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Legal issues hinder projects’ transfer | The Express Tribune

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ISLAMABAD:

All provinces have opposed the transfer and closure of over 350 provincial projects costing Rs1,373 billion and are not willing to take over the schemes, citing legal and contractual issues.

The federal government believes that as the seventh National Finance Commission (NFC) Award has significantly increased provincial shares in the federal divisible pool, the provinces should complete their projects through their own resources. There are a total of 1,238 ongoing projects in financial year 2023-24 having a cost of Rs12,318 billion. Of these, 357 are provincial projects valuing at Rs1,373 billion.

The expenditure on all projects is calculated at Rs3,616 billion while the spending required for provincial projects is Rs366 billion.

Sources said that the issue of transferring the ongoing projects was taken up in a meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) attended by provincial representatives.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa proposed that the decision on closure and transfer of projects should be made by the newly elected government. Sindh also opposed the closure and transfer of projects, except for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) programme. Punjab agreed with all the proposed modalities, with the caveat that taking over and completing the ongoing projects should be at the discretion of provincial governments.

It agreed to complete the schemes being executed by provincial agencies from their own resources. In a joint statement, all provinces said that legal and contractual issues would arise if the ongoing projects were closed or transferred, therefore they did not commit to taking over and completing the schemes.

The federal government undertakes development projects and programmes of national importance with the aim of spurring economic growth, ensuring equitable and balanced regional development and providing an enabling environment to the private sector and development partners.

NEC had approved on June 6, 2023 the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2023-24 worth Rs950 billion against the overall demand for Rs2,000 billion in development funds. Of the total projects, 30% fell within the jurisdiction of provinces and constituted 11% of the total cost. So far, 10% spending has been made on the projects.

The Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives told NEC that over the years the PSDP composition had been undergoing transformation.

One reason for that was the inclusion of projects and programmes pertaining to subjects that fell within the provincial domain subsequent to the 18th Amendment to the Constitution.

NEC was informed that allocations for such projects and programmes had risen to around 30% of the overall PSDP. As a consequence, the physical and financial progress of mega and core projects of federal subjects was being adversely affected due to the reduction in available funds for such projects and programmes.

It was emphasised that while the NFC Award significantly increased provincial share in the federal divisible pool, the federal debt servicing exceeded the entire tax revenue that remained available for the federal government after NFC share transfers to provinces.

Thus, the provinces had substantial resources to finance their respective Annual Development Plans (ADPs) whereas the federal PSDP was being financed mainly through borrowing.

NEC was informed that taking cognisance of the shrinking fiscal space of the federal government and to make resources available for critical needs, the apex committee of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) provided policy guidelines on financing for provincial-nature schemes.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 10th, 2024.

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Pakistan

Toyota Yaris 1.3 CVT three years easy installment deal by Meezan Bank [Sept 2024] – Pakistan Observer

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KARACHI – A masterful blend of refined elegance, imposing looks and elevated performance has helped Toyota Yaris to grab a significant share in Pakistani market which was earlier ruled by Honda City in this niche before the Yaris’ launching.

Besides carrying modern aesthetics, it features MID system that ensures convenience when you drive, offering door open and close alerts, Eco wallet and fuel economy records, and comprehensive drive information at your fingertips

Toyota Yaris is a testament to its engineering excellence as it delivers exhilarating driving experiences. It is available in two powerful engine formations: 1.3L NR and 1.5L NR. The smooth shifting of gears provides excellent driving performance and fuel efficiency.

The hatchback is equipped with three airbags to ensure the safety of the riders.

Toyota Yaris Variants in Pakistan

The variants of Toyota Yaris include 1.3 GLI MT, 1.3 GLI CVT, 1.3 ATIV MT, 1.3 ATIV CVT, 1.5 ATIV X CVT – Beige interior and 1.5 ATIV X CVT – Black interior.

Toyota Yaris 1.3 GLI CVT Price in Pakistan

The ex-factory price of Toyota Yaris 1.3 GLI CVT stands at Rs4,760,000 without any change as of September 2024.

