Officers examine a damaged police vehicle at the site of bomb blast, in Quetta, Pakistan, on Monday. AP
Officers examine a damaged police vehicle at the site of bomb blast, in Quetta, Pakistan, on Monday. AP
Officers examine a damaged police vehicle at the site of bomb blast, in Quetta, Pakistan, on Monday. AP
Officers examine a damaged police vehicle at the site of bomb blast, in Quetta, Pakistan, on Monday. AP

Pakistan bomb attack aimed at police in Quetta kills four


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Four people were killed on Monday and 15 injured in a roadside bomb that targeted a police car in south-western Pakistan, a government spokesman said.

Two officers and two civilians were killed, while the injured were mostly civilian pedestrians in the attack in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, said Babar Yousafzai, a spokesman for the provincial government.

Officials suspect the Pakistani Taliban of being behind the attack but no group has claimed responsibility.

The Taliban's wing in the country have been conducting attacks since November when they ended a months-long ceasefire with the government.

Balochistan has been volatile for more than a decade since a conflict between the Pakistan government and separatists in the province demanding complete autonomy or a larger share of the province’s gas and mineral resources.

Provincial chief minister Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo condemned the attack and ordered authorities to provide the best possible medical care to the wounded.

The Pakistani Taliban, who are known as Tahrik-e-Taliban (TTP), have claimed responsibility for previous attacks in Balochistan and elsewhere. The militant group is separate from, but allied with, the Afghan Taliban.

The latest attack comes a day after the TTP shot and killed two police officers in Quetta.

One of the assailants was also killed when police returned fire after coming under attack in the city on Sunday night.

The gas-rich south-western Balochistan province straddling the border of Afghanistan and Iran has been a scene of a low-level insurgency by Baloch nationalists for more than two decades.

They initially wanted a share of the provincial resources but later initiated an insurgency for independence.

Last week, Pakistan launched a new nationwide operation to root out armed militants.

"The meeting agreed to launch an all-out comprehensive operation with the entire nation and the government, which will rid the country of the menace of terrorism with renewed vigour and determination," the security committee said last Friday.

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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

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How to wear a kandura

Dos

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Don’ts 

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Other workplace saving schemes
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  • Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
  • National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
  • In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
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Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
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Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
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The specs

Engine 60kwh FWD

Battery Rimac 120kwh Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (LiNiMnCoO2) chemistry

Power 204hp Torque 360Nm

Price, base / as tested Dh174,500 

Updated: April 10, 2023, 2:18 PM