Latest news with #TariqButt
Gulf Today
3 days ago
- Business
- Gulf Today
Pakistan's PM announces abolition of monthly Rs35 PTV fee from electricity bills
Tariq Butt, Gulf Today Correspondent Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Sunday formally inaugurated the 'Apna Meter, Apna Reading' power smart mobile application — an initiative aimed at promoting transparency in the billing process by allowing consumers to take their own meter readings and send them to their respective power companies. The prime minister also announced that the Pakistan Television (PTV) fee will be abolished from electricity bills. Consumers are currently charged Rs35 monthly PTV fee through electricity bills. The initiative aims to phase out the role of meter readers in power distribution companies (Discos) across the country amid frustration by power consumers. The current pro rata system removes electricity consumers from the 'protected category' or pushes them into the next slab, leading to higher bills. Speaking at a ceremony to launch the app, the prime minister said the initiative is a revolutionary step undertaken by the government as part of power sector reforms over the past year. 'We implemented reforms in the power sector, but we have a long way to go. We brought merit-based appointments to the boards of Discos, and took strong action against the corrupt mafia,' he said. Shahbaz said that the minister of energy made stringent efforts and held tough negotiations with independent power producers (IPP) that eventually led to reduction in electricity prices by Rs7.5 per unit. 'We settled circular debt after negotiations with banks. When global oil prices were falling, we took advantage and reduced electricity prices,' he said, adding that despite concerns, the government made the tough decision to rebase prices and not pass the burden to consumers. The premier said the biggest challenge is power theft worth Rs500b annually, and efforts are being made to curb the menace. He reaffirmed that the government will not discourage solar power as it is the cheapest form of electricity. 'Pakistan is one of the countries with the largest growth in solar energy production,' he said. Shahbaz said the main beneficiary of this app will be the power consumers. 'It is a revolutionary technology, it will benefit every consumer in every home,' adding that the power division should raise awareness among consumers to use the app, which has been introduced in five languages. Federal Minister of Energy Awais Ahmed Leghari also spoke on the occasion and said the initiative aims to give the responsibility of the meter reader to the consumers. He said power consumers under the 'protected category' consuming less than 100 units received higher bills due to delayed or flawed meter reading. He said the government returned Rs10bn in overbilled amounts last year and efforts are being made to ensure transparency in the billing process.
Gulf Today
11-06-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
Over 1 million Pakistanis went abroad for work in a year, says report
Tariq Butt, Gulf Today correspondent More than one million Pakistanis left the country for overseas employment during the current fiscal year, according to the Economic Survey 2024-25. It highlighted the migration trends across the provinces and regions, with Punjab leading the way by a significant margin. A total of 404,345 individuals from Punjab went abroad for work, making it the largest contributor to the country's overseas workforce. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) followed with 187,000 workers, while Sindh sent 60,424 individuals overseas for employment. The report noted that 29,937 people from the tribal areas and 29,591 from Azad Kashmir left the country in search of better job opportunities. Smaller numbers were recorded in the federal capital, with 8,621 workers, Balochistan with 5,668, and the northern areas contributing 1,692 workers to the global labour market. The data underscores the critical role of overseas employment in Pakistan's economy, particularly in terms of remittances, and highlights regional disparities in labour migration patterns. Meanwhile, the Economic Survey also said that Pakistan's Information Technology (IT) sector has been declared one of the fastest-growing segments of the national economy. It showed an impressive 23.7% growth in IT exports, which surged to $2.825 billion during the fiscal year. In March 2025 alone, IT exports reached $342 million, registering a robust month-on-month growth of 12.1%. The IT services sector also posted the highest trade surplus of $2.4 billion, underscoring its growing role in the national economy. Freelancers contributed significantly, bringing in $400 million in foreign exchange. Pakistan's startup ecosystem is showing signs of maturity, with more than 1,900 startups having completed training at National Incubation Centres. In a noteworthy development for gender inclusion, over 12,000 women have been economically empowered through various tech and entrepreneurship programmes. The telecom sector also posted strong performance, with revenues reaching Rs803 billion. The number of telecom users in the country climbed to 199.9 million, with a density rate of 81.3%. The sector contributed Rs271 billion to the national exchequer during the fiscal year. To bolster digital growth and cybersecurity, a Pakistan-China IT Working Group has been formed, signalling increasing international cooperation in technology. The survey said that IT remains a major contributor to Pakistan's export growth, with rising global demand for Pakistani software products driving momentum in the sector.
