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Salt industry struggles amid shipping crisis | The Express Tribune

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KARACHI:

Salt Manufacturers Association of Pakistan (SMAP) leaders have urged the government to lift the ban on trade with India and reduce taxes on imported salt materials, including packaging and others, to revitalise the salt trade sector.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, they highlighted that rising production costs and high taxes on imported salt materials have hindered competitiveness in the international market, causing distress among salt manufacturers.

Additionally, they noted that higher freight transportation costs have been significantly impacting the local salt industry due to issues in the Red Sea stemming from Israel’s war on Palestine. Since November 2023, high-value cargo ships have faced attacks in the Red Sea as a result of the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, Palestine. These attacks have forced shipping lines or companies to reroute, resulting in longer voyages with increased freight transportation charges. It’s worth mentioning that freight services are still below the levels seen during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021.

“For years, the salt trade has grappled with numerous challenges, hindering smooth operations and affecting various stakeholders within the industry,” stated SMAP Chairman Qasim Yaqoob Paracha.

“One significant hurdle is the trade ban with India, which has led to decreased revenue for salt manufacturers, disrupted trade routes, and diminished overall profitability in this sector,” he said.

ReadAlvi advocates for global recognition of pink salt

Paracha highlighted the need for collaborative efforts between the government and industry stakeholders to address these challenges. He suggested that through constructive dialogue and effective policy implementation, comprehensive solutions could be devised to revitalise the salt trade and unleash its full potential.

“We can foster a conducive environment for the sustainable growth and development of this sector, thereby contributing to the overall socio-economic development of the country,” he expressed, adding that, “We anticipate proactive initiatives and decisive actions from the government in resolving these issues, ushering in an era of progress and prosperity for all stakeholders.”

Sharing insights into the local salt industry, SMAP Founding Chairman Ismail Suttar, who also serves as the CEO of Hubpak Salt Refinery, revealed that aside from approximately 300 salt exporting companies, there are around 800 firms engaged in mining and processing salt in the country. Moreover, an estimated 300,000 individuals earn a decent living from this industry.

Approximately 4 million tonnes of salt are consumed locally each year, with 90% (3.6 million tonnes) allocated for industrial purposes such as caustic soda, glass, and PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride), while the remaining 10% (400,000 tonnes) is earmarked for edible salt. The country boasts three primary types of salt: sea salt, lake salt, and rock salt, each with distinct colours including white, pink, and others. These salts are sourced from regions such as Khewra, Tharparker, Mauripur, Ibrahim Haideri, and various other areas across the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 17th, 2024.

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Pakistan

Honda CD70 Dream Latest Price, Installment Plans – Sep 2024 Update – Pakistan Observer

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Honda remains leader in bikes market, with its top-selling units like CD 70, and that’s without making any major changes as the entry-level bikes look almost same for a long time. As the CD-70 remains its most selling model, bikes like the CD-70 Dream and Pridor are considered a niche products.

Despite failing to achieve top sales, CD 70 Dream is still in the market, featuring air-cooled, 4-stroke engine that delivers smooth performance and impressive fuel economy, often averaging around 60-70 km/l, making it ideal for daily commuting.

The bike looks better with stylish and modern design with attractive graphics, as compared to simple CD70. People also like its comfort as built quality remains optimum, comparing to other players.

Its pricing makes it accessible to a wide audience, including students and working professionals, solidifying its status as a favorite among motorcycle enthusiasts in Pakistan.

As bikes prices remain out of hands, people are having hard time to upgrade their ride while companies also face low sales.

Honda CD 70 Dream Price

The price of Honda CD70 Dream is Rs168,900 in September 2024.

Honda CD 70 Dream Installments

Installment Plans Monthly Payments 
3 months Rs56,300
6 months Rs28,300
9 months Rs21,890
12 months Rs17,200
24 months Rs10,170
36 months Rs7,800

 

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Check Property Ownership in Lahore, other Punjab cities Online – Pakistan Observer

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If you live in Lahore or any other city in Punjab; you might have faced difficulties in getting land record in previous years, but now the government made the land verification process smooth with digitization.

To curb the menace of land mafia and to help residents of Punjab, the government rolled out a systematic process and also eased the process of property transfers and real estate transactions.

A new verification system is Live by provincial authorities to check the legitimacy of properties available for purchase or investment across the region of 110 million people.

The relevant authority in this regard is Punjab Land Record Authority which oversees management and maintenance of land records. You can get different services, including ability to search for and view land records, as well as request copies of documents.

Check Property Ownership Online 2024

Here’s Step by Step Guide To Check property ownership

Step 1: Please visit PLRA portal at Punjab-zameen.gov.pk.

Step 2: Find ‘Property Registration,’ on home and click on https://rodportal.punjab-zameen.gov.pk/.

Step 3: It will ask you to select your district and service center.

Step 4: You can search by different options including Bahi number, ID card, registration number, or by person name.

Step 5: After entering details, please advance to ‘Search’ to get the land ownership.

With latest updates, you can check data on number of property transfers in last 36 months.

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Pakistan

Suzuki Bolan discontinued in Pakistan after 36 years; Here’s replacement for ‘Carry Dabba’ – Pakistan Observer

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LAHORE – Finally, it’s time to say goodbye to the iconic Suzuki Bolan as Pak Suzuki pulled plugs to replace the minivan with another model. Over the last 3.5 decades, Suzuki Bolan enjoyed decent sales and was valued for its flexibility, serving a multi-passenger vehicle and for commercial purposes.

Amid shift in auto landscape in Pakistan, Bolan becomes latest drive to be discontinued after Suzuki Mehran, which you can still spot.

Pictures of Suzuki Bolan’s last batch surfaced online, and Pakistanis hit nostalgia as many grew up in this vehicle. The final chassis number marked as 01151691. The country’s oldest automaker and maker of Bolan also confirmed discontinuation of the 800cc Carry Dabba.

The company decided to replace Bolan for its outdated design and lack of safety features. Amid its low sales, consumer demand for a modern replacement like Changan Karvaan increased.

Suzuki Every to Replace Bolan

Suzuki earlier mentioned that Every will replace Bolan, and one of its recent model was unveiled at a recent auto show.

The launch of Every models faced delays due to import challenges and it is expected to launch in mid October.

Suzuki Bolan Price in Pakistan

 

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Pakistan

Gold prices reach historic high in Pakistan – Pakistan Observer

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