Gwadar port fully operational, national assembly told
The National Assembly was informed on Wednesday that Gwadar Port is now fully operational, capable of handling general cargo, containers, and other port activities. Parliamentary Secretary for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Wajiha Qamar, during the Question Hour, stated that the port can accommodate vessels of up to 50,000 DWT and is equipped with the necessary infrastructure for efficient bulk cargo and container handling.
She further highlighted that multiple shipments under the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement have already been successfully processed through the port.
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Addressing other queries, Parliamentary Secretary for Finance Saad Waseem Sheikh clarified that there has been no increase in the Personal Income Tax rate for salaried individuals in the current fiscal year’s budget.
Meanwhile, Parliamentary Secretary for Commerce Zulfiqar Ali Bhatti shared optimistic projections for rice exports. He expressed confidence that exports could reach $5 billion during this fiscal year, building on the $3.8 billion achieved last year, a significant rise from $2.1 billion in 2022-23.
Bhatti further reported that from July to October this year, rice exports saw a remarkable 48.81% increase in value and a 43.77% rise in quantity compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year.
Responding to a Calling Attention Notice, Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Division Sajid Mehdi revealed that the government is working on legislation to combat the spread of fake news on social media. He noted that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has established a dedicated Task Force to address misinformation and ensure the responsible use of digital platforms.
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