Latest news with #Miftah
Saba Yemen
5 days ago
- Business
- Saba Yemen
Zakat authority launches project to distribute 10,000 cash crop baskets
Sana'a - Saba: The General Authority of Zakat launched on Wednesday the eighth phase of the cash crop distribution project under the slogan "Food and Sufficiency," targeting 10,000 poor families. At the launch, First Deputy Prime Minister Mohammed Miftah congratulated the Zakat Authority on the launch of the project, which coincides with Eid al-Adha, especially since part of the project covers Eid requirements for poor families, including honey, almonds, raisins, sesame, coffee, and other crops. Miftah pointed out that the project is a bounty and blessing from Yemen, thanks to the efforts of farmers and producers and the efforts of Zakat Authority employees, reaching the poor and needy. He noted the launch of the project and the preceding packaging, roasting, and distribution of cash crop baskets to the poor, bringing joy to their hearts. Sheikh Miftah urged those in charge of the Zakat Authority to investigate and ensure that Zakat is delivered to those most in need. For his part, Ali al-Saqqaf, Deputy Director of the Zakat Authority, praised the farmers' initiative to pay their Zakat on cash crops, a right God Almighty has enjoined upon the poor, out of their good will, and hand it over to the Zakat Authority for distribution to those who deserve it. He stated that the project stems from the efforts of the Authority's staff and the farmers' initiative to distribute 10,000 baskets at a cost of 400 million riyals, with each basket costing 40,000 riyals. The basket benefits 10,000 beneficiaries, including poor families, people with special needs, thalassemia patients, war wounded and disabled, and members of African communities. Al-Saqqaf noted that in-kind Zakat is steadily increasing due to the trust of zakat payers in the Zakat Authority and its role in distributing Zakat to its legitimate recipients. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
Saba Yemen
19-04-2025
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Top officials inspect devastation at Ras Isa Port after US aggression
Hodeida - Saba: First Deputy Prime Minister Mohammed Miftah, along with the Ministers of Transport and Oil, and the Governor of Hodeida, on Saturday conducted an on-site inspection of the extensive damage caused by the recent US aggression on Ras Isa Port in Hodeida province. The high-level delegation, accompanied by the Chairman of the Yemeni News Agency (Saba) and other local officials, assessed the destruction inflicted upon the port and its infrastructure. They also visited those wounded in the US aggression, receiving treatment in local hospitals, and were briefed on their condition. During the visit, the First Deputy Prime Minister vehemently condemned the US aggression as completely unjustified, reiterating that the entire US aggression against Yemen is without merit. He asserted that while the US claims its presence is to protect navigation, it is in fact the US aggression that threatens regional peace and security. He linked the prevention of "Zionist maritime navigation" to the cessation of aggression and the lifting of the siege on Gaza. Miftah called on the international community to condemn the US aggression, which targeted port workers and civilian infrastructure. He accused the US of deliberately annihilating those present at the port through multiple air raids. He further stated that Yemen would not allow a US-imposed blockade and that the "enemy" would face the consequences of this "crime." Minister of Transport and Public Works Mohammed Quhaim described the US aggression at Ras Isa Port as a clear indication of the aggression's failure in Yemen. He stated that the destruction of civilian facilities is a futile attempt to deter the Yemeni people from their principled stance in support of Gaza. The Minister of Oil and Minerals emphasized that Ras Isa Port is a civilian facility vital to the Yemeni people and that its deliberate destruction by the US aims to harm the civilian population. He affirmed that this "major crime" would not be tolerated and would not dissuade Yemen from supporting Gaza. Hodeida governor Abdullah Atifi echoed this sentiment, labeling the US actions at Ras Isa as a systematic war against civilians and reaffirming Yemen's unwavering support for Gaza until the "Zionist aggression" against Palestinians ends. The Chairman of the Board of Directors of Saba News Agency Nasr al-Din Amer described the incident as a "heinous massacre" targeting civilians and port workers at a civilian service facility. He emphasized that Ras Isa Port serves the public and has no military function, contrary to alleged enemy claims. Hodeida first undersecretary Ahmed al-Bishri declared the port attack a "full-fledged war crime" reflecting the "American enemy's" failure in the face of Yemeni steadfastness. He noted that the Yemeni people have authorized their leadership to make strategic decisions in response to the aggression. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print more of (Local)
Express Tribune
17-04-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
No petrol relief
Listen to article Despite a steep fall in international oil prices, there has been no relief for the masses in the country from the unbearably high prices of petroleum products. Local media was abuzz with reports of "good news coming up" in the form of a significant cut – of around Rs10 per litre – in the rate of petrol. But the official announcement after the fortnightly government review brought nothing but disappointment, as no relief was passed on to the consumers and the prices of all petroleum products were kept unchanged. Rather, the federal cabinet approved an amendment to the Petroleum Products (Petroleum Levy) Ordinance, 1961, effectively removing any upper limit previously imposed on the levy. In March and April, the government has already raised the levy from Rs60 to Rs80, with former finance minister Miftah Ismail calling it a "mini-budget that earned the government Rs34 billion each month in tax revenue". The justification that the Prime Minister has come up with on denying petrol price relief to the masses is nothing but bogus: that the money so saved would fund development in Balochistan, precisely to upgrade N-25 Highway that links Chaman to Karachi via Quetta, Kalat and Khuzdar, and to complete Kachhi Canal Phase-2 to irrigate land in Balochistan. This justification is rather misleading given that the federal government could have conveniently fund the said projects from the PSDP whose Rs1,100 billion allocation has only been utilised by less than 30 per cent in the first eight months of the ongoing fiscal year. Moreover, Bolochistan itself enjoy a surplus of approximately Rs450 billion. What appears to be the case is that the federal government is in for a shortfall in its revenue collection for the ongoing fiscal year, and is in fact trying to cut it to as low as possible by employing discreet revenue enhancing measures. Let's keep an eye on whether or not the two mentioned Balochistan projects see the light of day within two years. Well, Miftah believes they will not!
