NA by-election an exercise in futility?

The Constitution makes it mandatory to fill a vacant assembly seat at the earliest to ensure that no constituency is deprived of representation in parliament, but its framers had not imagined that one-day political parties and their candidates would render the whole exercise a futile activity.

The upcoming by-elections for 33 National Assembly seats, which fell vacant after its speaker Raja Pervaiz Asraf accepted the resignations of the PTI lawmakers, is just an example of this.

Following the speaker’s decision, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced the by-elections for the 33 constituencies on March 16.

Knowing that general elections were just around the corner and the PTI might not return to the NA, the polls would just be held to fulfill a constitutional requirement.

Millions of rupees would simply go to waste as they would be held again after the completion of the assembly’s constitutional term.

Political experts, while emphasizing

the necessity of fulfilling a constitutional requirement was aware that the national kitty would lose millions amid a financial crunch.

They said there were several other objectives that political parties, especially, the PTI, would achieve through the exercise.

Previously, the PTI had stood victorious in the by-elections even when it had announced beforehand that it would not return to the assembly.

This time around, the political experts noted that the PTI was trying to assess different aspects and attempting to achieve multiple purposes that were part of its strategy.

“Contesting in the by-elections is part of the strategy to create difficulties for the government so that it might be forced to hold early general polls,” said Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT) President Ahmed Bilal Mehboob.

The PILDAT chief added that resignations from the NA en masse, dissolution of the provincial assemblies in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa as well as PTI chairman Imran Khan contesting the by-elections from multiple constituencies were all part of the same strategy.

Mehboob regretted that it was not being taken into consideration that these tactics would hurt the national exchequer or create instability in the country.

Professor Dr. Rasul Bakhsh Rais, a Professor of political science at LUMS, said the only thing the PTI could achieve through the by-elections was continuous public mobilization, spreading its narrative and whatever manifesto the party leaders had in their minds.

“The party [PTI] would continue to use all of it as part of its narrative,” he added.

The professor said the most significant aspects for the PTI would be how to combine its support in different constituencies together, test the second-and third-tier leadership and see what the ground situation really was.

More importantly, he added that the PTI would use its victory against the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) in the general elections.

“Being one of the largest and most popular parties, the PTI can’t be simply denied power,” Prof Rais explained.

“I think it [by-polls] will serve multiple purposes,” the professor said, adding the exercise would help in coalition building, political mobilization, articulation of its manifesto, and forming alliances with different groups within the constituencies.

At the same time, Rais said the activity would test the capacity of the candidates in their respective constituencies.

The professor elaborated that from this point of view if the PTI emerged successful, it would remain aggressive and the PDM on the defense.

“Their [PDM]’s resistance to elections shows that it is not prepared for them and likely to lose them,” he concluded.

Recently, the NA speaker accepted the resignations of 34 lawmakers belonging to the PTI and one member of the Awami Muslim League (AML).

A total of 123 PTI MNAs had resigned en masse on April 11 last year – two days after their party chairman was ousted as the prime minister through a no-confidence motion.

After dragging his feet over the process for eight months, the NA speaker finally accepted the resignations of 34 PTI MNAs on January 17 and 35 on January 20, including that of AML chief Sheikh Rashid.

On January 25, the ECP de-notified 43 more PTI lawmakers after Ashraf accepted their resignations.

The constituencies where the by-elections are scheduled to be held include NA-4 Swat; NA-17 Haripur; NA-18 Swabi; NA-25 and 26 Nowshera; NA-32 Kohat; NA-38 Dera Ismail Khan; NA-43 Khyber; NA-52, 53, and NA-54 Islamabad; NA-57, 59, 60, 62 and 63 Rawalpindi; NA-67 Jhelum; NA-97 Bhakkar; NA-126 and 130 Lahore; NA-155 and 156 Multan; NA-191 Dera Ghazi Khan; NA-241, 242. 243, 244, 247, 250, 252, 254, and 256 Karachi; and NA-265 Quetta.

