Latest news with #Rs380
Express Tribune
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
PAC orders blacklisting of eight NGOs
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Sindh Assembly has ordered the blacklisting of eight non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for failing to provide audit records, invoices, and expenditure details related to over Rs800 million in funding under the Community Development Programme. The decision came during a PAC meeting on Tuesday, chaired by Nisar Khuhro, with committee members Khurram Karim Soomro, Makhdoom Fakhar-uz-Zaman, and Taha Ahmed in attendance, alongside Planning and Development Secretary Sajjad Abbasi and other officials. The meeting reviewed audit paras from 2019 and 2020 related to the Planning and Development Department. Officials disclosed that 16 NGOs received funding in 2018 for health, skills development, and education projects. However, eight of them have not submitted any audit documentation. PAC Chairman Nisar Khuhro directed the Social Welfare Department to cancel the registration and licenses of these NGOs. During the session, another issue surfaced involving SRSO, which reportedly charged 8-10% interest on Rs10,000 micro-loans given to widowed and impoverished women in 100 union councils across Kashmore, Jacobabad, and Shikarpur - despite funds being allocated as interest-free under the UC-Based Poverty Reduction Programme. A letter submitted by SRSO's CEO acknowledged the interest but claimed it was mistakenly documented in the minutes, clarifying that loans were issued through village organisations. The PAC ordered a fact-finding probe into this alleged malpractice. Separately, the PAC was informed that SRSO had not yet returned Rs380 million in interest earnings to the government from the Rs9.67 billion it received for projects in six Sindh districts between 2018 and 2024. SRSO's CEO stated the funds were intact and would be returned once a formal request is made by the Planning Department. PAC directed a fact-finding investigation into SRSO's spending and retention of the interest amount. The committee also reinstated Pervez Ahmed, the suspended Project Director of the People's Poverty Reduction Programme, after he apologised for the delayed audit submission.
Time of India
12-07-2025
- Time of India
New ‘fare by meter' trend of cabbies compounds longstanding hassles faced by arriving flyers at Pune airport
Pune: Thousands of flyers arriving at the city airport and trying to exit the facility have cited major hassles with booking cabs. To compound this issue, many commuters are now claiming that a new trend of "pay by meter" that cabbies are insisting on is further creating chaos. For instance, Kalyaninagar resident Paras Agarwal, who reached Pune by flight late in June, told TOI, "I took off from Delhi on a two-hour flight and landed here around 8.20pm. By 8.35pm, I had collected my luggage and was at the AeroMall. I tried the apps of all cab aggregators, but until 9.50pm, not a single cabbie accepted a trip. Finally, one okayed the ride but told me the fare would be charged 'by the meter'. I was with my wife, who was too tired, and we just chose to not argue with him," he narrated. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune Several commuters echoed this experience. Despite AeroMall officials claiming to have taken steps to ensure that arriving passengers get cabs easily, the perennial issue continues — especially in evening hours. "I am surprised that both the police and Pune RTO are unable to resolve this matter till date. I flew around five months ago and again last month — each time it was a battle. Cabbies tend to just not accept rides, and then the booking goes from one cabbie to the next again and again," said Ashutosh Goyal, a Sinhagad Road resident. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like So sánh mức trượt giá: Hợp đồng tương lai (CFD) Bitcoin vs Ethereum IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo Katraj resident Yashodhan Joglekar, who landed at the city airport from Bengaluru around 8pm on June 19, said he reached home well over two hours later. "It took me approximately an hour to reach Pune. The flight took off at 6.58pm, and I landed in Pune by 8pm. By around 8.15pm, I was at the AeroMall trying to get a cab. But my perfect journey didn't end well — I found myself dealing with at least four ride cancellations over the next hour and finally got a cab only around 9.10pm. The wait was frustrating, and I managed to reach home only around 10.15pm," Joglekar said. Roshanjeet Singh, who lives in Delhi and came to Pune for a function in May, was angry too. "The fare of an Uber cab from Pune to Vimannagar showed around Rs260, but this cabbie called me and said the fare would be Rs380 by the meter. When I refused, the ride was cancelled. This happened six times. I could only get a cab after 50 minutes. What is happening in Pune?" he said. YS Rajput, vice president of the AeroMall, said they have now launched Meru cab services, besides the existing Ola, Uber and Rapido cabs for passengers. "With this, there are six cab services working at the AeroMall. There is a system wherein one can get immediate cabs, though the price could be a bit higher. We have a policy under which cabs belonging to any company can come inside to pick up passengers. Ride refusals are a problem, but we have had talks with the companies on the same," he told TOI. Pune deputy RTO Swapnil Bhosle said that the issue of "fare by meter" would be solved. "Once the new cab aggregator policy of the state gets implemented, all these companies will have to get a licence to operate by RTO. At present, they don't have a licence, but we have allowed them to operate to ensure that people don't face problems. The companies will have to follow regulations in the policy, which will mean all kinds of malpractices getting curtailed," he told TOI. Flyers were not convinced. "How can they just wait for some policy and be sure that things will get better? In many other airports, like Kolkata or Bengaluru, getting public transport from the airport is not very tough and full of hassles like in Pune," observed Sarvesh Thorat, a regular flyer.
