Eidul Azha being celebrated across the country with religious fervor

Eidul Azha is being celebrated today (Saturday) across the country with religious fervor to commemorate the great sacrifice of Hazrat Ibrahim and Hazrat Ismael (AS).

The day dawned with special prayers in mosques for well-being of the Ummah and progress, prosperity and security of the country.

Eid congregations are being held at mosques, Eidgahs and open places in all cities, towns and villages across the country.

In the federal capital, the main Eid congregation will be held at the Faisal Mosque. Ulema would deliver Khutbah highlighting significance of the day and philosophy of great sacrifice.

After offering Eid prayers, the faithful will sacrifice animals to follow the Sunnah of Hazrat Ibrahim (AS).

The federal and provincial governments have chalked out elaborate security plans.

The government has advised the faithful to follow the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for containing the COVID-19 while perform the ritual of sacrificing animals. While offering Eid prayers, they should keep distance, and avoid hugging and instead extend only greetings.

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Border system with Afghanistan, Govt took steps for Integration: Shibli Faraz

ederal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz on Friday said that the government will take measures for an integrated border system with Afghanistan to avoid any such incidents in the future.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Shibli Faraz said that Pakistan has strong relations with Afghanistan and both countries will normalize the situation at the borders.

Responding to a question, Shibli Faraz said that Afghan troops resorted to unprovoked firing on civilians gathered at Pakistan’s side of Chaman border.

He said that the incident occurred when some people attempted to cross the border forcefully. Faraz maintained that some element involved in smuggling, provoked them to cross the border for their vested interest.

Earlier in the day, the spokesperson of the Foreign Office (FO) had clarified that Pakistani troops had responded to protect the local population and acted only in self-defence when Afghan forces opened unprovoked fire on innocent civilians gathered at the Chaman’s Friendship Gate.

The FO spokesperson Aisha Farooqui had said in a media statement that Afghan forces had opened unprovoked fire on innocent civilians gathered towards Pakistan’s side of the international border at the Friendship Gate Chaman on July 30.

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Sindh govt announced extension in Eid holidays

Sindh government on Friday announced to extend Eidul Azha holidays till 3rd of August.

According to a notification issued by the Sindh government, there will be public holidays in the province from 31st of July to August 3 on account of Eidul Azha.

All the government offices and educational institutes will remain closed on the aforesaid dates, read the notification. The provincial government extended the holidays for one day.

The provincial government offices will remain open on Tuesday as per normal routine.

Earlier on July 29, Sindh government had announced three public holidays in the province on the occasion of Eid ul Azha.

According to a notification issued by the provincial government, all offices coming under the domain of the provincial government would remain shut for three days from Friday to Sunday, 31 July to 02 August.

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Pakistani forces responded to protect local population in Chaman border firing: FO

The spokesperson of the Foreign Office (FO) has clarified that Pakistani troops had responded to protect the local population and acted only in self-defence when Afghan forces opened unprovoked fire on innocent civilians gathered at the Chaman’s Friendship Gate on July 30.

The FO spokesperson Aisha Farooqui said in a media statement that Afghan forces had opened unprovoked fire on innocent civilians gathered towards Pakistan’s side of the international border at the Friendship Gate Chaman on July 30.

She added that Pakistan troops deployed on the posts were also simultaneously engaged by Afghan posts.

‘Pakistan troops responded to protect our local population and acted only in self-defence. It is reiterated that Pakistan Force did not open fire first and responded in self-defence only.’

To de-escalate the situation, the Pakistan side immediately activated both military and diplomatic channels and it was after hectic efforts that the firing was stopped from the Afghan side.

It must be noted that the borders with Afghanistan were opened for pedestrian movement and trade, upon the request of the Afghan authorities.

The statement read, ‘Pakistan is undertaking concerted efforts to ensure regulated movement of trade between the two countries, which are being challenged by elements opposed to such regulation. Moreover, due to Eid ul Azha, pedestrians’ move was also allowed. People gathered for this purpose were deliberately targeted by Afghan forces for incomprehensible reasons.’

