
Water recycling plan at car wash stations stalls
The Punjab government had issued red notices for installing this system in all 1,370 car service stations in the division, both small and large, with a deadline set for February 28. However, none of the car wash stations in the Rawalpindi Division installed the water treatment system by the given deadline.
The department had warned of a crackdown on car service stations starting March 1 if the system was not installed. Despite this, no progress has been made at the car wash stations.
Owners of car wash stations claim the system is very expensive and they cannot afford it. They argue that they earn only Rs10,000 to Rs15,000 a day, and a large portion of their income is spent on employee wages and electricity bills.
Hakeem Khan, the vice president of the Car Wash Service Station Union, is of the view that if the government and administration want to make this system mandatory, they should provide easy loans or install the system for them, allowing payments to be made in installments.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Express Tribune
13 hours ago
- Express Tribune
ADB, Sindh launch Rs440m initiative
Listen to article The Asian Development Bank (ADB), in collaboration with the Government of Sindh, has launched a Rs440 million business recovery and empowerment initiative for families impacted by the 2022 floods. According to a statement issued on Wednesday, ADB's Gender Specialist Judha Bukhari led a delegation to Hyderabad on Wednesday and held a strategic meeting with the Hyderabad Chamber of Small Traders & Small Industry (HCSTSI). During the meeting, Bukhari stated that 2.1 million families were affected by the floods and, in the first phase, over 6,000 households will receive financial assistance ranging from Rs100,000 to Rs300,000 to help them establish small businesses suited to their needs. She said the aim is to empower vulnerable communities through sustainable livelihoods and appreciated HCSTSI's support in conducting the upcoming business survey in Hyderabad. HCSTSI Acting President Ahmed Idrees Chohan lauded the initiative as a timely effort to help women and youth achieve financial independence. He highlighted business models such as tailoring, tiffin services, and e-commerce training. Vice President Shan Sehgal emphasised the potential of hospitality and food ventures, citing Bangladesh's success with women-led microenterprises. He called for youth training in marketing and technical skills to foster self-sufficient businesses. The meeting was attended by ADB officials and HCSTSI members, including former president Muhammad Akram Ansari.


Business Recorder
16 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Small traders reject hike in rates of fuel prices
KARACHI: The All Pakistan Organisation of Small Traders and Cottage Industries, Karachi chapter on Wednesday come out strongly against the government's recent increase in fuel prices, condemning it as an 'anti-trader, anti-economy' decision that will only deepen the crisis already engulfing Pakistan's commercial capital. Led by their President, Mahmood Hamid and senior leadership including Syed Liaquat Ali, Javed Haji Abdullah, Naveed Ahmed, and Usman Sharif, the body rejected the hike of Rs8.36 per litre in petrol and Rs10 in diesel, calling for its immediate reversal. The leaders described the move as a cruel blow delivered just a day after the imposition of Rs463 billion in new taxes through the federal budget. 'This shameful fuel price hike will paralyse the economy,' they warned. 'It will raise transport and logistics costs, trigger fresh waves of inflation, and make business operations unaffordable—pushing both ordinary citizens and small traders to the brink.' They painted a bleak picture of Karachi's civic landscape, already reeling from post-monsoon neglect. 'Markets are submerged in filth, with stagnant water still not drained. Roads across commercial centres look like archaeological ruins, battered by decades of neglect. Power outages are routine, and K-Electric's excessive billing and poor service have become unbearable,' they said. According to the traders, the sudden spike in fuel prices will only exacerbate these conditions, as transportation of goods becomes costlier, shop rents soar due to electricity adjustments, and consumers cut spending amidst rising living costs. In particular, they took strong exception to Section 37AA of the new budget, which empowers tax officials to detain traders and recover taxes directly from their accounts. Terming it 'draconian and disgraceful,' the leaders said it violates constitutional protections and business ethics. 'The tax net cannot be expanded by treating traders like criminals,' they said, warning of a citywide protest movement if the clause is not withdrawn. The traders dismissed gains in the stock market as 'artificial window dressing,' saying real economic progress is impossible without structural support for the business community and proper civic governance. 'Karachi is the backbone of Pakistan's economy, but it's being choked with taxes, fuel hikes, and criminal neglect. This cannot continue. We demand that the government stop punishing the city that pays the country's bills,' the statement concluded. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025


Business Recorder
a day ago
- Business Recorder
Lucky Motor hikes KIA car prices by up to Rs700,000 amid NEV levy imposition
Citing recent developments, including measures introduced in the federal budget, Lucky Motor Corporation (LMC) has announced a sharp increase in the ex-factory prices of its KIA-brand vehicles, effective July 1, 2025. The price hike goes as high as Rs700,000 across select models. 'Our focus has consistently been on offering the highest quality products at competitive prices. However, recent developments have had a significant impact on prices, including the imposition of the NEV [New Energy Vehicle] levy in the federal budget, continued depreciation of the Pakistani rupee, and rising international freight costs,' the company announced in a notification to dealers. 'Despite our best efforts to minimise and absorb the impact, a price adjustment is being implemented from 1st July,' it added. The NEV levy on all internal combustion engine motor vehicles and motorcycles, introduced in the Finance Act 2025, came into effect from July 1, 2025, increasing prices significantly. According to the details, the NEV levy covers all vehicle categories from basic motorcycles to luxury SUVs. However, the policy exempts new energy vehicles (electric and hybrid cars), vehicles manufactured exclusively for export, diplomatic mission vehicles, and those belonging to international organisations with diplomatic privileges. Among the key price changes, Lucky Motors increased the prices of its hatchback Picanto AT by Rs150,000. The automatic variant will sell for Rs4.09 million after the price hike. Meanwhile, the Stonic EX+ has seen a significant surge of Rs499,000, making its new price Rs5.99 million. The Stonic EX variant will now be available at Rs4.86 million after a hike of Rs95,000. The company jacked up prices of the Sportage and Sorento variants as well. The new price of Sportage Alpha is Rs8.89 million, while Sportage FWD is now available at Rs10.49 million. The Sportage HEV variant is now priced at Rs11.59 million, after a price increase of Rs600,000. The price of Sorento 3.5L V6 is Rs13.89 million, while the ex-factory rate of Sorento 3.5L V6-EMI is Rs14.39 million amid an increase of Rs400,000. Meanwhile, the Sorento HEV FWD and its EMI version will be available at Rs15.29 million and Rs15.79 million, respectively, following an increase of Rs600,000. The Sorento HEV AWD and its EMI version saw the steepest hike in the entire lineup, with a Rs700,000 jump — now priced at Rs16.69 million and Rs17.19 million, respectively. The Kia Carnival, a premium multi-purpose vehicle, is now priced at Rs18.2 million, reflecting a Rs700,000 jump. Interestingly, the prices of KIA's electric vehicles— EV5 Air, EV5 Earth, and the EV9 — remain unchanged. 'All customer orders invoiced on or after 1st July 2025 will be subject to the revised ex-factory price. 'Any new or additional duties, taxes, or charges, if imposed by the government, and/or currency fluctuations leading to price adjustment and applicable at the time of delivery, will be borne by the customer,' LMC said. The ex-factory prices are exclusive of freight and insurance charges.