Back to Main Page                                                                 Archives

 

Income tax exemption limit may be raised in Budget

         New Delhi: Finance Minister P Chidambaram is likely to prune the Centre's deficit by 0.7 per cent of GDP, offer relief to salaried class by raising income tax exemption limit, but may also levy a cess on direct taxes while leaving corporate tax and peak customs duties untouched in the Budget for 2004-05, according to official sources. The budget is expected to contain several innovative measures to tap black money, phase out exemptions in both direct and indirect taxes, bring in more services under the tax net and to rationalise capital gains tax. With mounting pressure from trade unions and rising price level, the budget may not tinker with small savings rates, now at 8 per cent, thus creating an environment for continuing with 9.5 per cent provident fund rate, the sources further said. To be presented on July eight, the budget will contain measures to boost investment in agriculture, infrastructure and export sectors, the sources added.

20 feared drowned as boat capsizes in UP (Go To Top)

          Varanasi: About 20 people were feared drowned when a boat carrying them capsized in Gomti river in Jaunpur district of Uttar Pradesh this morning. The boat with 35 people on board capsized between Hariharpur and Baraitha villages, 25 km from here, police said. Five bodies have been fished out of the river so far and search was on for the others, they said, adding 15 people swam to safety.

Gustad, two aides move HC for bail  (Go To Top)

          Mumbai: Film director Kaizad Gustad and his two assistants, arrested in connection with accidental death of young director Nadia Khan on charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, have approached the Bombay high court to get bail. The petition will come up for hearing tomorrow before Justice Dilip Bhosale. Earlier, their bail plea was rejected twice by a railway magistrate and once by a sessions court. The accused are in judicial custody till July 1.

Prabha Rao is new Maharashtra PCC chief (Go To Top)

          New Delhi: Former AICC General Secretary Prabha Rao was today appointed president of the Maharashtra Pradesh Comgress Committee. She replaces Ranjit Deshmukh with immediate effect, according to AICC General Secretary and in-charge of Maharashtra affairs Vayalar Ravi.

Jamali's resignation a blow to democracy, says Benazir (Go To Top)

          Lahore: Pakistan Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali's resignation was a "serious blow to democracy", former premier Benazir Bhutto said Saturday night. She said the next premier would not last long either. "Jamali was very obedient and loyal to General Musharraf during his tenure. How will another person survive (in the job) if Musharraf can't tolerate an obedient prime minister like Jamali?," the Daily Times quoted Bhutto as saying in an interview with the BBC at her London residence. She said that Jamali's ouster was a serious setback, even for a "so-called democracy".

Hussain will be 15th Pak premier: Paper  (Go To Top)

          Lahore: Ch Shujat Hussain, who is likely to take oath as Pakistani interim prime minister on Monday, will become the country's 15th prime minister and 26th head of government, The Nation reported Sunday. The report further said that Shaukat Aziz, who will subsequently be appointed as the country's next premier, would become the 16th prime minister and 27th head of government.

           According to the paper, the previous Pakistan premiers and their duration are: 1. Liaquat Ali Khan (15.8.47-16.10-1951) 2. Khwaja Nazimuddin (19.10.51-17.4.53) 3. Muhammad Ali Bogra (17.4.53-11.8.55) 4. Ch Muhammad Ali (11.8.55-12.9.56) 5. Hussain Shaheed Suhrawardy (12.9.56-18.10.57) 6. I.I. Chundrigar (18.10.57-16.12.57) 7. Feroze Khan Noon (16.12.57-7.10.58) 8. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto (14.8.73-5.7.77, earlier President/CMLA 20.12.71-14.8.73) 9. Muhammad Khan Junejo (23.3.85-29.5.88) 10. Benazir Bhutto (1.12.88-6.8.90) 11. Mian Nawaz Sharif (6.11.90-18.4.93, 26.5.93-18.7.93) 12. Benazir Bhutto (19.10.93-5.11.96) 13. Mian Nawaz Sharif (17.2.97-12.10.99)

         Besides, there have also been four caretaker premiers. They are: 1. Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi (6.8.90-6.11.90) 2. Balakh Sher Mazari (18.4.93-26.5.93) 3. Moeenuddin Ahmad Qureshi (18.7.93-19.10.93) 4. Mali Meraj Khalid (5.11.96-17.2.97)

          According to the paper, Noorul Amin was appointed prime minister (from 7.12.71-20.12.71) by President Yahya Khan, but did not form a government.

          Other heads of government who have been in power in the country: 1. Iskander Mirza (7.10.58-27.10.58, President) 2. Gen (later Field Marshal) Muhammad Ayub Khan (27.10.58- 25.3.69, CMLA, President) 3. Gen Muhammad Yahya Khan (25.3.69-20.12-71, President/CMLA) 4. Gen Muhammad Ziaul Haq (5.7.77-23.3.85, CMLA, President from 1979) 5. Gen Muhammad Ziaul Haq (29.5.88-17.8.88, President) 6. Ghulam Ishaq Khan (17.8.88-1.12.88, Acting President) 7 Gen Pervez Musharraf (12.10.99-22.11.02, Chief Executive, President from 2001).