‘This unfortunate incident resulted in numerous casualties and deliberate/serious damage to State infrastructure on the Pakistan side. There were, reportedly, unfortunate losses on the Afghan side as well. All this could have been avoided if fire had not been initiated from the Afghan side.’

Pakistan reiterates its sincere readiness to further enhance fraternal relations with Afghanistan in the interest of peace and stability in the region. We hope our constructive efforts will be reciprocated, said the FO spokesperson.

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FIA constitutes 11-member inquiry team to investigate sugar Commission report

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Friday constituted an 11-member inquiry team to investigate sugar mills based on the findings of the Sugar Inquiry Commission report, days after the government gave the go-ahead to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and FIA to launch an investigation.

The 11-member team, which will be headed by Director FIA Islamabad Zone Dr Moeen Masood and comprising Customs, FBR and State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) representatives, will investigate how sugar was being exported to Afghanistan.

The government on July 23 had directed the departments to launch an investigation. The federal government had further ordered that a report on the investigation should be submitted within 90 days.

Sugar Inquiry Commission report

The report mentioned in depth how the amount of sugar exported to Afghanistan is routinely inflated to show as if 75 tonnes of the commodity were being exported per truck.

However, this is barely possible, given that the maximum capacity of a truck, even when overloaded, does not exceed 30 tonnes.

The scam also seemingly has another purpose: laundering money. If sugar is being exported to Afghanistan, the payment should also be coming in from the same country.

However, it was found by the commission that many sugar mill owners were receiving telegraphic transfers for payments for sugar sold to Afghanistan from the US and Dubai, therefore seemingly whitening money and earning dollars at the same time.

Another important finding highlighted in the report was that sugar mills paid an estimated Rs22bn in taxes to the Government of Pakistan, but out of that total amount, Rs12bn was reclaimed in rebates. Hence, the net contribution was close to around Rs10bn.

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FIA constitutes 11-member inquiry team to investigate sugar Commission report

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Friday constituted an 11-member inquiry team to investigate sugar mills based on the findings of the Sugar Inquiry Commission report, days after the government gave the go-ahead to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and FIA to launch an investigation.

The 11-member team, which will be headed by Director FIA Islamabad Zone Dr Moeen Masood and comprising Customs, FBR and State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) representatives, will investigate how sugar was being exported to Afghanistan.

The government on July 23 had directed the departments to launch an investigation. The federal government had further ordered that a report on the investigation should be submitted within 90 days.

Sugar Inquiry Commission report

The report mentioned in depth how the amount of sugar exported to Afghanistan is routinely inflated to show as if 75 tonnes of the commodity were being exported per truck.

However, this is barely possible, given that the maximum capacity of a truck, even when overloaded, does not exceed 30 tonnes.

The scam also seemingly has another purpose: laundering money. If sugar is being exported to Afghanistan, the payment should also be coming in from the same country.

However, it was found by the commission that many sugar mill owners were receiving telegraphic transfers for payments for sugar sold to Afghanistan from the US and Dubai, therefore seemingly whitening money and earning dollars at the same time.

Another important finding highlighted in the report was that sugar mills paid an estimated Rs22bn in taxes to the Government of Pakistan, but out of that total amount, Rs12bn was reclaimed in rebates. Hence, the net contribution was close to around Rs10bn.

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Corona cases in Pakistan rose to 278,305, recovery rate rose to 247,177

The number of confirmed Corona cases in Pakistan rose to 278,305 on Friday after new infections were confirmed in the country.

Total: 278,305

• Sindh: 120,550

• Punjab: 92,873

• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 33,958

• Balochistan: 11,732

• Islamabad Capital Territory: 15,014

• Gilgit-Baltistan: 2,105

• AJK: 2,073

Deaths: 5,951

• Punjab: 2,140

• Sindh: 2,209

• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 1,194

• Balochistan: 136

• Islamabad Capital Territory: 165

• Gilgit-Baltistan: 53

• AJK: 54

RECOVERED: 247,177

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