WELCOME TO CSS TIMES DAY BY DAY CURRENT AFFAIRS, YOUR BEST SOURCE FOR UP-TO-DATE AND DAILY TOP CURRENT AFFAIRS 2019 FOR PREPARATION OF CSS, PMS, BANKING, NTS, RAILWAYS AND ALL COMPETITIVE EXAMS. “DAY TO DAY CURRENT AFFAIRS” BASICALLY IS TOP 10 NEWS SUMMARY ON CURRENT HAPPENINGS OF NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE FOR ALL EXAMINATIONS
June 15, 2019: National Current Affairs
1. Sindh`s Rs1.217 trillion budget presented
• Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on June 14, 2019 presented the Rs1.217 trillion deficit-free budget of the province for Financial year 2019-20.
• The budget unveiled a Peoples Promise Programme, a plan for poverty reduction as pledged by PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in his election campaign.
• As it was largely featured in the last budget, first priority in terms of budgetary allocations has been given to education followed by health and law and order.
• The chief minister said the federal government had revised federal transfers from estimates of Rs665.085bn to Rs631.543bn, but, `such claims were misleading`.
• `In the last 11 months, Sindh has received only Rs492.135bn on account of federal transfers and it is anticipated that by the end of [this] financial year the shortfall would be Rs117.527bn,` he said.
2. Punjab presents Rs2.3tr tax-heavy budget
• Loaded with heavy taxes, Punjab government presented Rs2.3 trillion surplus budget for the fiscal year 2019-20 with a development outlay of Rs350 billion on June 14, 2019.
• Finance Minister Makhdoom Hashim Jawan Bakht delivered the budget speech.
• Besides increasing the rate of a number of existing taxes, including stamp duty, the government has proposed taxes on businesses and professions previously not falling into the tax net.
• The government has proposed bringing all stock brokers, money changers, doctors, hakeems, homeopaths, contractors, builders and property dealers into the tax net.
• Company with up to Rs5 million liquidity has been proposed to pay Rs10,000 annual tax, that of up to Rs50 million Rs30,000, up to Rs100 million Rs70,000 and that of more than Rs100 million will pay Rs1,00,000.
• An annual tax of Rs1,500 has been proposed on factories with workforce of up to 10 persons, Rs5,000 on those employing 25 and Rs7,500 on those employing more than 25 persons.
• Government has also proposed Rs1,000 tax on lawyers, Rs2,000 on jewelers and cable operators, Rs4,000 on health clubs/gymnasiums in metropolitan limits and cigarette/tobacco dealers, Rs6,000 on audit firms, taxation consultants, architects, money changers, engineering and scientific consultants, Rs6,000-10,000 on motorcycle/scooter dealers, Rs10,000 on stock exchange members, Rs10,000 on motor car dealers and real estate agents in small cities and Rs20,000 on those working in metropolitan corporation limits.
3. Ali Jehangir Siddiqui appointed as ambassador-at-large for foreign investment
• The federal government has appointed Ali Jehangir Siddiqui as ambassador-at-large for foreign investment.
• According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on June 14, 2019, `Prime Minister of Pakistan has been pleased to approve the appointment of Mr Ali Jehangir Siddiqui, as ambassador-at-large for foreign investment in honorary capacity with effect from 13thJune, 2019.
• The ambassador-at-large is given special duties and not appointed to any specific country. Last year, Mr Siddiqui served as Pakistan`s ambassador to the United States.
4. PTV gets new MD after two months
• Amer Manzoor was appointed managing director of Pakistan Television (PTV) on June 14, 2019, according to an announcement by the ministry of information and broadcasting.
• Arshad Khan, the former MD, will now serve as the chairman of PTV board, the ministry said.
5. KP cabinet increases retirement age to 63 years to save Rs24bn annually
• The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on June 14, 2019 approved an increase in the age of retirement for its employees from 60 years to 63 years to save Rs24 billion annually.
• The decision was made during a meeting of the provincial cabinet, which Chief Minister Mahmood Khan chaired.
• Information minister Shaukat Ali Yousafzai told that the retirement age for government employees in India`s education and health sector was 65 years, while employees in some countries retired at the age of 67 years.
• Under Article 240(b) of the Constitution, the provincial government had the power to legislate in the provincial assembly on the matter.
