The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on Monday decided to shut down transmission of Bol News and Bol Entertainment for what it said was their failure to secure security clearance from the interior ministry.
In its meeting today, Pemra was told that it had also revoked the licences of the channel — owned by M/s Labbaik (Pvt) Ltd — in 2017, adding that the matter had been pending before the Sindh High Court until last year.
The Pemra said the SHC also wrapped the case in 2021. The meeting was informed that the channel could not be allowed to operate until the Ministry of Interior issued a security clearance.
Qatar has agreed to make investments of up to US$3 billion in Pakistan as Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif is currently in the country to cement bilateral ties between the two countries, ARY NEWS reported.
According to sources in the finance ministry, Qatar will be making immediate investments in multiple sectors in Pakistan. “The Qatari officials have shown their interest in making investments at Karachi and Islamabad airports,” they said, adding that the Qatari investment authority will ensure bringing investments in the least possible time.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif and Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani met in Doha and discussed bilateral ties between both countries.
PM Shehbaz Sharif was warmly welcomed by the Emir of Qatar upon his arrival at Amiri Diwan in Doha. A guard of honor was presented to the prime minister.
On a separate occasion during the visit, Pakistan and Qatar reaffirmed their resolve to further enhance bilateral cooperation, particularly in trade and investment domains.
The understanding was reached during a meeting between Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani in Doha.
The federal government has appointed Syed Muhammad Tariq Huda, a BS-21 officer of the Pakistan Customs Service (PCS) as Chairman of Karachi Port Trust (KPT).
“With the approval of the Federal Government, Syed Muhammad Tariq Huda, a BS-21 officer of Pakistan Customs Service (PCS), Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is appointed as Chairman, Karachi Port Trust (KPT), under Maritime Affairs Division, on deputation basis on standard terms & conditions with immediate effect and until further orders,’ said a notification issued by Establishment Division.
He will replace Syedain Raza Zaidi, an officer of the Inland Revenue Service, who was previously working as the KPT Chairman.
Minister for Power Engineer Khurram Dastgir Khan on Wednesday refuted speculations of an increase in electricity rates by stating that the cabinet had not yet approved such an increase.
The minister stated at a news conference that while the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has established the rebasing tariff, the topic had not yet been brought before the cabinet.
The matter was reviewed at the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) meeting, where it was proposed that the tariff will be hiked in three instalments in July, August, and October.
However, after discussing the matter with its affiliated parties, the administration determined that the tariff would not be increased for lifeline consumers and that they would receive a substantial subsidy. He stated that the Punjab government has also promised that users consuming up to 100 units will receive free power.
According to Dastagir, water inflow into Tarbela Dam has increased significantly over the last five days, and it has begun producing 3,864MW as opposed to 1,100MW on July 1. In addition to this, the demand for electricity has decreased due to the improvement in the weather, he added.
The minister stated that there was an average electricity shortfall of 4,000 to 5,000 MW and that there will be a significant reduction in loadshedding during the Eid holidays. The refuelling of the K2 nuclear power station is currently underway, and it will begin producing 1,100MW of electricity to the national grid before Eid, significantly reducing loadshedding in the country.
Khurram noted a significant improvement in the import of coal from Afghanistan, as well as the signing of an agreement between commercial partners and Independent Power Producers (IPPs).
The Pakistani and Afghani governments just served as facilitators for the accord. After Eid, a Pakistani delegation will travel to Kabul to finalise coal import mechanisms, and they are seeking to launch a 24-hour coal supply operation from Afghanistan.
He stated that Pakistan Railways played a key role in supplying coal to the Sahiwal Coal Power station, adding that three coal-laden trains have already arrived in Sahiwal. During the current fiscal year, the government will add an additional 5,000 MW to the national grid, according to the minister.
All of these initiatives were launched by the previous PMLN administration led by Nawaz Sharif, he said. In response to a question, the minister stated that Pakistani rupees would be used to purchase coal from Afghanistan.
The Chinese HUBCO Power Plant would likewise utilise Afghanistan-imported coal. In response to a question, he stated that the Neelum-Jhelum Power Plant is now down due to a technical failure, the cause of which is being investigated. He stated that every effort would be made to eliminate the defects as quickly as possible.
Karachi Police have proposed a plan to monitor habitual criminals using tracker bands, Geo News reported on Friday.
