Pakistan
Tax evaders in various industries not to be spared: Khawaja Asif
"Tax culture would have to be improved in various industries"

Islamabad: Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Friday said there was dire need to improve the tax culture in the country and those industrialists involved in evasion should not be spared.
Speaking here at the National Assembly, the minister said that "tax culture would have to be improved in various industries" including tobacco and imported vehicles as well as electronic equipment.
He said that two industries in the tobacco sector in Pakistan had a total of 60 percent share in the market and these were paying taxes amounting to Rs. 151 billion per annum. The remaining tobacco industries with a share of 40 percent were paying only Rs. two billion tax because of their involvement in tax evasion through various means.
These tax evaders, he said, had contacts in political circles and even reached the parliament to protect their vested interests. The minister said that all politicians and those at the helm of affairs should help to expose tax evaders.
He stressed the need to improve tax culture in the country and to bring all into the tax net by ending inequality.
Khawaja Muhammad Asif lauded Minister for Finance Miftah Ismail and his team for hard work in steering the country out of the economic crisis. “We would find a way out after crossing the landmines which the previous government left for us in the economic sector and the country would be on the right track of prosperity and development”, he added.
He also appreciated Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif who accepted the challenge to take the country out of the economic crisis.
Regional
Unidentified people manhandle senior journalist Ayaz Amir in Lahore
Amir was leaving the office of a private TV channel located at Lahore’s Abbott Road

Lahore: Senior journalist and analyst Ayaz Amir was attacked by unidentified men in Lahore on Thursday.
Amir was leaving the office of a private TV channel located at Lahore’s Abbott Road when unidentified men attacked him. The assailants also snatched his wallet and mobile phone.
As soon as the incident was reported, a Punjab Police spokesperson said that the inspector-general has summoned a report of the incident from the capital city police officer.
The IG directed the CCPO to utilise the safe city cameras to identify the culprits and ensure their arrest.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also condemned the incident and ordered Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz to hold a high-level investigation.
“Suspects should be brought before the law as soon as possible. Journalism and protection of journalists should be ensured,” said PM Shehbaz.
-- Punjab CM condemns --
Punjab Chief Minister Punjab Hamza Shahbaz took a notice of the torture incident on the senior Journalist and columnist Ayaz Amir and sought a report from Inspector General of Police.
The CM ordered to arrest the accused at the earliest who are found involved in the torture incident on Ayaz Amir.
Hamza directed to bring the accused into the stern grip of law and further action be taken against them. CM condemned the attack on Ayaz Amir and directed to fulfill all the requirements of justice.
Pakistan
Punjab CM polls: SC orders holding runoff elections within two days
The election for Chief Minister-slot is likely not to be held today.

Islamabad: The Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered a runoff election after two days, adding that the one getting a majority of votes will be the new Chief Minister of Punjab.
According to details, a three-member bench of the Supreme Court hearing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) and PML-Q petitions against the Lahore High Court’s decision to hold a recount of votes for the election of the Punjab chief minister has summoned Pervaiz Elahi and Hamza Shahbaz Sharif before its Lahore registry.
Both leaders appeared before the court for the proceedings.
The court resumed the hearing in the afternoon after earlier giving PTI and PML-Q counsels 30 minutes to prepare.
After the hearing resumed, Pervaiz Elahi indicated through his lawyer that he is ready to accept Hamza Shahbaz Sharif as chief minister until the re-election for the chief minister slot is held.
Elahi has also requested the court to reschedule the reelection until after the July 17 by-elections on 20 PA seats.
The court, first, proposed two options on the matter of the Chief Minister of Punjab. Either the Chief Minister of Punjab should be re-elected in two days or Hamza Shahbaz should remain the Chief Minister till July 17.
However, the court then ordered to hold a runoff election for the selection of the new Chief Minister of Punjab.
2 دن کے بعد رن آف الیکشن ہوگا، جسٹس اعجاز الاحسن #GNN #GNNUpdates pic.twitter.com/tTyCg8PAQC
— GNN (@gnnhdofficial) July 1, 2022
Pakistan
MoIB to introduce digital system for ads distribution, circulation of newspapers
The decision was taken in a meeting of the Ministry of Information chaired by Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb.

Islamabad: Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has decided to introduce digital system for distribution of advertisements, checking of circulation figures of newspapers and magazines.
The decision was taken in a meeting of the Ministry of Information chaired by Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb.
This would prove to be a big step for ensuring transparency in the distribution of government advertisements.
Briefing was given to the meeting regarding the list of newspapers and magazines and their publication.
The meeting discussed adopting a comprehensive policy on ABC for national and regional newspapers and magazines, sources said.
Sources said that details were given on issues related to regular publication and circulation of newspapers and periodicals.
The meeting was also briefed on the details of newspapers and magazines on the Central Media List, sources said.
The meeting took a decision in principle that advertisements will be issued to newspapers and magazines published regularly in a fair and transparent manner.
It was decided that advertisements would be issued to only newspapers and magazines being published regularly.
Secretary Information and Broadcasting Shahera Shahid, Principal Information Officer Mubashir Hassan and other senior officials attended the meeting.
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