https://youtu.be/rro3xLFtvTo?si=rPLhk3ima_xE5tH0 By: Raja Zahid Akhtar Khanzada Dallas, Texas — The Center of Excellence for Community Services (CECS) organized an event in Dallas that brought together federal law enforcement agencies and community leaders under one roof. The goal was to foster collaboration and implement effective measures to address hate crimes. The event was held in partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas. State Representative Salman Bhojani, along with leaders from various Pakistani Muslim organizations, participated in large numbers. The event aimed to raise community awareness about hate crime laws…
Author: Raja Zahid Khanzada
**The Growing Challenge of High Production Costs in Pakistan’s Agriculture** Pakistan’s agriculture sector is currently facing its most pressing challenge: the escalating cost of crop production. In recent years, the prices of key agricultural inputs—such as electricity, petroleum products, fertilizers, and pesticides—have risen sharply, making it increasingly difficult for farmers to manage their production costs. Unless these issues are addressed, the government’s goals of promoting agricultural growth, controlling inflation, and keeping food prices affordable will remain out of reach. The issue came to a head in July 2024, when the Punjab government set district-specific wheat prices between Rs2,800 and Rs3,050…
**ISLAMABAD**: The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma) has urged the government to revisit its agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) regarding the planned cessation of gas supply to captive power plants in the textile sector by the end of January 2025. Aptma stresses that maintaining a steady gas supply is vital for the industry’s recovery and for boosting exports. The call was made during a meeting with Commerce Minister Jam Kamal on Friday, where an Aptma delegation, led by Chairman Kamran Arshad, highlighted key concerns affecting the textile sector. The delegation emphasized that without uninterrupted gas access, the…
The Punjab government has taken a significant step by amending its agricultural income tax (AIT) law, aligning the tax rates for individuals and businesses with the federal income tax rates. The newly passed bill also brings earnings from commercial or “income-generating” livestock under the purview of AIT, while eliminating certain exemptions that were previously enjoyed by farmers with landholdings under 12.5 acres or absentee landowners—unless their annual income is below the tax threshold of Rs600,000. Additionally, the amendments introduce tougher penalties for tax defaulters. These changes aim to create a more equitable tax system, close major loopholes for tax evasion,…
**ISLAMABAD**: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) held a consultation session on Tuesday to discuss its new framework for registering Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), aimed at creating a “secure environment” for the IT and e-commerce sectors in Pakistan, according to a press statement. VPNs are commonly used worldwide to access content that is blocked or restricted in certain countries. In Pakistan, VPNs are often used to access platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and other restricted websites. The announcement follows reports from across the country of “restricted access” to VPN services, coupled with poor internet connectivity. Digital rights activists have criticized the…
**ISLAMABAD**: The Interior Ministry has directed the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to block “illegal VPNs” across the country, citing their use by terrorists to facilitate violent activities and financial transactions, as well as their role in accessing “pornographic and blasphemous content.” Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are commonly used worldwide to bypass internet restrictions and access content that may be blocked or unavailable in certain regions. In Pakistan, VPNs have been used to access websites like X (formerly Twitter), which are restricted in the country. On Wednesday, the PTA announced that it would restrict VPN usage to curb access to pornographic…
**KARACHI**: The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has rejected the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Normalisation Committee’s (NC) response to concerns outlined in a previous letter, describing it as inadequate and lacking in substance. In a letter sent on Friday, the PSB requested a more comprehensive and detailed reply to the issues raised in its original communication dated November 11, 2024. The NC had responded on November 13, but the PSB found the reply unsatisfactory, as it failed to directly address the specific concerns and instead relied on broad generalizations. In its initial letter, the PSB had highlighted several procedural irregularities, including…
Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal’s legendary captain, has urged his teammates to stay “focused” on securing a victory as they prepare for their crucial UEFA Nations League clash with Poland on Friday. The 39-year-old forward, who plays for Al Nassr, is determined to lead his side to a spot in the summer semi-finals. Ahead of the match at the Estadio do Dragao in Lisbon, Ronaldo shared an uplifting message on social media, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and concentration. Posting a series of photos of himself smiling and training with his teammates, he captioned the images: “Focused on the win!” Despite a…
Paraguay claimed a deserved 2-1 victory over Argentina in Asunción on Thursday, with Antonio Sanabria scoring a stunning bicycle kick and Omar Alderete adding a second-half header to seal the win in the South American World Cup qualifiers. Argentina took an early lead in the 11th minute when Enzo Fernandez delivered a long pass to Lautaro Martinez, whose powerful shot was initially ruled offside. However, after a VAR review, the goal was awarded. Paraguay nearly equalized moments later when Gustavo Gomez’s header from a corner struck the crossbar. The hosts responded quickly, with Gustavo Velazquez crossing for Sanabria, who produced…
**LONDON:** Pakistan’s military has categorically ruled out the possibility of negotiating or striking a deal with Imran Khan, the imprisoned founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), according to senior military sources quoted by *The Guardian*. The statement comes after Khan, in a recent interview, expressed his willingness to engage in talks with the military leadership, despite his ongoing imprisonment. In a series of responses sent through his legal team, Khan confirmed that he had not had any direct contact with the military since his arrest in August 2023. However, he indicated that he would not rule out negotiating a deal with…
