1- BISP management pockets Rs975m: Audit report
A sum of Rs974.585 million has been misappropriated by the management of Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) on the pretext of distribution among the deserving, an audit report available with The Express Tribune revealed.
The programme management had obtained this amount from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as a loan to support the poor families under Foreign Aided Project (FAP) of the BISP, the report said.
However, the BISP drew the same amount of Rs9745.585 million for the same purpose from the government of Pakistan, the report issued by the office of the Auditor General Pakistan stated.
2- Backlash: JUI-F cautions against altering gas formula
Expressing concern over the petroleum minister’s statement on reversing the gas distribution formula decided in the 18th Amendment, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief cautioned the government against disturbing the settled issues of devolution.
Fazl on Sunday said issues of provincial autonomy and devolution were comprehensively covered in the 18th Amendment, which was unanimously passed by parliament.
3- Stealing gas: FIA raids homes of two military officers
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Sunday raided the houses of two military officers serving at the military estate office in Peshawar and defence ministry, respectively, for allegedly stealing gas from a gas pipeline.
On a complaint of the Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) officials, the FIA team raided the house of Lt Col Muhammad Saleem, the Military Estate Officer Peshawar, in Rawalpindi and the house of Major Amir Masood Khan, serving at the defence ministry.
They had erected walls to hide the pipeline used for stealing the gas. SNGPL officials and the FIA team demolished the cover up walls and dismantled the illegal pipelines. An FIA officer said the two suspects could not be arrested as the raiding party did not have search warrants. The warrants could not be obtained as the court time was over at the time of raid.
4- By-elections: 10 million ballot papers to be printed before Eid
As the date for by-elections draws closer, the Election Commission of Pakistan moved its poll arrangements plans into higher gear on Sunday.
The electoral body has started the process of printing the ballot papers. “The process of printing of over 10 million ballot papers for 42 constituencies of both the National and provincial assemblies will be complete before Eid,” a senior ECP official told The Express Tribune.
5- Improving standards: Higher education panel to assess Balochistan’s needs
A task force, chaired by the Higher Education Commission’s chairperson, is expected to reach Balochistan by the end of this month to assess the violence-hit province’s higher educational needs and to enhance the current infrastructure of its education institutions.
The idea to form a special body for the Balochistan was presented by the Chief Minister Balochistan Dr Abdul Malik Baloch on July 25 during his visit to the HEC.
6- 23 more killed as rains play havoc across country
Heavy rains and flash floods played havoc across the country rendering widespread damages affecting normal life in Sindh particularly Karachi, Balochistan, DG Khan and several parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with more areas coming under water and reaching dangerous levels in rivers and nullahs.
7- Govt, opposition agree on Bhagwandas as NAB chairman
The government and opposition have agreed on the appointment of Justice (retd) Rana Bhagwandas as the NAB chairman and Ishaq Dar has convinced the opposition to draft an ordinance for his appointment and submit the same to the government.
The draft ordinance will amend the FPSC Act to remove the FPSC chairman’s designation from the category of Service of Pakistan. According to the existing law, the FPSC chairman cannot hold another office after retirement.
8- Pakistan, India may cut defence budgets like US, Russia: Nawaz
Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif says Pakistan and India may also cut their defence budgets like the US and Russia to the collective betterment and prosperity of their people.
He was talking to the members of Pakistan Journalists Forum (PJF) who called on him at his residence here on Saturday to congratulate him on assuming the office of the prime minister for the third time.
9- Commandos combing Margalla hills
Following threats from terrorist outfits to the Parliament House as well as Air Force and Naval Complexes located on the Margalla Road, strict security measures have been taken, police sources said on Sunday.
Up to 30 joint teams comprising air force, navy and police commandos have been sent to the Margalla hills for combing the mountainous areas, the sources maintained.
10- Pakistan, Iran need to work for stability, peace: Zardari
President Asif Ali Zardari has said that Pakistan and Iran need to work hand in hand for stability‚ peace and development of the region. He said this during his meeting with President-elect of Iran Hassan Rouhani in Tehran.
The two leaders discussed host of issues of mutual interest ranging from the bilateral relations to the overall regional situation and the challenges being faced by the region.