• The minister said initially, the Civil Servant Act, 1973, had fixed the retirement age for government employees at 50, which was later enhanced to 60.
6. WB approves $518m for tax projects
• Within days after the federal budget targeting Rs5.55 trillion in tax revenues for next fiscal year, the World Bank on Friday approved a package of $518 million for two projects in support of Pakistan`s ambitious efforts to raise revenue and reduce compliance cost to help providing better services to the people.
• The bank said in a statement that the $400m Pakistan Raises Revenue Project will support the Federal Board of Revenue`s (FBR) focus to create a sustainable increase in tax revenue. The project will assist in simplifying the tax regime and strengthening tax and customs administration.
• It will also support the FBR with technology and digital infrastructure and technical skills. This will enable more effective use of taxpayer information and more targeted compliance.
June 15, 2019: International Current Affairs
7. SCO for boost in global anti-terror fight
• The member states of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) June 14, 2019 resolved to accelerate efforts to promote socio-economic and anti-corruption cooperation as well as to introduce the use of local currencies in mutual financial transactions and settlements.
• The member states also resolutely condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and urged the international community to strengthen global cooperation in efforts against terrorism under the UN.
• The heads from the SCO member and observer states met in Bishkek, the Kyrgyz capital on June 13-14, for a meeting of the SCO’s Heads of State Council, wherein they underscored their intention to continue to rely on the goals and objectives of the SCO Charter and to follow the Shanghai Spirit that embodies mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, mutual consultations, according to a statement issued by the SCO Secretariat.
• Prime Minister Imran Khan, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of China Xi Jinping, President of Kyrgyzstan Sooronbay Jeenbekov, President of Russia Vladimir Putin, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon and President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev attended the summit. President of Afghanistan Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, President of Iran Hassan Rouhani, President of Mongolia Khaltmaagiin Battulga as well as UN Under-Secretary-General Rosemary A DiCarlo were also in attendance.
8. US urges India to contain violence on basis of religion
• The top US diplomat for South Asia has urged the newly reelected Modi government to quickly condemn religious violence in India and hold extremists accountable.
• In her remarks before a House subcommittee for foreign affairs, the State Department`s acting assistant secretary for South and Central Asia Alice Wells also tried to persuade India not to purchase S-400 missile defence systems from Russia.
• `In our engagements with India, we will continue to highlight the importance of preserving a diverse and inclusive society,` she said in a brief prepared statement on India-US relations, which also addressed the issue of religious discrimination in that country.
9. UAE loses claim against Qatar in world court
• The UN`s top court on June 14, 2019 rejected a request by the United Arab Emirates to take special measures against Qatar in a two-year crisis that has added to growing tensions in the Gulf.
• Oil and gas-rich Qatar has faced an economic and diplomatic boycott since June 2017 by Gulf rivals who accused Doha of backing terrorism and being too close to regional rival Iran.
• Abu Dhabi had asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to prevent Doha `aggravating` the dispute, after Qatar won a case last year over alleged discrimination against its citizens.
• ICJ Chief judge Abdulgawi Ahmed Yusuf said the court `rejects the request for provisional measures submitted by the United Arab Emirates` by a margin of 15 to one.
• The measures it asked for were temporary ones while the Hague-based court decides on a wider legal battle between the UAE and Qatar over the blockade.
June 15, 2019: Sports Current Affairs
10. Root excels as England thrash Windies
• Joe Root’s classy unbeaten century led England to a comprehensive eight-wicket win over West Indies in a one-sided World Cup match at the Hampshire Bowl on June 14, 2019.
• The result pushed England above India and Australia to No.2 on the table, just a point behind first-placed New Zealand, and suffice to say that, for the No.1-ranked one-day international side, things are going swimmingly in their home tournament. Those who had flashes of World Cups past after that loss to Pakistan needn’t have concerned themselves.
• Opting to field, England had West Indies bundled out for 212. Twice, the Windies batsmen put up strong fightbacks. Each time, England broke through when it mattered most. First, Chris Gayle and Shai Hope put on a fighting 50, accelerating in the second half of the first Powerplay to take control. But, after surviving an engaging battle with Jofra Archer, Gayle fell to Liam Plunkett for a 41-ball 36.
