Tag Archives: Pakistan

Payoneer Raises Fees for Pakistani Users: A Setback for Freelancers In a significant move, Payoneer, a widely used online money transfer platform, has increased its transaction fees for users in Pakistan. This decision has raised concerns, particularly among freelancers who rely on Payoneer for receiving payments from international clients. As of October 20, 2024, Payoneer will be charging a 3% …

Weekly Inflation in Pakistan Falls for Fourth Straight Week Pakistan’s inflation has shown a much-needed downward trend for the fourth consecutive week, offering slight relief to consumers. According to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the Sensitive Price Index (SPI)-based inflation for the week ending September 5, 2024, dropped by 0.15%. This decline marks a continued easing …

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), the national flag carrier, has announced a significant pay raise for its daily waged employees. This move is intended to boost employee morale and enhance productivity. Details of the Pay Raise Effective from July 1, 2024, the daily wages for PIA’s employees have been increased by Rs 5,000. This adjustment brings the new monthly salary to …

In a recent meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance, it was revealed that Pakistani citizens have forgotten about Rs97 billion lying dormant in their bank accounts. This significant sum is spread across 10.4 million temporarily closed accounts in various banks throughout the country. Dormant Accounts and Forgotten Funds The meeting, chaired by Senator Saleem Mandviwala, highlighted that these …

FBR’s Tax Registration Drive: Progress and Challenges The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has been conducting a tax registration drive for nearly five months across 42 cities, successfully bringing thousands of traders onto the tax roll. However, under the Tajir Dost Scheme (TDS), the average income tax collected from an individual trader remains low at just Rs2,432 per month. Tax …

The Pakistani government has decided to overhaul bilateral development financial institutions that have become hotspots for nepotism, following the appointment of favored bureaucrats to their boards. These board members reportedly receive up to $5,000 (Rs1.4 million) per meeting in fees. Focus Shift from Primary Role to Government Debt Investments Instead of adhering to their primary role of providing loans to …

PTA Clarifies Annual Cybersecurity Audit of Telecom Licensees The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has recently issued a statement clarifying the scope and purpose of its annual cybersecurity audit of telecom licensees. This clarification comes in light of increasing concerns about the security of telecom infrastructure and the protection of end users. The PTA emphasized that these audits are conducted under …

FBR Appeals to Traders for Dialogue Ahead of Planned Strike Against Tajir Dost Scheme In a bid to avoid an escalating conflict with the trading community, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has reached out to traders, urging them to present their demands before resorting to a nationwide shutter-down strike. The strike, planned for August 28, 2024, is in response …

In a surprising move given Pakistan’s deteriorating fiscal condition and escalating public debt, the government has greenlighted 15 development projects amounting to a staggering Rs515 billion. This approval includes a significant $900 million foreign loan aimed at bolstering climate change efforts. The Central Development Working Party (CDWP), responsible for authorizing development projects, convened a meeting to review 18 proposals, ultimately …

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has made a strong start in the new fiscal year by surpassing its first-month target of Rs656 billion. The FBR collected Rs659.5 billion, reflecting a growth rate of just under 22%. This robust performance is crucial as the agency aims for an ambitious annual tax target of nearly Rs13 trillion, which requires a 40% …