ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has issued over 1,100 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India on the occasion of the religious Vaisakhi festival, the foreign office in Islamabad said on Wednesday.
Vaisakhi, also spelled Baisakhi, marks the beginning of the Sikh new year, and is observed with prayer services in gudwaras, or Sikh temples. It is celebrated on April 13 or 14 every year and also marks the day when Gobind Singh, the 10th and final prophet, ended the concentration of Sikh leadership in one human and established the order of Khalsa, baptized Sikhs, who were to be guided by the holy scripture, known as the Adi Granth, and who were to follow precepts of belief, behavior and dress.
Hundreds of Indian Sikhs come to Pakistan each year to celebrate Vaisakhi at one of their religion’s holiest shrines in the northern city of Hasanabdal — the Panja Sahib shrine, about 35km west of the capital Islamabad.
“The High Commission for Pakistan in India has issued over 1100 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India to participate in the annual Baisakhi celebrations from 12-22 April 2021,” the Pakistani High Commission said in a statement on Wednesday evening. “Under the framework of the Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974, a large number of Sikh Yatrees from India visit Pakistan to observe various religious festivals/occasions every year.”
The government of Pakistan had issued the visas as a “special gesture” in view of the importance of Vaisakhi for Punjabis and Sikhs, the foreign office said, and reflected “the commitment of the Government of Pakistan to faithfully implement the bilateral Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines” signed between Pakistan and India.
In November 2019, Prime Minister Imran Khan formally inaugurated the Kartarpur Corridor, which provides visa-free access from India to the Pakistani town of Kartarpur, home to a temple that marks the site where the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak, died.
Pakistan issues over 1,100 visas to Indian Sikhs for Vaisakhi religious festival
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Pakistan issues over 1,100 visas to Indian Sikhs for Vaisakhi religious festival
- Vaisakhi marks beginning of Sikh new year and is a critical day in formation of Sikh religion, is celebrated on April 13 or 14 every year
- Under Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines, large number of Sikh pilgrims from India visit Pakistan to observe various religious festivals
Pakistan takes stringent measures to broaden tax net ahead of IMF loan talks
- Islamabad expects an agreement with the IMF by July, though both sides have refrained from commenting on the program’s size
- Law Minister Azam Tarar says IMF is insisting on increasing tax net, implementing energy reforms and ensuring good governance
KARACHI: Pakistani authorities have taken some stringent measures to broaden the country’s tax net, including blocking mobile phone connections of individuals and registering retailers, ahead of Islamabad’s talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) this month for a new loan program.
Pakistan and the IMF are expected to begin formal talks after the arrival of an IMF team in Islamabad in the mid of May. Islamabad has said it expects a staff-level agreement by July. Though both Pakistani and IMF officials have refrained from commenting on the size of the program, the South Asian nation is expected to seek around $7 billion bailout from the global lender.
Last month, Jihad Azour, the IMF director for the Middle East and Central Asia, said that “reform is now more important than the size of the program.” The Fund is insisting on increasing the tax net, implement energy reforms and ensure good governance as part of the reforms, according to Pakistani officials.
Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad on Thursday, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said the IMF had recommended a number of measures and the government would utilize this revenue for the betterment of the masses.
“The IMF has recommended to expand tax net, control electricity theft and ensure good governance to save the resources,” Tarar said, adding that introducing reforms in the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) was top priority of the government to address economic issues and broaden the tax net.
The Pakistani government has reshuffled officials within the tax collection agency to streamline operations and enhance its transparency, according to the official. It has decided to block more than half a million mobile phone connections of individuals, who had not filed their tax returns, and emphasized on the registration of retailers ahead of formal talks with the IMF.
“FBR has taken decisive action by issuing an order to disable mobile phone SIMs associated with 506,671 individuals who fall under the aforementioned category,” the tax collection agency said in a notification issued on April 30.
“These measures are aimed at encouraging individuals to fulfill their tax obligations and contribute to the country’s economic development.”
In an another move, the FBR has decided to expedite the registration of around 3 million retailers, under the Tajir Dost Scheme, which focuses on traders and shopkeepers operating through a fixed place of business, including a shop, store, warehouse, office or similar physical place.
However, representatives of trade bodies say the scheme, launched on April 1, had not produced the “desired results.”
“The scheme is failing because there is no awareness among traders about the pros and cons of the scheme, while business conditions are also not supporting such a move,” Atiq Mir, chairman of the All Karachi Tajir Ittehad (AKTI), told Arab News on Friday.
“Amid high inflation and slow business activities, traders are struggling to survive and they can’t afford another burden of taxes.”
To deal with the situation, the FBR has appointed Muhammad Naeem Mir, chairman of the All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajran’s Supreme Council, chief coordinator of the Tajir Dost Scheme.
Naeem, who has not yet taken the charge, said he would analyze and discuss the strategy with FBR officials next week.
“From Monday onwards, we will draw strategy and work on the scheme after discussing and getting know-how of it from FBR officials,” he told Arab News.
Naeem denied any resistance from traders, saying the FBR had not run a comprehensive campaign to introduce the scheme, but people were “voluntarily registering themselves.”
