Pakistan Media Network

Multan: Students and faculty of Muzaffargarh Government Post Graduate College spent a day with Pakistan Army at Multan Garrison.

According to a report on Wednesday, the students were briefed about the sacrifices of the Pakistan Army for the country and the nation. The students also witnessed the military activities. They were briefed on self-propelled artillery guns and firing procedures.

They were briefed on small arms and communication systems used in warfare. The students appreciated the professionalism of Pakistan Army saying it is the best army in the world and they are proud of it.

SRINAGAR: Residents in Srinagar took to streets a surge in electricity bills and frequent power outages in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

According to a Kashmir Media Service report on Wednesday, the residents from downtown Srinagar staged the protest, blocking the Nawa Kadal road, demanding the rollback of the inflated bills.

The residents argue that their bills have soared in recent months, reaching an alarming Rs 1820 per month. Many contend that these bills are impossible to pay, particularly given the erratic power supply. Protestors highlighted the plight of families with members reliant on oxygen support, whose treatment is disrupted by the power cuts.

Bashir Ahmad, a resident of Nowhatta, lamented, “We barely make enough to feed ourselves, let alone pay these exorbitant bills. How can they expect us to afford Rs 1820 every month?”

Residents claim they have repeatedly contacted officials but received no response. They emphasize the irony of inflated bills amidst the absence of basic amenities like reliable power supply.

SRINAGAR: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti has expressed her concerns regarding the abrogation of Article 370, stating that it has further complicated the Kashmir issue.

According to a Kashmir Media Service report on Wednesday, Mehbooba Mufti addressing party workers in Islamabad district, said, “Kashmir issue will not be allowed to be forgotten. 370 did not resolve the Kashmir issue; rather, it further complicated it; time will come when they will understand what they have done with J and K.”

Mufti urged people to voice their concerns, highlighting that the decision taken in 2019 is not acceptable to the people of IIOJK. She stated, “Kashmiris remain silent and at times, they even appear dead but when it comes to it, they show what is right and what is wrong.”

Reflecting on the aftermath of the 2019 decision, Mufti lamented the state of affairs in IIOJK, describing it as a “jail.”

She criticized the restrictions on freedom of speech and continued repression in the territory, emphasizing the need for a platform to voice grievances and concerns.

ISLAMABAD: All Pakistan Traders Association on Wednesday threatened to protest against the Tajir Dost tax scheme launched by the government to bring 3.5 million retailers into the tax net.

President All Pakistan Traders Association, Ajmal Baloch said the protest date would be announced at the traders’ convention in May. He said the Tajir Dost tax scheme has failed and added such schemes introduced after consultation with ‘govt like-minded traders’ will not succeed.

He said the lack of interest in the registration process is evidence that the scheme has failed. Baloch claimed Rs1,200 yearly fixed tax on the traders is a ‘fraud’ as traders are already paying fixed advance tax on the commercial electricity bills.

Earlier, Pakistan traders’ body leader said the traders were already paying 13 different types of taxes on the commercial meter. “You are asking for Rs1,200 per month tax but a trader is already paying Rs15,000 to 20,000 taxes yearly.”

Mr Ajmal invited Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) officials to sit with the traders’ bodies to discuss the indirect taxes being paid by the traders. He also alleged that FBR officers are taking “monthly charges” from the traders, who are mostly less educated.

KARACHI: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif landed in Karachi on a day-long visit on Wednesday. Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tessori and Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah welcomed the prime minister at the Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport.

Soon after arrival, Sharif visited Mazar-e-Quaid, offered fateha and laid floral wreath. He also wrote his impressions in the book.

During his visit, the prime minister will hold meetings with the governor and the chief minister in which overall political situation and administrative affairs of the province will be discussed.

Shehbaz Sharif will also meet prominent personalities of the business community and a delegation of Karachi Chamber of Commerce. During these meetings, the premier will take suggestions from the business community regarding the improvement in the country’s economy.

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui has said the government is working on devising a policy to drastically reduce the Out of School Children in Pakistan.

He said this while talking to United Nations Children’s Fund representative in Pakistan Abdullah A. Fadil, who called on him here in Islamabad on Tuesday.

The Minister said all provinces along with donor partners will be taken on board to create a national consensus in this regard.

He appreciated the role of UNICEF in helping Pakistan in its bid to create equal access to quality education for the people of Pakistan.

He said there is a dire need to address the issue of Out of School Children and the broader gap of access and quality of education on an emergency basis.

