Siasat Wala Blog

ISLAMABAD: Due to government incentives to IT and Information Technology Enabled Services (ITeS) industry Pakistan’s IT exports have grown to an estimated $2.9 billion, which includes Pakistani freelancers estimated to be earning more than $300 million annually. While talking to APP, Managing Director Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) Iftekhar Shah said, government incentives to the IT & ITeS industry include income tax exemption on IT exports till June 2019, 100% foreign ownership, 100% repatriation of capital and dividends, 3-year tax exemption for IT startups, and tax holiday for venture capital funds till June 2024. He said, Pakistani domestic market for IT & IT Products and services is also strong, estimated at over $ 500 million in annual revenue, and growing rapidly. Total annual revenue of Pakistan’s IT Industry is nearing $3.5 billion. Pakistan’s IT industry has demonstrated positive growth trends for the last four ten with 100% growth in export earnings, he ad...

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan State Oil partially suspended fuel supply to the national flag carrier Pakistan International Airlines on Thursday. A source within PSO informed Geo News that despite promises, payments were not being received from PIA, adding that supply was not completely stopped to ensure that passengers do not face difficulties. According to reports, PIA's debt with the Pakistan State Oil is increased by Rs 35 million per day, with total outstanding payments hovering around Rs 16 billion.  The problem of defaulting on payments stems back many years. In January, PSO had suspended fuel supply to PIA over the same issue, while in October 2016 PSO had complained that - after suspending supply - that PIA was paying Shell International Company in advance for fuel it was going to consume but when it came to PSO the attitude was different. 

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has criticised the federal government over its failure to remove illegal constructions from and stop deforestation on Margalla Hills. While hearing the suo motu notice on the issue on Wednesday, Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed expressed displeasure over the non-removal of illegal structures from the area, saying the elected representatives should resign if they cannot perform their duties properly. A two-member bench, comprising Justice Saeed and Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan, was hearing the case, during which Minister of State for Capital Administration and Development Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry was also present. During the hearing, Justice Saeed said the reason behind inaction on the issue will come to the fore once it is found out who the owners of illegal plazas at Margalla Hills were. Responding to the judge’s remarks, the counsel for Capital Development Authority, Munir Paracha, said they could not conduct an operation against illegal constructions as police wa...

ISLAMABAD: The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has recommended an increase in the price of petroleum products to the federal government, sources informed Geo News. An increase of Rs1.48 for petrol has been recommended by OGRA, while kerosene oil has a suggested increase of Rs15.35, high-speed diesel of Re1 and an increase of Rs13.15 has been recommended for ligh-speed diesel. If approved by the federal government, the prices will be applicable from December 1.

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Usman Dar has dismissed a report questioning his degree from Schiller International University. A report published in The News had said Britain’s Department of Education did not recognize the Schiller University which had issued a master’s degree to the PTI leader. Speaking to Geo News, Usman Dar said political opponents were carrying out propaganda against him. Dar said that Schiller University was an American, not British varsity with its main campus in Florida. He added that according to university record he had obtained his MBA degree from the London campus in 1997. According to the PTI leader, Schiller University also had campuses in Germany, Spain, France and other countries. Usman Dar told Geo News that he had obtained his B. Com from Punjab University. 

KARACHI: A meeting was held in CBC Board Room with SSP South Javed Akbar, SP Asad, SHO Darakshan and SHO Clifton. On behalf of citizens of CBC Vice President Aziz Suharwardy and eight elected Councillors participated along with 30 residents of DHA/CBC. Vice President Aziz Suharwardy appreciated the quick response of IGP A. D. Khawaja, DIG Azad Khan and SSP Javed Akbar in arranging the interaction with the community, the prime purpose being to effectively communicate security issues being faced by residents. SSP Javed Akbar gave a resume of steps being taken by the police to tackle the reported rise in criminal activity whereby snatching and muggings in Phase-5 and Phase-6 have been reported recently. The SSP informed the gathering that a force of 15 motorcycles had been created out of which 10 were standing outside CBC now. These had been deployed since last evening in areas where the muggings/snatching had occurred. Another five would be ready and deployed soon to tackle this mena...

