KARACHI: Penalties for tax evasions and default in their payments have been enhan­ced. The Pakistan Parliament on Thursday [Dec 29] passed the Finance Minister’s Bill to amend the Income Tax and Business Profit Tax Act, to make their administration “more effective”. Punishment for making false declarations in the prescribed Income Tax and Business Profit Tax returns have been increased from six months simple imprisonment and fine upto Rs 1,000, to three years imprisonment rigorous or simple and an unlimited fine.

[Meanwhile, as reported by news agencies in Baghdad,] Siddiq Shanshal, Deputy Leader of the Iraqi Independence Party, just back from Damascus, wrote … today [Dec 29] that a political and military clash was imminent in Syria. He said that Nazim-el-Kodsi Bey’s failure to form a cabinet after the Dec 19 coup was finally due to insistence by Col Abid Shishak Ali, who led the Army intervention, that his nominee Akram Harwani, be appointed as Minister of Defence. …

Siddiq said he was, therefore, certain that a political and military clash was imminent in Syria.

Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2024

Opinion

Editorial

Looking ahead
Updated 01 Jan, 2025

Looking ahead

The dawn of 2025 brings with it hope of a more constructive path to much-needed stability.
On the front lines
Updated 01 Jan, 2025

On the front lines

THE human cost of terrorism in 2024 was staggering. The ISPR reports 383 officers and soldiers embraced martyrdom...
Avoiding reform
01 Jan, 2025

Avoiding reform

PAKISTAN’S economic growth significantly slowed down to a modest 0.92pc during the first quarter of the present...
Charter of economy
Updated 31 Dec, 2024

Charter of economy

Before a consensus on economy is sought, the govt must resolve tensions with the opposition and reduce political temperatures.
Madressah compromise
31 Dec, 2024

Madressah compromise

A CLASH between the ruling coalition and the clerical old guard over the Societies Registration (Amendment) Act,...
Safety at work
31 Dec, 2024

Safety at work

PAKISTAN’S first comprehensive occupational safety and health (OSH) profile exposes the inadequacies of worker...