Latest news with #EconomicImpactAssessment
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Policy reforms urged to aid $1.2b gig economy
Listen to article A study by the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) has called for urgent policy reforms to unlock the full potential of Pakistan's gig and digital economy, using foodpanda as a case study. The report, titled "Economic Impact Assessment of foodpanda in Pakistan", not only quantifies the platform's substantial economic contribution – estimated at $1.2 billion for 2023-2024 – but also underscores the need for a more supportive regulatory environment. The report highlights the platform's expansive role in job creation, SME enablement, and digital inclusion through its network of over 50,000 registered riders and partnerships with 13,000+ restaurants, many of which operate in the informal sector. While the findings underline foodpanda's growing influence on Pakistan's gig and digital economy, the study emphasises the urgent need for regulatory reforms to maintain and expand the impact of such platforms. LUMS recommends that the government preserve flexibility in labour laws to support gig and freelance workers who value autonomy and flexible hours. The study cautions that imposing rigid structures could reduce employment opportunities, particularly for youth and low-income groups. The report also stresses that informal food vendors should not be excluded from the digital economy, urging the government instead to collaborate with food delivery platforms to gradually formalise these businesses without disrupting their operations or incomes. Internet infrastructure was highlighted as another major concern. Since digital platforms rely on reliable and fast connectivity, service disruptions lead to order delays, customer dissatisfaction, and financial losses. The report urges the government to invest in broadband access, infrastructure upgrades, and incentives for private sector investment, especially in underserved areas. LUMS also flagged concerns over the proposed Personal Data Protection Bill. Provisions for local data storage, strict consent rules, and cross-border data restrictions could raise costs for digital platforms that use global cloud services. The report warns these rules may deter global investors and hinder scalability. The study also proposes a one-window licensing system for delivery riders. This would cover ID verification, vehicle checks, and licensing under one platform to streamline compliance, reduce administrative burdens, and enhance safety and accountability in the sector. To support the wider e-commerce ecosystem, LUMS recommends reducing import tariffs on technology and providing targeted incentives to local digital startups. The study found strong ripple effects across food, hospitality, manufacturing, transport, and retail. In FY 2023-24, foodpanda enabled Rs75 billion in restaurant revenue, created jobs, contributed Rs9.76 billion in taxes, and empowered 50,000+ riders and entrepreneurs through fintech.
BBC News
02-08-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Jersey trawling and dredging area limited from September 2026
More than one fifth of the island's territorial waters will be designated as marine protected areas and off limits to trawling and dredging from September 2026, the government has politicians voted unanimously for the Marine Spatial Plan in October, which included a pledge to increase the area of protected waters from 6.5% to 23%.Marine protected areas prohibit mobile gear fishing, which includes trawling and dredging, to stop damage to habitats and government said it will work with licensed fishermen in Jersey and France to support adjustment to the new rules. A timeline for implementing the plan released by the infrastructure and environment committee also shows part of Les Sauvages reef will be off limits to all fishing. Only commercially licensed vessels will be prohibited from fishing in the protected netting, rod and line fishing and all recreational activities are unaffected by the changes. An additional 4% of territorial waters are being researched and could be added to the protected marine areas by 2030, the committee said. "This will be a seismic shift for marine management in Jersey waters, significantly changing the face of fishing," it said."The Economic Impact Assessment will assist in understanding the livelihood impact of these changes and government will work with licensed fishermen in Jersey and France to support adjustment to the new rules."