Business Recorder
04-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Syndicate holds meeting for budget recommendations of PU
LAHORE: The 1758th meeting of the Syndicate was held under the chairmanship of Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Ali for the budget recommendations of Punjab University for the financial year 2025-26, in which the Syndicate recommended the Senate to approve a budget of Rs20.16 billion. On the directions of Dr Muhammad Ali, it has been recommended to increase scholarships and subsidies to reduce the financial burden of students and their parents. On the instructions of Dr Muhammad Ali, the university has increased the amount of scholarship from Rs380 million to Rs406 million compared to the previous year. In addition, scholarships will also be given to students of the university under the Honhaar Scholarship Programme, HEC and Punjab Education Endowment Fund. Due to the initiatives of Dr Muhammad Ali, the budget deficit of Punjab University has decreased for the first time. This year, the budget deficit is Rs1.2 billion compared to Rs2 billion last year. On this occasion, the syndicate members appreciated the austerity policy of the Punjab University administration. On the instructions of Dr Muhammad Ali, approval was given to increase the research grant from Rs229 million to Rs297 million to further improve the international ranking of the university and promote the research culture that has a positive impact on the country's economic and social development. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Muhammad Ali said that the university's budget deficit will be eliminated in the next 3 years. He said that the university will prioritize increasing sources of income instead of borrowing. He said that the university's endowment fund will be strengthened. For the first time, the university will receive a grant of Rs780 million from the Punjab government. According to other salient features of the budget, special students will be provided free education and free accommodation, while students who take admission on the basis of sports will be provided free education and tuition fees for Hafiz Quran will be waived. The Punjab University administration will provide a subsidy of crores of rupees to students residing in the hostel, transport while the subsidy provided towards electricity bills in teaching departments is in addition to this. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Time of India
04-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Land acquisition for Samruddhi extension, Shaktipeeth eway to begin soon in region
Nagpur: Land acquisition worth over Rs5,000 crore for Samruddhi extension, and the Shaktipeeth expressway, is expected to start in the region in the coming months. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has nearly completed the joint measurement of private land to be taken over for the extension of the Nagpur-Mumbai Samruddhi Mahamarg to Gondia and Gadchiroli. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The measurement of land in 20 villages in Wardha district to be acquired for the Shaktipeeth Expressway connecting Goa has also been concluded, said sources. For the Samruddhi Extension towards Gondia, measurement has been done in 104 villages out of 113 on the route. On the Bhandara line, 58 out of the 62 villages have been covered under joint measurement. However, a proposal for an alternative alignment for an extension towards Chandrapur has been put forward. It was eventually found that there are coal blocks on the earlier route, and the area cannot be given up for the road. A new route has been drawn, and approval is awaited, said a source. The extension will add another 400km of six-lane highway to the Samruddhi Mahamarg. This will soon be followed by the issuance of notices under the Maharashtra Highways Act, which also incorporates elements of the Land Acquisition Act of 2013, said an official. This includes provisions for compensation measured at five times the land value for those who agree and enter into a deal with MSRDC. Even those who oppose it get four-time value if their holdings are compulsorily taken over, explained a source. The base value is derived on the basis of ready reckoner rates or the average of transactions in the last three years before the notification — whichever is higher. If two crops are taken on the land with irrigation, there is an add-on of 1.5 times on the base value, and then the five-time cost is calculated. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now For fully irrigated land like orchards, the add-on to the base value goes up to 2 times, explained an official. The measurement concluded without any opposition from the locals, said officials. The total cost estimated for the Samruddhi extension comes to more than Rs4,500 crore. Another close to Rs380 to 400 crore may be needed for the Shaktipeeth land acquisition in Wardha district, from where the expressway starts. The leg towards Gondia will start from Gavasi near Nagpur and terminate at the Balaghat highway, passing through Tiroda. A road connecting Bhandara and Gadchiroli will diverge from this leg. An existing road ahead will be widened by National Highway Authorities of India (NHAI), which will ultimately connect to Durg in Chhattisgarh, a source said. The joint measurement for the extension towards Chandrapur, beginning from Seldoh in Wardha, will be done after the new alignment is approved.
Express Tribune
02-06-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Chicken prices drop in Peshawar
The price of poultry has dropped significantly, falling from Rs460 per kilogram to Rs380 within a week - a decrease of Rs80 per kilogram. Despite the steep decline in raw chicken prices, the cost of chicken dishes at restaurants and fast-food outlets remains unchanged, drawing criticism from consumers. As Eid-ul-Azha approaches, the poultry market has witnessed a notable dip in prices. However, eateries across the city continue to sell chicken dishes at inflated rates, unchanged since prices peaked earlier this year. Previously, when chicken prices surged to Rs500 per kilogram, restaurant and fast-food operators raised the prices of popular chicken dishes. Now that chicken rates have dropped significantly, the public is questioning why those increased menu prices haven't been revised.