KARACHI: The court on Monday rejected the police report that declared four suspects innocent for electrocuting a teenage couple to death.  Earlier in September, a teenage couple accused of violating the Pashtun ‘code of honour’ was also killed reportedly by being given electric shocks. The murders were executed by family members on the orders of a jirga of elders of the Mohmand tribe. The area where this atrocity played out was Ali Brohi Goth, a locality in the suburbs of Karachi that falls with the jurisdiction of the Ibrahim Hyderi police. As per information garnered from locals and police sources, the wheels of tribal ‘justice’ were set in motion on August 14, the day the country celebrated 70 years of its existence. The woman, 15-year-old Bakht Taj, daughter of Hikmat Khan, had allegedly attempted to elope with 17-year-old Rehman, son of Muhammad Afzal. Both families belong to the Safi sub-clan of the Mohmand tribe and reside in Ali Brohi Goth. On Independence Day, Taj di...

GUJRANWALA: More than 150 schoolchildren en route to Lahore from Abbottabad are stranded at a railway station in Gujranwala as the train track has been closed owing to countrywide protest against the Faizabad operation. According to the schoolchildren and their teachers, their mobile phone batteries have died due to which they cannot contact their families. The stranded people have also run out of money to buy food. The girls and boys — of grades between one and 10 — and teachers are from a private school in Lahore, who had gone for a trip to Abbottabad. They were on their way to Lahore today when their train was stopped in Gujranwala around noon due to protest on the railway track in Shahdara. The protest has led to suspension of train service between Rawalpindi and Lahore. The same train, in which the schoolchildren and teachers are stranded, has three grooms along with families, who were supposed to reach their respective destinations for their weddings. However, the railway a...

ISLAMABAD: A statutory regulatory order (SRO) authorising the deployment of the Pakistan Army in Islamabad by Ministry of Interior on Saturday evening was verified as true.  Rumours circulating on social media suggested that the SRO was false on the basis of typographical errors. However, the authenticity of the SRO was confirmed to Geo News by government sources. The first error which was identified in the SRO was the serial number, which ended with 2013, which points towards the year of issue.  The second error was made in the section which states which officials are to be sent a copy of the notification. Point three of 'Copy to' is addressed to DG Rangers Punjab, asking to ensure fool-proof security to the participants of the Eco Summit, which was held in 2013.

QUETTA: An explosion took place at the city’s Sariab Road on Saturday, police said. Reports suggest that the explosion took place near a bus stand. However, the nature of the explosion has not been ascertained yet, police said. Six people have been injured, rescue sources told Geo News. According to initial reports, the vehicle of a security official was targeted. This is a developing story and details will be added as reports are received.

KARACHI: PPP leader and former petroleum minister Dr Asim Hussain on Friday denied rumours of quitting the PPP and said that he is still part of the party and will continue to work under the leadership of Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. “I do not understand why these rumours are surfacing are surfacing. I am very much in Peoples Party. I believe in the leadership of Chairman Bilawal Bhutto and will continue to work under his leadership," said Asim. He further said that there is no problem with positions being changed within a political party. Elaborating further, the former minister said he believes in a federal party and in one Pakistan. Speaking in regards to leaving the country, he said he will not be leaving for a long period of time and will keep returning to the country. "My cases will continue and I will fight them," added Asim.  Asim left the country on Friday evening after sources said his name was struck of the Exit Control List (ECL) on Thursday follow...

PESHAWAR: An explosion reportedly targetting a police vehicle took place in Hayatabad, Peshawar on Friday morning, police said. A police vehicle is believed to have been the target of the explosion, which took place near Tatara Park, police said. The site of the explosion has been cordoned off and security forces are conducting a search operation in the area. This is a developing story