Gulf Today
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Gulf Today
Pakistan says shot down 5 Indian jets; Delhi dismisses claim
Tariq Butt, Correspondent / Reuters Pakistan said on Wednesday that it shot down five Indian fighter jets, destroyed an Indian brigade headquarters, a drone and several checkposts in retaliatory strikes after at least 26 people were killed and 46 others injured in Indian strikes on different mosques/religious seminaries in Azad and Jammu Kashmir (AJK) and Pakistan. Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director-General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said at a news briefing that all Pakistan Air Force (PAF) jets are safe after engaging the Indian jets. He said that among the destroyed Indian Air Force (IAF) jets are three French-made Rafales, one Su30MKI and one MIG-29 Fulcrum. Later during the day, the Indian embassy in China dismissed as "disinformation" a social media post on X by China's state-run Global Times, which said that Pakistan had shot down Indian fighter jets. The embassy's statement followed the Global Times post, which said that the Pakistan Air Force had downed Indian fighter jets in response to Indian missile strikes on Pakistan. (Reporting by Surbhi Misra; Gen Chaudhry said that the armed forces also destroyed multiple enemy posts in several sectors along the Line of Control (LoC). An intense exchange of fire is ongoing at the LoC with the Pakistan Army engaging Indian army positions. He said India's attacks resulted in the killing of 26 innocent civilians, while 46 others have sustained injuries. A member of media films a portion of mosque building damaged by suspected Indian missile attack in Kotli, Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Reuters India hit Masjid Subhanullah in Ahmedpur East in Bahawalpur district in which 13 persons including two 3-year-old girls, seven women and four men were killed and 37 others including nine women and 28 men were injured. Masjid Bilal in Muzaffarabad (AJK) also became a target of Indian attack in which three persons were killed. One girl and one boy were injured. In Kotli (AJK), Masjid Abbas was hit in which a 16-year-old girl and an 18-year-old boy were killed. One woman and her child were injured. In Muridke [district Sheikhupura], Masjid Ummul Qura was targeted in which three men died and one was injured. In the Sialkot strike, no damages were reported. Same was the case in Shakargarh. However, one dispensary was damaged here. In a statement on X, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the "treacherous enemy" has launched a cowardly attack on multiple locations within Pakistan. "This heinous act of aggression will not go unpunished. Pakistan reserves the absolute right to respond decisively to this unprovoked Indian attack - a resolute response is already underway. The entire nation stands united behind its armed forces, and our morale and resolve remain unshaken. Our thoughts and prayers are with the brave officers and soldiers of Pakistan." Defence Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed that the PAF shot down at least five Indian fighter jets in response to India's recent cross-border aggression. He told a TV channel that Pakistan had gained the upper hand in its retaliatory action, while responding to the Indian forces' strikes with strength and precision. He stressed that the Pakistani armed forces acted decisively to defend the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has strongly condemned India's air strikes, describing them as an "unprovoked and blatant act of aggression." In a statement shared on social media, the minister said the IAF had targeted civilian areas using stand-off weapons while remaining within Indian airspace. Information Minister Ata Tarar told reporters that India had waved a white flag at the LoC and "accepted defeat.' He said this as footage of a white flag played in the background. "They have been forced to wave a white flag,' he said and added that the white flag was hoisted by the Indian army at the Chora Complex along the LoC. He said that "several' posts of the Indian army across the border had been destroyed by the armed forces.
India Today
02-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Supreme Court pauses deportation of PoK-born man, family with Indian documents
The Supreme Court has granted interim relief to a family facing deportation despite holding Indian passports, Aadhaar cards, and voter IDs. The court stayed the move to send six alleged Pakistani nationals back to Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack and directed the petitioners to present their case before the appropriate Ahmed Tariq Butt, a Bengaluru-based man born in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), argued that his family was being forcibly taken to the Attari Wagah border despite being Indian citizens. He told the court they were detained at the border, even though they possessed valid Indian documents, including passports issued by the Ministry of External are a total of six members in the same family. Two brothers work in Bangalore. Our parents, sister, and another brother are in Srinagar,' the petitioner said. Tariq Butt's father hails from Mirpur in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, while his mother was born in to the petition, Tariq Butt lived in Mirpur, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, until 1997 before crossing the border and moving to Srinagar. He lived in the Kashmir Valley for several years and currently resides in Bengaluru. Tariq later earned a management degree from IIM Kozhikode and currently works in an IT firm in said in his application that he and his family possess Indian passports and Aadhaar cards. His family includes his sister Ayesha Tariq and brothers Abubakar Tariq and Umar Tariq Butt. According to the petition, the family lived in Mirpur, but his place of birth is listed as Srinagar in the to the petition, the Foreigners' Regional Officer (FRO) wrongly claimed that the family had entered India in 1997 on Pakistani visas and were required to leave after their visas expired. The petitioner denied this, saying they were never Pakistani nationals and had never entered India on a petition follows the Centre's recent directive, issued after the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, asking all Pakistani nationals on short-term visas to leave India or face action.
Gulf Today
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Gulf Today
Any military misadventure will met with swift response, warns Pakistan army chief
Tariq Butt, Correpos Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir warned on Thursday that any military misadventure by India will be met with a swift, resolute, and notch-up response. The army chief made the remarks while visiting the Tilla Field Firing Ranges (TFFR) to witness Exercise Hammer Strike-a high-intensity, field training exercise conducted by Pakistan Army's Mangla Strike Corps. "Let there be no ambiguity: any military misadventure by India will be met with a swift, resolute, and notch-up response," the army chief warned. Meanwhile, the Pakistan army carried out full-scale war exercises, showcasing advanced military capabilities in accordance with strategic combat planning, security sources said. The drills featured live demonstrations of modern weapon systems and battlefield tactics, with both officers and troops exhibiting high levels of professionalism and preparedness. According to security sources, the aim of the exercises is to ensure a powerful and decisive response to any hostile act. The exercises come a day after Pakistani forces destroyed an Indian check post in response to unprovoked small-arms fire from across the Line of Control (LoC) in the Kiani and Mandal sectors. Pakistan's retaliatory fire neutralised the threat and silenced enemy bunkers, including the Chakputra post in Jammu and Kashmir, security officials said. The military activity follows the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Indian held Kashmir, in which 26 tourists were killed. India blamed Pakistan for the assault without presenting evidence, triggering a series of retaliatory diplomatic and strategic actions from both sides. New Delhi suspended the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), revoked visas of Pakistanis, and closed Wagah-Attari border crossing, among other measures. Islamabad, in response, ordered the expulsion of Indian diplomats and military advisers, cancelling visas for Indian nationals, with the exception of Sikh pilgrims, and closing the main border crossing from its side.
