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  • Business community seeks budgetary reforms to promote industry growth

    Business community seeks budgetary reforms to promote industry growth

    The business community has called for comprehensive reforms and increased facilities in the upcoming 2024-25 budget to promote industry growth by broadening the tax base.

    According to APP, Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawri, President of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), revealed that consultations with the business community have concluded, and their budget proposals have been submitted to the relevant ministry.

    Bakhtawri emphasised the importance of incorporating these proposals into the Federal Budget 2024-25, stating that their implementation would address critical trade and industry issues, enhance business growth, improve government tax revenue, and aid in economic revival.

    He noted that, as in previous years, the ICCI had forwarded its budget recommendations to the Finance Ministry with the expectation of their acceptance.

    He urged the government to engage with the business community and form joint committees at the district level to expand the tax net.

    He also stressed the necessity of enforcing penalties against tax evaders. Furthermore, Bakhtawri suggested that the National Tax Number (NTN) should be mandatory for opening bank accounts and for property and vehicle transactions.

    In a related statement, Karim Aziz, Chairman of the FPCCI Capital Office, echoed these sentiments. Aziz indicated that the chamber had proposed tax reforms to broaden the tax base, aiming to rejuvenate the country’s businesses. He urged the government to consult with all stakeholders in preparing the federal budget.

    Aziz confirmed that the FPCCI had finalised its budget proposals and submitted them to the relevant ministries, advocating for their inclusion in the Federal Budget 2024-25. He reiterated that implementing these proposals would address key trade and industry challenges, facilitate business growth, boost tax revenue, and support economic revival.

    He called for a reformed and simplified taxation system developed in consultation with genuine stakeholders. Aziz also highlighted the need for the upcoming budget to focus on ease of doing business, which would attract much-needed investment and stimulate economic growth.

    Additionally, Aziz stressed the need to enhance exports, reduce imports, and incentivise expatriates to invest in Pakistan.

    The business community’s recommendations reflect a concerted effort to foster an environment conducive to industrial and economic growth, urging the government to consider these proposals seriously in the upcoming budget.

  • Gandapur once again has meltdown about Governor Kundi

    Gandapur once again has meltdown about Governor Kundi

    Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Ali Amin Gandapur once again used ugly words while lashing out at Governor KP Faisal Karim Kundi during talks with journalists saying, “You [Kundi] yourself are a thief, so is your leader. To hell with your alliance.”

    “He [Kundi] has crossed the limits many times and uses my name often so I call out his name and he gets some views on TikTok,” exclaimed the CM KP.

    Gandapur used uncouth language during the tirade against the PPP leader and stated, “You’re worth nothing, I can kick you out of the Governor House today.”

  • ‘Agar ye yari dosti team hai to mein kiyo bahir hu’; Imam shuts down Ahmed Shehzad

    ‘Agar ye yari dosti team hai to mein kiyo bahir hu’; Imam shuts down Ahmed Shehzad

    Former opener Ahmed Shahzad criticized national cricket team skipper Babar Azam for allegedly including his friends in the squad.

    On the YouTube channel ‘Harna Mana Hai’ there was a debate between national team opener Ahmed Shahzad and Imam ul Haq over Babar Azam’s captaincy, in which Imam was seen defending Babar while Ahmad Shahzad took exceptions with his decisions.

    Shehzad alleged that Babar Azam included his friends in the team who were not performing to which Imad replied, “I am counted among Babar’s friends, but I am out of the T20 team.”

    Talking about Babar’s captaincy, Imam said, “The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) made him captain again. He did not ask the board to give me leadership duties. The authority to give and take captaincy is with the board.”

    Program host Tabish Hashmi asked, “Imad Wasim and Mohammad Amir are not friends with Babar Azam, everyone knows, but they are back in the playing XI today.” To which Shahzad replied, “They are playing because both have connections with the board’s top officials. They invited Imad and Amir back to the team.”

    The Pakistan team is currently playing in the T20 World Cup in the USA.