Optimizing Home Storage With Raymour and Flanigan

 Furniture .

                   Are you struggling to find room to store all of your belongings in your home? Are you finding it increasingly difficult to find what you are looking for due to the clutter that’s sitting on your shelves and stuffed into drawers? If so, then read on for five brilliant tips that will help you optimize your home storage space and make it easier to find what you are looking for. By following these tips and utilizing Raymour and Flanigan’s home organization furniture and accessories, you will be able to create more organized and efficient storage systems in your home, ultimately reducing the amount of clutter and making it easier to access everything that you need. Ready to get started?

Define Your Storage Needs

 

What Are Robert’s Rules of Order for Meetings?

When conducting a meeting, it is crucial to keep order and ensure the smooth execution of the meeting’s agenda. One of the most common ways to do this is by adopting a set of rules. This gives each attendee a framework for how the meeting will go while ensuring efficiency as each agenda item is ticked off. One set of rules still used today is Robert’s Rules of Order.

What Are Robert’s Rules of Order?

Robert’s Rules of Order is a book first written in 1876 detailing the procedure of a formal meeting. One of the main parts of the rules pertains to motions and how they are executed. There are six types of motions in Robert’s Rules of Order, which include a main motion to introduce a new item.

The other motions are as follows:

• • A subsidiary motion is used to change how main motions are handled.
  • Privileged motions are used for items unrelated to the current topic but which are urgent.
  • An incidental motion brings into question the procedure of other motions.
  • A motion to table effectively ends the motion in question.
  • A motion to postpone delays holding a vote to a later time
  • Now that you know the types of motions, you must also know the steps. For a motion to be carried, someone must signal to the chairperson by standing or raising a hand. Another person can then second the motion by raising their hand or standing for the acknowledgment of the chairperson. After the motion and a second, the chairperson will restate the motion for everyone to hear.

    Next, a debate can ensue in which participants can engage respectfully in a dialogue. Once the debate has concluded, a vote must take place. At this time, the motion will be read one more time before asking for ayes and nays. After the vote, the chairperson will read the results, which will end the motion.

    While motions are one of the most important parts of Robert’s Rules of Order, they also cover how the meeting is opened and adjourned. There are even rules for rare circumstances that would require meetings to go on recess or extend the duration beyond the allotted time.                                      Why Are Robert’s Rules of Order Used?

    

Businesses and government entities commonly use Robert’s Rules of Order in part because of widespread acceptance. So many entities already follow the rules that new entities can easily adopt them. It is simply a matter of tradition and using something that works and does not need replacement.

The book contains all aspects of meetings and procedures; therefore, it is much easier for an entity to adopt the rules in totality than to write its own. If a problem arises during a meeting and there is a question on how to proceed, a quick consult of the book should answer it.

It also sets the pace for how a meeting will be carried out as well as the proper wording that should be used when introducing a motion. While the words used may not seem like a crucial factor, this prevents any ambiguity in decisions.

Another important facet of Robert’s Rules of Order is the keeping of order and civility. A meeting can quickly devolve into a shouting match when several impassioned attendees wish to speak. The Rules of Order give specific guidance on how a desire to speak should be displayed as well as how it is acknowledged and carried out. This ensures the speaker has the undivided attention of everyone in attendance.

A common misconception is that the Rules of Order for a meeting replace the need for an agenda. However, this is not the case, as meeting rules dictate the formal process of carrying out a meeting agenda. You are still free to have the meeting in any order you wish.

Pros and Cons of Robert’s Rules of Order

Although Robert’s Rules of Order are a popular choice for meetings, you should weigh the pros and cons before making a final decision.

One of the biggest pros of the Rules of Order is that they are very in-depth and cover a wide range of scenarios. They also cover how you should proceed should these situations arise. However, this book comes in at around 700 pages because of just how many scenarios it covers, which could make it tricky

 

 

Here’s who can claim the home-office tax deduction on their 2021 tax return.                                                                                  

Millions of Americans began working remotely or from home during the coronavirus pandemic.

