Capital autonomy may bring new tax

The federal government has begun considering proposals to introduce a new local tax in Islamabad if the capital is granted the status of an autonomous unit, while Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are set to begin negotiations this month on the fifth review of the ongoing loan programme. Sources told The Express Tribune that the proposed taxes include potential streams of revenue which will be allocated for the operation of basic facilities and administrative infrastructure within Islamabad. "It will be spent on hospitals, schools, colleges and other educational institutions, welfare works and administrative processes," they said. "The tax collection proposals will be discussed with the IMF delegation during the next economic review. The approved taxes will then be introduced in the upcoming fiscal year's budget," they added. The sources clarified that the final estimate for the target tax revenue is yet to be made. As part of the proposal review process, initially, the tax proposals will be prepared by the FBR, after which proposals will be presented to the tax subcommittee which has been specially established to review tax mechanisms for an autonomous Islamabad. Following the relevant subcommittee's approval, the proposals will be presented to the committee established under the chairmanship of the Minister for Planning. Afterwards, the proposals will be presented to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and then a final decision will be taken following the IMF's approval. The Ministry of Finance has directed all relevant ministries and institutions to compile necessary data and reports in preparation for the negotiations with the IMF during the economic review. The relevant ministries have been tasked with briefing the IMF delegation on structural benchmarks and economic reform targets. Notably, energy sector reforms with specific emphasis on circular debt targets in the electricity and gas sectors have also been included as part of the negotiations' agenda. The sources said that the government is betting on successful negotiations between Pakistan and the IMF to pave the way for the release of the fifth tranche of the loan programme. Pakistan is expected to receive one billion dollars in the fifth tranche in addition to the $200 million which will be handed over to deal with climate change losses. Thus, in case of a successful review from the IMF, Pakistan is expected to receive a total of $1.2 billion. The sources further elucidated that the formation of a new system for the use of local taxes and distribution of resources is part of the federal capital's proposed roadmap. They added that along with the formation of the administrative structure, attention is also being paid to integrating financial mechanisms through the inclusion of IMF's suggestions for an effective tax system.

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'We will honour it': Asif warns of Makkah defence pact's activation after Houthi strikes against Saudi Arabia

