Pakistan’s capital Karachi has been ranked in the list of the world’s least liveable cities. According to the ranking, Pakistan’s financial hub(Karachi) was listed at 7th place and Bangladesh’s capital was listed at 4th. However, Damascus is the world’s least liveable city, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU’s) Global Livability Ranking for 2021.
Budget 2021-22 outlined a number of measures aimed at curbing car prices in the automobile sector. Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin announced tax exemptions for vehicles with an engine size of 850cc during the launch of the federal budget on Friday. Moreover, the government also lowered its sales tax on these cars from 17% to 12.5%.
On Friday, the government presented its third budget, aiming to strike a balance between GDP growth and expenditures. In addition to a crippling budget deficit, Pakistan faces pandemic-induced poverty as well as economic recovery challenges. Budget outlays of Rs8.49 trillion are 19% higher than the revised figure of last year. However, no new taxes will be imposed on the salaried class.
The first Muslim American federal judge to be confirmed by the US Senate to the position of US District Judge for the District of New Jersey, Zahid Quraishi, makes history by becoming the first Muslim American federal judge. Previously, he served as a magistrate judge for the United States in New Jersey.
According to a research paper published by an think-tank, Tabadlab, Pakistan has lost $38 billion in economic growth as a result of the FATF putting the country on its grey list three times since 2008. Pakistan may remain on the FATF list of countries whose anti-money laundering and anti-terror financing laws do not fully comply with international standards.
On Thursday, the Pakistani government announced that overseas Pakistanis now have the right to vote in the National Assembly. Zulfiqar Bukhari, former special assistant to the prime minister for overseas Pakistanis, confirmed the news via Twitter and praised the PTI-led government, especially Imran Khan. For the first time in 73 years, overseas Pakistanis can now vote in the National Assembly.
Zartaj Gul, the Minister of State for Climate Change, said the government plans to reward students who plant at least 20 trees with an extra 20 marks. Parliament is considering legislation in this regard, which would involve youth in the plantation project. Prime Minister Imran Khan has emphasized the importance of youth involvement in the fight against climate change.
The Russian government has approved the import of rice from Pakistan. The decision was taken by the Ministry of Food Security after the department of Plant Protection (DPP) implemented proposed measures. Presently, four firms have been approved by Russia’s NPPO, two from Karachi, one from Lahore, and one from Chiniot.
Electronic Arts, the company behind popular video games such as FIFA, Madden, Sims and Medal of Honor, reported that a hacker had entered its network, stealing game source code and tools of different video games. A cybercriminal forum claims that hackers stole the FIFA 21 source code. Moreover, data relating to Frostbite, the gaming engine used for creating the popular game, has also been stolen.
Chinese astronauts plan to spend three months on the space station performing spacewalks, constructing, maintaining the station, and conducting experiments. In addition, a cargo craft was sent into orbit in month before the main section of Tianhe went into orbit. Eventually, Chinese engineers transferred the Long March-2F Y12 rocket carrying the Shenzhou-12 spaceship to its launch pad.