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Express Tribune
12 hours ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Regulator's meeting at hill station raises eyebrows
Listen to article In a move that raises questions about fiscal discipline and public accountability, the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has planned a high-end Registrar Conference at the tourist hill station of Malam Jabba, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. This conference is slated for June 28-29 and SECP officials left on Friday to attend the event, estimated to cost Rs8 million, as approved by the commission. According to sources, for the first time in SECP's history, the Registrar Conference is being held at a luxury hill station with management lodging at an A-class hotel for the SECP chairman, commissioners, executive directors and heads of departments. Sources within the SECP confirmed that the stated agenda of the conference was to discuss regulatory reforms and promote the exchange of ideas among registrars to address existing and emerging challenges. The timing of the event is also controversial as it comes at a time when the prime minister has issued clear directives to all government departments to adopt austerity measures, cut unnecessary expenditures and avoid lavish events – a policy that comes in the wake of Pakistan's fiscal situation and reliance on IMF support. "This is a blatant contradiction of the federal government's austerity instructions," said a senior official familiar with the matter. "Spending millions on a luxury conference undermines the credibility of the government's reform agenda." Further compounding the problem is the SECP's recent revision of its fee structure, where incorporation charges were nearly doubled and the cost of filing documents was increased significantly. Effective from April 21, 2025, the commission has imposed new and higher fees across various company types and submission modes. It has also introduced non-refundable processing fees for applications seeking regulatory approvals, exemptions and directions, affecting thousands of businesses and professionals. Adding to the controversy is the SECP's frequent foreign travel. In the past year alone, the commission's top leadership reportedly undertook dozens of foreign visits to attend international conferences and events. Many of these trips were funded by the public exchequer. The cabinet has already placed restrictions on such publicly funded foreign travel, citing the need for financial restraint. When the SECP spokesperson was contacted, he stated "the conference is a strategic session of the commission, which is held annually". "Only employees attend it and their families do not attend," he added.
Time of India
18 hours ago
- Time of India
Homemaker duped of 43L in online fraud
Pune: Cybercrooks, who posed as agents of an online jewellery store, duped a 45-year-old homemaker from Hinjewadi of Rs43.31 lakh in an online task fraud. The crooks gave prepaid tasks of writing posts related to their jewellery store and duped her between March and April this year . The woman filed an online complaint. After preliminary investigations, a case was registered with the Hinjewadi police on Thursday. Police sub-inspector Dnyaneshwar Zol of the Hinjewadi police said the complainant's husband was an IT engineer and currently based abroad. "While searching for an online job opportunity, the woman received messages from 'official agents' of an online jewellery store. They offered her a part-time job of completing tasks related to the promotion of the jewellery store. They offered handsome returns to the woman on her investments in the tasks," Zol said. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune He said the woman first invested Rs10,000 and completed the tasks given to her through a link. The crooks gained her confidence by returning her Rs15,000. "Later, the woman went on investing and could see that she earned a good amount of money. After investing almost Rs32 lakh, the woman tried to withdraw her money. The crooks took more money from her by citing reasons like payment of GST and other charges," he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Reliable Full Coverage Ahead Boost Mobile Australia Learn More Undo Zol said that the woman totally transferred Rs43.31 lakh to the different bank accounts provided to her. When the crooks demanded Rs8 lakh more from her, she became suspicious and stopped responding to them. "When she called her husband and told him about the transactions, he immediately alerted her that she was being duped. He told her to lodge a complaint," Zol said.
