Authorities start offloading fuel from Heng Tong 77

KARACHI: The authorities have started offloading fuel from Heng Tong 77, the cargo motor vessel that ran aground to find itself stuck at the Seaview beach in Karachi on July 19. “Of the 118 tonnes of oil, 15 tonnes have been offloaded,” a KPT source told BOL News, adding that the operation was being carried … Read more

Law-enforcement agencies jeopardise Sindh’s action plan to curb Covid

KARACHI: The lenient attitude of the law-enforcement agencies in the imposition of the lockdown is jeopardising the Sindh government’s efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus in the province. With Karachi’s Covid positivity rate reaching 30 per cent on Wednesday, the metropolis is seeing a sharp rise in coronavirus cases. “Over the last 24 hours, … Read more

Banks unlawfully deducting withholding tax on IT exports: KTBA

karachi tax bar

KARACHI: The Karachi Tax Bar Association (KTBA) on Wednesday said the banks are deducting withholding tax on export of software and IT-enabled services, which is unlawful, as this segment has been granted exemption. In a letter to Asim Ahmed, chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), the association said the banks have misunderstood Section … Read more

Chinese national injured in Karachi firing incident

KARACHI: A Chinese national received bullet injuries on Wednesday near the Gulbai Chowrangi of the Hawksbay area of Karachi. DIG South Javaid Akber told newsmen that two Chinese nationals were travelling in a car with their driver in the wee hours when unidentified assailants opened indiscriminate fire on them. The driver and one Chinese national … Read more

Businesses object to Sindh Govt’s new Covid-related SOPs

Businesses Across Sindh To Remain Closed On Fridays And Sundays

KARACHI: The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has objected to the enforcement of new standard operating procedures (SOPs) introduced by the Sindh government, and said the restrictions are denying the ease of doing business. FPCCI president Mian Nasser Hyatt Maggo demanded that the FPCCI’s nominees must be taken into Sindh’s task … Read more

Heng Tong 77 — the ticking time bomb on Karachi’s shores

KARACHI: The cargo motor vessel Heng Tong 77 that ran aground to find itself stuck at the Seaview beach in Karachi last Tuesday poses a serious threat to the marine lives and local residents. Moazzam Khan from the WWF-Pakistan, one of the leading marine experts in Pakistan, told BOL that in case of an oil … Read more

Pakistan, Korea sign deal to expand electric vehicles charging infrastructure

Electric vehicles

KARACHI: Zi Solar Pvt Ltd, a leading renewable energy solution provider in Pakistan, has entered into an exclusive partnership with Aeonus Co Ltd, a Korean global leader in renewable energy, to expand electric vehicles charging infrastructure, a statement said on Monday. The partnership will pave the way for the deployment of state-of-the-art Korean-manufactured electric vehicles … Read more

Govt urged for steps to manufacture solar panels in Pakistan

Solar power

KARACHI: The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (Unisame) has urged the government to initiate measures for the manufacturing of solar panels in Pakistan and facilitate big competent private sector parties to set up plants in collaboration with the Chinese counterparts, a statement said on Saturday. Unisame president Zulfikar Thaver said that one of the … Read more

Pakistan stocks likely to remain dull next week

Stocks remain range-bound over political turmoil

KARACHI: At the end of a dull and shortened week, analysts expect the stock market to remain range-bound to positive in the upcoming week, attributable to the beginning of the results season, which will keep specific companies in the limelight. “[The] exploration and production (E&P) scrips could perform well due to [the] higher international oil … Read more

Vaccination process halted as staff protest delay in salaries

To 'support emotional health' of frontline Covid responders Pakistan launches a mobile app

KARACHI: More than 300 staff members at the Karachi Expo vaccination centre staged a violent protest against delay in their salaries. A day ago, National Command Operation Center (NCOC) chief Asad Umar and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Faisal Sultan had urged the masses to get vaccinated to stem the … Read more

Tax collection from motor vehicle sales, registration surge 190% in FY21

fuel tax incentives

KARACHI: The collection of income tax from the sales and registration or transfer of motor vehicles registered an unprecedented growth of 190 per cent during the fiscal year 2020/21, mainly imposition of additional tax on the transfer of new motor cars without registration and uptick in the economic activities, sources said on Friday. According to … Read more

FBR asks ceramic tile retailers to install POS machines

Corporate tax office

KARACHI: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Thursday asked the retailers of ceramic and other varieties of tiles to install the Point of Sales (POS) machines to document their sales. A meeting was held at the Regional Tax Office (RTO) Karachi in which senior officials of the tax office and representatives of the All Pakistan … Read more

Govt’s decision to allow LNG import through private sector welcomed

LNG

ISLAMABAD: The All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) has said that allowing the private sector to import gas will ensure continued supply of cheap gas and may help the country escape the commodity crisis in the upcoming winters, a statement quoted an official, as saying, on Thursday. APCNGA Group Leader Ghiyas Paracha lauded the efforts of Special … Read more

KCCI proposes strict lockdown instead of business closure

Sindh lockdown

KARACHI: The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on Thursday recommended the government to impose a strict lockdown for the prevention of coronavirus spread instead of closing down businesses, a statement said. Businessmen Group (BMG) chairman and former president of the KCCI Zubair Motiwala and Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) president M … Read more

