DINA for the Issue of June 18, 2013

	Tuesday 18th June 2013 | Sha"ban 8, 1434
The DAWN Internet News Alert (DINA) is a free daily news service from Pakistan’s largest English language newspaper, the Daily DAWN.
KP announces 15pc raise in salary, pension By Intikhab Amir PESHAWAR, June 17: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Finance Minister Sirajul Haq presented in the provincial assembly on Monday a Rs344 billion budget for the next financial year, with a deficit of Rs10.7bn.	For suggestions and comments: Email: webmaster@dawn.com Website: http://dawn.com Fax: +92(21) 35693995 Karachi Stocks Down 325.18 Points: At the close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 22216.46, down 325.18 points. Forex Update : The Pakistani Rupee was traded at 99.8 to the US Dollar in the open market.
Petrol and diesel prices rise again By Khaleeq Kiani ISLAMABAD, June 17: For the second time in a week after the federal budget, the prices of petroleum products went up by up to Rs2.70 per litre on Monday with immediate effect because of imposition of 19 per cent general sales tax on 95 per cent retailers, instead of the standard rate of 17pc. The ex-depot price of petrol rose by Rs1.72 per litre to Rs102.35, high speed diesel (HSD) by Rs1.80 to Rs107.30 and kerosene by Rs1.60 to Rs96.19. The price of High Octane Blending Component (HOBC) was up by Rs2.70 per litre to Rs139.10 and that of light diesel oil (LDO) by Rs1.54 to Rs91.44.
Sindh allocates Rs39.3bn for local govt By Habib Khan Ghori KARACHI, June 17: The Sindh government unveiled on Monday its budget for the financial year 2013-14 with a total outlay of Rs617.21 billion against estimated receipts of Rs559.57bn. An amount of Rs185bn has been se aside for the provincial annual development plan, against last year’s Rs181bn. Of this, Rs8.6bn has been allocated for seven major priority areas, including law and order, poverty alleviation initiatives, providing better education and healthcare and investment in energy, agriculture and Karachi Circular Railway.
Punjab focus on large investment spending By Nasir Jamal LAHORE, June 17: Punjab’s Rs931.65bn deficit budget for 2013-14 focuses on large investment spending, doles out billions of rupees in untargeted subsidies, vows to continue populist schemes, and aims to raise tax revenues by above 33 per cent without any major change in the taxation regime. Finance Minister Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman tabled the budget in the Punjab Assembly on Monday.
Rs1bn more for education PESHAWAR: The PTI-led coalition government introduced several initiatives in the education sector of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for the 2013-14 fiscal year in line with Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s campaign slogan to enforce ‘education emergency’ if voted to power. The education budget was increased to Rs13.83 billion for the coming financial year from Rs12.18bn in the 2012-2013 fiscal, Finance Minister Sirajul Haq said.
Govt likely to convene APC on Balochistan By Khawar Ghumman ISLAMABAD, June 17: The PML-N government hinted on Monday at convening an all parties conference (APC) on Balochistan against the background of recent terrorist attacks in the province. Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said in the National Assembly that Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif would soon contact the heads of all parties to seek their opinion on a sustainable solution to the deteriorating law and order situation in Balochistan.
Minister links GST hike withdrawal to defence budget cut By Our Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, June 17: Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said on Monday that the rate of general sales tax (GST), which was deemed to be inflationary, could be reverted to 16 per cent from 17pc if the defence authorities agreed to scale down their non-development and non-salary budget by Rs50 billion. Facing opposition criticism at the first meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue on budgetary proposals, Mr Dar asked the members to keep in mind the difficult economic situation and the need to rebuild economy and come up with suggestions for meeting the Rs2.475 trillion revenue target for the next financial year.
Syrian crisis forces Kerry to postpone Pakistan visit By Baqir Sajjad Syed ISLAMABAD, June 17: US Secretary of State John Kerry has postponed his trip to Pakistan planned for next week, a diplomatic source told Dawn on Monday. Secretary Kerry spoke to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif over telephone on Sunday to inform him about the postponement of his visit.
Security forces on high alert in Quetta By Saleem Shahid QUETTA, June 17: Security forces have been put on high alert in Quetta following Saturday’s attacks which claimed the lives of over two dozen people. The Sardar Bahadur Khan Women’s University and the Bolan Medical College (BMC) have been closed.
Apex court requested to restrain law minister By Nasir Iqbal ISLAMABAD, June 17: As the date for hearing of petitions seeking prosecution of retired Gen Pervez Musharraf on treason charges draws near, one petitioner has approached the Supreme Court with a plea to restrain Zahid Hamid from acting as law minister till the court decides the case. In a related development, Attorney General Muneer A. Malik said he wanted to write to the government a letter seeking its instructions on the petitions against the former military ruler. At the last hearing on June 6, Ahmad Raza Kasuri, the counsel for Mr Musharraf, had requested the court to adjourn the proceedings till the attorney general submitted a statement about the new government’s stance on the case.
PPP invitation to join govt: MQM to hold referendum By Our Staff Reporter KARACHI, June 17: Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain has asked his party’s coordination committee to hold a referendum to seek the opinion of MQM workers and the general public whether the party should accept PPP’s invitation to join the Sindh government. The MQM held a meeting at the Lal Qila Ground on Monday to seek the opinion of its lawmakers and office-bearers of different organisational wings on the matter.
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