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Business Recorder
10 hours ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
‘Hum Sab Pakistan': LCCI holds interfaith moot to express unity
LAHORE: The Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry on Thursday organised 'Hum Sab Pakistan' Interfaith Conference to express national unity and interfaith solidarity. Provincial Minister for Minority Affairs Ramesh Singh Arora, LCCI President Mian Abuzar Shad, Senior Vice President Engineer Khalid Usman, former LCCI president Muhammad Ali Mian, former vice president Faheem ur Rehman Saigol, senior political figures including Liaqat Baloch, Khurram Nawaz Gandapur, Chairman of LCCI Standing Committee on Interfaith Harmony Sardar Bishan Singh Bedi and religious scholars spoke on the occasion. Provincial Minister Ramesh Singh Arora said that holding such interfaith events is a need of the hour. He said that Pakistan is a country for all its citizens, regardless of religion or ethnicity. The efforts of the Lahore Chamber in advancing the cause of interfaith dialogue and harmony are truly commendable. It is time for all segments of society to unite and play a proactive role in building an atmosphere of respect, equality and peace. LCCI President Mian Abuzar Shad said that the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry is committed to promote interfaith harmony and will continue to lead initiatives that bring different communities together under the banner of peace and patriotism. He said that we salute the armed forces of Pakistan for their unmatched sacrifices in protecting our beloved homeland. At the same time, we also recognise and deeply value the contributions of religious minorities in the nation's development. Their role in the country's progress, democracy and social fabric is nothing short of remarkable. He said that a strong economy cannot be built in isolation from a strong and cohesive society and that both are essential for long-term national stability. LCCI Senior Vice President Engineer Khalid Usman stressed the need for unity. He said that we may belong to different faiths but we are united by one identity, Pakistan. Our purpose must be collective progress, national strength and peace for all. He said that mutual understanding and respect are the building blocks of a just and prosperous society. Former LCCI president Muhammad Ali Mian urged all segments of society to come together to build a stronger and more peaceful Pakistan. He said religious harmony is a necessity for national development. We must all work together to ensure that our future generations inherit a tolerant and united country. Chairman of the Standing Committee on Interfaith Harmony, Sardar Bishan Singh Bedi, praised LCCI's leadership for taking tangible steps to bring people of different faiths together. He highlighted how economic growth, communal peace and religious coexistence are interlinked and should be pursued together. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
11 hours ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Punjab forms task force to boost agri research links
LAHORE: The Punjab government has constituted a task force to enhance coordination between academia and research institutions and to develop a joint strategy aimed at strengthening the agricultural sector. The task force will submit its recommendations within 15 days which will then be forwarded to the Chief Minister of Punjab for approval. Members of the task force will maintain their individual identities while fostering greater collaboration and promoting research. Additionally, coordination with the private sector and international institutions will also be ensured. The formation of the task force was ordered by Secretary Agriculture Punjab, Iftikhar Ali Sahoo, during a meeting held at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF). The meeting was attended by UAF Vice Chancellor Zulfiqar Ali, Chairman of the National Seed Authority Dr Asif Ali, Chief Executive of PARB Dr Abid Mahmood, Consultant to the Punjab Agriculture Department Dr Muhammad Anjum Ali, along with agricultural experts and researchers. Addressing the meeting, the secretary of Agriculture emphasised that in order to modernise the agriculture sector all stakeholders must adopt a joint strategy. He noted that stronger coordination between academia and research institutions would yield better outcomes. He added that the government is generously allocating resources to revive the agriculture sector, and a consultative session has already been held with all relevant stakeholders in this regard. He further stressed that practical measures grounded in modern research are essential to boost agricultural productivity. Highlighting cotton production as a major challenge, he underscored the need for a long-term policy. The secretary also pointed out the urgent requirement to introduce superior germplasm, develop new climate-resilient varieties, and ensure the availability of high-quality seeds to farmers. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
PARTLY FACETIOUS: Field Marshal Asim Munir got to meet US President