Others decided to take the leap amid the “Great Resignation,” start their own business and become their own boss in 202

But who is able to claim the home-office tax deduction?

The general rule is this: Those who are self-employed and working out of their homes may be eligible for the tax break. People who work remotely but get a W-2 tax form from their employer don’t qualify.

More from Invest in You:
How to decide if you should rent or own a home
U.S. households are spending an extra $327 a month due to inflation
Is inflation crunching your budget? Here are 3 ways to fight back

“Knowing that you’re not a 9-to-5 [worker] anymore, you can now take advantage of the home-office deduction” if you’re eligible, said Sheneya Wilson, CPA and founder of Fola Financial in New York, adding that it’s one of the biggest deductions that people who work out of their homes can take.

To claim the home-office deduction in 2021, taxpayers must exclusively and regularly use part of their home or a separate structure on their property as their primary place of business. This includes a place where you greet clients or customers, conduct your business, store inventory, rent out or use as a daycare facility.

You don’t have to be a homeowner to claim the deduction — apartments are eligible, as are mobile homes, boats or other similar properties, according to the  IRS.

It’s also possible to take only part of the deduction. For example, if you left a 9-to-5 job, started your own business in 2021 and use your home as your primary office space, you may be able to claim the deduction for part of the year, according to Wilson.

How the tax break works

There are two ways eligible taxpayers can calculate the home-office deduction.

In the simplified version, you can take $5 per square foot of your home office up to 300 square feet, giving the method a $1,500 cap.

This home office needs to be used only for your business — as in, it can’t be a guest room with a desk in it — and you must be able to prove that you need an office for your work. The burden of proof for taking this deduction is on the taxpayer, so if you’re audited, you will have to back up your claim to the IRS.

 

 

 

Zoom, the video conferencing company that became a household name when remote work spiked during the Covid pandemic, is laying off 1,300 staff

A commercial business is defined as a business or individual that provides a service or sells physical products. Commercial businesses are also defined as an industrial, retail, or commercial business office within the limits of a specific city.                                                                                                        In order for a commercial business to be considered legal, it must have a business license from the city in which it is operating. The business might also have to be approved by the city’s Community Planning Department. Before being issued a business license, business owners generally require zoning approval. For any special conditions or restrictions, business owners can receive a conditional-use permit.

 

Did you know that 40% of small businesses are uninsured? Additionally, most insured small businesses are inadequately protected because 75% of them are underinsured.

Despite this low uptake, business insurance is proving to be necessary. One in three small businesses faces an insurable event in a year. They face contract disputes, employee injury, customer injury, and property damage risks. To protect yourself, you need to apply for business insurance.

Did you know that 40% of small businesses are uninsured? Additionally, most insured small businesses are inadequately protected because 75% of them are underinsured.

Despite this low uptake, business insurance is proving to be necessary. One in three small businesses faces an insurable event in a year. They face contract disputes, employee injury, customer injury, and property damage risks. To protect yourself, you need to apply for business insurance.

What Is Business Insurance and How Does It Work?

Business insurance offers financial protection if your small business faces risks that affect operations. It is a risk management tool used to help cater for events including employee injury, injury caused by your products or services, fire events, extreme weather events, and burglary.

You need to contact a licensed insurance broker who’ll assess your business’s risks. This professional will then advise on the insurance company’s policies and the premiums to pay annually.

Whenever an insurable event such as an employee injury happens, the insurance company will help cover the costs. Depending on your agreement, you’ll pay an amount of money to help cover the expenses before the insurance company settles the bill. This is known as a deductible.

An insurance company won’t pay for an event that you aren’t covered for. For example, a commercial property insurance policy will cover the loss of business property but won’t help settle bills when a worker is injured at work. You, therefore, should ensure that you’re sufficiently protected.

