Latest news with #Rs10
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Beed cop booked for ‘harassment' over dowry
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: A police constable posted at the Beed headquarters and three of his family members have been booked for allegedly harassing his wife over a dowry demand of Rs10 lakh. The Pimpalner police registered an FIR based on a complaint filed by the woman, who alleged that the abuse began just months after her marriage in Dec 2020. According to her statement, her husband and in-laws subjected her to verbal abuse and frequent beatings, pressuring her to bring money from her parents to buy a car. The FIR states that her husband allegedly told her he had been "forced into the marriage" and "did not want to stay" with her. The woman also accused her in-laws and extended family of instigating quarrels and blaming her for giving birth to a girl in Nov 2023. She said she was regularly denied food and assaulted. She alleged that on May 15, her husband and his family came to her maternal home in Gunda Wadi village and assaulted her and her parents while demanding Rs10 lakh. "He told us we could not take any action because he is a police officer," the complaint states.
Business Recorder
19 hours ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
PPA opposes ‘draconian powers' to tax officials
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Poultry Association (PPA) has expressed serious concern that tax authorities are being given dangerous and draconian powers which may be misused to harass the formal tax paying sector. According to a communication of PPA to top policy makers and budget makers on Thursday, Finance Bill 2025-26 proposed to grant to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) officers dangerous and excessive powers: (i) Section 11E enables tax assessment and recovery based on suspicion without proper investigation. (ii) Section 14AE allows arbitrary seizure of business premises and property without adequate safeguards. (iii) Section 32B empowers private auditors with quasi-legal authority over businesses. (iv) Section 33 introduces 10-year prison terms and Rs10 million fines for broadly defined 'tax fraud' that business errors are likely to be classified. (v) Section 37AA authorizes arrest without warrant based on mere suspicion of tax fraud- a power that invites abuse and harassment. (vi) Section 37B permits 14-day detention of businesspersons, extendable through magistrates. (vii) Overriding the principle of client/advisor relationship, Section 58C will grant the FBR access to the offices of tax advisers and firms where discrepancies in returns are suspected. Even criminals are given ample opportunity to be heard and no criminal is arrested without warrant. The Federation must not just make verbal criticism; they should call the formal sector, which contributes more than 60% to the GDP, to close down their offices until the proposed powers are undertaken/set aside/withdrawn, PPA added. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Sahulat Bazaars to offer year-round relief
The Punjab government has begun preparations for establishing 100 Sahulat Bazaars across the province, aiming to curb inflation and ensure consistent access to essential goods at notified prices. Announced as a Special Chief Minister's Initiative under the Fiscal Year 202526 Budget, the project carries an allocation of Rs10 billion. Unlike previous short-term Ramazan markets, the Sahulat Bazaars will be permanent, purpose-built marketplaces established in every tehsil. These facilities will provide essential food and household items at government-notified prices in regulated environments designed to ensure the dignity and convenience for all consumers. Construction is under way at 13 sites, including Jaranwala, Pattoki, Sharaqpur, Muzaffargarh, Okara, Khanewal, Narowal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Chunian, Wazirabad, Bhalwal, Noshehra Virkan, Jalalpur and Burewala. The government has already disbursed Rs3.4 billion for the initial projects, which are expected to become operational by August. The initiative also includes mobile markets, currently active at 15 locations across Lahore, aimed at improving access in densely populated areas while curbing encroachment and price gouging. Additional measures include free home delivery services, Sahulat Stalls offering prices below official rates, solar-powered bazaars, and upgrades to 36 existing facilities. Punjab Sahulat Bazaars Authority (PSBA) chief Naveed Rafaqat Ahmad affirmed that the government is treating the project with "unmatched urgency". The target is to have all 100 bazaars operational before Ramazan next year. To accelerate the rollout, Secretary of Planning, Coordination and Monitoring Dr Ehsan Bhutta convened a meeting to enforce tight deadlines for concept paper submissions and early funding releases. Divisional commissioners across Punjab have been instructed to fast-track land identification and resolve implementation hurdles. The PSBA, an autonomous authority, is overseeing the execution of the initiative. Officials say the programme represents a shift toward institutionalised price relief. Meanwhile, the Punjab Food Authority (PFA) launched legal action against a poultry supplier after intercepting a vehicle carrying dead chickens intended for sale in Lahore, seizing over 1,800 kilogrammes of diseased and unfit meat, officials said on Wednesday. The operation by a PFA enforcement team took place in the Chak Dhera area on the outskirts of the city. A loader rickshaw transporting dead poultry was stopped and an FIR was registered against the supplier. As part of a crackdown on unsafe practices, a safety task force also inspected more than 217,000kg of meat from 53 suppliers and warehouses in Tollinton Market. Meat prepared from birds suffering from various diseases was found and discarded on the spot. "Preparing meat from dead or sick birds is a serious crime," said the PFA director general, adding that investigations are under way to identify those involved in the supply chain of tainted poultry. He said the PFA is committed to aligning the meat processing and transportation with international standards. He said the authority is employing all available resources to dismantle what he termed an adulteration mafia operating in Punjab. He urged the people to purchase poultry that is slaughtered in their presence to ensure health safety and to report violations on the PFA helpline.
