In a survey carried out by Mercerl, Islamabad and Karachi have been rated among least expensive metropolitans in the world. The survey is based on the cost of over 200 items in each city – including housing, transport, food, clothing, household goods, and entertainment. Islamabad has been listed 203rd in the list of most expensive cities, while Karachi stands on 207.
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight PK853 for sector Tokyo-Beijing – Islamabad had to offload 50 passengers after emergency slide got activated during the loading of inflight meals at the Beijing airport. Apart from offloading passengers with their luggage, a delay of nearly three hours was caused. The passengers were provided with hotel accommodation and were adjusted in next available flights.
The Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Ch in a Twitter post has said that religious clerics are the biggest threat to Pakistan. In his tweeter post, the sci-tech minister wrote that people from all sects should perform jihad against this attitude of Molvis, as 75% of our country’s problem arise due to such clerics.
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 The contender argued that outdated curriculum was being taught at educational institutes, requesting the court to direct the government to introduce uniform curriculum supported by modern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.
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”.
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.
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.
The United Kingdom (UK) has decided to increase its funding from 400 million pounds to one billion pounds, in order to finance projects and encourage British firms to set up in Pakistan. As Pakistan’s rating improves on the World Bank’s ease of doing business index, UK will provide direct lending into projects like infrastructure, roads, hospitals, and schools.