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Express Tribune
5 days ago
- General
- Express Tribune
Bodies of four missing fishermen recovered off Gwadar coast
Listen to article Authorities on Sunday recovered four more bodies from a fishing boat that capsized near Gwadar, bringing the total death toll to five. The boat, carrying six fishermen from Karachi, sank due to strong winds and rough waves in the Arabian Sea earlier this week. The deceased include Ayub, a resident of Ibrahim Hyderi, whose body was recovered a day earlier and laid to rest on Sunday. His son Zeeshan, also among the victims, is expected to be brought to Karachi from Gwadar by Monday night. The remaining three victims, identified as residents of Machar Colony, were also transported to the city for burial. One fisherman miraculously survived the incident. Read More: One dead, several missing as boat sinks near Gwadar Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) media coordinator Kamal Shah confirmed that six fishermen were on board at the time of the accident. 'Five have died while one survived,' he said. PFF Chairman Mehran Ali Shah, speaking to media at Ayub's funeral, said the fishing community faces daily risks at sea to provide for their families. 'When they are unable to fish, they are left with hunger and poverty,' he added. He demanded the Sindh government set up rescue centres along the coast and provide speedboats to ensure timely responses during maritime emergencies. Shah also urged the Fishermen Cooperative Society and relevant authorities to offer immediate financial aid to the victims' families. 'Sindh's fishermen contribute over Rs24 billion in taxes annually. It's time the government invests in their safety,' he said.
Hans India
6 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
DefMin signs Rs 2K-cr deal with BEL
New Delhi: The Ministry of Defence on Friday signed a contract with public-sector defence company Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) for the procurement of Air Defence Fire Control Radars for the Indian Army, worth approximately Rs2,000 crore, under the Buy (Indian-Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured) category. With a minimum 70 per cent indigenous content, these Fire Control Radars will be able to detect all forms of airborne threats, including fighter aircraft, attack helicopters and enemy drones. This would mark a significant milestone in the modernisation of the Air Defence Regiments and enhance the Indian Army's operational readiness, while contributing to the economic growth of the nation, according to a Defence Ministry statement. The contract was signed and exchanged by senior officials of the Ministry of Defence and BEL in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. The procurement marks a pivotal step towards empowering indigenous defence industries by encouraging Indian MSMEs through components manufacturing and raw material supply, the statement said. The government is keen to promote the country's defence industry, and earlier this month Defence Acquisition Council, under the chairmanship of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, gave the go-ahead for 10 proposals to purchase military hardware, including missiles and electronic warfare systems, worth approximately Rs 1.05 lakh crore through indigenous sourcing. India's indigenous defence production has surged to an all-time high of Rs1.46 lakh crore, with exports increasing to a record Rs24,000 crore in 2024-25, according to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.'Our defence production, which was only Rs43,000 crore 10 to 11 years ago, has now crossed a record figure of Rs1,46,000 crore, with the private sector's contribution of over Rs32,000 crore. Our defence exports, which were around Rs600-700 crore 10 years ago, have surpassed a record figure of Rs24,000 crore today,' the minister stated in his address at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) annual summit recently. He described Make-in-India as crucial for security and prosperity, stating that the use of indigenous systems during Operation Sindoor has proved that India has the power to penetrate any armour of the enemy.
Time of India
05-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Govt Intervenes in Onion Row; Calls for Direct Market Purchase from Farmers
Nagpur: Amid rising discontent among onion growers over declining prices and irregular procurement practices, Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule intervened to address the crisis. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The senior BJP leader held urgent discussions with Union ministers Pralhad Joshi and Piyush Goyal after former MLA and Prahar Janshakti Party leader Bacchu Kadu initiated a hunger strike in Amravati, demanding a Rs24 base price and the elimination of middlemen control. Following the protest, Bawankule convened a high-level meeting at Vidhan Bhavan this week, attended by ministers Jaykumar Rawal (Marketing), Manikrao Kokate (Agriculture), and senior officials from various departments. The discussions focused on overhauling the procurement system to ensure farmers receive fair compensation for their produce. "The primary objective is to prevent farmers from distress-selling. We are working on a mechanism in consultation with the Centre to ensure transparent, efficient procurement directly from the producers," Bawankule stated, emphasizing that onion farmers must not depend on commission agents. Marketing minister Rawal argued that the current system had been dominated by a few vested interests operating intermediary procurement centres. "Procurement and exports are unrelated. The system must be corrected. Farmers must get the benefit, not middlemen," he asserted, proposing the closure of all non-transparent procurement centres. Agriculture minister Kokate supported this view, stating, "All govt procurement should be routed through APMCs. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now It's the only way to guarantee traceability, fair pricing, and systematic procurement." Bacchu Kadu, who ended his fast following the state's assurance, reiterated that central agencies like the National Cooperative Consumers' Federation (NCCF) and NAFED should buy onions directly from markets or farmers, not from agents. "A base price of Rs24 per kg should be fixed immediately. Onion procurement from outside the APMC system must stop," he demanded. In the last procurement cycle, delays and poor storage conditions caused significant spoilage, with thousands of tonnes of onions rotting in godowns. Farmer groups have warned of a repeat if corrective steps are not implemented immediately.