Under the scheme, the FBR has notified registration of retailers in six major cities, including Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Rawalpindi and Quetta. The tax agency expects around Rs100 billion revenue by imposing advance tax in these cities from the July this year, according to FBR officials.
If the FBR successfully implemented the scheme by bringing about 3 million more taxpayers in the net, the overall active taxpayers would increase to more than 7 million from the existing 4 million in Pakistan.
At least 20 killed as bus plunges into gorge in northern Pakistan
- The bus, which carried 42 passengers, was en route to Rawalpindi from Hunza
- Road accidents are common in Pakistan, where traffic rules are rarely followed
KHAPLU, GILGIT-BALTISTAN: At least 20 people were killed and over a dozen others were injured after a bus plunged into a gorge in Pakistan’s northern Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) region, officials said on Friday.
The passenger bus was en route to the garrison city of Rawalpindi from Hunza when it plunged into a 300-meter-deep ravine near the Gunar Farm area in GB’s Diamer district, according to Sardar Sheheryar Khan, senior superintendent of police (SSP).
Rescue 1122, police and paramilitary Frontier Constabulary and GB Scouts immediately reached the site and shifted all bodies and injured persons to the Regional Headquarters Hospital in Chilas.
“Soon after the accident, announcements were made from loudspeakers of mosques and local people rushed to the site and joined hands with the administration for the rescue,” Khan told Arab News.
“Dozens of locals are at the hospital for blood donation. Emergency has been imposed at the hospital and all doctors and paramedical staff are busy treating the injured.”
The driver lost control of the bus, which carried 42 passengers, while navigating a curve and it fell into the ravine, according to officials.
“Among the five critically injured, two were shifted to Gilgit via road and three others will be airlifted by army helicopter soon,” Fiaz Ahmad, the Diamer deputy commissioner told reporters.
“Best treatment was being given to injured,” he added.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed regret over the loss of precious lives in the accident. “The prime minister issued directives to provide all possible medical aid to the injured,” Sharif’s office said in a statement.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi extended his condolences to the families of the deceased. “We equally share the sorrow of the bereaved families in this hour of grief,” he said in a statement.
Road accidents are common in Pakistan, where traffic rules are rarely followed and roads, particularly in many rural areas, are in poor condition. In the mountainous Gilgit-Baltistan region, road tragedies are daily news.
In July 2023 alone, at least 41 people, including tourists, were killed in road mishaps across the region, according to rescue officials. In 2022, at least 77 people died and 467 were wounded in accidents in GB.
In Hajj code of conduct, Pakistan Ulema Council urges pilgrims not to engage in political activities
In Hajj code of conduct, Pakistan Ulema Council urges pilgrims not to engage in political activities
- The code of conduct highlights sacredness of the Hajj period, aims to ensure hassle-free experience
- PUC Chairman Tahir Ashrafi advises Pakistanis in the Kingdom against unauthorized Hajj pilgrimage
ISLAMABAD: Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, the Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) chairman and patron-in-chief of the Hajj Organizers Association of Pakistan (HOAP), on Thursday urged Pakistani pilgrims not to engage in political activities during the Hajj pilgrimage as he unveiled a comprehensive code of conduct for Pakistanis, who would be performing Hajj through private operators.
Ashrafi emphasized the importance of booking Hajj journeys only through authorized operators and cautioned intending pilgrims against fraudulent groups active on social media platforms, according to the PUC, an umbrella group of religious scholars and organizations.
He discouraged pilgrims from engaging in “disruptive behavior,” such as taking selfies and videos during Hajj rituals, which could cause inconvenience to fellow pilgrims, stressing the need to focus on religious duties and maintaining decorum for a seamless pilgrimage.
“Ashrafi urged pilgrims to refrain from engaging in political activities during the Hajj season, particularly at Haramain Sharifain and other sacred sites in Saudi Arabia,” the PUC said in a statement.
“He underscored that such actions are not only contrary to Islamic teachings and Shariah but also reflect poorly on Pakistan in the international community.”
In 2022, the Madinah police had arrested at least five Pakistani nationals for “abusing and insulting” then Pakistani information minister Marriyum Aurangzeb and minister for narcotics control Shahzain Bugti at the Prophet’s Mosque in the city.
Videos shared online showed some individuals chanting slogans as the ministers, who were part of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s delegation, visited the Prophet’s Mosque. In Pakistan, police had also registered cases against former prime minister Imran Khan and members of his party for sloganeering against the Pakistani delegation under a “planned-out scheme and conspiracy.”
The code of conduct, grounded in the Holy Qur’an and the Hadiths of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), underscores the necessity of undertaking Hajj with halal wealth, refraining from disputes, and embodying dignity and humility throughout the pilgrimage, according to the PUC.
It highlights the sacredness of the Hajj period and the significance of sincere intention solely for the pleasure of Allah.
“Hajj without official permission is strictly prohibited according to Islamic principles and the law of the land,” Ashrafi said, urging Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia to refrain from unauthorized pilgrimage.
“Individuals caught without proper authorization would face consequences, potentially tarnishing the reputation of the country.”