To do this, you need to understand the different types of business insurance.

Business insurance offers financial protection if your small business faces risks that affect operations. It is a risk management tool used to help cater for events including employee injury, injury caused by your products or services, fire events, extreme weather events, and burglary.

You need to contact a licensed insurance broker who’ll assess your business’s risks. This professional will then advise on the insurance company’s policies and the premiums to pay annually.

Whenever an insurable event such as an employee injury happens, the insurance company will help cover the costs. Depending on your agreement, you’ll pay an amount of money to help cover the expenses before the insurance company settles the bill. This is known as a deductible.

An insurance company won’t pay for an event that you aren’t covered for. For example, a commercial property insurance policy will cover the loss of business property but won’t help settle bills when a worker is injured at work. You, therefore, should ensure that you’re sufficiently protected.

To do this, you need to understand the different types of business insurance.

Business insurance offers financial protection if your small business faces risks that affect operations. It is a risk management tool used to help cater for events including employee injury, injury caused by your products or services, fire events, extreme weather events, and burglary.

You need to contact a licensed insurance broker who’ll assess your business’s risks. This professional will then advise on the insurance company’s policies and the premiums to pay annually.

Whenever an insurable event such as an employee injury happens, the insurance company will help cover the costs. Depending on your agreement, you’ll pay an amount of money to help cover the expenses before the insurance company settles the bill. This is known as a deductible.

An insurance company won’t pay for an event that you aren’t covered for. For example, a commercial property insurance policy will cover the loss of business property but won’t help settle bills when a worker is injured at work. You, therefore, should ensure that you’re sufficiently protected.

To do this, you need to understand the different types of business insurance.

Business insurance offers financial protection if your small business faces risks that affect operations. It is a risk management tool used to help cater for events including employee injury, injury caused by your products or services, fire events, extreme weather events, and burglary.

You need to contact a licensed insurance broker who’ll assess your business’s risks. This professional will then advise on the insurance company’s policies and the premiums to pay annually.

Whenever an insurable event such as an employee injury happens, the insurance company will help cover the costs. Depending on your agreement, you’ll pay an amount of money to help cover the expenses before the insurance company settles the bill. This is known as a deductible.

An insurance company won’t pay for an event that you aren’t covered for. For example, a commercial property insurance policy will cover the loss of business property but won’t help settle bills when a worker is injured at work. You, therefore, should ensure that you’re sufficiently protected.

To do this, you need to understand the different types of business insurance.

Types Of Business Insurance

Workers’ compensation insurance is necessary when you have employees. This will protect them when they fall ill or get injured on the job.

Professional liability insurance is important if you offer services. Consultants, including doctors, need this to protect themselves against negligence suits and other work-related errors. In medicine, for example, 41% of Americans believe to have experienced medical malpractice at some point. Despite this, only a few people file for medical malpractice suits. Although medical malpractice suits aren’t prevalent, they are costly, sometimes costing as much as $100,000. So, you better get covered, to be safe.

Product liability insurance is very different from professional liability insurance. While the latter covers services, the former covers products. Product liability insurance is, therefore, vital for product-oriented businesses. This covers damages caused by the product. In 2020, 11 million Americans were treated for injuries caused by consumer products. Product liability lawsuits are not limited to particular products. Everything is fair game.

Commercial property insurance protects businesses with a brick-and-mortar location. Inventory, equipment, office space, furniture, and signage, among other items, are protected in case of a burglary. Fire is covered too with this policy, but you should talk to your insurance agent to know the extent to which you’re covered. Usually, there’s the basic, broad, and special form cover for fires. Read the fine print.

Key person insurance covers important individuals who are critical to the business, such as the owner, or top executive. The insurance company helps find a replacement and covers losses if the worst-case scenario happens and that individual can no longer run the company.

General liability insurance covers third-party bodily injuries, personal and advertising injuries, and third-party property damage. If you can’t afford all necessary policies, ensure that you at least get this one.