Sindh reports another 65 cases of Delta variant

Pakistan’s Covid-19 positive cases

KARACHI: Sindh has been badly hit by the Delta variant ahead of the Eid-ul-Azha festivities, as another 65 cases have been confirmed in the province in the last two days. The National Institute of Virology (NIV) at the Dr Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD), University of Karachi, has processed a total … Read more

Mobilink Microfinance Bank launches digital application

Mobilink

KARACHI: Pakistan’s largest digital bank, Mobilink Microfinance Bank Limited (MMBL) has launched ‘Dost’, a mobile-based application that provides a complete digital banking ecosystem to its customers and gives them hassle-free access to the financial services round-the-clock, a statement said on Thursday. The latest addition to the MMBL ecosystem reflects the bank’s relentless pursuit for innovation … Read more

BMG leadership, KCCI office-bearers condole Hussain death

Mamnoon Hussain

KARACHI: The leadership of the Businessmen Group (BMG) and the office-bearers of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) have expressed heartfelt grief and sorrow on the demise of former president Mamnoon Hussain who passed away after prolonged illness, a statement said on Thursday. BMG chairman Zubair Motiwala, vice-chairmen Tahir Khaliq, Haroon Farooki and … Read more

KPT setting up floating restaurant alongside Karachi navigable channel

KPT

KARACHI: The Karachi Port Trust (KPT) is establishing eco-friendly floating restaurants alongside the Karachi navigable channel with the objective to establish key attraction points for tourists, an official document revealed on Thursday. The KPT is in a process of engaging private firms to set up safe full service fine-dining modern floating restaurants alongside the navigable … Read more

Banks expected to post decline in profits in second quarter

State Bank of Pakistan

KARACHI: The profitability of banks is expected to slump for the second quarter of the calendar year 2021 ended June 30, 2021, owing to a decline in net interest income, analysts said on Thursday. The analysts at the Topline Securities said the earnings of banks may decline 19 per cent Year-on-Year (YoY) to Rs42 billion … Read more

Actors give their two cents on the killing of dogs due to handler’s negligence

  After a leaked CCTV footage of two German Shepherds attacking a lawyer, Mirza Akhtar, in an upmarket area of Karachi went viral on social media, people asked for justice and highly criticized the owners of the dogs. The German Shepherds left the lawyer bleeding and injured until the owner’s son intervened and controlled his … Read more

NPO to launch awareness drive on sustainable productivity

NPO

ISLAMABAD: The (NPO) has decided to launch the “National Productivity Movement” for creating awareness among various sectors. Addressing a seminar titled “National Productivity Movement” at the National Press Club (NPC), National Productivity Organisation (NPO) chief executive officer Muhammad Alamgir Chaudhry said that realising the sustainable productivity as an important factor for achieving competitiveness and target … Read more

Govt hailed for taking stakeholders in confidence for ease of doing business

Business in Pakistan

KARACHI: The businessmen have appreciated the decision of the Ministry of Industries and Production and the Ministry of Commerce to consult experts from various sectors and seek their input for the ease of doing business, a statement said. Unisame president Zulfikar Thaver said: “We are extremely happy that the government has decided to consult experts … Read more

FBR directs officials to file asset declarations

FBR

KARACHI: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Monday directed the officials of the Inland Revenue Service (IRS) and Pakistan Customs to submit their assets declaration, as was made mandatory for the government officials. The revenue board said some officers were not filing this mandatory declaration; therefore, non-compliance will be treated as a misconduct and … Read more

PSX holds gong ceremony to mark listing of Citi Pharma Limited

PSX holds gong ceremony to mark listing of Citi Pharma Limited

KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed another positive development, as the gong ceremony for the Initial Public Offering (IPO) of Citi Pharma Limited (CPL) was held on Monday, making it the first company to be listed at the bourse in 2022, a statement issued by the stock exchange said. The Citi Pharma was listed … Read more

Singapore investors urged to set up industries in CPEC Special Economic Zones

Singapore investors urged to set up industries in CPEC Special Economic Zones

ISLAMABAD: China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Chairman Lt-Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa (Retd) on Thursday invited the investors from Singapore to tap the huge opportunities being developed in the newly-established Special Economic Zones (SEZs) under CPEC. “I invite you to come in here for the win-win opportunity as we have a huge young human resource and … Read more

Health guidelines issued against naegleria after two deaths reported in Karachi

Health guidelines issued against naegleria after two deaths reported in Karachi

Medical and Health Services Department of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation KMC issued medical guidelines on Tuesday for prevention from naegleria after two deaths were reported due to the infection. The department asked citizens to take precautionary measures and avoid bathing in stagnant water accumulated after a leakage or rainwater. “Keep your head high while bathing … Read more

Sri Lanka pledges preferential treatment to Pakistani exporters

Sri Lanka pledges preferential treatment to Pakistani exporters

KARACHI: Sri Lanka has pledged to provide preferential trade treatment to Pakistani exporters and asked them to prepare a comparative study on the tariffs being offered to India, the apex trade body said on Wednesday. Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) President Mian Nasser Hyatt Maggo said that Sri Lanka has assured … Read more