  • Tokyo govt to launch dating app to boost birth rate

    Tokyo govt to launch dating app to boost birth rate

    Japan’s capital will launch its own dating app as early as this summer as part of government efforts to boost the plunging national birth rate, a Tokyo official said Tuesday.

    Users will be required to submit documentation proving they are legally single and sign a letter stating they are willing to get married.

    Stating one’s income is common on Japanese dating apps, but Tokyo will require a tax certificate slip to prove the annual salary.

    “We learned that 70 percent of people who want to get married aren’t actively joining events or apps to look for a partner,” a Tokyo government official in charge of the new app told AFP.

    “We want to give them a gentle push to find one,” he said.

    It’s not unusual for municipalities to organise matchmaking events in Japan, where births dropped to a new low in 2023, but it is rare for a local government to develop an app.

    An interview will be required to confirm a user’s identity as part of the registration process for the Tokyo app, which has been on a test run for free since late last year.

    Many social media users expressed scepticism over the plans, with one saying, “is this something the government should be doing with our tax?”

    Others wrote they were interested as they would feel safer.

    Last year Japan recorded more than twice as many deaths as new babies.

    Births fell for the eighth consecutive year to 758,631, a drop of 5.1 percent, preliminary government data showed. The number of deaths stood at 1,590,503.

    The nation is facing growing labour shortages, and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has promised policies including financial aid for families, easier childcare access and more parental leave.

  • Kya Ali Sethi bhee Indian elections contest kar rahay thay?

    Kya Ali Sethi bhee Indian elections contest kar rahay thay?

    Ali Sethi’s doppelganger may have lost the election in India, but the singer is winning the internet with his hilarious response.

    Yesterday Sethi shared a screenshot of an election contestant on Instagram and captioned it, “Apparently I lost some votes in India.”
    The screenshot has gone viral on social media.


    India’s elections, which took place from April 19 to June 1, are now being tallies. The results are generating widespread interest and media coverage, both in India and around the world.
    Here are some comments with fans joking about Ali Sethi being an Indian citizen and asked him when wouldhe perform in New Delhi.

  • Kiran Rao reveals how advertising helped her survive in Mumbai

    Kiran Rao reveals how advertising helped her survive in Mumbai

    Indian director Kiran Rao was recently appeared as a guest on Cyrus Says podcast where she revealed that she didn’t make enough money to support herself in Mumbai even though she worked as an assistant director on many feature films including ‘Lagaan’.

    She also talked about how an advertising job provided her the money she needed to live in the city.

    She said, “I worked in the gig economy once. Worried about whether my money would survive and if I could pay the rent, I was going to find a job, work for as long as it paid, and then look for another one.”
    When the host asked about working on the film ‘Lagaan’, implying that it should have paid well, Kiran replied, “Feature films didn’t pay. It was advertising that paid me the money to live in Mumbai. With Lagaan, the first assistant director (AD) system kind of started coming in. Advertising gigs helped me afford super expensive things like a computer and a car.”

    Kiran, ex-wife of Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan and ‘Laapataa Ladies’ filmmaker, won hearts on social media and among fans with her film about two lost brides. Her previous films include ‘Dhobi Ghat’ (2010), ‘Talaash’ (2012).

  • No ban on reporting, court assures journalists

    No ban on reporting, court assures journalists

    Islamabad High Court (IHC) has clarified that court reporting is not banned and assured journalists that they can do it but must avoid “irresponsible reporting.”

    The IHC, in a significant move, announced its stance during a hearing of a case challenging the petition of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority’s (Pemra) ban on broadcasting court proceedings on news channels.

    IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq said in a statement that media organizations are free to cover court proceedings but should avoid irresponsible reporting.

    Pemra submitted its reply during the hearing.

    Meanwhile, the court asked additional attorney general about the potential involvement of federal government in the matter. “This is Pemra’s matter, not the federal government’s,” he responded.

    Barrister Umer Ijaz Gilani, one of the petitioner’s counsel, stated that Pemra’s law does not restrict reporting on pending cases.


    After that, IHC adjourned the hearing till June 11.

