Latest news with #Rs20
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Maha govt approves construction of 500 new gram panchayat buildings
Nagpur: The Maharashtra govt has sanctioned the construction of 500 new Gram Panchayat office buildings under the Revised Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) for the financial year 2025–26, with a total budget outlay of Rs324.28 crore. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Of these, 127 buildings will be constructed in Vidarbha, reflecting a significant push to strengthen rural governance infrastructure in the region. The approvals include 73 buildings in the Amravati Division (covering Amravati, Akola, Yavatmal, Buldhana, and Washim) and 54 in the Nagpur Division (including Nagpur, Bhandara, Gondia, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, and Wardha), giving Vidarbha one of the largest regional shares under the scheme. The state's decision follows the approval of the annual action plan by the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) in May 2025. The initiative aims to strengthen rural governance by creating proper administrative infrastructure in villages where existing Gram Panchayat buildings are either unavailable, unsafe, or in a dilapidated condition. The scheme mandates that selected villages must have a population of over 3,000 and lack a viable panchayat building or operate from structurally compromised premises, as per a GR dated July 18. Under the funding structure, 60% of the cost will be borne by the central govt and 40% by the state. Each approved panchayat will receive Rs25 lakh — Rs20 lakh for the construction of the office building and Rs5 lakh for an adjoining Citizen Service Centre (CSC room), which will house digital and public utility services. The state govt has directed the respective Zilla Parishads and district administrations to begin construction immediately after land and legal clearances. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Locations must be free of legal disputes and under full ownership of the Gram Panchayat. The directive also stresses the importance of transparency, mandating standardised building plans, cost boards, and completion monitoring at the district level. The RGSA, first launched as a restructuring of the Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Sashaktikaran Abhiyan, aims to build institutional capacity at the grassroots and strengthen decentralised governance. With this phase of approvals, Maharashtra hopes to accelerate rural development by creating functional spaces for panchayat operations, grievance redressal, and citizen outreach. The scheme will be monitored by the Directorate of Panchayati Raj, Pune, which will oversee fund disbursal and ensure timely completion of the works through regular field reports.
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Time of India
Police nab 2, recover goods worth Rs3 lakh
Nashik: The Nashik Road police have arrested two people and recovered stolen goods worth Rs3 lakh linked to two separate thefts, including one at the home of a 72-year-old retired judge. The suspects have been identified as Joy alias Bhurya Vijay Nanaji and Chetan Kailas Sonawane — both residents of the Sharanpur slum in Nashik city. The police have confiscated Rs20,000, a silver brick weighing over one kilogram worth Rs1 lakh, melted gold valued at Rs1.5 lakh, and a cellphone worth Rs30,000. The retired judge had filed a complaint with Nashik Road police on June 16. In his complaint, the judge stated that unknown individuals had entered his locked residence in Chehedi Pumping (Nashik Road) between June 5 and June 10, decamping with various items. While the police were investigating, they received information that the suspects were coming to Sinnar Phata on Sunday. They laid a trap and nabbed the duo.
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
Three 'TTP terrorists' killed in Karachi
In a joint operation, the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and intelligence agencies killed three suspected terrorists affiliated with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Karachi's Manghopir area late on Sunday night. The CTD identified two of the slain terrorists as Zafran and Qudratullah, while the third terrorist's identity is yet to be confirmed. Zafran, who carried a Rs20 million bounty, was allegedly involved in the 2024 Liberty Textile attack, targeting Chinese nationals. The CTD chief said the three slain terrorists belonged to a TTP cell dispatched from Afghanistan. Intelligence officials had been surveilling the cell for several days.
