KARACHI – Various political parties’ activists and civil society organisations have demanded of the government to bring agriculture into tax net except small farmers who own small piece of agriculture land.
In the wake of tabling of Reformed General Sales Tax (RGST) and one-time flood surcharge bills in National Assembly and Senate, the debate to bring agriculture into tax net is speeding-up in the country. The majority of people are opposing the demand to increase agriculture tax, arguing that agri-sector was already beneath of burden of different kind of taxes, while others especially urban based political parties and civil society activists emphasizing to impose further levy on agriculture sector.
In this regard, Comrade Ramzan Memon of Awami Party while talking to TheNation on Saturday said that instead of talking about increasing tax on agriculture sector, we should be specific to the feudal lords because majority of area of agriculture land own by small farmers, who already deprived of basic facilities and water share. He emphasized that small farmers must be exempted of every kind of tax, as they already paying different kinds of Abiana, water tax and agriculture income tax.He demanded that government should initiate dialogue on the issue to reach on a consensus point, beside launching a drive to get back of loans from big industrialists and politicians who got waived off since the creation of Pakistan.
Meanwhile, supporting the demand of imposing tax on big feudal lords, rights activist Adam Malik argued in support of small farmers.
He said that income tax applied if net annual income of any person was Rs300,000 per annum and GST applies if business turn over is Rs7,500,000/- per annum but it is evident that more than 6.6 million small farmers in Pakistan do not earn such big amounts.
Sharing the statistics, he said that out of 50.42 million acres private landownership in Pakistan (including cultivable and non-cultivable) the 5.48 million acres land is owned in farm size of 100 acre or above that becomes around 10% be it 100 acres or be it acres in thousands as we know some of feudal lords individually own over 19,132-acre land, however, remaining about 45 million acres of land that becomes around 90% is owned by small farmers ranging from 1 acre to 99 acres.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Small business seen in post Eid session on cotton market
KARACHI (November 21, 2010) : Some deals were seen on the local cotton market amid post Eid-holiday session on Saturday, dealers said. The Karachi Cotton Association (KCA) left the spot rate unchanged at Rs 8500. In the meantime, seeds cotton prices in Sindh and Punjab were at Rs 3900-4000, they said.
In ready business, above 8000 bales changed hands at Rs 9000, they added. According to the market sources, despite the slow arrival of phutti, there was buying interest from spinners indicating that prices may show firmness or go up in the coming days. The growers after disposing of around 75 percent of their crop are now holding back to get better return, they said.
Some experts said that the widening gap between production and consumption of cotton will further put pressure on country's foreign exchange because higher quantity of cotton will have to be imported to fill the gap. Cotton exporters feel that last year country' produced around 10.40 million bales and imported around 2.5 million bales but this year it appeared that quantity exceeding three million bales would have to be imported.
On Friday the US cotton futures ended down by their daily limit on Friday after another move by China to slow its economy led to further liquidation before the weekend, brokers said. The benchmark March cotton contract on ICE Futures US closed down 6.00 cents, or 4.65 percent, at $1.2315 per llb. The following deals were reported : 400 bales of cotton from Tando Adam sold at Rs 9000, 400 more bales from Shahdadpur, 1600 from Nawabshah, 1000 bales from Upper Sindh, 3000 bales from Bahawalpur and 2000 bales from Ahmed Pur East all sold at Rs 9000, they said.
In ready business, above 8000 bales changed hands at Rs 9000, they added. According to the market sources, despite the slow arrival of phutti, there was buying interest from spinners indicating that prices may show firmness or go up in the coming days. The growers after disposing of around 75 percent of their crop are now holding back to get better return, they said.
Some experts said that the widening gap between production and consumption of cotton will further put pressure on country's foreign exchange because higher quantity of cotton will have to be imported to fill the gap. Cotton exporters feel that last year country' produced around 10.40 million bales and imported around 2.5 million bales but this year it appeared that quantity exceeding three million bales would have to be imported.
On Friday the US cotton futures ended down by their daily limit on Friday after another move by China to slow its economy led to further liquidation before the weekend, brokers said. The benchmark March cotton contract on ICE Futures US closed down 6.00 cents, or 4.65 percent, at $1.2315 per llb. The following deals were reported : 400 bales of cotton from Tando Adam sold at Rs 9000, 400 more bales from Shahdadpur, 1600 from Nawabshah, 1000 bales from Upper Sindh, 3000 bales from Bahawalpur and 2000 bales from Ahmed Pur East all sold at Rs 9000, they said.
