Finance Minister accords anticipatory approval to amend 0.6percent withholding tax rate on banking transactions to 0.3percent in respect of non-filers till 29th February 2016

Islamabad, January 30, 2016 (PPI-OT): Finance Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar as Chairman, ECC here on Saturday accorded anticipatory approval to amend 0.6% withholding tax rate on banking transactions to 0.3% in respect of non-filers till 29th February 2016. It may be mentioned that the Income Tax Amendment Act 2016 empowers the Federal Government to amend the rate of 0.6% on the recommendation of the ECC.

The Minister also gave approval for extending the date for filing of tax returns by Individuals and Associations of Persons till 29th February. In addition the last date for filing of tax returns by traders under the Income Tax (second amendment)/Act, 2016, the last date has also been specified as 29th February 2016. The decisions have been taken to provide maximum facilitation to taxpayers.

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Ishaq Dar chairs high level meeting to review progress on development projects in power and petroleum sector

Islamabad, January 30, 2016 (PPI-OT): Finance Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar here on Saturday chaired a high level meeting to review progress on development projects in the power and petroleum sector, including those which are being undertaken under CPEC.

Federal Minister for Water and Power, Khwaja Muhammad Asif, Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Secretary to Prime Minister, Fawad Hasan Fawad, senior officials of the Ministries of Finance, Water and Power, P and NR, PPIB, NEPRA and NTDC attended the meeting.

The meeting was briefed about the progress on hydel, gas, wind, solar and coal based projects being undertaken for enhancing power generation. The meeting was also informed about the financials arrangements and the timelines being followed in respect of each project. The meeting simultaneously reviewed arrangements concerning provision of gas for power projects and development of the required infrastructure.

The meeting was apprised that a large number of projects in both power and petroleum sector would be completed by December 2017, which would add up to 10,000 MW to the national grid and help resolve the problem of energy shortage. The Finance Minister on this occasion emphasized that timelines for different projects should be strictly followed. He also desired for update on the progress of these projects on regular basis.

For more information, contact:
Haji Ahmed Malik
Principal Information Officer
Press Information Department (PID)
Tel: +92-51-9252323 and +92-51-9252324
Fax: +92-51-9252325 and +92-51-9252326
Email: piopid@gmail.com

Gilani urges Pak PM to address Kashmiri refugees’ problems

Srinagar, January 30, 2016 (PPI-OT): In occupied Kashmir, the Chairman of All Parties Hurriyet Conference (G), Syed Ali Gilani, has appealed to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mohammad Nawaz Sharif, to address the problems being faced by Kashmiri refugees residing in Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Syed Ali Gilani in a statement in Srinagar said that lakhs of Indian troops deployed in the territory were committing massive human rights violations and over 75,000 people had migrated to Azad Jammu and Kashmir during the last 25 years.

He said that most of the migrated people belonged to Jammu region and their lands and properties had been occupied by communal forces. He said that most of the Kashmiri refugees living in Pakistan and the Azad Jammu and Kashmir were facing difficulties and the governments of Pakistan and the Azad Jammu and Kashmir should resolve their problems. Syed Ali Gilani appealed to political and military leadership of Pakistan to rehabilitate the Kashmiri refugees on priority basis so that they could lead their lives with honour and dignity.

Meanwhile, the Tehreek-e-Hurriyet Jammu and Kashmir in a statement issued in Srinagar denounce the arrest of Nazir Ahmad Rather of Bandipora and described it the frustration of the authorities In a statement issued in Srinagar, it said that the authorities were using cheap tactics to harass the innocent people of Kashmir. He added that Nazir Ahmad Rather was a driver and his only crime was that he had provided vehicle on rent to the Tehreek-e-Hurriyet for participating in a Seerat conference.

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3 months on, police clueless on disappeared civilians

Srinagar, January 30, 2016 (PPI-OT): In occupied Kashmir, the families of three residents of Kupwara district who were subjected to custodial disappearance by Indian troops continue to remain worried about the safety of their dear ones as the police has failed to trace their whereabouts despite the passage of over two months.

The civilians, Ghulam Jeelani Khatana, Mir Hussain Khatana and Ali Muhammad Sheikh, remain missing since November 17, last year, after they were taken along by a soldier of Indian Army. The family members said that police had done nothing to trace the disappeared.

After a week-long wait, the families grew suspicious and approached the Army unit to know their whereabouts. However, the Army denied its involvement in their disappearance. On November 28, the families approached a court which directed police to file a case. The 19-year-old visually-impaired Hashia, who is Ghulam Jeelani Khatana’s daughter, is desperately waiting to hear a word about her father. “I can’t see, but I can recognize my father’s voice from a distance, even in a crowd,” she said.

The family of Mir Hussain Khatana is equally worried about his well-being. Saleema Begum, the wife of Mir Hussain, said, “Thoughts about my husband’s safety and burdens of managing the household things is killing me.” The family of Ali Muhammad Sheikh – the sole breadwinner of this family – is equally dejected and shocked.

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Kashmir Media Service
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