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Tuesday that there should be no ambiguity that an attack on any one country of the Makkah Defence Alliance — a joint defence agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye — would be considered an attack on all three and warned of its activation after attacks on the kingdom. The statement came as Yemen’s Houthis targeted cities and economic infrastructure in southern Saudi Arabia, injuring at least 73 civilians and further threatening peace in the region. The attacks also raised concerns about the conflict spilling over into the wider region. Pakistan condemned the attacks targeting Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran, calling them a flagrant violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Saudi Arabia. It reiterated its unwavering support for the kingdom’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, security and prosperity. Speaking on a local television programme 'Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath', Asif said any unprovoked aggression or spillover of the conflict in Yemen into Saudi Arabia would activate the agreement. Read More: Bangladesh signals openness to joining Pakistan-Saudi-Turkiye defence agreement “There should be no ambiguity; there is no need for any clarity that this is a joint defence agreement,” he said. “There should be no doubt about this. We are bound by the terms and conditions of this pact and, God willing, we will honour them in case there is a need,” the minister added. Asif said he had no information about any contact between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia regarding the recent attacks. He explained that the agreement provided for mutual assistance in the event of aggression. “This is not an aggressive agreement under which the three countries would, on their own initiative, attack another country. But if there is any aggression against one member state, all three member states will respond,” he said. The minister expressed hope that the situation would normalise and tensions would subside while cautioning the Houthis that they would have to realise that their internal affairs could have consequences if they attempted to export the conflict beyond Yemen. “If they try to export them, the clauses of this agreement to counter aggression will become operative,” he said. Describing the Houthis as non-state actors, Asif said there was sympathy and affection for Iran across the Muslim world, including Yemen, and there was no doubt about this. “But if non-state actors are used to exploit any bilateral dispute, I think they will be doing it at their own peril,” he said. Asif said the agreement could also serve as a deterrent and did not necessarily mean that Pakistan and its allies would respond to aggression in kind. Also Read: Understanding the alliance of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia & Turkey “We don't need to respond to a brick with a stone,” he said, adding that the alliance between three militarily strong countries that had already demonstrated their capabilities should itself serve as a deterrent. He said Saudi Arabia should not be dragged into what he described as an internal dispute in Yemen. The minister recalled a similar situation in 2014, when Yemen attacked Saudi Arabia, saying Pakistan had supported the kingdom even though there was no formal agreement between the countries at the time. He attributed Pakistan’s support to the sanctity of Saudi Arabia and the close relations between the two countries. Despite the continuing deterioration in the situation, Asif said he remained hopeful that a path to peace would emerge and that the doors to dialogue had not been closed. “The path to peace will certainly emerge, and the doors have not been closed,” he said, adding that he would not abandon hope that the situation had reached a complete deadlock or that all avenues had been shut. He said indirect contacts with the parties were already taking place. “We want to create an environment in which there is peace in the region because the entire region is at stake,” he said, adding that Israel would want to continue the conflict. “I believe the global conscience is awake and the pressure of this global conscience will ensure that peace is ultimately established in the region, and Israel will eventually pay the price,” he concluded. Read: What the Makkah Pact really signals The latest attacks were not the first time the Houthis had targeted Saudi Arabia’s energy interests. On July 23, the group said it had struck two Saudi oil tankers in what it described as part of a naval blockade against the kingdom. The Houthis control areas near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, one of the world’s key shipping routes linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden, giving the group the ability to threaten vital maritime traffic. The strikes had followed growing tensions between the Houthis and Riyadh. After the group threatened further attacks, the Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognised government vowed to respond with “unprecedented determination and force” to any attempt to target the kingdom, its citizens or its national assets. Makkah defence pact The recent Houthi attacks came at a time when Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye had just formalised their longstanding strategic ties through the signing of the “Makkah Defence Alliance, a trilateral security framework that its proponents describe as a defensive arrangement aimed at strengthening collective deterrence, enhancing military cooperation and promoting regional stability. The agreement, signed during the Makkah Al-Mukarramah Summit for Joint Defence, prompted comparisons with military alliances such as NATO. However, according to security analysts, the pact is intended to formalise decades of existing strategic cooperation rather than create a new military bloc or offensive alliance. According to security analysts, the agreement represents the natural progression of longstanding political, military and strategic relations among the three countries. Read More: Pakistan to provide first secretary general of Makkah Defence Alliance for three years: FO They noted that Pakistan's ties with Turkiye dated back to the Khilafat Movement, while Pakistan and Saudi Arabia maintained decades of defence, political, economic and diplomatic cooperation based on what they describe as mutual trust and shared strategic interests. Rather than establishing an entirely new partnership, analysts said the agreement provides a formal institutional framework for cooperation that has evolved over many years. Security analysts argued that the agreement reflected a rapidly changing regional security environment. They pointed to regional conflicts, evolving security threats, and changes in the character of modern warfare as factors driving closer strategic coordination among countries that shared common security interests. According to them, the trilateral framework was intended to preserve regional stability by strengthening collective security mechanisms instead of relying on ad hoc bilateral cooperation. At its core, the agreement established a framework based on the principles of collective security and collective deterrence. Security analysts said its central premise was that aggression against one member would be regarded as a threat to all three, thereby increasing the potential cost of military action and discouraging conflict through credible deterrence. The framework also envisaged expanded defence cooperation, including closer military coordination, intelligence sharing, strategic consultations, defence planning and broader institutional cooperation between the three countries. According to analysts, pooling military capabilities and strategic coordination were intended to improve preparedness while reducing the likelihood of regional conflict.

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CDA restrained from filling posts

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday suspended, until the next hearing, the cancellation of the recruitment process for several posts in the Capital Development Authority (CDA), including assistant director and building inspector. The court issued notices to the CDA chairman and other respondents and sought their responses by September 8. The CDA had also been barred from issuing fresh advertisements for the posts. Justice Khadim Hussain Somroo issued a two-page written order following the hearing, restraining the CDA from filling the posts through promotions or transfers as well.

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Senate panel approves death penalty for perpetrators of acid attacks