2002 Karachi attack on French engineers contributed to further suicide blasts in Pak?
The Karachi suicide attack on French naval engineers on May 8, 2002- allegedly in retaliation against the cancelling of commissions for one of the France-Pak arms deals- could have contributed to the host of suicide blasts across the country since then, a Pakistan newspaper has said.
"The attack on the coach carrying the French personnel was blamed at the time on an extremist group. If this was not the case and quite different elements were involved, we should investigate if other acts of terrorism could have a similar background," The News reported.
"It also seems - from what we have heard so far in the matter - that this attack could have contributed to the host of suicide blasts we have seen across the country since 2002, with an acceleration seen over the past three years," it added.
It noted that while the case involving the death of 11 French nationals had attracted a great deal of publicity in France, "at home we have had deafening silence. We need to hear more about what happened. The potential fallout is grave. We must get to the bottom of the affair and consider opening up a parallel inquiry at home, so that the eight-year-old mystery can be solved."
In France, the victims' families have been calling for President Nicholas Sarkozy to testify in a matter thought to involve political corruption and kickbacks, as in 2002, he was the spokesman for then-president Jacques Chirac, who is believed to have played a key role in the matter, the paper said.
"For us in Pakistan, it is the other side of the chain of events that is of key interest. Allegations from France have implicated a certain Mr Asif Ali Zardari, a key minister in his late wife's cabinet when the Agosta submarines deal was struck during her second stint in power between 1993 and 1996," it pointed out.
"The implication is that he, and key pals, organised the attack as an act of revenge over the stoppage of kickback payments after a change of government in France - a mafia-style action aimed to ensure that promises of kickbacks were not broken. The outcome of a full investigation would be fascinating," the paper added.
"The attack on the coach carrying the French personnel was blamed at the time on an extremist group. If this was not the case and quite different elements were involved, we should investigate if other acts of terrorism could have a similar background," The News reported.
"It also seems - from what we have heard so far in the matter - that this attack could have contributed to the host of suicide blasts we have seen across the country since 2002, with an acceleration seen over the past three years," it added.
It noted that while the case involving the death of 11 French nationals had attracted a great deal of publicity in France, "at home we have had deafening silence. We need to hear more about what happened. The potential fallout is grave. We must get to the bottom of the affair and consider opening up a parallel inquiry at home, so that the eight-year-old mystery can be solved."
In France, the victims' families have been calling for President Nicholas Sarkozy to testify in a matter thought to involve political corruption and kickbacks, as in 2002, he was the spokesman for then-president Jacques Chirac, who is believed to have played a key role in the matter, the paper said.
"For us in Pakistan, it is the other side of the chain of events that is of key interest. Allegations from France have implicated a certain Mr Asif Ali Zardari, a key minister in his late wife's cabinet when the Agosta submarines deal was struck during her second stint in power between 1993 and 1996," it pointed out.
"The implication is that he, and key pals, organised the attack as an act of revenge over the stoppage of kickback payments after a change of government in France - a mafia-style action aimed to ensure that promises of kickbacks were not broken. The outcome of a full investigation would be fascinating," the paper added.
KESC reverts to load shedding after Eidul Azha
KARACHI: The Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) resumed load shedding Saturday morning after an interval during Eidul Azha. Reports said the KESC had reverted to three-hour load shedding in areas with less power theft and four-hour in localities with more power theft. The KESC said industrial areas would not experience load shedding. online
Fishermen's rights an unresolved issue
KARACHI – Fishermen both marine and inland waters have designed colourful activities to commemorate the World Fisheries Day 2010 to be held Sunday (today) in different district headquarters and water bodies of Sindh and Balochistan provinces.
According to the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) spokesman Sami Memon, the forum is organising the event as usual, bringing the community men and women together to express solidarity with the world fishermen. Major events will be held in Karachi, Thatta, Hyderabad, Kandhkot and Manchhar Lake, where fishermen will exhibit fishing tools, decorated small boats, nets and perform songs and dancing in the mass rallies. In Karachi the fishermen from all the coastal villages will participate with their cultural items.
A group of 50 creative people will perform different colourful items to portray the issues facing the fishermen communities. This year’s theme has been linked to Pakistan Debt Cancellation Campaign, demanding international financial institutions to lay off debt, announce its use for the rehabilitation of the communities displaced by the devastated flood.
