Blaze News - Pakistan

City Mayor Murtaza Wahab has asserted that the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has the potential to collect Rs4.5billion annually in taxes. Speaking informally outside the Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday, he underlined the significant responsibility placed on the KMC whenever issues arise within the metropolitan city, often likened to the “fatherly figure” role. “The municipal tax collection agreement with K-Electric excludes the cantonment areas,” Wahab said and expressed optimism that the implementation of a digital system would help combat issues such as the parking mafia. Highlighting systemic challenges, the mayor underscored the need for transparency and accountability in tax collection, noting that the current system, which relies heavily on cash receipts, lacks clarity regarding the total revenue collected. He stressed the importance of a transparent system to accurately track revenue and expenditures, ensuring efficient allocation of resources for the benefit of the ...

On the occasion of Eidul Fitr, Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA), Cantonment Boards and Municipal Corporation have added modern rides, and activities in all 44 amusement parks of Rawalpindi for the enjoyment of families and children. Joyland, Allama Iqbal Park, Patriata, Rumi Park, Nawaz Sharif Park, 502 Workshop Park, Ladies Park and Children’s Park have been all been renovated and new flowers have been planted just in time for Eid. Ayub Park Zoo Jungle Kingdom has added more wild birds, pets and wild animals, including tigers and leopards. For the interest of children, dodging cars, ponies, camels for riding have also been introduced in Ayub Park while magic show counter has also been added. Another one of the added amenities include boat riding, for which boats have been brought to both the lakes of Ayub Park. Military weapons and war helicopters have also been installed at Ayub Park, along with Mono-train and computerised shooting toys. Ayub Park has also arranged local specia...

Special "Eid meetings" will be held between more than 7,000 prisoners and their families in Central Jail Adiala on April 9 (today). For the convenience of the families, the meeting time in Adiala Jail has been set between the hours of 8am to 5pm. All the citizens or families who will come today to meet their loved ones who are imprisoned, they will be allowed some time to spend with the prisoners on account of Eid festival. On this occasion, families will gift new Eid clothes, shoes, fruits, sweets and essentials to their imprisoned family members. A large number of women and children will come for the meetings. Adiala Jail Superintendent has ordered the computerised counter to open at 8am for meetings with all the prisoners. The registration process for the meetings will begin at 8am and will continue until 3pm, while the first round of meetings will begin at 9am. There will be no registrations for meetings after 3 pm. The allowed duration of each meeting will be 40 to 45 mi...

A Handicraft Eid Bazaar, dedicated to supporting women artisans from across Pakistan and promoting their economic empowerment was inaugurated in the federal capital on Sunday. The two-day event has been organised by Serena Hotels under their cultural diplomacy initiative in collaboration with the Behbud Association. Ambassador of Austria to Pakistan Andrea Wicke, who attended the event as chief guest, inaugurated the bazaar and praised it as a celebration of the artistry and creativity of home-based workers. She expressed delight in witnessing the exquisite craftsmanship on display and commended Behbud and Serena Hotels for organising such an event to empower women. The bazaar aimed to showcase the strength and creativity of home-based workers and women artisans, who persist in creating remarkable artifacts despite facing challenges. It featured a diverse range of traditional crafts and needlework from various regions of Pakistan, including Ralli, Hand & Machine Embroidery, Kantha,...

The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has recommended the initiation of legal proceedings against fertiliser manufacturers after an inquiry found them involved in pocketing billions of rupees due to subsidised gas supply. An inquiry committee, which has advocated proceedings against the leading fertiliser companies, examined the profitability, cost structures, subsidies and their impact on urea prices for farmers. The investigation raised key questions about the pricing strategies employed by the urea manufacturers. The cost structure analysis revealed that the main raw material for urea production, which was feed gas, varied in prices for each manufacturing unit. Despite the difference in costs, urea producers maintained identical prices, prompting the CCP to question the pricing mechanism put in place by the industry. The fertiliser industry’s annual gas consumption stands at 266,796 million cubic feet, of which 83% is utilised as feedstock and the remaining 17% as fuel stock....

The lawyer representing former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, requested a court on Saturday to set aside the seven-year sentence handed down to his clients in the Iddat case before Eidul Fitr. However, the matter was postponed until April 9, likely the first day of Eid. In February of this year, Senior Civil Judge Qudratullah sentenced the couple to seven years in jail, along with a fine of Rs500,000 each, for tying the knot during Bushra’s Iddat – a mandatory waiting period that a Muslim woman must observe on account of the death of her husband or dissolution of her marriage before she can remarry. District and Sessions Judge Shahrukh Arjumand heard the couple’s appeals against the sentence on Saturday. The judge noted that the appeals had been largely heard but added that the complainant, Bushra's ex-husband Khawar Maneka, should also be given an opportunity to present his arguments. The court called for arguments from Maneka’s lawyer at the next hearing. Re...

Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb has taken stern notice of the illegal cutting of trees in Lal Suhanra National Park in Bahawalpur. On the direction of the senior minister after complaints and evidence of the illegal felling of more than six dozen precious and rare trees, 11 officials, including a chief conservator, have been transferred back to their departments. A team from the Anti-Corruption Establishment, as well as the forests secretary, has reached Bahawalpur to probe into the matter. It will conduct a thorough inquiry into the types of trees, their number, those involved and other factors to curb the menace. In a statement, Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said strict legal action will be taken against officials involved in the illegal tree cutting and sale. According to notifications of the Punjab government, the services of grade-20 Chief Conservator Khalid Mahmood have been surrendered to his parent department along with Conservator Mansoor Ahmad and DFO Nadee...