The Senate Standing Committee on Interior on Monday approved a series of criminal law amendments, including a proposal to make acid attacks punishable by death, along with measures to criminalise the abuse of domestic workers, unauthorised liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) decanting and the wrongful detention of dead bodies by hospitals. Chaired by Senator Faisal Saleem Rehman, the committee considered several private members’ bills concerning acid attacks, domestic workers, LPG safety, anti-rape legislation and consumer protection. The bills were passed despite opposition from Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, while Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) lawmakers also voted in favour. The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, moved by Senator Muhammad Abdul Qadir, seeking amendments to Section 336-B of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) concerning hurt caused by corrosive substances, was passed in the mover's absence. The bill, citing the recent acid attack on a lady doctor in Quetta, said that despite an amendment made in 2011, acid attacks continued to cause lifelong disfigurement and trauma. It proposed punishment of “death or imprisonment for life or imprisonment of not less than 14 years and a fine of Rs2 million” as a strong deterrent against the crime. Read: Suspect killed in encounter after acid attack on female doctor in Quetta The committee also unanimously passed the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill moved by Senator Sarmad Ali, seeking to criminalise the abuse of domestic workers. Its "Statement of Objects and Reasons" said domestic workers constituted one of the most vulnerable segments of society and were often subjected to physical violence, sexual abuse, forced labour and other forms of mistreatment by employers. It said existing legal provisions did not specifically address abuse arising from the dependency and control inherent in domestic work settings. The proposed provision covers physical violence, sexual harassment, threats, forced labour, wage theft, confiscation of identity documents, denial of food or medical care and humiliating treatment. It proposes imprisonment for up to 10 years and a fine of up to Rs100,000, while offences resulting in serious injury or death would carry imprisonment for life and a fine of up to Rs500,000. The bill would also make employers liable if members of their household committed abuse, unless they had taken reasonable steps to prevent such abuse. Read More: Households continue to exploit child labour in Punjab Schedule II of the Code of Criminal Procedure would also be amended to make the offence non-bailable and triable by a court of session. The committee also approved the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Act moved by Senator Shahadat Awan, seeking to amend Sections 286 and 286-A of the PPC to criminalise the unauthorised transfer of LPG into smaller cylinders. The bill noted that LPG decanting in residential areas and roadside setups without proper safety measures posed severe risks to public life and property. It proposed increasing the punishment under Section 286 from six months to two years and raising the fine from Rs1,000 to Rs100,000. Under Section 286-A, the proposed punishment would increase from two to five years, while the fine would rise from Rs10,000 to Rs500,000. The "Statement of Objects and Reasons" said the decanting of LPG from larger cylinders into smaller domestic cylinders without proper safety measures had become widespread in many parts of Pakistan. Such unauthorised operations, it added, were often conducted in residential areas, workshops and roadside setups without adherence to safety standards. “The proposed amendments aim to deter negligent and reckless conduct in the handling of explosive and hazardous substances, ensuring greater public safety and accountability,” the statement said. The committee unanimously passed another Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, moved by Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri, proposing the insertion of a new Section 338CA to make the “wrongful detention of a dead body” a punishable offence. Parliament’s responsibility is to turn the concerns of our people into meaningful legislation and action. Today, the Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control took up important matters concerning public safety, justice, legislation and institutional… pic.twitter.com/tpxqssePts — Samina Mumtaz Zehri (@SenatorMumtaz) September 7, 2026 The "Statement of Objects and Reasons" highlighted reports of private hospitals and clinics detaining the bodies of deceased patients until their families settled outstanding medical bills. It cited instances in which hospitals allegedly demanded exorbitant advance deposits, sometimes as high as Rs2 million to Rs4 million, and withheld bodies even when outstanding dues were as low as Rs100,000. The statement said such practices caused immense psychological harm to grieving families and denied the deceased the right to timely burial and dignified last rites, which it described as a fundamental religious obligation in Islam and other religions. It also maintained that the inviolability of human dignity did not cease upon death. Also Read: Hospitals barred from retaining bodies over unpaid bills The proposed provision carries a punishment of up to two years’ imprisonment and/or a fine of Rs500,000 for a first offence. A second offence, or detention of a body beyond 24 hours, would carry imprisonment of up to three years and/or a fine of Rs1 million. Exceptions have been provided for autopsies and police investigations, while the offence has been made compoundable by the legal heirs. The Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) (Amendment) Bill, moved by Senator Bushra Anjum Butt, was also passed. The committee observed that legislation aimed at strengthening the legal framework against rape should receive appropriate government support. On consumer protection, the committee passed the Islamabad Consumers Protection (Amendment) Bill, also moved by Senator Zehri, seeking to bring private healthcare under the ambit of the 1995 Act. The proposed legislation targets undisclosed fees, non-itemised billing and demands for advance deposits before emergency treatment. It would also require hospitals to publicly display their fee schedules and provide itemised bills. Separately, the committee expressed serious concern over reports that former parliamentarians were being required to obtain a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Interior Ministry for the issuance of official passports and that the validity of such passports had been reduced from five years to one year. Chaudhry told the committee that only the internal approval procedure had been changed. The chairman directed that existing law must not be violated and that official passports should be issued with five-year validity in accordance with the law. Further deliberation on the matter was deferred. The Interior Ministry also briefed the committee on concerns surrounding the unregulated use of social media by minors, saying that a high-powered committee was working on proposals to regulate children’s use of social media.

