Day: May 3, 2023

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Blind Muezzin Robbed of Expensive Mobile Phone in Karachi Mosque [Video]

In a shocking incident, a blind Muezzin was robbed of his expensive mobile phone in Karachi’s Gulestan-e-Johar area. The culprit, who has yet to be identified, was caught on CCTV footage escaping on a motorcycle.

The victim was attending the mosque when the thief entered the premises. The thief took advantage of his blindness and stole his mobile phone, which was worth Rs. 1.6 lac. The thief also managed to withdraw Rs. 35,000 from the online account app installed on the mobile phone.

The incident was reported to the local police by the victim, who has filed a report at the Gulistan-i-Johar Police Station. The police has launched an investigation into the matter and are analyzing the CCTV footage to identify the culprit.

In the video footage that has emerged, the thief can be seen entering the mosque and approaching the victim. The thief then takes the mobile phone from the victim and swiftly escapes on a motorcycle waiting outside the mosque.

The incident has left the community in shock and has raised concerns about the safety and security of the local mosques. The police has assured the community that all necessary measures are being taken to ensure the safety of the public and everything will be done to bring the culprit to justice.

The incident has sparked outrage on social media, with many people expressing their sympathy for the victim and condemning the actions of the thief. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of remaining vigilant and taking necessary precautions to ensure personal safety and security.

Source: Pro Pakistani

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Oil Worth Rs. 12 Billion Being Smuggled Into Pakistan Every Month, Senate Body Told

A meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance was held under the chairmanship of Senator Saleem Mandviwalla at Parliament House today, where it was revealed that 25-30 million liters of oil was smuggled into Pakistan every day with smugglers earning around Rs. 10-12 billion per month from smuggling-related activities through at least five districts of Balochistan.

The committee members took notice of harassment against businesses and also discussed how raids were conducted against traders in Karachi and Lahore. One member said the seized goods are not declared completely and lamented that traders are under-declaring goods worth Rs. 100 million to as low as Rs. 50 million and no cases are being filed against them.

Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Asim Ahmad informed the committee that there is no truth to reports of revenue officers harassing Pashtun businessmen. Regarding smuggling, he said the tax machinery is working with various agencies to curb smuggling, and that many items have been seized at Karachi’s Bolton Market as a result of numerous anti-smuggling operations.

Senator Farooq Naek brought to the committee’s attention that US Dollars were being smuggled to Afghanistan on a large scale and sought an explanation from the Ministry of Finance in this regard. He enquired with the appropriate authorities about the logic behind the regular presence of smuggled items in local markets. Another member advocated for more stringent management of cross-border channels in order to control the flow of goods entering and exiting the country.

The committee was informed that 25-30 million liters of oil is smuggled into Pakistan every day. They were told that individuals/facilitators earned around Rs. 10-12 billion per month from smuggling in Balochistan’s five districts. Members held the government and concerned stakeholders accountable for the smuggling activities.

Minister of State for Finance Aisha Ghaus Pasha said at the meeting that smuggling on a large scale was being facilitated in the country. She stated that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took important decisions to combat smuggling, including enforcement at border channels, capacity building, and the installation of scanners at borders, among other things.

The committee members also discussed the matter of tax evasion notices sent to business persons by FBR under the Anti-Money Laundering Act. Revenue officials informed the committee that the Tax Tribunal as of Tuesday has ordered to close the matter on priority.

Source: Pro Pakistani

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Sharjah Massively Reduces Public Transport Fares

The Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority (SRTA) reduced intercity bus fares by up to AED 3 per ride on 2 May after a decrease in diesel prices across United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Commuters traveling from Rolla to the Mall of the Emirates in Dubai now pay AED 17, AED 3 less than the previous fare.

Bus fares for Route 112 and Route 114 have been lowered by AED 1 and AED 2, respectively. This reduction in bus fares is a relief to commuters who regularly travel between cities.

Meanwhile, fares on Route 115 have been decreased by AED 2-3, depending on the distance traveled. Shorter routes that previously cost AED 8 now stand at AED 6 while longer journeys that were AED 30 are now AED 7 lower.

Likewise, fares on Routes 116, 611, and 616 have been slashed by AED 2-3. Passengers on Routes 113, 308, 309, 313, 117, and 118, as well as Route 811 (excluding trips between Shuwaib and Al Ain), now enjoy a reduction in fares by AED 2-3 per trip.

However, the fare for Route 811 between Shuwaib and Al Ain remains unchanged at AED 10.

Source: Pro Pakistani

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Govt College University Staff Demands Special Allowance for Elections

An emergency meeting of the Academic Staff Association (ASA)’s Executive Council was conducted at Government College University (GCU) on Tuesday to discuss concerns about the impending elections and the roles of GCU teachers.

The delegates voiced grave concern about supplying GCU faculty names for election tasks and assessed the existing situation.

The GCU-ASA Executive Body demanded that the Higher Education Department (HED) and the Punjab government either remove the letter or immediately approve a 15 percent special allowance for teachers and staff. If this demand is not honored, the university faculty will refuse to participate in elections.

The executive body members alluded to a letter issued by the HED on April 4 (Ref No: SO Univ.1-4/2022), which specified university instructors and non-teaching personnel to be non-government workers and denied them the 15 percent special stipend.

The members of the executive body stated unequivocally that if the university lecturers and staff were not government workers, it was not acceptable to include their names in election commission tasks that were intended solely for government civil servants.

Teachers’ delegates urged that the Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA) Punjab handle the matter promptly and play its role in preserving university teachers’ fundamental rights.

Source: Pro Pakistani