The PUC urged pilgrims to acquire comprehensive knowledge of the rituals and seek guidance when needed.
“They must adhere to the guidelines set by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony and appointed leaders of Hajj and Umrah groups, prioritizing obedience to Allah and His commandments,” it said.
“Patience is emphasized in facing challenges, be it delays at airports or congestion on roads.”
The PUC said the code of conduct was aimed at ensuring a “spiritually enriching and harmonious” pilgrimage, rooted in devotion, humility, and obedience to Allah’s commandments.
Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage that has been in practice for over 1,400 years. It is one of the five pillars of Islam, and requires every adult Muslim to undertake the journey to the holy Islamic sites in Makkah at least once in their lifetime, if they are financially and physically able.
Pakistan has a Hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims this year. Of them, 63,805 pilgrims will be performing the pilgrimage under the government scheme, while the rest would be accommodated by private tour operators, according to the Pakistani religious affairs ministry. The South Asian country is set to start its Hajj flight operation on May 9, which would conclude on June 9.
This year’s pilgrimage is expected to run from June 14 till June 19.
Transporters continue protest in southwest Pakistan after talks fail over new highway security plan
- The Balochistan government has decided to established new security check-posts where soldiers would check all passenger buses
- The decision came after the killing of nine passengers from Punjab province, but transporters say it would cause massive delays
QUETTA: Transporters in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province continued their protest on Thursday, they said, after the failure of a second round of talks with the government over a new security plan for highways.
An alliance of transporters in the provincial capital of Quetta has been protesting for the last two weeks the government’s new standard operating procedures (SOPs) aimed at providing maximum security to passengers traveling through one of the key provincial highways in Pakistan.
The government in the restive province last month announced to revise its security plan for the Quetta-Taftan highway after gunmen killed nine passengers, who hailed from the eastern Punjab province, after abducting them from a bus near the Noshki district in Balochistan.
The second round of talks between representatives of the transporters and the government failed and the transporters said they would continue their protest in the provincial capital.
“A 12-member delegation of transporters met with the government’s negotiation committee today for the 2nd round of talks in order to discuss concerns of local transporters, but the meeting ended without any result,” Mehmood Badini, a representative of the transporters’ alliance who was part of the talks, told Arab News on Thursday.
“We stand on our demands but the government officials have said that they will call a high-level meeting to discuss our demands in the coming days. We have decided to continue our strike on all major routes unless our demands are met.”
The mineral-rich province of Balochistan has been the scene of a low-level insurgency by Baloch separatist groups demanding independence from the central government in Islamabad. The militants usually target police and security forces or infrastructure.
Although the government says it has quelled the insurgency, violence in Balochistan has persisted. The attack in Noshki sparked widespread condemnation and prompted the provincial government to revise its security plan for highways.
Saeed Ahmed Lehri, chairman of the All Balochistan Transporters Alliance, said the transporters were on a strike at the N-40 Quetta-Taftan highway, N-85 Quetta-Makran Highway, N-25 Quetta-Karachi highway and N-65 Balochistan-Sindh highway against government’s new travel security SOPs.
“The government has established new security check-posts at the N-40 Quetta-Taftan highway and security forces are directed to check all buses at every check-post,” he said. “The New SOPs would cause delay for passengers and drivers, even the government is going to prevent transporters from the deployment of two private security guards inside buses at their own expense.”
Shahid Rind, a spokesman for the Balochistan government, said they would keep negotiating with the transporters in the coming days to find a “concrete solution” to the issue.
“The government’s prime responsibility is the passengers’ safety and security, hence we won’t step back from this stance,” he told Arab News. “But there will be more rounds of talks with the transporters.”
Rind said the government had revised its security plan and decided to establish new security check-posts at all highways after the Noshki attack.
“Balochistan has a vast landscape while in some areas mobile networks do not work,” he added.
Pakistan pushes back deadline for expressions of interest to buy national airline
- The extension came a day before the expressions of interest had originally been due
- Pakistani tycoon Arif Habib, aviation-based company Gerry’s Group were among bidders
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will push back the deadline for companies to express interest in buying national carrier Pakistan International Airlines to May 18, the country’s privatization minister said on Thursday.
The extension, announced in a statement by Minister for Investment and Privatization Abdul Aleem Khan, came a day before the expressions of interest had originally been due. He said 10 companies had already expressed an interest.
“The Board accorded approval for extension in the date for submission of interests on the request of interested parties,” he said, referring to the Privatization Commission Board he leads.
Pakistani tycoon Arif Habib and aviation-based company Gerry’s Group were among the 10 bidders looking to buy a majority stake in Pakistan International Airlines, Bloomberg News reported on Friday.
Arif Habib, Pakistan International Airlines and Gerry’s Group did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Pakistan’s government has previously said it was putting on the block a stake of between 51 percent and 100 percent in the loss-making airline as part of reforms urged by the International Monetary Fund.
The disposal of the flag carrier is a step that past elected governments have steered away from as it is likely to be highly unpopular, but progress on the privatization will help cash-strapped Pakistan pursue further funding talks with the IMF.