  • Complaint registered against ‘bad mannered’ Ambani wedding in Italy

    Complaint registered against ‘bad mannered’ Ambani wedding in Italy

    Ananat Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s pre-wedding events are making waves on social media but locals and police in Portofino were enraged by the loud music and bad manners on display by the wedding party.

    While the wedding is set to take place in July, Mukesh Ambani, the richest man in Asia, booked the whole Italian village of Portofino and took over 800 guests there for a four-day cruise.

    While the guests must have enjoyed the luxury, locals, and tourists who were stopped from accessing the main attractions were less than thrilled and took to social media to voice their disappointment.

    “Many billionaires have come to party here, but no one has ever taken away access to the main part of the city. Who do they think they are? They can’t just come in and throw their party and make it difficult for people to do their daily chores,” Express Tribune quoted an angry local.

    Another News source reported that a number of complaints were registered to the police as the cruise pulled into the port of Genoa and pumped out loud music until dawn.
    The manager of the Puny restaurant in Genoa refused to serve lobster sandwiches to the party-goers despite an offer of 10,000 euros, stating that he found their behaviour to be “offensive, bad-mannered and incorrect.”


    “I have my customers and an illustrious history to protect,” added Andrea Miroli, the manager at the restaurant.


    The pre-wedding celebration had a long list of guests, including Shah Rukh Khan, Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor, Jeff Bezos, and world-renowned Italian opera singer Andrea Bocelli.

  • Gold price in Pakistan drops by Rs400 per tola despite global surge

    Gold price in Pakistan drops by Rs400 per tola despite global surge

    On Wednesday, the price of gold in Pakistan saw a decrease, with 24-karat gold being sold at Rs240,600 per tola, marking a Rs400 drop per tola. This decline in gold prices reflects a broader trend tied to the reduced purchasing power of consumers.

    The Karachi Sarafa Association reported that the price of 24-karat gold per 10 grammes also fell, reaching Rs206,276, a decrease of Rs343. Similarly, 22-karat gold experienced a drop, now priced at Rs189,086 per 10 grammes.

    While gold prices declined, silver prices remained stable in the domestic market. The price of 24-karat silver stood unchanged at Rs2,820 per tola and Rs2,418 per 10 grammes.

    On the international stage, spot gold traded near $2,331 an ounce, a modest increase of $2.5 or 0.11 per cent from the previous session, reflecting the dynamic nature of global precious metal markets.

    The sustained decrease in local gold prices, despite global fluctuations, underscores the economic challenges faced by consumers in Pakistan, influencing their ability to invest in gold.

  • Cillian Murphy returns as Tommy Shelby in ‘Peaky Blinders’ film

    Cillian Murphy returns as Tommy Shelby in ‘Peaky Blinders’ film


    Cillian Murphy, Oscar-winning actor who played Thomas Shelby in the superhit series Peaky Blinders, will star in a new Netflix movie based on the show. The film, also called Peaky Blinders, will be directed by Tom Harper and produced in partnership with BBC Films. Filming is set to start later this year, but the plot and additional cast members have not been announced yet.


    Murphy said, “It seems like Tommy Shelby wasn’t finished with me. … It is very gratifying to be recollaborating with Steven Knight and Tom Harper on the film version of ‘Peaky Blinders.’ This is one for the fans.”


    Tom Harper, who is directing the upcoming ‘Peaky Blinders’ film, said: “When I first directed ‘Peaky Blinders’ over 10 years ago, we didn’t know what the series would become, but we did know that there was something in the alchemy of the cast and the writing that felt explosive. ‘Peaky’ has always been a story about family – and so it’s incredibly exciting to be reuniting with Steve and Cillian to bring the movie to audiences across the world on Netflix.”
    Steven Knight, who produced the ‘Peaky Blinders’ television series, wrote the film’s script and is producing it alongside Guy Heeley, Cillian Murphy, and Caryn Mandabach.

    For the role he played of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the US physicist who designed the atomic bomb, Murphy received his first Oscar for Best Actor, closing a dazzling awards season that also saw him win a BAFTA, a Golden Globe, and other honors.