In a petition, moved by television celebrity Waqar Zaka through his counsel, it was pleaded before a two-member bench that the state was obliged to provide free and uniform education. The contender argued that outdated curriculum was being taught at educational institutes, requesting the court to direct the government to introduce uniform curriculum supported by modern sciences and technology.
Former Pakistan Test cricketer Basit Ali has claimed that India will deliberately lose their matches against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to ensure that Pakistan does not qualify for the semifinals. Keeping India’s performance against Afghanistan in mind, Basit said that Indian team will perform in a way that will not stir controversy, but will eventually lead them to lose.
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that US President Donald Trump had extended an invitation to Prime Minister Imran Khan. However, the Prime Minister could not travel to Washington due to his occupancy with the budget session. Currently, dates are being worked out between both sides for a meeting expected in September to discuss “important regional matters”.
The Swiss National Bank’s annual report has made a startling revelation, depicting a fall of 34% since 2017 in money deposited by Pakistanis in Switzerland. The value of CHF 724 million or $738 million calculated in 2018, has decreased 49% since 2015, when Pakistan and Switzerland finalised a revised taxation treaty. This is the lowest amount of deposits since 1996.
SABAQ, an education technology initiative for children in low-cost and low resource environments, is the only Pakistani startup chosen from a pool of 800 submissions from 86 countries. The 11 finalists for the empowering people Award (epAward) 2019 by the Siemens Foundation will be competing with for top 3 spots in Cairo next month for a 50,000 Euros prize.
2016-17, six Indian Air Force fighter jets, two helicopters, one transport aircraft and one trainer crashed, while in 2017-18, it lost two fighter jets and one trainer aircraft. The number rose sharply in 2018-19 to seven fighters jets, two helicopters and two trainers. IAF incurred heavy losses of approximately INR525 crore ($75 million) due to 11 crashes.
The current tax amnesty, due to end 30th June, is expected to have Rs. 1 trillion declared with assets in United Arab Emirates (UAE) taking the lead. According to reports, Rs. 346 billion or nearly one third of total, has come from UAE, followed by Switzerland (Rs114.8 billion), UK (Rs89.7 billion), Singapore (Rs87.3 billion) and British Virgin Islands (Rs48.9 billion).
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has decided to include unregistered doctors into tax net, in order to broaden the tax base. FBR has given Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) to submit details of its members within 10 days. Most doctors registered with PMDC are not filing their tax returns, despite it being mandatory requirement by the board.
Masroor Ali Siyal, PTI leader from Karachi, will be facing strict disciplinary action for assaulting President of Karachi Press club during a a talk show, says Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Political Affairs Naeemul Haque. In the aftermath of the scuffle, video of which has gone viral, PTI leaders have also been temporarily barred from Karachi and Lahore Press clubs.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has always faced criticism for not speaking against oppression on Muslims and other minorities by Hindu vigilantes, has finally stood up for Tabrez Ansari. Speaking in the upper House of Parliament, Modi said that he is ‘pained’ due to the killing of the 24 year old and those responsible should be given ‘harsh punishment’.