Time of India
19 hours ago
- Time of India
Tadoba Safari Gets Pricier; Core Zone to Close from July 1 for Monsoon
Chandrapur: Planning a tiger safari at Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR)? Be prepared to pay more, as the reserve—famous for its thrilling tiger sightings—has hiked its safari charges by Rs1,000 per gypsy. The revised rates came into effect just two days ago, catching many tourists off guard. As per the new structure, a single safari in the core zone will now cost Rs8,800 on weekdays and Rs12,800 on weekends and public holidays if the booking is made 60 to 120 days in advance. Similarly, if booked between 9 and 60 days before the safari, the trip will cost Rs5,800 on weekdays and Rs6,800 on weekends. These rates will be effective from the new season, as core safaris reopen for tourists on October 1. Safaris in the buffer zone have also become costlier, with charges rising to Rs6,000 on weekdays and Rs7,000 on weekends and holidays. Tourists who had booked their trips in advance will not be affected by the hike, but those who made bookings in the past couple of days are already feeling the pinch. Resort owners and guides have expressed concern over the sudden increase, especially as basic infrastructure in the buffer areas remains underdeveloped. Meanwhile, Tadoba's core safari gates will close for the monsoon season and reopen on October 1, according to field director Prabhu Nath Shukla. "Some buffer gates will remain open during the monsoon period. The buffer zones significantly decongest core areas, support community-based tourism, and ensure wider access to wildlife sightings," he said. He added that as the monsoon approaches, it becomes crucial to regulate tourism activities to ensure the safety of tourists and allow nature to rejuvenate. Consequently, core gates remain closed during this period, while a few buffer gates stay open. Tourists, safari enthusiasts, and stakeholders are advised to check availability and book safaris only through the official website: The forest department clarified that the annual closure is necessary to prevent damage to the reserve's ecosystem and to ensure visitor safety, as muddy and unpaved roads become risky during heavy rains. Though the monsoon arrived earlier this year, safari bookings had already been made until June 30, making it difficult for the authorities to shut the zone before the usual July 1 timeline.
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
SESSI asked to expand registration of workers
Sindh Assembly Public Accounts Committee Chairman Nisar Khuhro has said that since its inception, the Sindh Employees Social Security Institution (SESSI) has not undergone an audit. SESSI informed the PAC that its governing body had decided against conducting an audit, but Khuhro questioned whether SESSI considers itself above the constitution, refusing to undergo an audit. He stressed that SESSI is not exempted from audits and therefore ordered an audit of the institution. Khuhro, the president of the Sindh chapter of PPP, expressed these views while addressing a ceremony to mark the 72nd birth anniversary of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, organised by the People's Labour Bureau at the SESSI headquarters on Thursday. Provincial Labour Minister Shahid Abdul Salam was also present on the occasion. Nisar Khuhro pointed out that SESSI's medical supplies worth Rs8 billion are not being audited. He questioned the functioning of hospitals under the institution despite the large amount of funds allocated for medicines. He stressed that an audit of the Rs8 billion allocation is essential to determine the proper utilisation of funds and the functioning of hospital equipment. The SESSI informed that out of the Rs13 billion funds, 70 per cent were spent on healthcare services, including medicines for hospitals, and 30 per cent on SECCI's directorate. Khuhro suggested that the Labour Department should focus on ensuring the provision of medicines to workers through SESSI hospitals. He pointed out that out of 670,000 industrial units, only 240,000 are registered with SESSI, whereas the actual number of workers is around six million. Khuhro said, non-registration of industrial units and their workers is a major weakness of the welfare institution. He suggested that the Labour Department should take steps to register workers, including those working in shops. He pointed out that the minimum wage of Rs37,000 for workers in the private sector is not being implemented. If the minimum wage of Rs37,000 is not being enforced, then how can the implementation of a higher wage of Rs42,000 be expected? Therefore, the Labour Department should ensure the implementation of the Sindh government's minimum wage policy for workers in both public and private sectors.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
BJP MLA's funds threat video in village where he trailed in polls sparks controversy
Pune: Former cabinet minister and BJP MLA from Jalna, Babanrao Lonikar, sparked controversy when he allegedly threatened people of a village in his constituency, where he trailed during the assembly polls, with withholding funds. A purported video of Lonikar surfaced on social media, showing him addressing a public meeting held in Borgaon village under Jalna's Partur constituency, represented by him in the assembly. The event was organised to inaugurate a concrete road constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. According to the MLA, the road had cost Rs8 crore. Addressing the villagers, Lonikar said, "Borgaon has traditionally supported BJP, but (in assembly) the votes got divided in the village. How could Babanrao trail in this village?" You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune He said, "I got a road constructed of Rs8 crore for the village. At least now, the villagers should support me. Don't think that you will keep getting Rs5-10 crore funds if you do not vote for me."