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
'Artificial control' keeps dollar overvalued by Rs20
The Pakistan Business Forum (PBF) has urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to address the artificial control over currency exchange rate, asserting that the current dollar value is being kept deliberately high. Economic indicators suggest that fair value of the dollar should be around Rs260, it said. In a statement, PBF Chief Organiser Ahmad Jawad called on the premier to take immediate notice of the situation as a correction of even Rs20 in the rupee value could significantly reduce both public debt and inflation. He pointed out that historically Pakistan had failed to restore true value of the rupee after depreciation, which resulted in long-term instability. The forum noted that the current exchange rate of Rs283 to a dollar was unsustainable for the economy. "A meaningful economic relief can only be achieved if the rupee stabilises." Jawad pointed out that inflation, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), had dropped to around 3%, making the current 11% interest rate unjustifiable. The PBF stressed that the upcoming monetary policy, scheduled for July 30, should bring the interest rate down to at least 9%. It added that the government was paying 11% interest on domestic debt totalling Rs50 trillion, which was 5-6% higher than the current inflation rate. "This discrepancy imposes an annual burden of approximately Rs3 trillion on the national exchequer, which can otherwise be used for public welfare and infrastructure development." Lower interest rates would also boost Pakistan's export potential in global markets, the forum stated, adding that the IMF itself recommended that interest rates be kept closer to the prevailing inflation rate. The PBF underlined the need for diversifying Pakistan's export base beyond textile and advocated the search for new industries and markets. Additionally, the State Bank of Pakistan should ensure access to credit for the business community in Balochistan in the upcoming monetary policy. Jawad concluded his remarks through expressing concern over growing frustration among the business community due to the lack of attention to challenges faced by the productive sectors. He expressed hope that the Monetary Policy Committee would adopt a growth-friendly and pragmatic approach in its upcoming meeting.
Express Tribune
a day ago
- General
- Express Tribune
Ganweriwala excavation halts unexpectedly
Listen to article The excavation and research work at Ganweriwala, a 5,000-year-old lost city located in the Cholistan Desert, has been suspended for several months due to a lack of funding. Archaeology experts lament that due to government inaction, Pakistan is missing a crucial opportunity to showcase an important site from the Indus Valley Civilization on a global platform. Renowned archaeologist Dr Muhammad Rafique Mughal first discovered Ganweriwala in 1975. Experts believe this ancient site was the third-largest urban centre, after Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro, located approximately 60 kilometres southwest of Qila Derawar. A team of former directors and experts from various institutions across Punjab commenced excavation on February 24, 2024, under the leadership of Dr Sajida Haider Vandal, Chairperson of the Trust for History, Art, and Architecture of Punjab Foundation. Despite the harsh desert climate, the team worked tirelessly, engaging prominent Pakistani experts, including Dr Rafique Mughal, in this national project. The excavation unearthed pottery, brick walls, terracotta figurines, copper seals, and other artefacts at various sites, bearing striking similarities to the Indus Valley Civilization. Dr Mughal confirmed that these findings attest to Ganweriwala's antiquity and significance. Former Director of Archaeology, Afzal Khan, revealed that over 60 labourers were employed, a tent city was established, and six excavation sites were explored. However, the project slowed down in late March due to extreme heat and labour shortages. Despite submitting detailed expenses to the Commissioner's office in Bahawalpur, funds were withheld due to alleged objections. 'The government had approved Rs20 million for the project, which was to be disbursed through the Commissioner Bahawalpur, but the team has yet to receive a single rupee. The second phase of excavation, scheduled to begin in October 2024, has been put on hold due to a lack of funding," said Dr Vandal. Seconding Dr Vandal, Khan added that the funds lapsed on June 30, 2024, as the fiscal year concluded. Experts worldwide are now inquiring about the discoveries, but the team is unable to provide answers. Muhammad Hassan, former Director of Punjab Archaeology, highlighted the site's significance, noting that Ganweriwala is the most prominent among nearly 500 archaeological sites in Cholistan. The area was once inhabited by people who practiced agriculture and cattle rearing along the banks of the Hakra River. Meanwhile, Bahawalpur Commissioner Musarrat Jabeen confirmed that no funds were released to the team. 'As per the agreement, all artefacts were to be sent for international analysis and then handed over to the Bahawalpur Museum. However, the team allegedly shifted the findings to Lahore and has not submitted any lab reports so far,' noted Jabeen. Experts argue that the government should facilitate, rather than hinder, international-standard research, enabling Pakistan's rich cultural heritage to be preserved and showcased globally.