Agriland
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Agriland
Muir: Stakeholder group to examine NAP proposals
Minister for the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), Andrew Muir has said that a stakeholder group will be appointed to examine proposals for the Nutrients Action Programme (NAP) in Northern Ireland. The minister made the comments today (Monday, June 30) as he issued an update on the ongoing public consultation for the revised NAP. "The Nutrients Action Programme, was introduced 18 years ago to fulfil our legal requirement to reduce water pollution from agricultural sources, with much good work undertaken to date by farmers," Minister Muir said. "The legally required NAP review is an important opportunity to shape the actions we can take together over the next four years," he added. Minister Muir said that "it is vital we take further actions to improve water quality in our rivers, lakes and loughs". "I am firmly committed to delivery of the Lough Neagh Action Plan and Programme for government commitments, and in doing so, an urgent and collective endeavour is critical," he said. The minister said that when the public consultation on the updated NAP closes at 11:59p.m on July 24, 2025, DAERA will set up "a timebound stakeholder task and finish group" This group will include an external facilitator and representatives from farming, agri-food, environmental groups and the department. "Working collaboratively and taking into account the consultation responses, plus any other potential solutions, the group will be asked to propose measures and actions, that are evidence-based and workable at farm level within realistic timeframes, as well as meeting legislative requirements," Muir said. The minister also said that as part of this process a draft Economic Impact Assessment will be prepared on the revised proposals. A further eight-week public consultation will then be carried out on the updated proposals and the draft Economic Impact Assessment. Minister for the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for Northern Ireland, Andrew Muir Minister Muir reiterated that he "will work with everyone as part of the current NAP review and that no final decisions have been taken". "I extended the original public consultation period to give interested parties more time to consider the complex proposals and previously outlined my commitment to establishing a focused stakeholder group to help inform the way ahead. 'I have also made clear that some of the draft measures will of course require funding support and officials within my department are considering how we can meet that need in the time ahead. 'Following the work of the focused stakeholder group, I also intend to undertake a further eight-week consultation, in the spirit of openness and transparency, to give the public and wider stakeholders an opportunity to provide views on any updated proposals, before taking my final decisions on the updated NAP to the Executive for agreement," he said. Minister Muir encouraged anyone who has not yet responded to the NAP public consultation to do so. "We are also providing further clarification on the DAERA website in response to issues raised during the consultation process. "I am determined that we chart a way forward together to protect and improve our environment and support sustainable and successful farm businesses," he said.
Vancouver Sun
25-06-2025
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
Vaughn Palmer: Shocked to learn that FIFA has gone over budget again
VICTORIA — The B.C. New Democrats have again revised the cost of hosting World Cup soccer, pushing the pricetag ever closer to $100 million for each of the seven games staged at B.C. Place stadium next summer. The updated cost, buried in a backgrounder on Tuesday to a gushing news release about 'an extraordinary opportunity to showcase our province', was put at $624 million, tops. It represents a $40-million increase on last year's supposedly comprehensive estimate of $581 million. Also much higher than the $260 million pricetag the New Democrats touted three years ago, when they reversed their earlier opposition and embraced the World Cup. A daily roundup of Opinion pieces from the Sun and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Informed Opinion will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Sobering to think that then-NDP Premier John Horgan had initially rejected hosting the World Cup because he did not want to issue a 'blank cheque' to FIFA, soccer's grasping international overseer. A 140-per-cent overrun in just three years? Imagine what this venture could have cost if the province had issued a blank cheque. The previous upward revision was said to have taken into consideration every factor that could inflate the budget, according to then-tourism minister Lana Popham. 'The numbers we've put forward today we're very comfortable in,' Popham told reporters in releasing the $581-million figure a year ago. 'We've left in room for contingencies. We've accounted for inflation. And so the budget we put forward today we believe is the one that is accurate.' The latest revision was blamed on a re-estimate of 'gross core costs of planning, staging and hosting' as well as security and safety measures. But that is unlikely to be the end of it. 'These estimates are subject to change as facility upgrades, operational delivery and safety and security plans evolve in the final preparations,' according to the backgrounder. So with the current estimate running at just short of $90 million per game, the $100 million per game threshold is well within reach. Still, the province and its partner, the City of Vancouver, continue to accentuate the positive of all this expenditure. They claim that the spending will be offset by revenues. Although I would note that their revenue statement includes a $116-million contribution from the federal government, which many taxpayers would regard as spending, not revenue. Otherwise, the outlays will supposedly be offset by an alleged $1-billion-plus boost to the provincial economy — driven by the expected 350,000 attendees at the seven games, plus the additional million outsiders who will (it is claimed) be prompted to visit B.C. over the next five years. To that end, the province included a link to the Economic Impact Assessment it released in 2024. The 12-page report is scarcely definitive or persuasive. Several key passages were redacted and there are no footnotes to document the claim of $1 billion plus in economic benefits. Moreover, the report warns that the authors 'could not validate the major assumption that a total of 262,125 visitors (45 per cent of whom would be from outside of Canada and the U.S.) would attend the games. 