa

Pakistan’s lunar mission (ICUBE-Q) entered orbit around the moon on Wednesday.

Pakistan’s historic lunar mission (ICUBE-Q) launched from Hainan, China, on Friday aboard China’s Chang’E6 spacecraft.

According to the IST, the satellite ICUBE-Q was planned and developed in partnership with China’s Shanghai University SJTU and Pakistan’s national space agency SUPARCO.

The ICUBE-Q orbiter is equipped with two optical cameras to image the lunar surface. ICUBE-Q has now been integrated into the Chang’e6 mission after successfully qualifying and testing it.

Chang’e6 is the sixth lunar exploration mission launched by China.

The launch event was streamed live on the IST website and social media platforms. Chang’6, China’s Lunar Mission, will land on the Moon’s far side to collect surface samples before returning to Earth for further research.

Business

The FIA and KE have launched 13 successful operations against power theft.

Published

5 hours ago

Farwa

In March 2024, operations were performed in collaboration with the FIA, targeting locations such as Marora Goth, Peer Abad, Ellahi Colony Metroville, Merchant Navy Housing Society, Johar Colony, Willayatabad, and Architects Society, among others. As a result of these collaborative efforts, six FIRs regarding power theft have been filed. Furthermore, four people were caught, with three being remanded to jail and one being released after paying the fines. To enforce governance and maintain accountability, a total fine of PKR 44.33 million was issued. Additionally, in partnership with FIA Balochistan, KE has conducted anti-theft operations in Hub, where teams from KE and FIA thoroughly investigated places including as markets, retail plazas, residential and commercial properties.

Regular actions against illicit power use are part of KE’s everyday activities to prevent line losses and protect the safety and security of the electrical infrastructure. Since the start of the fiscal year (FY 2023-24), over 24,000 kunda removal drives have been performed, resulting in the elimination of over 190,000 unlawful connections and the recovery of over 260,000 kgs of illegal kunda wires.
Ongoing raids involving law enforcement personnel and other agencies have resulted in the registration of around 994 FIRs against various individuals throughout Karachi. Since the launch of the nationwide power theft campaign in September 2023, more over 100,000 incidences of theft of 180 million units of electrical power have been identified in KE’s service zone.

In response to KE’s anti-theft initiatives, a KE spokesperson stated that “71% of KE’s feeder network is loadshed-free. However, 29% of the KE network remains difficult, with electricity theft and nonpayment of bills still key issues. Serious theft cases have been found in Baldia, Surjani, Korangi, Orangi, Liaqatabad, Landhi, and Lyari, among other places. Highlighting the repercussions of electricity theft, which may jeopardize the safety standards of the power network, the KE Spokesperson noted that PKR 117 million has been recovered.

Recognizing the challenges faced by current macroeconomic conditions, especially high inflation, KE is taking proactive steps to assist customers by establishing facilitation camps throughout the city. Since July 2023, approximately 240 recovery camps have been hosted around KE’s operational zone to help customers resolve billing concerns, including supporting payment plans with manageable installments.

Business

Budget 2024–25: The government intends to abolish tax exemptions.

Published

5 hours ago

Farwa

According to the specifics, the federal government plans to phase out existing tax breaks for the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Provincially Administered Tribal Areas (PATA) regions in the upcoming fiscal year.

The decision to eliminate tax breaks in the FATA/PATA region is estimated to produce Rs 100 billion in annual revenue for the national government.

According to sources close to the issue, the Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR) has already created a preliminary proposal for the next fiscal year’s budget, and the FBR head has also informed the finance minister on it.

Currently, the federal government provides tax breaks of Rs 1,200 billion to various industries; however, the IMF has instructed Pakistan to phase out these tax breaks in the next budget.

Pakistan’s president, Asif Ali Zardari, passed the Tax Laws (Amendment) Bill 2024 last week in accordance with Article 75 of the constitution.

According to a President House News release, the bill proposes amending legislation governing taxes and duties.

The bill’s revisions include changes to sections 30DDD, 43, 45B, 46, and 47 of the Sales Tax Act of 1990.

Similarly, the amendment bill amended sections 29, 33, 34, and 38 of the Federal Excise Act 2005, as well as sections 122A, 124, 126A, 130, 131, 132, 133, and 134A of the Income Tax Ordinance 2001.