Latest news with #PunjabAssembly
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Opposition rejects budget, pledges shadow version for poor
The Opposition in the Punjab Assembly on Tuesday rejected the provincial government's proposed budget for fiscal year 2025-26, pledging instead to present a "shadow budget" that they claim will reflect the real needs of the poor and underserved. As Opposition Leader Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar began his opening speech during the general discussion on the annual budget, the House quickly descended into chaos. Treasury members interrupted the session with loud protests, prompting an equally noisy response from the Opposition benches. In his address, Bhachar questioned the rationale behind increasing the development budget to Rs1,240 billion when no new development projects were included in the list. He highlighted that the previous year's development budget stood at Rs842 billion, yet there remains no transparency about how or where those funds were utilized. "Where did the last budget go? There's no audit, no accountability, and now they want even more money without a single new project," Bhachar said, accusing the government of corruption in several of its flagship initiatives, including tree-planting drives and model bazaars. He criticized the increased allocation for education, pointing out that 25,000 of Punjab's 49,000 government schools have been outsourced, and more than 7 million children remain out of school. "The state of public schools is there for everyone to see, and outsourcing is not a solution," he added.
Business Recorder
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Punjab Finance Bill aims at rationalising ST on services structure
LAHORE: With a view to rationalise the structure of sales tax on services in Punjab and to deal with the matters ancillary thereto and connected therewith the Punjab Finance Act 2025 has been laid in the Punjab Assembly under which the concept of taxing of services based on negative list has been introduced. As per the finance Bill, the concept of taxing of services based on negative list is not new, as the system already exists in many countries and implementation of this would give substantial increase in the revenues to the provincial government by broadening the tax base. Under the Finance Bill, the amount of penalty has been increased for compliance purposes especially in respect of Electronic Invoice Monitoring System. As per the bill, section 3A has been inserted to provide that 'all services are taxable under this Act, including but not limited to the services.' Under the bill, notwithstanding anything contained in this Act and subject to any condition and to the extent specified therein; all services mentioned in the First Schedule shall be tax-free services under this Act. Section 16B has been inserted for defining tax free services including rendering and consumption of goods or services; amount of sales tax paid on; telecommunication services in excess of nineteen and a half percent ad valorem; carriage of goods by rail or road in excess of fifteen percent ad valorem; and other services in excess of sixteen percent ad valorem. Under the bill, where any person refuses to accept payments through digital means i.e. (debit/credit cards, mobile wallets or QR scanning, such person shall be liable to pay a penalty of up to one million rupees: provided that the penalty shall not be less than four hundred thousand rupees on first and three hundred thousand rupees on each subsequent default: provided further that in case of three acts of commission or omission, the business premises of such person may further be liable to be sealed for a period which may extend to one month. As per Second Schedule, Taxable Services, there will be 15% rate of tax with input tax adjustment for service provider and service recipient against services provided by persons for carriage of goods by rail or road. There will be 19 and half percent of tax for telecommunication services: (a) telephone services; (b) fixed line voice telephone service; (c) wireless telephone; (d) cellular telephone; (e) wireless local loop telephone; (f) video telephone; (g) payphone cards; (h) pre-paid calling cards; (i) voice mail service; (j) messaging service; (k) short message service (SMS); (l) multimedia message service (MMS); (m) bandwidth services used for voice and video telecommunication services: (i) copper line based; (ii) fiber-optic based; (iii) co-axial cable based; (iv) microwave based; (v) satellite based; (n) telegraph; (o) telex; (p) telefax; (q) store and forward fax services; (r) audio-text services; (s) tele-text services; (t) trunk radio services; (u) paging services; (v) voice paging services; (w) radio paging services; (x) vehicle and other tracking services; and (y) burglar and security alarm services; (i) internet services, whether dialup or broadband, including email services, data communication network services (DCNS) and value added data services; (ii) such charges payable on the international leased lines or bandwidth services used by: (a) software exporting firms registered with Pakistan Software Export Board; and (b) data and internet service providers licensed by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority; and (iii) such charges payable on the international leased lines used by the software exporting firms registered with Pakistan Software Export Board for software exports. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Punjab LoP Bajwa calls Bhagwant Mann ‘figurehead CM'; alleges Kejriwal runs Punjab via Delhi-based appointees