Business Recorder
04-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
NA panel told: Uplift budget of MoNFS&R curtailed due to fund crunch
ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research was informed that development budget of the ministry had been significantly reduced from Rs24 billion to Rs4.7 billion due to fiscal constraints imposed by the federal government under its obligations to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), leading to the curtailment of various planned projects. The committee met under the chairmanship of Syed Tariq Hussain, which considered agenda item regarding the point of order raised by Asad Qaiser, MNA and former Speaker of the National Assembly, concerning the challenges faced by tobacco growers and the need for a comprehensive policy to address their concerns. It was informed that tobacco is a significant cash crop in Pakistan, cultivated over approximately 55,000 hectares with an annual production of 186,000 tons. Of this, KPK contributes significantly, with 32,936 hectares under cultivation and annual production of around 97,385 tons making it the primary contributor to Pakistan's exportable tobacco. Despite its importance, tobacco growers face financial hardship. The crop spans eight months, and the cost of cultivation on one hectare reaches approximately Rs1.9 million, while farmers report an average monthly profit of only Rs3,700. Contributing factors include delays in announcing the indicative price, lack of government procurement, poor performance of the Pakistan Tobacco Board (PTB), insufficient federal oversight, lack of research and development, and failure by the Ministry of National Food Security and Research to appoint or nominate PTB members. The Pakistan Tobacco Board informed the committee that it had conducted meetings with stakeholders and that tobacco is currently being purchased using a weighted average method. The board also claimed to address concerns regarding pricing, rejections, and related matters. However, the committee expressed concern over the PTB's lack of performance and coordination with growers. The committee issued several directives to ensure comprehensive follow-up. The Pakistan Tobacco Board, the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, the KPK Agriculture Department, and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) were instructed to present detailed information in the next meeting, including the current tobacco taxation policy, CESS collected over the last 10 years, utilisation details of collected CESS and the policy framework under which it was used, CSR activities undertaken, and the breakdown of CESS collected by the federal government and shared with provinces, including under which budgetary heads. The committee directed the secretary of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research to constitute the Pakistan Tobacco Board within one month and submit a report to the committee. Additionally, the secretary was instructed to convene an emergency meeting of the board to address the outstanding issues faced by tobacco growers and to provide a follow-up report within one week. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is to be invited to the next meeting to present details specifically related to CESS collection. The Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) was also assigned the task of outlining its support initiatives for tobacco growers and presenting a proposal for establishing a research centre aimed at improving the quality and productivity of tobacco crops. The committee directed the Pakistan Tobacco Board, along with the relevant provincial and federal government authorities and representatives of tobacco growers, to hold a joint consultation and submit a comprehensive report addressing all unresolved issues prior to the next meeting. To further facilitate discussions on this matter, the committee granted Shehram Khan Tarakai, MNA, the status of Special Invitee for all future proceedings related to tobacco issues. The committee raised concern with the ministry over the exclusion of several schemes previously discussed and recommended by the committee, in particular the proposed Dates Research Centre at Khairpur, to be established in collaboration with Shah Abdul Latif University. In response, the secretary explained that the ministry's development budget had been significantly reduced from Rs24 billion to Rs14 billion, then to Rs7 billion, and finally to Rs4.7 billion due to fiscal constraints imposed by the federal government under its obligations to the IMF, leading to the curtailment of various planned projects. The committee reiterated its directive to the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) to visit Khairpur along with the concerned Member and to submit a feasibility report before the Committee, so the project may be pursued through re-appropriation of funds. In relation to Agenda Item No 4, the Pro Vice-Chancellor of Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Agriculture, Multan briefed the committee on the university's ongoing and planned research initiatives, their impact on national food security, collaborations at both national and international levels, and the utilisation of research funds. Key innovations highlighted included the development of hybrid wheat varieties that can increase crop yield by up to 20 per cent, and self-irrigating wheat with modified leaf angles to channel water directly to the roots while minimising evaporation. Additionally, they are working on drillers expected to be commercialised within the next three years, aimed at increasing wheat productivity to 80–100 maunds per acre. Other areas of research include pulse production, digital marketing platforms for post-harvest handling and market access, fruit value addition, soil-less vegetable farming, salinity adaptation in the Southern Indus Basin, cotton and vegetable seed research, and the establishment of a National Crop Genomics and Speed Breeding Centre. The committee appreciated the university's efforts and emphasised the importance of making research outcomes accessible to farmers. It stressed that practical application of these innovations is critical to enhancing agricultural productivity and ensuring national food security. Furthermore, the committee urged the ministry to present a comprehensive 20-year agricultural development plan. Despite the research and efforts underway, major crop production has declined by 17 per cent, highlighting the urgent need for a long-term strategy that addresses the growing challenges of pollution, climate change, and sustainability in the agriculture sector. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
PAC blows whistle on Rs40b Kohistan scam
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Wednesday held a detailed discussion on the alleged Rs40 billion scam in Kohistan, expressing serious concerns over financial irregularities and a lack of departmental cooperation. Chairing a meeting after a month-long break, PAC Chairman Junaid Akbar said that when the committee raises audit objections, the department concerned fails to cooperate effectively. In May, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government launched an investigation into the mega corruption scandal in Kohistan district, where an estimated Rs40 billion had allegedly been siphoned off from the provincial treasury. The account was meant for retention money by contractors for schemes of four departments including communication and works, local government, irrigation and public health engineering departments. The scandal came under intense scrutiny during a meeting of the PAC, chaired by K-P Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati. Officials from the finance department and the Accountant General's office admitted during the session that billions had been misappropriated from government funds. While an official embezzlement figure of Rs24 billion had been confirmed, the PAC members expressed dissatisfaction with the explanations provided by finance secretary and the accountant general. On Wednesday, the audit officials revealed that there had been a misuse of cheque book, with fraud committed by three individuals who have now been arrested. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) is currently investigating the matter. The auditor general disclosed that despite sending three letters to the finance department, no disciplinary action had been taken against any of their officials. The committee demanded complete details of the case and directed that all relevant records be submitted.
