The News on Sunday, KorachS

Sune 28, 2026"

NATIONAL 5


NDMA issues glacier
melting alert until July 3)".

By Jamia Achakzal
- ties, tourists and travellersin Skardu, Shigar, Ghanche,

ISLAMABAD :  The Natlonal glacter-fed regions,          Kharmang, Astore, Diamer,
Disaster Management . According totheNDMA’s Upper and Lower Chitral,

guard vulnerable communi- Hunza, Nagar, Ghizer, | consderably be higher,”

ps Abn    tion may be significantly higher. In. ‘The rport'sthematic aut high = 4. The SNGPL is directed to of sales tax return was picked up by
_, aewost all cases, the FBR's response Feted a severe breach of Econeraic conduct an inanacdiste fact-finding. the aucit, “The returns fied in both.
arities  ‘as that the proceedings were ind Coordination Commitige (E00) inquiry to Bx responsitdlity on the income tax and sales tax aqquire a
, Meduverdiehw.: ~~      Quidelines. Reguhlors discorered definquent officers responsible for legal status of assessed incomes and
The Auditor General of Paki that Regasified Liquefied Netura Gas. the tiene-barred Judicial Gistriseals. sales due to seif assessment method

Continued from page 1 Sans (NT ele pod Bor 2 {RANG) was qystematically diverted and recover the Rs206.904 milion provided inthe baw,      a
‘Mertified fnanctal ireguiarites, tockenestc and commerdalconsum- Joss from thom, *           “The aw provides a period of fre
Leahspironeipe isi ers during summer months, despite « .. 5. The Petroleum Division, in years tothe FBR tocharge txxondis-
Acconding to the AGP suit. dues exceding RE. t6bilion inthe the sufficed avallbitiy of indige- coordination with Oya must formu- crepancies, Like statemends and over
report for the audit svar 202526, Potroleuin Dinision and its affiated nous gas This unauthorised diversion late a transparent policy to ensure chaired aapenses.          .
covering fiscal year 200425, the entities. According to the report, led to inadmissible subsidy chaima, thal pubic consumers are nologer .. “The AGPuswiky abso dupticates

Authority issued a glacier National Emergencies Oper- Swat and adjoining areas | irregularities primarily steramed the single largest financial drain Compounding the issue, the cost of penalised with unfair tariff adjust the work requind by department by
melting alert, warning that ation Centre, continuous as the most vulnerable and | from noe-reaiisation and under-as- stemmed from Unaccountedfor-Gas. this unjustified RLNG diversion wns ments stemming from arbitrary sum» proempting repeat patterns in such

persistent heal and forecast. high temperatures, come advised local administra-
rainfall could trigger rapid bined with expected rain- tions to remain on high alert,
"glacier melt, glacial lake out- fall, are likely to accelerate It warmed that potential flash
burst floods, flash floods and glacier melting, causing sud- floods and landslides could
landslides across Gitgit-Balt- den surges in water levels damage highways, bridges,
stan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in rivers and streams. Also, irrigation systems and other
and Azad Jammu and Kash- increased pressure on glacial critical infrastructure, while
miruntilJuy3      lakes may result in GLOFs, some mountain roads may

It called on authorities lo flash floods, landslides and [face temporary closures and
act swiftly with robust pre mudslides,                         low-lying settlements could
paredness measures to safe The NDMA Identified be affected.


: Backlash as fuel prices frozen despite

, Continued from | page 1  barrel over the same span,          * prices had fallen back to fevels
Critics noted thal even com seen before the war, the oppo-
consumers already squeezed by  pared with pre-conilict bench- sition expressed regret that
Inflation,                   - mark levels, when domestic the Pakistani government had
The Petroleum Division prices stood at R258 for petrol not yet adjusted petrol prices
said Friday that petrol will stay and Rs276 for diesel, global accordingly. It asserted that
“at Rs000.50 por litre and high- crude has since fallen roughly 8 there was no justification for the
speed diesel at RsS1L47 per per cent, yet local rates remain diserepancy, other than allowing
tre from June 27 “will further stuck near record highs. The  certain mafics to reap windfall
orders,” even as Intemational disconnect fuekda wave of ait profits,
refined fuel prices fel over the  Scism online, with many Pakie The TTAP and PTI leader-

past week.                       stanis asking why falling crude ‘ship voiced serfous concer and
The freeze comes. a3 the gow- has not reached the pump... ; demancied that the government
emment has almost hit its fulle ‘Malik later struck a more immediately announce new

year Petroleum Development coniBatory tone, acknowhedg peices for petrol and diesel, set
Levy (PDL) target of Rs1468 ing the downward trend and exactly at the pre-war levels,
trillion In the first half of June. promising more relief ahead, —_—sIn.a separate statement, PTI

