Govt. plans petroleum levy on CNG

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Petroleum has decided to impose a petroleum levy on compressed natural gas (CNG) of Rs. 5 per kilogram, TrendPK reported on Tuesday.

This latest decision comes a week after the government increased the price of CNG by Rs. 6 per kilogram.

The ministry says that the government will earn additional revenue of Rs. 12 billion through this levy.

Officials say the decision has been made to reduce the profit of CNG owners. They say that the CNG sector could not be promoted any further due to the country’s depleting gas reservoirs.

On the other hand, the CNG Association has rejected the proposed petroleum levy on CNG and called a meeting on August 11 to chalk out its next strategy. TrendPK

PCB Omitted Senior Players Name From Proposed Central Contract List

According to reports PCB is working to find new talent from Pakistan cricket. PCB has omitted the names of senior players from the proposed central contract list. The names of Mohammad Yousuf, Shoaib Malik, Danish Kaneria and Rana Naved are omitted from the 30 players list who are proposed to award central contract.

There is also some information that the list has been sent to PCB’s integrity committee. The integrity committee now examines the list and then decides about the central contract.

While talking about the reasons of the players not included in the list there are various reasons for it. Malik and Kaneria have not been cleared from PCB integrity committee. While Rana Naveed and Muhammad Yusuf’s exclusion is still not cleared.

Now the integrity committee will forward its recommendations to the chairman of PCB Ijaz Butt and then Ijaz Butt will decide about it. According to reports the two players has been asked to submit the relevant papers to PCB integrity committee. The final decision will be made after they filed the paper demanded by committee.

Mohsin Hassan Khan is chief selector of PCB and he want to ensure to chose the best team comprising of young players. He also wants to provide chances to players from domestic set up.

PM Gilani calls cabinet meeting at Governor House, Lahore

Staff Report

LAHORE: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has called a cabinet meeting on Wednesday at Governor House, Lahore.

According to details, the coalition government of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had organized many cabinet meetings in the provincial capitals and it intends to organize more in Karachi, Quetta and Peshawar after Lahore.

The cabinet will discuss the proposed Rs. 50 per 40kg. increase in support price of wheat. The draft of the GST reforms bill may also be presented in the upcoming meeting for approval before sending it to Parliament.

The government intends to send the GST reforms bill in the National Assembly’s session starting from November 1.

The federal cabinet will also review progress on Pak-US strategic dialogue. SAMAA

AG seeks more time for NAB chairmans appointment

The Attorney General has requested the Supreme Court to grant three weeks time for appointment of NAB chairman as NAB chairman has not been appointment within the time limit given by the court.
It one reason was that Opposition leader in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had rejected the names floated by Prime Minister Gilani for the post of Chairman NAB. Nisar said that in a letter he wrote to the Premier stating that both the proposed names for the said post were controversial and as such his party opposed the recommendations altogether.
The post was lying vacant since former chairman Naveed Ahsan’s resignation and the Supreme Court had ordered to fill the post within the next few days.
The opposition leader rejected the names because they were not impartial and demanded neutral names.

Nisar rejects PM’s recommendations for NAB chief

Opposition leader in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has rejected the names floated by Prime Minister Gilani for the post of Chairman NAB, Dunya News reported on Tuesday.
Talking to media outside the Parliament House, Nisar said that in a letter he wrote to the Premier stating that both the proposed names for the said post are controversial and as such his party opposed the recommendations altogether.
The past was lying vacant since former chairman Naveed Ahsan’s resignation and the Supreme Court has ordered to fill the post within the next few days.
The opposition leader rejected the names because they were not impartial and demanded neutral names.

Akshay Kumar becomes judge on TV cooking show

Staff Report

MUMBAI: Top Bollywood actor, Akshay Kumar, has become a top chef to perform a judge’s role on a TV cooking show.

Akshay Kumar, who was a cook in Thailand prior to joining Bollywood, has once again gained interest in cooking scrumptious meals for TV viewers.

He is all set to show his cooking expertise after being appointed by a private TV channel’s reality show ‘Master Chef’ as a judge to grade meals cooked by participants.

This upcoming cooking show will soon go on air and two more chefs, Konal Kapoor and Ajay Chopra, have also been appointed as judges of the show to assist Akshay Kumar.

Interpol warns Koran-burning may trigger attacks

PARIS: The international police agency Interpol warned governments worldwide on Thursday of an increased risk of attacks on innocent people if the planned burning of the Koran by an obscure U.S. clergyman went ahead.

Terry Jones, leader of a Protestant church of about 30 members in Gainesville, Florida, plans to burn copies of the Islamic holy book on Saturday, the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks which this year coincides with the Muslim Eid holiday.

“If the proposed Koran burning by a pastor in the U.S. goes ahead as planned, there is a strong likelihood that violent attacks on innocent people would follow,” Interpol said in a statement, adding that it was acting partly on a request from Pakistan.

Pakistan’s Interior Minister Rehman Malik asked the agency to warn national police of an “increased terror threat” if the burning takes place on Saturday, the

‘Expendables’ leads box office for second weekend

LOS ANGELES: Sylvester Stallone and his merry band of mercenaries in “The Expendables” led the North American box office for a second weekend on Sunday, crushing five forgettable newcomers as the summer moviegoing season started winding down.

“The Expendables” earned about $16.5 million across the United States and Canada during the three days beginning Friday, taking the 10-day tally for the action thriller to $64.9 million, distributor Lionsgate said.

Stallone also directed and co-wrote the independently produced $85 million project, whose multinational lineup includes English tough guy Jason Statham, Sweden’s Dolph Lundgren and Chinese martial-arts veteran Jet Li.

Best of the rookies was the “Twilight” spoof “Vampires Suck,” which opened at No. 2 with $12.2 million. The movie could have claimed the crown if it had not opted for a two-day head start by

Muslim center dispute sparks New York rallies

NEW YORK: Supporters and opponents of a proposed Muslim cultural center and mosque near the World Trade Center site rallied in downtown Manhattan on Sunday, kept blocks apart by a heavy police presence.

The emotionally charged dispute has taken on national political significance, with Republicans using the issue to attack President Barack Obama ahead of midterm elections where his Democrats are fighting to retain control of Congress.

The rallies were held near the location of the proposed Muslim center, just two blocks from the site of the September 11, 2001 attacks by al Qaeda, which destroyed the World Trade Center towers and killed close to 3,000 people.

The center, which would include a prayer room, has ignited fierce debate between those who say its proposed location is insensitive and fear it will harbor religious extremism and those who back it based on

PA gears up to move resolution in media favour

LAHORE: Punjab Assembly is ready to present a joint resolution praising the role of the media in restoration of democracy in the country.

According to assembly secretariat sources, the ruling coalition of the PML-N, the PPP and the Unification group have prepared an initial draft of the resolution.

Opposition leader Chaudhry Zaheeruddin has moved a separate resolution in assembly secretariat.

Assembly secretariat said speakers permission will be sought to present these resolution out of turn in today’s session. The resolutions will later approve unanimously.

Sources said a 10-member working group of treasury benches member and journalists’ organizations will approve the proposed resolution prior to assembly session.

Next Page »