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JI submits six proposals to govt for abolishing petroleum levy

The first round of negotiations between delegations from Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and the federal government regarding the abolition of the petroleum levy and provision of relief to the public concluded on Monday in Islamabad, with the former submitting six key proposals to the government committee and agreeing to hold the next session on September 10. The JI delegation was led by Vice Emir Liaqat Baloch, accompanied by Deputy Secretary Syed Farasat Shah, KP North Emir Inayatullah Khan, Lahore Emir Zia-ur-Rehman Ansari, Islamabad Emir Nasrullah Randhawa, Al-Khidmat CEO Karachi Naveed Ali Baig and Shahid Naeem. The government side was headed by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, alongside Adviser to the Prime Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, and Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani. Meet the Technical Team of Jamaat-e-Islami, who will be meeting with the Government team to negotiate how the Levy could be reduced. The 1st round of meetings is starting today in Islamabad. The team consists of; 1. Liaquat Baloch - Seasoned Politician 2. Syed Firasat Shah - Ex… pic.twitter.com/2zC8lmys5h — Jamaat e Islami Pakistan (@JIPOfficial) September 7, 2026 Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Baloch stated that they presented six detailed proposals to the premier’s designated team, emphasising that the direct 80-rupee petroleum levy per litre on petrol and diesel was severely impacting the national economy. He clarified that peaceful sit-ins and protests across the country would continue while negotiations proceeded. Read: Govt, JI agree to form technical committees to review petroleum levy Baloch added that the primary objective remained providing immediate relief to the public, urging rulers to cut state expenditures as sufficient budgetary margin existed to accommodate tax relief. He also expressed concern over unfulfilled government commitments made during previous talks regarding independent power producers (IPP) protests and the Balochistan Long March, stating that daily petroleum pricing should be discontinued, further noting that current subsidy structures had failed. پیچھے نہیں ہٹیں گے، ہمارے دھرنےاور احتجاج جاری رہیں گے۔ ایسی اسپیس موجود ہے جس سے عوا م کو ریلیف دیا جاسکتا ہے۔ہم نے 6 تجاویز حکومت کے سامنے رکھی ہیں۔ ہم توقع کرتے ہیں کہ 3 روز میں حکومت جائزہ لے گی اور عوام کو ریلیف ملے گا۔ لیاقت بلوچ، نائب امیر جماعت اسلامی پاکستان… pic.twitter.com/CIa5kurIJ2 — Jamaat e Islami Pakistan (@JIPOfficial) September 7, 2026 Iqbal stated that the government had invited JI for talks to seek their actionable suggestions, which had now been formally received. He noted that the relevant government institutions would review these recommendations and any impractical points would be discussed openly with JI during the upcoming session. He mentioned that the government never desired to overburden citizens, but global economies had been disrupted by regional tensions, including the war in Iran, adding that petroleum prices would naturally ease once regional conflicts de-escalated. On Sunday, JI chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman warned the government of expanding the party's protest movement if its demands were not accepted, saying the next phase could include wheel-jam and shutter-down strikes, closure of petrol stations and a long march towards Islamabad. مطالبات منظور نہ ہوئے تو دھرنوں کے علاوہ پہیہ جام ہڑتال، لانگ مارچ اور ٹرین مارچ کا آپشن استعمال کریں گے@NaeemRehmanEngr#لیوی_بھتہ_ٹیکس_ختم_کرو pic.twitter.com/GP1ZAnxd2A — Jamaat e Islami Pakistan (@JIPOfficial) September 7, 2026 Addressing a press conference at the party's sit-in at Faisal Chowk on Mall Road, he accused the government of shifting the burden of its "incompetence, poor governance and failure to collect taxes" onto the public. Read More: JI to widen protest if demands not met Rehman said the protest was not aimed at securing a political benefit for any party but at seeking relief for citizens facing rising costs. Inflation, he added, had made education, healthcare and other basic services increasingly unaffordable. The JI chief criticised the petroleum levy, calling it a "jagga tax", and claimed that taxes of around Rs130 were included in the price of petroleum products, with the government directly collecting more than Rs105. Rehman claimed that the government had collected more than Rs4 trillion through the petroleum levy and demanded that it explain where the money had been spent. He also criticised the Federal Board of Revenue for failing to meet its tax targets and questioned capacity payments made to IPPs for electricity that, according to him, were neither generated nor supplied. The JI chief said the government had reduced petrol and diesel prices following the protests but had failed to provide transparency in the mechanism used to determine petroleum prices.