A sum of Rs974.585 million has been misappropriated by the management of Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) on the pretext of distribution among the deserving, an audit report available with The Express Tribune revealed.
The programme management had obtained this amount from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as a loan to support the poor families under Foreign Aided Project (FAP) of the BISP, the report said.
However, the BISP drew the same amount of Rs9745.585 million for the same purpose from the government of Pakistan, the report issued by the office of the Auditor General Pakistan stated.
2- Backlash: JUI-F cautions against altering gas formula
Expressing concern over the petroleum minister’s statement on reversing the gas distribution formula decided in the 18th Amendment, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief cautioned the government against disturbing the settled issues of devolution.
Fazl on Sunday said issues of provincial autonomy and devolution were comprehensively covered in the 18th Amendment, which was unanimously passed by parliament.
3- Stealing gas: FIA raids homes of two military officers
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Sunday raided the houses of two military officers serving at the military estate office in Peshawar and defence ministry, respectively, for allegedly stealing gas from a gas pipeline.
On a complaint of the Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) officials, the FIA team raided the house of Lt Col Muhammad Saleem, the Military Estate Officer Peshawar, in Rawalpindi and the house of Major Amir Masood Khan, serving at the defence ministry.
They had erected walls to hide the pipeline used for stealing the gas. SNGPL officials and the FIA team demolished the cover up walls and dismantled the illegal pipelines. An FIA officer said the two suspects could not be arrested as the raiding party did not have search warrants. The warrants could not be obtained as the court time was over at the time of raid.
4- By-elections: 10 million ballot papers to be printed before Eid
As the date for by-elections draws closer, the Election Commission of Pakistan moved its poll arrangements plans into higher gear on Sunday.
The electoral body has started the process of printing the ballot papers. “The process of printing of over 10 million ballot papers for 42 constituencies of both the National and provincial assemblies will be complete before Eid,” a senior ECP official told The Express Tribune.
5- Improving standards: Higher education panel to assess Balochistan’s needs
A task force, chaired by the Higher Education Commission’s chairperson, is expected to reach Balochistan by the end of this month to assess the violence-hit province’s higher educational needs and to enhance the current infrastructure of its education institutions.
The idea to form a special body for the Balochistan was presented by the Chief Minister Balochistan Dr Abdul Malik Baloch on July 25 during his visit to the HEC.
6- 23 more killed as rains play havoc across country
Heavy rains and flash floods played havoc across the country rendering widespread damages affecting normal life in Sindh particularly Karachi, Balochistan, DG Khan and several parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with more areas coming under water and reaching dangerous levels in rivers and nullahs.
7- Govt, opposition agree on Bhagwandas as NAB chairman
The government and opposition have agreed on the appointment of Justice (retd) Rana Bhagwandas as the NAB chairman and Ishaq Dar has convinced the opposition to draft an ordinance for his appointment and submit the same to the government.
The draft ordinance will amend the FPSC Act to remove the FPSC chairman’s designation from the category of Service of Pakistan. According to the existing law, the FPSC chairman cannot hold another office after retirement.
8- Pakistan, India may cut defence budgets like US, Russia: Nawaz
Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif says Pakistan and India may also cut their defence budgets like the US and Russia to the collective betterment and prosperity of their people.
He was talking to the members of Pakistan Journalists Forum (PJF) who called on him at his residence here on Saturday to congratulate him on assuming the office of the prime minister for the third time.
9- Commandos combing Margalla hills
Following threats from terrorist outfits to the Parliament House as well as Air Force and Naval Complexes located on the Margalla Road, strict security measures have been taken, police sources said on Sunday.
Up to 30 joint teams comprising air force, navy and police commandos have been sent to the Margalla hills for combing the mountainous areas, the sources maintained.
10- Pakistan, Iran need to work for stability, peace: Zardari
President Asif Ali Zardari has said that Pakistan and Iran need to work hand in hand for stability‚ peace and development of the region. He said this during his meeting with President-elect of Iran Hassan Rouhani in Tehran.
The two leaders discussed host of issues of mutual interest ranging from the bilateral relations to the overall regional situation and the challenges being faced by the region.
