Latest news with #Rs3.3
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Rs7.5b agri budget neglects research, seed development
With the demands of farmers concerning seed development and research remaining unheard, the Sindh government has proposed expenditure of over Rs7.535 billion on agriculture, in addition to another sum of Rs3.5 billion under the head of foreign project assistance (FPA), in fiscal 2025-26. More than Rs3.3 billion have been earmarked for water courses related projects as less than eight per cent of the provincial budget is going to be spent on research and below one per cent on the seed development. The farmers' training will also see a minuscule funding of Rs87 million as challenges ranging from efficient water use to climate resistant farming lay ahead. The Sindh Agriculture, Supply and Prices Department is distributing its development budget in its nine sub-sectors. The wing responsible for overseeing the supply of commodities, regulating prices, checking weights and taking measurements will also get a paltry amount of Rs69.28 million to procure mobile testing unit for inspection. "With water being scarce and Pakistan being one of the least efficient users of water in agriculture, there is no attention to correcting that or investing in high efficiency systems like drip," commented Syed Mahmood Nawaz Shah, the acting President of Sindh Abadgar Board. He also pointed out that the availability of certified seed in the market is around 45 per cent but the provincial government remains indifferent to the situation. "Again, there is no way forward or a strategy." The Rs150 million seed development programme will get only a small sum of Rs50 million in the upcoming financial year. The programme is also supposed to conduct capacity development of the agriculturists. The Rs7.535 billion outlay consists of allocations of Rs six billion for 35 ongoing schemes and Rs1.5 billion for eight new and unapproved projects. Research The government plans to spend Rs89.7 million on bio saline agriculture research and development phase-II; Rs100 million on upgrade of horticulture research centre in Mirpurkhas; Rs125 million on rice research in Larkana; and Rs62.5 million on varietal development of wheat through speed breeding. The two unapproved schemes include bio saline, rehabilitation and resilient initiative and climate resilient crops seed research with the allocations of Rs50 million and Rs25 million, respectively. Meanwhile, after the water management projects, the agriculture mechanisation sector receives the largest funds from the provincial government with Rs2.166 billion being pledged for the next fiscal. Eight ongoing and one new schemes of the Agriculture Extension wing will receive Rs1.042 billion from the Sindh government besides a hefty injection of Rs3.5 billion under the FPA. The sector's Sindh Water and Agriculture Transformation (SWAT) project, whose total cost surpasses Rs142.28 billion, funded primarily from the credit received from the World Bank with the Sindh government's contribution of only Rs23 billion, will get Rs200 million in 2025-26. Likewise, the Rs3.4 billion project to transform the Indus basin with climate resilient agriculture and water management will be provided Rs316 million by the government in the upcoming financial year. The government plans to spend Rs198.5 million to establish a new fruit and vegetable market in Mehar taluka of Dadu district but the project is still categorised as unapproved. The supply of laser levelling equipment on rental basis to farmers will be apportioned Rs220.7 million with the project's total outlay being at Rs300 million. The government is also assisting the date farmers to set up date processing, packaging and pasting plant at the cost of Rs628 million. Rs254 million, or half of the sanctioned funds, will be released next year.
Express Tribune
22-04-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
All the taxes and tariffs you pay on cellular services
Listen to article The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has released a comprehensive breakdown of current mobile service tariffs in the country, including charges for voice calls, data, and SMS. The disclosure comes amid growing public concern over high usage costs and taxes. According to PTA, the basic 'Pay As You Go' (PayG) tariffs—applicable when users are not subscribed to any packages—range between Rs3.2 and Rs3.6 per minute for voice calls. Data usage is billed at Rs3.3 to Rs5 per megabyte, while SMS costs between Rs2.15 and Rs2.5 per message. However, mobile users face a significant tax burden. A Rs100 card recharge effectively credits only Rs86.96 due to a 15% Withholding Tax (WHT). In addition, a 19.5% General Sales Tax (GST) is applied to each individual usage—calls, data sessions, and messages—amounting to an estimated Rs14.19. The combined tax load on a single top-up reaches Rs27.23. PTA clarified that GST is also applicable to all bundles, offers, and subscription-based services. The tax policy applies equally to both prepaid and postpaid customers, covering nearly all segments of mobile users. From a regulatory standpoint, PTA requires operators with Significant Market Power (SMP)—currently Jazz—to obtain prior approval before raising tariffs or launching new packages. These operators must submit detailed proposals, including justifications, consumer impact assessments, and industry comparisons. In contrast, non-SMP operators like Ufone, Telenor, and Zong have the autonomy to set tariffs independently, though all providers are mandated to inform customers at least seven days before implementing any price changes. While PTA did not disclose the date of the most recent tariff revision, the regulator affirmed that any proposed changes by SMPs undergo a strict evaluation process, considering operational costs, inflationary pressures, and broader market trends.
Express Tribune
12-03-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Cabinet approves judicial officers' welfare fund
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa cabinet on Wednesday approved a draft bill for establishing Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Judicial Officers Welfare Fund. The fund upon creation is aimed at supporting the judicial officers in situations such as health emergencies, accidents, natural disasters and post-retirement needs. The 27th meeting of the provincial cabinet was held with Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur in the chair and attended by cabinet members, chief secretary, additional chief secretary, Senior Member Board of Revenue, administrative secretaries, and advocate general. It also approved a special grant of Rs667.500 million as payment for 150 Kanal land to Peshawar Development Authority for the construction of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Judicial Academy at Regi Model Town, Peshawar. The cabinet approved Rs9,934,000 as additional grant for the Peshawar High Court to purchase vehicle for the official use of the judges while relaxing the ban on purchase of vehicles. Relaxing the ban for Law, Parliamentary Affairs and Human Rights Department, the cabinet also approved the creation of posts of various cadres in the Ombudsman Secretariat. The chief minister directed acceleration of work on the establishment of car park near the buildings of the Peshawar High Court and the District Courts. The cabinet approved the draft amendment in Section-2 and 3 (sub-sections 1 to 4) of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (Appointment, Deputation, Posting/Transfer of Teachers, Instructors & Doctors) Regulatory Act, 2011. The amendment substitutes the words/term "union council" by "Educational Cluster" wherever appearing in the said Act. The cabinet also approved the draft notification for the establishment of Water & Sanitation Services Company, Haripur. It further approved the posting/appointment of Muhammad Rahman Afridi as Chief Executive Officer (BPS-20) for the Faculty of Paramedics & Allied Health Sciences. The cabinet approved a non-ADP Scheme of Rs310.696 million for the construction of auditorium in Abbottabad Public School. The cabinet approved allocation and release of Rs3.3 million to the Institute of Management Sciences. This fund has been provided as financial assistance to four students of IM Sciences whose startup 'Eagle Tasker', being the only startup from Pakistan, was chosen for the global finale for Hult Prize competition held in USA. The cabinet approved unfreezing of the ADP scheme titled "Establishment of Boys Campus of Model Institute Zamungkor in Peshawar". This scheme is aimed at extension of the institute with a cost of Rs492.755 million. In line with the Child Protection and Welfare Act 2010, ZamungKor was established at Peshawar in 2016 to cater to the needs of vulnerable and destitute children.