Karachi Police Chief Ghulam Nabi Memon told Geo News that habitual offenders will be monitored by the tracker band, which will be tied to the suspect’s ankles or wrists.
He said that according to a court order, such suspects will have to wear an electronic device, and a third party will keep an eye on the offenders’ activities and location.
According to the statistics, there are 12,000 habitual offenders in the city.
The police chief said that in the UK, 25-year-old offenders are being tracked.
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to pay a two-day-official visit to China on May 21 at the special invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Jiechi.
Minister of State for External Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar and senior Foreign Ministry officials will be part of the foreign minister’s delegation.
During the visit, the Foreign Minister will hold extensive consultations with his Chinese counterpart and the two officials will review all aspects of bilateral relations with a special focus on trade and economic cooperation between Pakistan and China.
As per details, progress on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Belt and Road Initiative flagship project will also be discussed. The two sides will also conclude important regional and international issues at large.
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s visit will also mark the 71st anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China.
ISLAMABAD: President Arif Alvi has directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to bring into the tax net the unregistered sugar dealers.
He passed the directions while upholding a decision of the Federal Tax Ombudsman.
The president observed that despite making huge monetary transactions and the availability of their data with the FBR, the unregistered buyers of sugar largely remained outside the tax net and were evading the prime national responsibility of paying taxes.
The City Traffic Police (CTP) of Lahore has chosen to provide an online driving licence renewal service for residents who have the province capital’s residence address on their CNICs.
The City Traffic Police (CTP) of Lahore has decided to offer an online driving licence renewal service to people with the provincial capital’s address on their CNICs.
In this respect, Shariq Jamal Khan, DIG Traffic Lahore, stated that representatives from CTP Lahore and PITB will meet on February 21 to finalise the details and launch date of the new system.
Citizens, especially abroad Pakistanis with licences granted by CTP Lahore, will be able to renew their licences from the comfort of their own homes once the system is live. They will also be able to upload any necessary documents, such as medical fitness certifications and pictures, online. They will also be able to pay renewal fees using internet banking apps.
CTP Lahore announced earlier this month the establishment of a state-of-the-art driving licencing centre, Manawan Traffic Police Lines, which will provide citizens with 24-hour services.
Muntazir Mehdi, the Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) of Lahore, stated that after the new facility opens, driving licences will be granted 24 hours a day, seven days a week for the convenience of the people.
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province signed over 40 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) at Expo 2020 Dubai that would bring foreign investment worth $8 billion, Arab News quoted the KP investment board and officials as saying.
Described as “the event of the century,” the expo kicked off in October, bringing together representatives from more than 190 countries. The exhibition is the largest global gathering since the emergence of the coronavirus pandemic and will run until April 2022.
Pakistan’s pavilion at the expo has been highlighting investment opportunities, tourism potential and cultural magnificence of the country. In January, its highlight is the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.
Foreign firms and investors expressed their keen interest in various projects in tourism, industrial, infrastructure, food processing, livestock, energy and power sectors, and a water sports theme park in KP’s Swabi district at an investment conference at Expo Dubai on Sunday.
“International firms have signed 44 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) worth $8 billion during the Expo 2020 Dubai,” KP finance minister Taimur Saleem Jhagra said, while addressing attendees at the conference.
Jhagra said that the KP government had presented these projects in a better way. “For the promotion of tourism in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the government is presenting ready projects at the expo for investment,” he said.
KP culture minister Shaukat Yousafzai said the province had a huge potential for investment and these agreements would help increase the flow of foreign investment into the province.
KP additional chief secretary Shahab Ali Shah said that only those projects were presented at the expo, whose feasibility reports were complete and only investors were needed.
“The government is ready to provide a one-window facility to investors,” he added.
After many hurdles and delays, the much-awaited Karachi’s Green Line Rapid Bus Transit Project finally became operational on Saturday with 25 of 80 buses in the fleet.
In the trial phase, the buses will shuttle passengers between Surjani Town and Numaish Chowrangi for four hours — 8am to 12pm — until January 10. The service will then move to full-scale services from 6am to 10pmIn the ‘soft start’, the buses will only shuttle between 11 of the total 21 stops on the route.
The ticket price will vary between Rs 15 and Rs 55 while the children up to three feet tall can travel in the BRT for free.
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