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CM Maryam seeks explanation on civic service deficiencies

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has sought an immediate explanation from the deputy commissioners of Okara and Sahiwal after the CM’s Inspection Team uncovered overcharging at a hospital parking lot and deficiencies in civic services. The team conducted late-night surprise visits to the Okara District Headquarters and Depalpur and Chichawatni Tehsil Headquarters Hospitals. At the Chichawatni THQ Hospital, the team received complaints about excessive parking charges and ordered cancellation of the contract and registration of a case against those responsible. Read: CM Punjab launches crusade against corruption The team also noticed stagnant rainwater and non-functional streetlights in Okara district. Based on a report, CM Maryam expressed displeasure and sought explanations from the DCs of Okara and Sahiwal. She ordered the relevant authorities to immediately start reconstruction of the dilapidated Depalpur Road. وزیرِ اعلیٰ پنجاب مریم نواز شریف کی ہدایات پر معاون خصوصی شعیب مرزا نے انسپیکشن ٹیم کے ہمراہ اوکاڑہ، دیپالپور اور چیچہ وطنی کے اچانک دورے کیے ۔ سرکاری ہسپتالوں اور عوامی سہولیات کا تفصیلی معائنہ کیا گیا۔ وزیرِاعلیٰ پنجاب مریم نواز شریف کے واضح احکامات کہ مطابق عوامی مسائل پر فوری… pic.twitter.com/HMkCucZCME — Government of Punjab (@GovtofPunjabPK) September 6, 2026 Meanwhile, following the arrest by the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) of nine government employees and three frontmen in various districts, CM Maryam said the time had come to eliminate corruption from government institutions across Punjab. According to an official statement issued on Sunday, ACE teams conducted raids and trap operations in several districts against officials allegedly involved in receiving bribes. In Bahawalnagar, an assistant commissioner’s office clerk was allegedly caught receiving a bribe and a case was registered against him. A former union council office naib qasid was also arrested during a trap raid. In Vehari, an excise department official was arrested while allegedly accepting a bribe. In Dera Ghazi Khan, a computer operator at Allama Iqbal Teaching Hospital was caught during a similar operation. A naib qasid of the local government department was arrested in Mandi Bahauddin and booked in a corruption case. In Jhang, the ACE arrested a tehsil office reader for allegedly receiving a bribe. Two alleged frontmen, Mohammad Yasir and Abdullah, were arrested in Muzaffargarh. Also Read: Minister slams Maryam over terrorism remarks In Lahore, the ACE registered a case and arrested a patwari’s munshi, Mubeen Akhtar, over allegations of corruption. Another alleged frontman working for a patwari was also caught receiving a bribe. In Chakwal, PERA Force Sergeant Asif Kamal and Naib Qasid Talal Hussain were arrested in a trap operation. “We will not rest until every government institution is free of corruption and corrupt elements,” the CM said, according to the statement. She directed the relevant authorities to continue action against officials and other individuals involved in corrupt practices.

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56 civil defence officials face disciplinary action in Punjab

The Punjab Home Department has taken disciplinary action against 56 civil defence officials across the province over allegations of corruption, misconduct and inefficiency, dismissing 12 employees, suspending 37 and transferring seven others. The civil defence director dismissed from service Farman from Sargodha, Naveed from Khushab, Irshad and Nasir from Multan, Asghar from Lodhran, Group Wardens Rehman Maqbool and Hamza Bilal from Gujranwala, Aman Ullah and Faizan from Hafizabad, Sharif from Narowal, and Bashir Ahmad and Shabbir Ahmad from Bahawalpur. The department also suspended 37 officials and initiated disciplinary proceedings against them under the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability Act. Also Read: Punjab's anti-graft axe falls on 54 officials Those suspended include Rahim Yar Khan Civil Defence Officer Shakeeb Ahmad, four assistants posted in Vehari, Sialkot, Khushab and Sahiwal, and two senior clerks from Narowal and Gujranwala. Nine chief instructors and 15 instructors were also suspended. Other personnel facing suspension include a rescue leader, rescuer, first aider, driver, naib qasid and a sanitary worker. Separately, seven Civil Defence officers were transferred owing to long tenures at their postings and administrative requirements. Muzaffargarh Civil Defence Officer Syeda Sehrish Irshad was transferred to Vehari, while Muhammad Rehan was posted in Bahawalnagar. Muhammad Abbas was transferred from Faisalabad to Sahiwal and Muhammad Adnan Qaiser from Sahiwal to Okara, while Muhammad Iqbal Javaid was transferred from Okara to Faisalabad. Sidra Yasin Rana was transferred from the Civil Secretariat and posted as Chief Staff Officer at the Directorate of Civil Defence. Farhana Aziz was transferred from Sialkot to the Civil Defence office at the secretariat in Lahore. A Home Department spokesperson said the Punjab chief secretary had directed the heads of all departments to ensure departmental accountability.

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