Briefs

Briefs

 

Chambers warn FBR of extreme steps

By our correspondent

LAHORE: Representatives of various chambers of commerce and industry and trade and industrial associations have threatened the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to take extreme steps if their demands were not met by April 10.

At a convention on “FBR’s Discretionary Powers” at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the representatives said despite repeated appeals, discretionary powers of the FBR officials have never been withdrawn, which is the biggest restraint in broadening the tax net.  The chambers will hoist black flags and office-bearers and executive committees would bear black bands till April 10, they added.

The participants of the convention issued a joint declaration, saying that “oppression of the Federal Board of Revenue staff has become unbearable.

Businessmen are working in difficult conditions, but instead of giving due respect, the Federal Board of Revenue staff is twisting their arms and blackmailing them; therefore, discretionary powers should be withdrawn immediately.”

 

Mobile teledensity hits 70pc

ISLAMABAD: The number of mobile phone users in Pakistan crossed 137 million by the end of January following an addition of 0.506 million new customers during a month, data released by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) said on Wednesday. 

According to the PTA numbers, cellular teledensity increased from 69.8 percent to 70 percent and mobile broadband subscribers from 37.6 million in December 2016 to 38.27 million in January 2017. The stats showed the subscriber base has been continuously broadening since July 2016, while until July last year the number was recorded at 133.2 million. 

The numbers show that Jazz, which was formed after the merger of two top cellular companies, lead the charts with 51.534 million customers with Telenor, having a base of 39.586 million subscribers, right behind it. 

 

Bank Alfalah launches debit card

By our correspondent

KARACHI: Bank Alfalah has launched first PayPak classic debit card in an effort towards digitising the financial landscape of the country and promoting financial inclusion through diversified initiatives, a statement said on Wednesday.

PayPak is Pakistan’s first domestic payment scheme launched by 1Link (Guarantee) Limited – aims at providing efficient, cost-effective, robust and ubiquitous payment solutions, it added.

The Alfalah PayPak classic debit card will allow customers to withdraw cash from 1Link’s ATM network of 8,000+ and conduct point of sale (POS) transactions at thousands of merchants nationwide. The card offers PIN-based customer authentication for ATMs as well as POS transactions.

“As we share the financial inclusion goals with those posited in the State Bank of Pakistan’s Vision 2020, our partnership with 1Link to introduce the country’s first domestic payment scheme will provide low-cost payment services to every citizen of Pakistan,” said Atif Bajwa, president of Bank Alfalah.

 

UnionPay, DIBP sign agreement

By our correspondent

KARACHI: UnionPay International, the global leading payment network and Dubai Islamic Bank Pakistan (DIBP) have entered into a historic agreement to issue Union Pay Quick Pass (NFC) and EMV Chip Cards in Pakistan, a statement said on Wednesday.  With this initiative, DIBP will become the first Islamic bank in Pakistan to issue UnionPay QuickPass (NFC) enabled cards to its customers that allow the convenience of contact-less payments “TAP & GO”, while keeping the payments safe and secure, it added.

The partnership was recently signed by Junaid Ahmed, CEO of Dubai Islamic Bank Pakistan Limited and Han Wang, general manager of UnionPay International, in presence of Shuan Ghaidan, director of products, UnionPay International, Syed Zaka Ur Rehman, head of ADC and Payments, Dubai Islamic Bank Pakistan Limited and Nadeem Haroon, country manager Pakistan, UnionPay International, it added.

 

P&G to deliver clean drinking water

By our correspondent

LAHORE: Associate director, Sales Procter & Gamble (P&G) Pakistan, Fayyaz Rizvi, has said that the company is committed to deliver 15 billion litres of clean drinking water globally by 2020. Addressing a press conference on “World Water Day” on Wednesday at METRO Cash and Carry, he announced collaboration with METRO Cash & Carry and Health Oriented Preventive Education (HOPE) to provide clean drinking water to Pakistani communities in need through its Children’s Safe Drinking Water (CSDW) programme.

The three organisation came together to raise awareness about the global clean drinking water crisis and reinforce their commitment to help save lives through the P&G Children’s Safe Drinking Water programme.