Toyota Yaris 1.3 GLI CVT Easy Installment Plan by Meezan Bank

Various banks in Pakistan offers installment plans for vehicles. Here we have selected Meezan Bank to calculate the installment deal offered by it for Toyota Yaris 1.3 GLI CVT with 30% advance payment.

Under the 36-month installment plan, the per month rent for the vehicle will be Rs136,294.

Toyota Yaris 1.3 GLI CVT

Price of Vehicle                 Rs. 4,760,000

Upfront Payment

Residual Value                  5%

Security Deposit               Rs. 1,428,000 (30%)

Processing Fee                  Rs. 3,100

Total Upfront                     Rs. 1,431,100

MONTHLY PAYMENT

Number of months           36

Rent per month                Rs. 136,294

 

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Pakistan

US Fed slashes rates by 50 basis points in first easing since 2020

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US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell responds to a question from David Rubenstein (not pictured) during an on-stage discussion at a meeting of The Economic Club of Washington, at the Renaissance Hotel in Washington, DC, February 7, 2023. — Reuters

The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by half of a percentage point on Wednesday, kicking off what is expected to be a steady easing of monetary policy with a larger-than-usual reduction in borrowing costs that followed growing unease about the health of the job market.

The Fed’s decision will affect the rates at which commercial banks lend to consumers and businesses, bringing down the cost of borrowing on everything from mortgages to credit cards.

The news will likely be well-received by Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, who has looked to highlight President Joe Biden’s economic record in her race against Donald Trump.

Policymakers voted 11-to-1 in favour of lowering the US central bank’s benchmark rate to between 4.75% and 5%, the Fed announced in a statement.

The key holdout was Fed governor Michelle Bowman, who supported a more conventional quarter-point cut.

Fed ‘gained greater confidence’

The Fed said its rate-setting committee “has gained greater confidence that inflation is moving sustainably toward 2%, and judges that the risks to achieving its employment and inflation goals are roughly in balance.”

The bank has a dual mandate from Congress to act independently to tackle both inflation and employment.

Analysts were expecting the Fed to cut rates on Wednesday, as inflation eases toward the bank’s long-term target of two percent, and the labour market continues to cool in the surprisingly resilient post-Covid economy.

But they were highly uncertain about the size of the move, with some anticipating a small cut of a quarter of a percentage point, and others predicting a more significant half-point cut, which carries a greater risk of reigniting inflation.

In updated economic forecasts published alongside the Fed’s rate decision, policymakers’ median forecasts pointed to an unemployment rate of 4.4%, on average, in the fourth quarter of this year, up from 4% in the last update in June.

They also pencilled in an annual headline inflation rate of 2.3 percent, slightly lower than in June.

The decision to cut more sharply, to begin with, caught some analysts by surprise.

“In our base case, the Fed cuts 25bp (basis points) but signals 100bp of cuts this year with the median 2024 ‘dot'”, economists at Citi wrote in an investor note published ahead of the rate decision.

Election stakes

The Fed’s mandate gives it the independence to set monetary policy solely based on economic data.

But its decision will likely have political ramifications, given the importance of inflation and the cost of living to US consumers.

Americans have consistently said both are a top concern ahead of the election.

Trump has repeatedly criticised Fed Chair Powell, who he first appointed to run the Fed, and has suggested that its decisions are political — accusations the US central bank has strongly refuted.

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Pakistan

Currency exchange rates in Pakistan today – September 18, 2024 – Pakistan Observer

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Your source for latest Pakistan, world news. Stay updated on politics, business, sports, lifestyle, CPEC, and breaking news. Accurate, timely, and comprehensive coverage.

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Pakistan

Solar Panel 5-Years Installment Plan in Pakistan Sep 2024 – Pakistan Observer

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Your source for latest Pakistan, world news. Stay updated on politics, business, sports, lifestyle, CPEC, and breaking news. Accurate, timely, and comprehensive coverage.

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