The second major point PFF rallies will address is to abolish contract system in fishing and protect the rights of fishermen, living at inland water bodies of the province. Sami said that a group performing famous Leva Dance will take part in the rally being taken out from Regal Chowk to Karachi Press Club with hundreds of people to entertain the audience. The mass rally will attract hundreds of civil society people, representing different organizations, rights groups and campaigners.
The World Fisheries Day is celebrated every year on November 21 throughout the world by the fisherfolk communities, taking out rallies, hold workshops, public meetings, cultural programs, dramas, exhibition, music show, and demonstrations to highlight the importance of maintaining the world’s fisheries.
According to the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) spokesman Sami Memon, the forum is organising the event as usual, bringing the community men and women together to express solidarity with the world fishermen. Major events will be held in Karachi, Thatta, Hyderabad, Kandhkot and Manchhar Lake, where fishermen will exhibit fishing tools, decorated small boats, nets and perform songs and dancing in the mass rallies. In Karachi the fishermen from all the coastal villages will participate with their cultural items.
A group of 50 creative people will perform different colourful items to portray the issues facing the fishermen communities. This year’s theme has been linked to Pakistan Debt Cancellation Campaign, demanding international financial institutions to lay off debt, announce its use for the rehabilitation of the communities displaced by the devastated flood.
The second major point PFF rallies will address is to abolish contract system in fishing and protect the rights of fishermen, living at inland water bodies of the province. Sami said that a group performing famous Leva Dance will take part in the rally being taken out from Regal Chowk to Karachi Press Club with hundreds of people to entertain the audience. The mass rally will attract hundreds of civil society people, representing different organizations, rights groups and campaigners.
The World Fisheries Day is celebrated every year on November 21 throughout the world by the fisherfolk communities, taking out rallies, hold workshops, public meetings, cultural programs, dramas, exhibition, music show, and demonstrations to highlight the importance of maintaining the world’s fisheries.
Minor boy gunned down in MQM-ANP clash
KARACHI: A minor boy was gunned down near the Askari Park in a clash between the activists of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Awami National Party (ANP), the PIB police said on Saturday.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Naeem Sheikh said MQM and ANP activists were fighting over flag hoisting, and when they resorted to intense aerial firing, a passer-by, 12-year-old Zeeshan Akram, sustained injuries. However, the boy, a resident of Nishtar Colony, succumbed to his injuries on the way to the Civil Hospital Karachi, the SP added. The SP said the clash continued for hours and tension and panic spread through the entire locality where some unidentified miscreants also forced traders to close shops, paralysing all commercial activities.
Some enraged protesters took to the streets and set tyres and pushcarts ablaze, resulting in crippling traffic jams at Hassan Square and Jail Chowrangi, as well as in Old Sabzi Mandi and New Town where commuters were stranded for hours, the SP added.
He said a large number of law enforcement agencies’ personnel rushed to the spot to bring the situation under control.
The law enforcers deployed in the area were frisking people coming from and going to the vicinity, he added. ASWJ man: An Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) activist was murdered in Korangi ‘F’ area, the Awami Colony police said. Abu Tahir Bengali, 40, was on his way to the park in a rickshaw with his wife and three children when four men on two motorcycles opened fire on him in Korangi No 4, killing him on the spot. The victim’s body was shifted to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre and later handed over to the heirs. Station House Officer Zawwar Hussain said the victim had no affiliation with any political or religious party and personal enmity might be the motive behind the incident.
However, ASWJ spokesman said the victim was the Korangi Unit president and he had fell victim to an incident of target killing.
The spokesman condemned the murder and demanded the government to arrest the culprits responsible for the incident.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Naeem Sheikh said MQM and ANP activists were fighting over flag hoisting, and when they resorted to intense aerial firing, a passer-by, 12-year-old Zeeshan Akram, sustained injuries. However, the boy, a resident of Nishtar Colony, succumbed to his injuries on the way to the Civil Hospital Karachi, the SP added. The SP said the clash continued for hours and tension and panic spread through the entire locality where some unidentified miscreants also forced traders to close shops, paralysing all commercial activities.
Some enraged protesters took to the streets and set tyres and pushcarts ablaze, resulting in crippling traffic jams at Hassan Square and Jail Chowrangi, as well as in Old Sabzi Mandi and New Town where commuters were stranded for hours, the SP added.
He said a large number of law enforcement agencies’ personnel rushed to the spot to bring the situation under control.