'Without knowing exactly what teams will be playing in Vancouver (say, Senegal vs. Ecuador compared to, say, Germany vs. Netherlands), it is hard to estimate visitor markets.' The statement likewise cautions against putting much stock in the NDP's claim that 'more than 18,000 jobs could be generated' from hosting the World Cup. 'Many of the 'jobs' identified in this analysis may be filled by added hours of current employees, part-time workers, workers in the sector taking a second job, or workers leaving a different job,' the report acknowledges. 'Further, some of this may be moderated by technology replacement of workers. As a result, the event may not result in a large net increase of long-term employment in the province, but rather a short-term increase for the sector.' The fine print to the report was more realistic than the fanciful claim of Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim, that, 'We're getting the equivalent of 30 to 40 Super Bowls.' Yet far from reining in expectations, this week's release from the province cited an ambitious economic impact forecast courtesy of FIFA itself. 'FIFA's own economic impact assessment covers the period June 2023 to August 2026 and estimates that preparing for and hosting the tournament could contribute $1.7 billion in economic benefits for B.C. That includes a $980-million increase to GDP and $610 million in labour income.' Note that if those targets are not met, it would pose no risk to FIFA. The organization has already sequestered all the direct revenue from the games and imposed a contract that indemnifies itself from any economic downside. The contract is also ironclad, as the province acknowledged last year. British Columbians may well have other priorities — like rustling up enough money to reopen the pediatric ward at Kelowna General Hospital, or living up to the NDP's unfulfilled, eight-year-old goal of $10-a-day childcare. But at this late date, the New Democrats say there is no wriggling out of the commitment to host FIFA. B.C. is on the hook for the full $624 million, and there's no reason to think that is the end of the tally. vpalmer@
Scottish Sun
20-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Plans for new Scottish resort with 91 holiday homes rejected after abandoned site branded a ‘death trap'
Read on to discover exactly why the plans were shelved RETREAT BLOW Plans for new Scottish resort with 91 holiday homes rejected after abandoned site branded a 'death trap' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CONTROVERSIAL plans to turn an abandoned WWII airfield into a holiday destination have been grounded by the government. Developers wanted to transform Crail Airfield and build a hotel, museum and market hall amid claims the scheme would generate millions for the local economy. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Crail Airfield is a historic Cold War site located in Fife Credit: Fife Council They also wanted to include 91 holiday units and small business premises at the site near the popular coastal location in Fife. But locals refused to back the scheme to develop the historic airfield that last saw service in the Cold War. Crail Community Council said it could create a 'death trap' with an estimated 1,300 extra vehicles attempting to access the site each week. West Lothian-based Ground Developments were refused planning permission by Fife Council and went to the government in a bid to overturn the ruling. A government reporter has now rejected the scheme. An appeal document on the developer's behalf said: "The Economic Impact Assessment prepared for the application estimated that the site could generate hundreds of jobs for the area over the first 10 years and add millions of pounds to the local economy. "The appellant considers that this proposal might be one of the last chances to safeguard the future of a highly significant heritage site while bringing community benefits and economic opportunities for Crail, its local economy, and the airfield." Historic Environment Scotland describes Crail Airfield as 'the best-preserved example' of a Second World War Naval Airfield in Scotland. David Jerdan, chairman of Crail community council, said: "Most people agree the old airfield has turned into an eyesore and something needs to be done with it. 'But this is not the way. The Best Value Attraction In The UK Is Flamingo Land 'If we get much more traffic passing through the narrows, it's only a matter of time before someone gets injured or worse. 'It's a potential death trap.' There were over 200 objections to plans submitted to Fife Council for the planning application. Rejecting the plans, the council said: "In the interests of road safety and proper planning; the application proposal by virtue of its location, form and scale would result in an unacceptable impact upon road safety as a result of introducing a significant number of additional vehicular movements to the locality which would be considered excessive in the context of the capacity of the existing local roads/transport infrastructure." 2 Plans for a new Scots holiday resort were rejected by the government Credit: GDL Government reporter Sue Bell said: "I have taken account of the benefits of the proposals, including redevelopment of a brownfield site listed on the Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Survey. "Potential benefits in terms of restoration and reuse of listed buildings cannot be secured through this application. "However, I do not consider that these benefits are sufficient to overcome the disbenefits of the scheme."
