PM directs Naqvi to launch Gwadar Safe City project
In a meeting with the prime minister, he briefed him on the new policy devised for the devotees visiting holy sites in Iran and Iraq.
Iran eases visa rules for Pakistani Zaireen
The prime minister, on the occasion, directed the minister for aviation to arrange special flights for the devotees.
The minister also briefed PM Shehbaz on the law and order situation in Balochistan.
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Express Tribune
7 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Five die in firing on Tirah protesters
Listen to article Five people died and 17 others sustained injuries when protesters were fired upon during a protest outside a military installation against the killing of a girl in the Tirah Vally of the Khyber district in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), tribal elders stated on Sunday. The protest ended after negotiations between tribal elders and security officials. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and K-P Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur condemned the shooting at the Bagh Maidan area of Tirah Valley. Tension gripped the area after the death of a 10-year-old girl the other day. Following the incident, the victim's relatives and local citizens reached the main gate of the Brigade Headquarters this morning to protest. The protesters shouted slogans against the incident and set a dispensary on fire. In the meanwhile, the shooting broke out in which three people died on the spot. Later two more injured succumbed to their wounds while on way to a hospital. Police sources said that 17 injured were taken to a local hospital but six of them were later shifted to Peshawar hospitals and seven to Orakzai district. Fifteen injured were identified as Ajmal, Abdul Halim, Ayub Khan, Siraj, Jartaj, Baitullah, Aamir Hassan, Rehmanullah, Muhammad Sadiq, Nazar Muhammad and Abu Bakar — all residents of Zakhakhel — Khan Zeb and Muhammad Javed of Shlobar; and Sher Zaman, Qasim, and Saeed Khan of Malk Din Khel. Later, the tribal elders met with security officials and presented their demands: case against those involved in the death of the girl; vacation of the occupied houses of local citizens, end to unnecessary harassment at the security check posts and financial assistance to the families of the deceased. The security forces' agreed to Rs1.5 million compensation to the families of each deceased and Rs200,000 assistance to each injured. After a partial agreement on the demands, the protesters ended the protest, and the situation started to return to normalcy. In Islamabad, meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the martyrdom of innocent and peaceful citizens due to the firing from Fitna al-Khawarij and directed the authorities concerned to provide immediate medical assistance to the injured. K-P Chief Minister Gandapur also expressed deep sorrow and grief over the Tirah incident and announced financial assistance of Rs10 million for the heirs of each deceased and Rs2.5 million for each injured, according to an Express News report. The chief minister called a Peshawar Jirga, consisting of tribal elders and public representatives so that local sentiments and concerns could be heard. He directed the district administration and the institutions to strengthen public communication and maintain order. Gandapur said that a series of jirgas of tribal elders would start from next week at the divisional and then provincial levels. National Assembly member from the area Iqbal Afridi and K-P Assembly member Abdul Ghani Afridi condemned the incident. (WITH INPUT FROM APP)
Business Recorder
9 hours ago
- Business Recorder
PM directs Naqvi to launch Gwadar Safe City project
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday directed Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi to start work on the Gwadar Safe City project. In a meeting with the prime minister, he briefed him on the new policy devised for the devotees visiting holy sites in Iran and Iraq. Iran eases visa rules for Pakistani Zaireen The prime minister, on the occasion, directed the minister for aviation to arrange special flights for the devotees. The minister also briefed PM Shehbaz on the law and order situation in Balochistan.
Business Recorder
9 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Digital payments: Utility bills to have QR codes
ISLAMABAD: In a major step towards cashless economy the government has decided that all electricity/ telephone/ gas bills will have printed QR codes, thereby allowing payment through digital means, well informed sources told Business Recorder. This decision was taken at a recent meeting presided over by the Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, which was attended by all the concerned ministries/ organisations. Prime Minister, will launch Digital Payment Index Pakistan next month for which Governor SBP and CEO Karandaaz are to make arrangements. According to sources, a team led by Secretary Petroleum and Natural Resources and comprising, Secretary Power, Secretary M/o IT&T and Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) will formulate the mechanism within a month. Digital payments: Pakistan PM forms three high-powered panels Secretary Petroleum and Chairman Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) will devise a mechanism in one month for mandatory acceptance of payments through QR codes, Point of Sale (PoS) terminals, soft PoS to be made available in all petrol stations across the country ( including AJ&K, GB regions) and Motorways as this will be mandatory condition of their licences, the sources added. Chairman CDA, in consultation with the Law and Justice Division is tasked to review legal framework for mandating acceptance of QR codes, PoS terminals, soft PoS, or other approved digital payment instruments and to mandate acceptance accordingly. For the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the following revised target, as proposed by the Sub-Committee on digital payments innovation and adoption, were approved: (i) active digital commerce payment points include QR codes- 2 million from existing 0.5 million ;(ii) active merchant- 1 transaction per month ;(iii) the number of mobile/ internet app and digital banking users to be increased to 120 million from 95 million during FY 26;(iv) the number of digital transactions will be enhanced by 100 per cent to 15 billion from existing 7.5 billion ; and (v) remittances to be credited in bank accounts/ wallets ( no cash payments)-100 per cent digital from existing 80 per cent. Secretary Finance and Governor State Bank of Pakistan have been directed to revise annual subsidy allocation ceiling for supporting cashless transactions to Rs 3.5 billion ( 0.5 per cent incentive to banks for encouraging merchants on boarding on Raast). Banks may charge MDR of up to 0.25 per cent from merchants. Any amount in excess of this ceiling to be borne by the service providers. The Government Payment Sub-Committee, in consultation with provincial governments and relevant stakeholders, shall review the proposed timelines for implementation of its proposed recommendations. For submission of plans on State Owned Entities (SOEs) and P2G targets, revised timelines, reduced by at least one fourth will be shared during the next meeting of the Committee. Governor SBP has been directed to ensure that private sector members on the Board of Raast Payment Pakistan shall be renowned experts with a proven professional track record in the field of digital payments. Governor SBP has also been directed to finalise appointment of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Raast Payment Pakistan by end of September 2025. Secretary Information Technology and Telecom has been asked to make all necessary arrangements for the inauguration of the Islamabad IT Park by the third week of August 2025 without exception. The meeting also decided that Right of Way (RoW) charges will be eliminated beginning with CDA, NHA and Pakistan Railways. Capital Development Authority while granting NOC/ approval to new housing societies shall prescribe a condition that these societies will not impose any Right of Way for development/installation of IT and IT related infrastructure /fiberization. Law and Justice Division to review legal instruments for implementation of this decision. This shall serve as a model for provincial governments to adopt for which consensus will be developed. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