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Second PIA privatisation effort moves ahead with five bidders
Listen to article The government's renewed push to privatise Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has drawn interest from eight parties, with five formally submitting pre-qualification documents ahead of Thursday's deadline, the Privatisation Commission confirmed. Among those to file documentation is a consortium comprising Lucky Cement, Hub Power Company, Kohat Cement, and Metro Ventures. A separate group including Arif Habib Corporation, Fatima Fertilizer, The City School, and Lake City Holdings has also expressed interest in acquiring a majority stake in the loss-making national carrier. Airblue and Fauji Fertilizer Company have submitted their documents independently, while expressions of interest were also received from Augment Securities, Serene Air, Bahria Foundation, Mega Holdings, and Equitas, who have indicated joint intent to participate. Read More: Deadline to bid for PIA extended to June 19 Of the eight interested parties, five met the June 19 submission deadline for pre-qualification. These entities will now be granted access to a virtual data room as part of the next phase of due diligence. The commission said that all submissions will be assessed against pre-defined eligibility and financial criteria. Buy-side due diligence has already commenced, with officials optimistic that the process may attract credible bidders in contrast to previous attempts. This marks the government's second attempt at privatising PIA after a failed bid last year. A 2024 auction had attracted just one bid — Rs10 billion ($36 million) from real estate developer Blue World City for a 60 per cent stake. The offer fell well below the government's floor price of Rs85 billion ($305 million) and was subsequently rejected. Also Read: Govt tightens PIA bidding terms This year, the Privatisation Commission reopened the process in April, inviting expressions of interest from both domestic and international investors for a majority stake ranging from 51 to 100 per cent in PIA. The initial deadline of June 3, 2025 was later extended to June 19 to accommodate prospective buyers. In an effort to ensure only financially viable parties move forward, the government introduced stricter qualification criteria for this round and explicitly barred provincial governments from participating in the bidding. The sale of PIA is expected to be Pakistan's first major privatisation in nearly two decades. Reviving loss-making state-owned enterprises such as PIA is a key structural benchmark under the country's ongoing $7 billion bailout programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Musiri RDO killed in accident on NH
1 2 Trichy: Aramutha Devasena, 55, revenue divisional officer (RDO) of Musiri, was killed in a road accident on Thursday after her official vehicle collided with a govt bus and rammed an earthmover on Trichy-Karur national highway (NH) on the outskirts of the city. Condoling the death, chief minister M K Stalin announced that the govt would disburse Rs1 crore as personal accident insurance cover, and Rs10 lakh to the RDO's family members as solatium from his public relief fund (CMPRF) and another Rs5 lakh under the family security fund. Police said Devasena was travelling in her official vehicle to Trichy city to participate in a govt event. The vehicle was driven by her official driver V Prabakar, 51. Around 11.45am, as the vehicle was approaching Kadiyakurichi near Jeeyapuram, it collided with a TNSTC bus coming in the opposite direction. Driver Prabakar lost control of the vehicle and it further rammed an earthmover parked on the left side of the highway for repair work. Eyewitness said the speeding govt vehicle came to a sudden halt after ramming the heavy machinery. The RDO succumbed to head injuries on the spot, with her body stuck in the mangled remains of the vehicle. Driver Prabakaran sustained severe injuries and was rushed to Trichy MGMGH. Locals said that the accident spot was one of the widest stretches of the accident-prone Trichy-Karur NH, as vehicles utilise such spacious stretches to accelerate and overtake. Around 32km-long stretch of Trichy-Karur NH81 is one of the top 100 accident-prone roads identified by road safety and state transport authority of the govt. In 2024, the stretch recorded 112 accidents and 44 fatalities. Citing the RDO's death, locals asked the district administration to widen the narrow highway. Jeeyapuram police have registered a case.
