KARACHI: Mr Ghulam Mohammad charged on Tuesday [Jan 3] that India was obstructing economic development and social services plans in both the countries through its uncompromising attitude on Kashmir and other outstanding inter-Dominion issues.

The Finance Minister was speaking in the Pakistan Parliament during the consideration of the Estate Duty Bill. The Bill was passed by the Parliament … during its second reading.

He declared that so long as the relations between Pakistan and India continued to remain strained the unproportionately large expenditure on defence would leave little for other projects… .

The Estate Duty Bill … authorises the Government to levy death duty on legacies worth more Rs 1,00,000. … The Bill, explicitly exempts Waqf Alal Aulad and Charitable Endowments from the duty. The rights of Mehr (dower) for Muslim women and maintenance and marriage expenses for Hindu families have also been safeguarded in the legislation. Insurance policies for a maximum of Rs 20,000 also will be duty free. …

Published in Dawn, January 4th, 2025

Opinion

Editorial

Fragile peace
Updated 07 Jan, 2025

Fragile peace

Those who have lost loved ones, as well as those whose property has been destroyed in the clashes, must get justice.
Captive power cut
07 Jan, 2025

Captive power cut

THE IMF’s refusal to relax its demand for discontinuation of massively subsidised gas supplies to mostly...
National embarrassment
07 Jan, 2025

National embarrassment

PAKISTAN has utterly failed in protecting its children from polio, a preventable disease that has been eradicated...
Poll petitions’ delay
Updated 06 Jan, 2025

Poll petitions’ delay

THOUGH electoral transparency and justice are essential for the health of any democracy, the relevant quarters in...
Migration racket
06 Jan, 2025

Migration racket

A KEY part of dismantling human smuggling and illegal migration rackets in the country — along with busting the...
Power planning
06 Jan, 2025

Power planning

THE National Electric Power Regulatory Authority, the power sector regulator, has rightly blamed poor planning for...