MCL demolishes illegal structures.

LAHORE -- The Metropolitan Corporation Lahore (MCL) on Saturday carried out an anti-encroachment operation against encroachments and demolished illegal structures in the various parts of the provincial capital.

The anti-encroachment squad of the MCL removed encroachment materiel from Shahalam Market, Ravi Road, Mayo Hospital, Thokar Niaz Baigh, Kareem Block Market, Fatehgarh, G.T Road Kotli, Jallo Mor, Mian Market Gulberg and shifted nine truck-load of confiscated goods to the MCL junkyard. Headed by Metropolitan Officer (Regulation) Zubair Ahmed Watto, the MCL anti-encroachment squad imposed a total fine of Rs 25,000 on various shopkeepers said the MCL spokesman here.

During the operation, the MCL cleared structures, including sheds, grills, billboards, hoardings,make-shift shops along sides of various roads, besides confiscating the belongings of the encroachers.

APTMA demands withdrawal of FIRs against exporters

All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) Chairman Adil Bashir on Saturday urged the federal government to stop FBR from harassment of taxpayers and withdraw all FIRs lodged against genuine and bonafide manufacturers and exporters. He made this demand in a media release here and added that PM was all out to support the export-oriented sectors of Pakistan but some elements were bent upon frustrating the intents of the govt by hindering the unprecedented growth in exports.

According to him, exports from Pakistan registered an impressive uplift over the last few months due to unflinching support by the prime minister but the pace of potential upsurge in exports may be retarded by unfriendly attitude of certain government functionaries.

He alleged that FASTER and Weboc systems of FBR have become glitches and FBR has itself repeatedly publicly admitted that FASTER system had multiple flaws and deficiencies. He regretted that instead of correcting the system and making it more efficient, field formations of FBR started lodging stereo typed FIRs against the taxpayers, and such moves may affect negatively the congenial business environment created due to hard efforts by the...