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According to documents cited by the Wall Street Journal, Google is aiming to enhance its search engine to be more visually appealing, easily digestible, personalized, and human-centered, with a particular emphasis on catering to the younger generation worldwide.

Artificial intelligence (AI) applications like ChatGPT are gaining popularity rapidly, showcasing a technology that has the potential to revolutionize the way businesses and society function.

According to the report, the tech giant intends to move its service beyond the traditional format of presenting search results, known as “10 blue links,” and will include more human voices as part of this transition.

During its upcoming annual I/O developer conference, Google is anticipated to introduce new capabilities that enable users to engage in conversations with an AI program, a venture known as “Magi,” as per sources familiar with the subject, cited by WSJ.

This year, Generative AI has become a buzzword, sparking a rush among companies to launch similar products that they believe will change the nature of work and capturing the public’s fancy.

Reuters’ request for comment was not immediately responded to by Google, which is part of Alphabet Inc.

Subject to clearance from the Austerity Measures Committee (AMC), the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet has approved a Technical Supplementary Grant of Rs 35 million to establish 30 Passport Processing Counters (PPCs), mainly in Punjab.

Ministry of Interior informed the ECC, led by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, on April 28, 2023, that the Directorate General of Immigration & Passports oversees and coordinates the operations of 182 Regional Passport Offices throughout Pakistan and abroad. DG provided continuous services to individuals in need of passport and immigration assistance.

On March 1, 2023, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a meeting where he formed a Committee, led by the Minister for Finance and Revenue, to discuss the collaboration between NADRA and Directorate General of Immigration and Passports for the establishment of new passport offices in remote areas.

The Committee recommended to the Prime Minister the following: (i) amending Passport Rules, 2021 to include smart solutions such as Passport Processing Counters, passport processing through MRVs, and online passport processing; and (ii) approving addendums No. To start smart solutions, V, VI, and VII were approved, along with the establishment of Passport Processing Counters in 30 administrative units and the provision of Rs. 35 million in funds through a supplementary grant in the current financial year 2022-23.

The Ministry of Interior has announced that a total of Rs35 million will be distributed through the Technical Supplementary Grant during the CFY 2022-23 for the establishment of Passport Processing Counters in 30 administrative units across the country. These units include Malir and Sambrial. Shringal, Depalpur. The following cities are Kamoke, Umar Kot, Daska, Tandlianwala, Jampur, Pasrur, Samundri, Lower Kohistan (at Pattan), Burewala, Safdarabad, Pattoki, Chunian, Khanpur, Kabirwala, Sangla Hill, Muzaffarabad (at Khangarh), Mailsi, Sharaqpur, Khawazakhela, Nowshera Virkan, Faisalabad, Sher Garh, Malikwal, Pindigheb, Chak Dare, and Ferozewal (at Faizpur Khurd).

The Ministry of Interior has asked for ECC approval to establish 30 positions for Machine Readable Passport (MRP) Operational Officers at the DG IMPASS office, along with an extra budget of Rs. 35 million for the fiscal year 2022-23.

The proposal of the Ministry of Interior for the Current Financial Year 2022-23 was approved by the ECC, subject to clearance by the Austerity Measures Committee, after deliberations.

Sources have stated that over 100 officers from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) have submitted leave intimations in protest of salary inequality with their counterparts from other services in the same batch in Lahore.

FBR officers are participating in a mass movement, and intimations of leave have been submitted from all field formations across the country.

The officers who submitted leave intimations stated that significant issues have arisen due to the low salary, lack of basic perquisites, denial of executive allowance at 150% of the basic salary, and the delay in rewards and promotions, as well as the unfulfilled promise of implementing the Common Pool Fund (CPF) and de-freezing Internal Job Posting (IJP).

The tax officers from Islamabad, Karachi, and Islamabad field formations have reportedly submitted their taxes from May 8th to June 30th, 2023, according to a few intimations.

The ongoing issue of extremely low salary against the skyrocketing inflation in the country over the past few months has been described as the reason for the request.

The officers have stated that their current salary is insufficient to meet their basic needs, leading to financial stress and mental health issues as they struggle to make ends meet.

During the last nine months of the ongoing fiscal year, the government has reported the seizure of 2,059 metric tonnes of sugar in Balochistan and 70 metric tonnes in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) stated this in response to a public importance point raised by Senator Mehmoodul Hassan regarding sugar smuggling, which was referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Finance. The statement was made in a brief submitted on Wednesday and was related to the Senate sitting on April 7, 2023.

Pakistan Customs has been focusing its resources to combat sugar smuggling from Pakistan to Afghanistan, in line with the government’s directions as revealed by the available copy of the brief.

Although the numbers are limited, the authorities have confiscated 2,059 MT of sugar in Balochistan and 70 MT in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in 77 cases worth approximately Rs. 248 million during the nine-month period from July to March 2023.

Customs officials in Balochistan are facing issues and challenges in their anti-smuggling efforts due to a limited number of enforcement personnel and frequent protests by local mobs and pressure from the administration in case of seizures at check posts.

Pakistan Customs is deployed at various notified Customs Stations at the Pak-Afghan border, including Chaman, Torkham, Kharlachi, Ghulam Khan, and Angoor Adda, as informed in the meeting.

Declarations are filed for the import and export cargo that arrives at these customs stations. National Logistic Cell (NLC) scans the cargo and Customs checks it. In some cases, bags of sugar are discovered hidden under salt or other goods. Legal action, including FIR, is taken in such cases.

The main smuggling routes for sugar are located in the Rakhshan Division of Balochistan where Pakistan Customs is absent from the long porous border, while Frontier Constabulary (FC) and levies are heavily deployed at the border.

On Thursday, the FTO office in Islamabad launched a helpline to assist and support taxpayers who are facing issues.

The FTO’s office has been working to address grievances of taxpayers who have been affected by the maladministration of tax officials in the Revenue Division (FBR).

The Federal Tax Ombudsman’s grievance redressal mechanism offers prompt and free relief to taxpayers who are aggrieved. In order to build the confidence of existing and potential taxpayers to meet their national obligation by paying taxes to the national exchequer, the FTO secretariat with the approval of the Govt. of Pakistan launched a public awareness campaign.

For the convenience of taxpayers, the secretariat has created and released CMIS software. Initiation of communication with the complainants has also been done through short code SMS service.

The mobile short code 9386 has been approved by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and a monitoring dashboard with graphical representations of data has been developed for the Hon’ble FTO to monitor daily progress in CMIS. Android mobile application will remain available on the Google Play Store.