The law enforcers deployed in the area were frisking people coming from and going to the vicinity, he added. ASWJ man: An Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) activist was murdered in Korangi ‘F’ area, the Awami Colony police said. Abu Tahir Bengali, 40, was on his way to the park in a rickshaw with his wife and three children when four men on two motorcycles opened fire on him in Korangi No 4, killing him on the spot. The victim’s body was shifted to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre and later handed over to the heirs. Station House Officer Zawwar Hussain said the victim had no affiliation with any political or religious party and personal enmity might be the motive behind the incident.
However, ASWJ spokesman said the victim was the Korangi Unit president and he had fell victim to an incident of target killing.
The spokesman condemned the murder and demanded the government to arrest the culprits responsible for the incident.
Rousing reception given to gold winner women cricketers
KARACHI: The Asian Games gold-winning Pakistan women's cricket team returned home from China to a rousing reception from the fans at the Karachi airport.
The players, attired in the Pakistan green blazer, landed in Karachi late last night and hundreds of people, including their families and friends, turned up to welcome them.
They were garlanded, showered with rose petals and greeted with slogans of "Zindabad" and "Chak de Pakistan" as the cricketers came out of the airport terminal building. Young boys and girls danced to popular numbers to celebrate the gold medal.
The gold won by the women's team after beating Bangladesh in the final by 10 wickets was the first yellow metal for Pakistan in the Asian Games since boxer Mehrullah Lassi's feat in the 2002 edition.
Team captain Sana Mir told the waiting media that she was astonished by the rousing welcome given to the team.
"We were happy at winning the gold medal for the country but we can't express our feelings at the way the people have welcomed us, it is something out of this world for us," she said.
Sana, who has been playing for Pakistan for the last five years, said the absence of India and Sri Lanka from the Asian Games cricket event was a dampener but with the way the team had played with passion, she was sure they could have upset the both the higher ranked sides.
"Our victory is the result of excellent team work and even before we reached China we knew that with India not in the tournament we stood a very good chance of winning the gold medal," she said.
Javaria Wadood, who scored 39 in the final to set up the victory, hoped that the Asian Games victory would go a long way in boosting women's cricket in the country.
"Our performance shows that if women are given a proper chance and facilities and encouraged by their families and authorities they can achieve a lot like the women of other countries," a beaming Wadood said.
Coach Mansoor Rana said that the international exposure the girls had gained by playing in ICC events and against top oppositions in the last two years had helped them improve steadily and the results showed in the Asian Games.
"They just need more exposure and matches and in the next five years they can be among the top three or five nations in the world," Rana said.
The manager of the Pakistan men's national team, Intikhab Alam told 'Geo News' from Abu Dhabi that he was impressed by the performance of the women's side in the Asian Games.
"Such performances make you want to work with them and help them further improve," Alam said.
The players, attired in the Pakistan green blazer, landed in Karachi late last night and hundreds of people, including their families and friends, turned up to welcome them.
They were garlanded, showered with rose petals and greeted with slogans of "Zindabad" and "Chak de Pakistan" as the cricketers came out of the airport terminal building. Young boys and girls danced to popular numbers to celebrate the gold medal.
The gold won by the women's team after beating Bangladesh in the final by 10 wickets was the first yellow metal for Pakistan in the Asian Games since boxer Mehrullah Lassi's feat in the 2002 edition.
Team captain Sana Mir told the waiting media that she was astonished by the rousing welcome given to the team.
"We were happy at winning the gold medal for the country but we can't express our feelings at the way the people have welcomed us, it is something out of this world for us," she said.
Sana, who has been playing for Pakistan for the last five years, said the absence of India and Sri Lanka from the Asian Games cricket event was a dampener but with the way the team had played with passion, she was sure they could have upset the both the higher ranked sides.
"Our victory is the result of excellent team work and even before we reached China we knew that with India not in the tournament we stood a very good chance of winning the gold medal," she said.
Javaria Wadood, who scored 39 in the final to set up the victory, hoped that the Asian Games victory would go a long way in boosting women's cricket in the country.
"Our performance shows that if women are given a proper chance and facilities and encouraged by their families and authorities they can achieve a lot like the women of other countries," a beaming Wadood said.
Coach Mansoor Rana said that the international exposure the girls had gained by playing in ICC events and against top oppositions in the last two years had helped them improve steadily and the results showed in the Asian Games.
"They just need more exposure and matches and in the next five years they can be among the top three or five nations in the world," Rana said.
The manager of the Pakistan men's national team, Intikhab Alam told 'Geo News' from Abu Dhabi that he was impressed by the performance of the women's side in the Asian Games.
"Such performances make you want to work with them and help them further improve," Alam said.
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