Abdullah A. Fadil said UNICEF supports efforts to increase access to quality education for all children in Pakistan, with a focus on marginalized and vulnerable populations.

ISLAMABAD: The Inland Revenue (IR) Field Formations of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), during counter-evasion operation, have conducted countrywide crackdown on counterfeit and non-stamped cigarettes and seized 1,235 Packerites of cigarettes having approximate value of Rs96-million.

The countrywide crackdown is being conducted upon the directions of FBR Chairman Malik Amjed Zubair Tiwana and under the direct supervision of the Member Inland Revenue (Operations) Mir Badshah Khan Wazir, according to a statement issued here on Tuesday.

A total number of 4,652 retail outlets all over the country have been visited out of which 33 have been sealed for illicit tobacco trade. It is pertinent to mention that a total of 204 teams comprising 1047 number of total human resource has taken part in an enforcement drive to curb movement of illicit cigarettes.

The Chairman FBR, and Member Inland Revenue (Operations) lauded the efforts of IR field formations taking part in the said exercise. They acknowledged that despite minimal human resource and logistics, Inland Revenue Enforcement Network is persistently making endeavours to eradicate the menace of illicit tobacco trade.

It has further been resolved that all the culprits involved in the illicit tobacco trade and evading the Government’s revenue shall be dealt with iron hand and will be liable to penal proceedings under the relevant rules. In the next phase the repeat offenders are likely to be arrested.

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said Tuesday that the Pakistan-Iran friendship comprised over decades and Pakistan wanted to enhance cooperation with Iran in various economic welfare projects, especially poverty eradication.

Punjab Chief Minister said this while talking to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and First Lady Jamileh Alamolhoda at Governor House Lahore today during a luncheon arranged in the honour of Iranian dignitaries. The Iranian delegation was served with traditional foods of Punjab.

On the occasion, Maryam Nawaz said there was a need to increase bilateral cooperation for industrial and agricultural development. The CM said Pakistanwould welcome Iran’s investment in Punjab’s value-added livestock market, adding that the two countries can earn a lot of foreign exchange by establishing FMD zones and exporting halal meat.

Maryam Nawaz Sharif told the Iranian delegation that Punjab possessed excellent investment opportunities in the green energy sector.

On the occasion, Maryam Nawaz prayed for the prosperity and peace of the people of Iran. Chief Minister Maryam also thanked the Iranian President and his wife for their visit to Lahore.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and First Lady Jamileh Alamolhoda thanked Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for the warm welcome.

Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Senator Pervaiz Rasheed, Information Minister Uzma Zahid Bukhari, Finance Minister Mujtaba Shujaur Rahman, Provincial Minister Secondary Healthcare and Medical Education Khawaja Salman Rafiq, Provincial Minister Food Bilal Yasin, Provincial Minister Industries Chaudhry Shafi Hussain, Chief Secretary, Inspector General of Police, Lahore, Iranian Consul General and other officials attended the ceremony.

New Delhi: Main opposition party of India has accused Indian Premier Narendra Modi of hate speech after he called Muslims “infiltrators” and used some of his most incendiary rhetoric to date about the minority faith.

According to a Kashmir Media Service report on Tuesday, Hindi fanatic Modi at a rally in the western Indian state of Rajasthan, said that when the Congress party was in government, “they said Muslims have the first right over the country’s resources.” If it returns to power, the party “will gather all your wealth and distribute it among those who have more children,” he said as the crowd applauded.

Modi went on to say, “They will distribute it among infiltrators,” and continued, saying, “Do you think your hard-earned money should be given to infiltrators?”

Abhishek Manu Singhvi, a spokesperson for Congress, called the prime minister’s remarks “deeply, deeply objectionable” and said the party had sought action from the Election Commission of India, which oversees the six-week voting period.

The remarks sparked fierce criticism for peddling anti-Muslim tropes, and for breaking election rules which bar candidates from engaging in any activity that aggravates religious tensions.

The Election Commission of India’s model code of conduct forbids candidates to “appeal to caste or communal feelings” to secure votes.

Asaduddin Owaisi, a Muslim lawmaker and president of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen party, said; “Modi today called Muslims infiltrators and people with many children. Since 2002 till this day, the only Modi guarantee has been to abuse Muslims and get votes.”

Critics of Modi, an avowed Hindu nationalist, said India’s tradition of diversity and secularism has come under attack since his party won power in 2014 and returned for a second term in 2019. They accuse Modi’s BJP of fostering religious intolerance and sometimes even violence. The parties deny the accusation and say their policies benefit all Indians.