CHANDIGARH: Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly and senior Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa on Monday launched a scathing attack on the Aam Aadmi Party government, claiming that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has been reduced to a mere figurehead while AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal acts as the 'super CM,' controlling key decisions and appointments in the state. Bajwa accused the government of filling top positions in the Punjab Development Commission (PDC) with individuals from outside Punjab, many of whom are allegedly close to AAP's Delhi leadership. He said the PDC was formed in September 2023 through a notification under the Punjab Infrastructure (Development and Regulation) Act, without bringing a new Act before the Assembly for debate and approval. He criticised the government for bypassing legislative procedures and acting in a non-transparent manner. In March 2024, the PDC advertised and appointed eight Advisors at Rs 2.65 lakh per month, 15 Joint Advisors at Rs 2.20 lakh per month, and 15 Senior Research Officers at Rs 1.25 lakh per month. Bajwa claimed that most of these officials were non-Punjabis and were hired on a contractual basis without adhering to the mandatory requirement of Punjabi language proficiency. He pointed out that while Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is the Chairman of the PDC, the Vice Chairperson is a non-Punjabi, and three other members also belong to states outside Punjab. 'This is a direct insult to the youth and professionals of Punjab who are being ignored in their own state,' Bajwa said.
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Booked for influencer's murder, Sikh vigilante outfit chief: Who is Amritpal Mehron?
A video surfaced online Friday, days after the murder of social media influencer Kanchan Kumari alias Kamal Kaur 'Bhabhi' in Bathinda in Punjab. In it, Amritpal Singh Mehron, who claims to be the head of a radical vigilante group, said Kamal Kaur was killed by two of his associates due to 'immoral and vulgar content' posted by her on social media. He alleged that this content defamed Sikh values and mocked her use of the surname 'Kaur'. He also warned others creating 'objectionable content' to refrain from such activities. On Friday, the police arrested two of the accused in connection with the Punjabi influencer's murder. Amritpal is currently absconding, the police said. Amritpal, 30, is a bike mechanic from the Mehron village of Moga district. In the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections, he contested the Tarn Taran seat on a Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) ticket. He managed only 6,363 votes, and his security deposit was forfeited. He later parted ways with the party. Dilbagh Singh Patti, the senior vice-president of SAD (Amritsar) in Tarn Taran, said Amritpal had left their party to form his own outfit. Amritpal outfit is called 'Qaum De Rakhe (protectors of the community)'. Sources said it is a radical vigilante group aligned with the Nihang Sikh traditions, which has been engaged in 'moral policing'. Nihang is an order of Sikh warriors, characterised by blue robes, arms such as swords and spears, and decorated turbans surmounted by steel quoits. Not much is known about Amritpal's personal life, but his social media presence is active. He operates two Instagram accounts with 351,000 and 398,000 followers respectively and frequently posts videos condemning 'obscene' content. He also routinely shared his views on Sikh traditions and culture. In his latest video, posted on Friday, Mehron said another content creator, Deepika Luthra, would meet Kaur's 'fate' if she does not stop posting 'vulgar content'. Luthra told the media she had deleted the 'objectionable' videos, apologised to Amritpal, and feared for the safety of her family. She said she would approach the police for protection. Amritpal's 2022 election affidavit says he completed class 12 in Moga and followed that up with a diploma in diesel mechanics. The affidavit shows a number of criminal charges against Amritpal. In 2020, in a case filed in Amritsar, he was booked for vandalising statues near the Golden Temple. A year later, he was booked along with one Nimratjeet Singh for threatening a music producer for 'posting obscene content' in Barnala. And in Ludhiana the following year, he was booked for threatening state Congress leader Raja Warring. Warring had raised objections to a picture of Amritpal Mehron along with Khadoor Sahib MP and radical leader Amritpal Singh brandishing weapons. Kaur's murder has caused a stir in Punjab, and put the state police department on high alert. Her decomposed body was found Wednesday evening in an abandoned car in the parking area of Adesh University in Bathinda, three days after she left her house to attend a promotional event, but later went missing. The 30-year-old influencer, had an account under the name 'Kamal Kaur Bhabhi' on Instagram with 3.87 lakh followers. She operated a YouTube channel called 'Funny Bhabhi TV', which had 2.7 lakh subscribers and another account on facebook with 7.7 lakh followers. Kaur, who is originally from Uttar Pradesh, has been living in Punjab for several years. Sources said the accused also wanted her to remove the surname 'Kaur' from her social media handles.