'How would you define victim?' 'That depends.' 'Really? How come?' 'Well, you could be a victim of domestic abuse that some may term as the abuser's rights.' 'Careful.' 'No, I meant a parent could slap a child to discipline him…' 'Well yes I understand that in the West hitting a child is defined as abuse, but what if the child was say hitting another child or…' 'Nuances, my friend, nuances, but if you are in politics victimhood can win elections.' 'So the best way is not to make a victim out of an opponent?' 'Nah that's not a lesson that our politicians have learned. Given the seesaw that our politics…' 'Seesaw?' 'In on one day, and out the other.' 'You need to qualify that statement. Did you mean in government one day out the other, or did you mean in jail one day and out the other, or did you mean…' 'Dear Lord. Anyway, Field Marshal Asim Munir got to meet the President of the United States, the first time ever and…' 'Didn't our first Field Marshal Ayub Khan also meet with the then US President?' 'Why are you being so flippant. Ayub Khan met the President when he had proclaimed himself as the head of government and state and the army and…' 'Gotcha, but the social media, not ours but Western social media, is full of chatter about Pakistan sending off missiles to Iran and that we have threatened Israel that if it nukes Iran we will nuke Israel.' 'I thought the Deputy Prime Minister refuted these…' 'But anyway going back to defining the word victim, the Israeli Prime Minister takes the cake: he continues to starve the people of Gaza and when they come to the few food depots he has allowed to be opened he fires on them, on average 50 plus a day are dying, and he attacked Iran and guess what? Israel is the victim in all this.' 'Netanyahu's narrative or definition of victimhood is supported by the US led Western hemisphere'. 'But the majority of the people of the US led Western hemisphere, the people they purport to represent, are no longer supporting this narrative.' 'Change in policy will take a bit more time I reckon but change it will and with it so will the definition of victimhood.' Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
12 hours ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Experts urge FBR to broaden tax base to meet FY26 target
ISLAMABAD: Experts recommended that Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) needs to increase the tax base to achieve revenue target of Rs14.1 trillion in 2025-26 without burdening existing taxpayers. Pakistan's numbers tell a compelling story with only 5.9 million tax filers out of 71 million workforce (8.4 percent, tax filer to workforce ratio), while banks hold 177 million accounts, with 137 million unique account holders (60% of adult population), and Rs32.7 trillion in deposits (as of May 2025)—all with complete KYC data with the Banks. These figures were shared by former minister for Interior and Commerce GoharEjaz on X formerly known Twitter. He sated FBR needs help to find non-tax filers. This is where they need to look: total tax filers in Pakistan 5.9 million (2024-25), individuals (5.8 million), Business Partnerships (AOPs) ( 104,269) and companies (87,900). Ejaz further stated that FBR doesn't need to tax existing filers more—it needs to expand the tax base. With withholding taxes at Rs. 1.59 trillion and voluntary payments at Rs. 1.12 trillion (first half of 2024-25), the compliant are already contributing. 137 million unique bank account holders vs 5.9 million tax filers is a stark low number, he added. FBR must target non-filers—going after existing taxpayers will not work as they're already overburdened. Banks have comprehensive KYC data on account holders with substantial deposits. Non-filers' complete account details, transaction histories, and financial profiles are readily available. Smart governance means using available data intelligently. The path to Pakistan's revenue targets lies not in over-burdening the 5.9 million compliant taxpayers, but in identifying and bringing the remaining 131 million bank account holders with significant financial footprints into the formal tax system, Ejaz added. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
SC, SHC: JCP extends term of CBs
ISLAMABAD: The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) on Thursday extended the term of the Constitutional Benches of the Supreme Court and the Sindh High Court. The Constitutional Benches of the Supreme Court term is extended till 30th November 2025, while the SHC CB period was extended for six months w.e.f. 23rd July 2025, with the new nominations and replacements i.e. Justice Adnan Iqbal Chaudhry (new), Justice Jaffar Raza (new), Justice Agha Faisal (replaced), and Justice Sana Akram Minhas (replaced). The constitutional bench in the apex court and the High Courts were created following the enactment of 26th Constitutional Amendment. In the Supreme Court a committee, set up under Article 191A of the constitution, is led by Justice Aminuddin Khan and comprising Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail and Justice Ali Mazahar for the selection of judges for different CBs. Three more judges for SHC CB nominated: JCP nominates five more judges for SC CB Presently, the total strength of the SC constitutional bench is 15; out of that four are from Punjab – Justice Aminuddin, Justice Ayesha A Malik, Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan and Justice Ali Baqar Najafi; four are from Sindh – Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi and Justice Salahuddin Panhwar; three are from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – Justice Musarrat Hilali, Justice Shakeel Ahmed and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim; three are from Balochistan – Justice Jamal Khan Makdokhail, Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Muhammad Hashim Khan Kakar and one is from Islamabad – Justice Aamer Farooq Two meetings of the JCP were held in the Supreme Court in the chair of Chief Justice of Pakistan; the agenda of first meeting was; extension in the term of the SC CB; and the policy decision regarding framing of rules for setting up effective standards for annual performance evaluation of judges of the High Courts under Article 175A (20) of the Constitution. While, the second meeting consider the term of the Constitutional Benches of High Court of Sindh. The JCP chairperson has been pleased to constitute a broad-based committee for the Judicial Performance Evaluation of Judges of all High Courts, comprising members from the Judiciary, Parliament, Executive, and the legal fraternity, to prepare draft rules for the Annual Judicial Performance Evaluation of High Court Judges. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