sessment of taxes, inadmissible tax (UPG) losses. The Sui Northern Gas integrated into public gs tariffs, foro. mer RING diversions,    +7, xedaams which are also detected by
creda and exemptions, Custoras Pipelines Limited (GNGPL) and Sul ing consumers to pay axtificial fined “There is 4-25 report by uke the Compliance Risk Managemerd
misclassification and undervahtion, Southern Gas Company (SSGC) charges and placing an undue fran Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) system of FBR However, the FBR
weak enforcemers and deficiencies Incurred massive losses beyond the cial burdenon the general public. about the Federal Boord of Revense appreciates the oversight and righ
ininterral cortro’s,         perrisstle Eralts set bythe dard = Tostera the mulbidion rupee (FBR). The query is just a repetition lance provided by AGP,       ‘

‘The single largest irregularity Gas Regulatory Authority (Oga),can bhecding, the AGPoullined strict com of executive surumary of the arevail “In almost all cases the matter
ert by the aut was the nerve Tying a staggering Grandad impact of rective mandates,           report of year 200425," an FBR off appears tobe resolved, under process.
absation of Super Tax acting to RSO278eibon     .   L The SNGPL and SGC mest Gal said. The official stated that this or before courts. This is 2 routine
Rs117 billion in 527 cases by 19 field Other significant flrancial dis-          strengthen regulatory report was pubtished in Augast 2005. work of the FBR and the AGP and
office observations. Ancher 18 fiddd crepances highlighted in the report oversight to control UPG losses.    and numerous DAC & PAC necetings bowing it ouf of proportion seeres an
office observations potted to the indxde, = - |        »     2 The Petrobecn Division nest, have already been held in which effort to matign the good work done
failure to reakse or under-reaksation   1) Failure in Revenue Realisa- enforce sirict recovery mechanisms majocamounts imobedintesreport by AGP and FBR “Moreover a recent
of intra tat worth Rs15 blbonin tion The Directorate General of for the 15 percent wellhicad value, have either been settled o¢ are sub judgment by the Sopreme Court has
@lawes.-- e         Petroleum Concessions = DG(PC) =  outstanding royakies and noc-tax Jucice before superior courts of Puki- also raised some observations on

“The ant farther found ht 16 fadedtorealse 15 percent ofthe well receipts,                ‘Stan. “The major reason for detection direct audit by the AGP of the reeums:
field office observations underas- head value of petrobeura produced, .. 3, A formal probe must de. of these discrepancies is audit obocr- fiied by the private persons and both
sessed income lax amounting to. aloresde a Late Pagrnend Surcharge Humnched into OGDCL's unjustified vations by the AGP isaudt oftaxpap the FBR and the AGP are working on.
RsdS billion because of inadwissi- and Royalty on rotural gssand crude Bquidated damages refund, and all ess returs recefved on IRIS systema more agreeable framework of 20d
bie claims of expenses in 276 cases, oil from Exploration and Production erdities must immediately deposit, of FBR. The last date of receipt of through developrnerd of werk syrer-_
In another observation, three field (E&P) companies, amounting to. withheld BESOS and daidered funds these returns was 31122024 in case gies to safeguard state revenues.” ”
offices allowed inadmisskie depcec RsH4(8256 ndion
Ce ache Be ne Sn

Ww                ivision,

cteoniercied Timor fd weer easuneg Nor              CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
fo nonapportionnerd of expenses, Tax Receipts totaling Rs,01K 12               Procurement & Contract Agreement-I

Inthe area of Sikes Taxand Fed- milton.

eral Excise Duty, the AGP found dat   <8) Unautorised Retention of
12 field office observations failed to Purds Major enenay entities,

monitor inadmissible adjustraest of ate O88 Ger Dechy Core
Input txx credit ca knvolces issued by pary Limited (0G (OGDCL), Pakistan
suspended or ble kisted taquyers, Petroleom Limited (PPL), SNGPL,
involving Rs€2 bition in 150-cases, SSGC and Pakistan bineral Devel-

Rather than easing the levy, “There has been a significant spokesperson Sheikh Waqas | Another 20 fic office observations opraent Corporation (PMDC) unduly
officials raised it. Diese!'s PDL reduction in crude oil prices, Akram said “Oil is cheap in the | did not realise sales tax of Rs13 b+ retained Beraaix Employees’ Stock
climbed by Rs6.57 to Rs70.54 and it is expected that prices of ‘market, but depriving the public | bon on the supply of taxable goods Option Scheme (BESOS) funds and

per litre, and petrof's by 39 paisa refined petroleum products will of retief is proof of the nexus
RM perlite, -.     follow the same trend, enabling between the government and oi
"Petroleum Minister Ati Per-  further mien the near fuare,   mafia. The government has also
‘vaiz Malik defended the freeze_Installah,” he        .    failed to control the LPG mafia.”
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