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Booked for Punjabi influencer murder, Sikh vigilante outfit chief: Who is Amritpal Mehron?
A video surfaced online Friday, days after the murder of social media influencer Kanchan Kumari alias Kamal Kaur 'Bhabhi' in Bathinda in Punjab. In it, Amritpal Singh Mehron, who claims to be the head of a radical vigilante group, said Kamal Kaur was killed by two of his associates due to 'immoral and vulgar content' posted by her on social media. He alleged that this content defamed Sikh values and mocked her use of the surname 'Kaur'. He also warned others creating 'objectionable content' to refrain from such activities. On Friday, the police arrested two of the accused in connection with the Punjabi influencer's murder. Amritpal is currently absconding, the police said. Amritpal, 30, is a bike mechanic from the Mehron village of Moga district. In the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections, he contested the Tarn Taran seat on a Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) ticket. He managed only 6,363 votes, and his security deposit was forfeited. He later parted ways with the party. Dilbagh Singh Patti, the senior vice-president of SAD (Amritsar) in Tarn Taran, said Amritpal had left their party to form his own outfit. Amritpal outfit is called 'Qaum De Rakhe (protectors of the community)'. Sources said it is a radical vigilante group aligned with the Nihang Sikh traditions, which has been engaged in 'moral policing'. Nihang is an order of Sikh warriors, characterised by blue robes, arms such as swords and spears, and decorated turbans surmounted by steel quoits. Not much is known about Amritpal's personal life, but his social media presence is active. He operates two Instagram accounts with 351,000 and 398,000 followers respectively and frequently posts videos condemning 'obscene' content. He also routinely shared his views on Sikh traditions and culture. In his latest video, posted on Friday, Mehron said another content creator, Deepika Luthra, would meet Kaur's 'fate' if she does not stop posting 'vulgar content'. Luthra told the media she had deleted the 'objectionable' videos, apologised to Amritpal, and feared for the safety of her family. She said she would approach the police for protection. Amritpal's 2022 election affidavit says he completed class 12 in Moga and followed that up with a diploma in diesel mechanics. The affidavit shows a number of criminal charges against Amritpal. In 2020, in a case filed in Amritsar, he was booked for vandalising statues near the Golden Temple. A year later, he was booked along with one Nimratjeet Singh for threatening a music producer for 'posting obscene content' in Barnala. And in Ludhiana the following year, he was booked for threatening state Congress leader Raja Warring. Warring had raised objections to a picture of Amritpal Mehron along with Khadoor Sahib MP and radical leader Amritpal Singh brandishing weapons. Kaur's murder has caused a stir in Punjab, and put the state police department on high alert. Her decomposed body was found Wednesday evening in an abandoned car in the parking area of Adesh University in Bathinda, three days after she left her house to attend a promotional event, but later went missing. The 30-year-old influencer, had an account under the name 'Kamal Kaur Bhabhi' on Instagram with 3.87 lakh followers. She operated a YouTube channel called 'Funny Bhabhi TV', which had 2.7 lakh subscribers and another account on facebook with 7.7 lakh followers. Kaur, who is originally from Uttar Pradesh, has been living in Punjab for several years. Sources said the accused also wanted her to remove the surname 'Kaur' from her social media handles.
