“People gradually realize that there isn’t a wheat crisis or scandal; there has been an attempt to stir up controversy over petty issues, and over the last 12 years, the nation’s production and demand targets have significantly changed,” Anwarul Haq Kakar stated.

What sort of wheat scandal, Kakar wondered, where the item is getting cheaper instead of getting more expensive?

During the previous government’s tenure, we did not permit the private sector to import more wheat, according to the former caretaker prime minister. Private importers import wheat in order to meet supply and demand principles in the market.

He argued, “How can we be accused of corruption when the PTI government released this SRO for the import of wheat?”

Anwarul Haq Kakar replied in response to a question that the media had made up this story and that he had not received any offer from the government regarding a position.

“I am an independent senator serving in the Senate along with Mohsin Naqvi and Faisal Vawda. We are representatives of the federation, and our mandate has been granted by our provincial members. Neither our voter nor their identity is secret, nor is the agenda unknown.

An initial estimate of Rs 1,500 billion is being given for subsidies, while Rs 9,700 billion is being estimated for interest and loan expenses.

The projection for tax income, according to sources, is more than Rs 11,000 billion, of which Rs 5,300 billion is projected to come from direct taxes and Rs 680 billion from federal excise duties.

Sources predicted that customs duties will bring in over Rs 1,100 billion and sales tax would likely bring in over Rs 3,850 billion.

A fuel charge of Rs 1,100 billion is anticipated to yield the first estimate of non-tax revenue of Rs 2,100 billion. Additionally, reports stated that the estimated government budget deficit is Rs 9,300 billion.

The Pakistani government is expected to remove tax exemptions in the FY2024–25 budget, according to earlier reports, per an IMF demand.

Additionally, tractors and insecticides may see price increases as a result of the government’s proposed sales tax. These are necessary agricultural supplies.

Right now, pesticides and the active substances listed on a registration form filed with the Department of Plant Protection are free from sales tax under the Sixth Schedule of the Sales Tax Act.

Additionally, tractors are exempt from sales tax, including road tractors used to tow semi-trailers. On the other hand, for the next fiscal year, budget managers are talking about eliminating these exemptions and lowering the sales tax rate on pesticides and tractors.

The cost of pesticides and agricultural equipment could rise as a result, which would put a heavy burden on farmers and those who depend on these products.

It is anticipated that the 2019 budget will impose withhold tax on commercial importers, resulting in an additional tax revenue of Rs30 billion.

In order to revive Pakistan’s energy industry, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) called on Islamabad to implement “strong cost-side reforms.”

Concerns over court closures and case hearing suspensions have been brought up by Chief Justice Shehzad Ahmed Khan of the Lahore High Court (LHC).

In a letter to the authorities, LHC CJ has brought attention to the situation.

The Punjab Interior Minister received a letter from the LHC expressing dismay over law enforcement forces’ disregard for court orders. Copies of the letter were also forwarded to the Punjab Inspector General (IG) and the Lahore Chief City Police Officer (CCPO).

Court closures should never be permitted, the letter stressed, claiming that doing so would constitute a threat to the rule of law.

It was instructed to the Punjab IG and Lahore CCPO to make sure that every court had impenetrable security.

Contrasting it with contempt of court, the LHC denounced the LHC Bar secretary’s action to forcibly halt case proceedings.

The LHC Bar secretary and other parties involved were not subject to contempt proceedings, according to the letter, demonstrating the court’s forbearance.

In closing, the letter expressed hope that court attacks would stop in the future, highlighting the importance of a safe and continuous legal system.