Petrol, gas and electricity subsidy to end: Shaukat Tarin

KARACHI: Finance Advisor, Shaukat Tarin has said that a decision for putting an end to the subsidy on petrol, gas and electricity has been taken.

Addressing a seminar on ‘IMF role in Pakistan economy’ under the aegis of Institute of Business Administration (IBA), the finance advisor said that the government was facing economic challenges. He said that the current fiscal year revenue recoveries would amount to Rs1180 billion, but yet the recoveries have been crucial problem for the government and this was the reason that the prices of petroleum products were not reduced.

Shaukat Tarin said that serious notice has been taken of the FBR harassing consumers. He said that the focus for the next year would be to revive the economy after stabilization. He pointed out that attention would also be paid towards the revenue generation. He explained that the tax would not be increased and instead efforts would be made to expand the tax net. This would be carried out administratively and also on the policy basis

Finance advisor said that Pakistan’s three national enterprise—Pakistan Steel, Railway and PIA were cumulatively incurring losses of over Rs200 billion annually.

He said that relief would be given to the middle class in the upcoming budget, while the new National Financial Award (NFC) would be presented with the consensus of the four provinces.

Umar Gul set to fire in World Twenty20

KARACHI: Pace spearhead Umar Gul insists he will not curb his aggressive style of bowling during the World Twenty20, saying his wicket-taking ability is key if Pakistan are to clinch the title.

The 25-year-old, who is the leading wicket-taker in the newest form of the game with 24 victims in 14 matches, is in the best form of his career.

The lanky Peshawar-born paceman boasts a career-best 4-8 - the second best performance in T20 internationals behind New Zealand's Mark Gillespie's 4-7 against Kenya in 2007 - which helped Pakistan beat Australia in Dubai.

"I want to do better than the last time," said Gul, who finished as the leading wicket-taker with 13 in seven matches to anchor Pakistan's runners-up finish to India in the inaugural World Twenty20 held in South Africa in 2007.

Gul said he sees the batsman-oriented Twenty20 cricket as a big challenge.

"Bowling in Twenty20 is a great challenge, but I am always up for it and I believe in attacking the batsmen from the first delivery to the last," he said.

Gul will be spearheading an attack which includes fast maturing Sohail Tanvir, Rao Iftikhar, Yasir Arafat and newcomer Mohammad Aamir.

The line-up looks inexperienced after Shoaib Akhtar was withdrawn due to injury and with Mohammad Asif still absent because of a one-year ban on doping.

But Gul is confident Pakistan can still bowl their opponents out.

"We have a balanced attack and if we bowl to a tight line and length, then we can get teams out or restrict them to gettable totals," said Gul, who prefers to come as first-change in Twenty20 matches.

"Coming on first change helps you get more swing and it's the ideal time to not only stop the flow of runs but to take wickets.

"We came so close to winning the title in 2007 but it was bad luck," added Gul, whose three wickets restricted India to 157-5 in the final in the inaugural World Twenty20.

"This time round we want to finish it without a blemish. The title, nothing less, is the aim."

Swat operation to end within 2/3 days: Secretary Defence

ISLAMABAD: Secretary Defence, Syed Athar Ali has expressed the hope that Swat underway operation would end within two/three days.

Addressing a defence parley in Singapore, Secretary Defence, Syed Athar Ali said that the operation in Swat had been completed almost ninety percent, while only five to ten percent mopping up was underway.

He expressed the hope that the remaining militants would also be wiped out within two/three days.