Tarar said that PECA will ensure the freedom of speech
Bureau Report
LAHORE: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said that the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) will ensure the freedom of speech.
Addressing a ceremony in Lahore, the information minister said that PECA is meant to discourage the fake news.
“There is no check or editorial control on digital media. The PECA has been introduced after thorough deliberations,” Tarar said.
He added that the notables from private sector would be included in the Digital Media Protection Authority.
He said the purpose of PECA is to provide protection to journalists and eliminate incidents of harassment.
We’ll consult the press clubs and other unions of journalists to take their input for the said authority, he added.
The minister said that PTV, Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation and Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) are being digitized through use of the latest technology.
He said that the reform process has been introduced in all these institutions. He added that a digital department has been established recently, which has been incorporated with Artificial Intelligence.
Sindh passes
agri tax law
amid grievances
We don’t want the IMF programme to suffer because of us, but rushing this tax will create problems, says CM Sindh
Nazir Siyal
Karachi: The Sindh Assembly has passed the Sindh Agricultural Income Tax Bill 2025 into law as part of Pakistan’s commitments under the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, while expressing grievances over the Centre’s failure to involve provinces in talks with the lender.
The law seen as part of Pakistan’s economic reforms under the IMF’s $7 billion agreement, entails increased tax on agricultural incomes while underscoring the need to increase revenue collection and reduce recurrent deficit to win the lender’s approval.
A provincial cabinet meeting, chaired by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, earlier approved the proposed law.
Shah, while addressing the Sindh Assembly session, fiercely defended the province’s taxation policies, pointing out that agricultural tax was already in place and being collected.
Slamming the federal government’s move to transfer tax collection to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), the CM accused the federal government of deliberately keeping provinces out of the loop when it discussed a loan deal with the IMF.
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