National Assembly approves Finance Bill 2014-15

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Saturday approved the Finance Bill for fiscal year 2014-15 with total outlay of Rs 4.3 trillion, accepting some amendments moved by the government and rejecting all ones from the opposition benches.

Following nine-day discussion, the 149-page Finance Bill was moved by Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar that was passed by the House with majority in clause by clause reading. The passage of the Finance Bill has successfully brought to an end the budgetary process started on June 3 with the budget speech of the finance minister at the National Assembly.

The bill now will go to the President for assent who will sign it into law making it will be applicable from July 1 2014. The House echoed with desk thumping as the House passed the budget in presence of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif who also witnessed the budget s passage.

The Senate had made 133 recommendations out of those the government accepted 57 and were incorporated in the federal budget full or partially. Once signed into law, the bill will increase monthly stipend from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 billion for those receiving income support and number of families for the Benazir Income Support programme will be increased from 4.1 million to 5.3 million.

The crop insurance will be increased to 25 acres and prices of fertilizers will be reduced by Rs 300 per bag. The bill will also help reduce GADC to Rs 100 on power zero on cement Rs 150 on general industry Rs 200 on captive power and zero on commercial sector.

The government will also impose uniformed income tax of 4 percent on first class air travel and reduce sales tax on solvent extractors from 17 to 16 percent. The government will withdraw the exemptions of Rs 103 billion under its endeavor for phased elimination of SROs aimed at favoring influential ones.

The Finance Bill also provides a special package of Rs 36 billion for all provinces out of that Balochsitan will get Rs 14 billion, Sindh Rs 8 billion, Khyber Pukhtunkhwa Rs 4 billion, FATA Rs 4 billion, AJK Rs 3 billion and Gilgit Baltistan Rs 2 billion.

As part of the budgetary approval, the House has also approved demands for grants worth Rs 2.6 trillion besides charged expenditures. Following the passage of the budget, the finance minister felicitated the National Assembly Senate and the whole nation on approval of the budget saying the government was committed to take the country to its bright future as per vision of founder of the nation Quid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

He informed National Assembly that the country s foreign currency reserves had reached to US 14.2 billion. He said that due to its prudent policies the government had managed to cross 14 billion mark and in future it would continue taking steps for further improving foreign currency reserves.

Sindh Assembly approves resolution against load shedding

KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly on Tuesday approved a resolution against the federal government pertaining to load shedding in the province.

The Sindh Assembly session was held under the chair of Deputy Speaker Shehla Raza in which the resolution was presented by PPP leader Nisar Khuro. Earlier, provincial parliamentarians from the MQM and PPP termed load shedding in Sindh as an act of revenge being committed by the federal government.

Parliamentarians called for Sindh to be provided its share of electricity warning that failure to do so would result in protests.

MQM leader Faisal Sabzwari called for protests to be held if they would lead to the load shedding issue being resolved. PML-N leader Irfanullah Marwat said they would support Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah if he held protests like Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah announced to go before the Council of Common Interest over the issues of load shedding and payment of dues. “They (center) has faith in a meter reader and not elected representatives,” Shah said.

The Sindh Assembly session has been adjourned till Wednesday.

Uproar in Sindh Assembly as MQM protests workers’ killings, kidnappings

 

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) lawmakers staged a vociferous protest in the Sindh Assembly on Tuesday when the deputy speaker snubbed the party’s adjournment motion against the ‘extrajudicial killings’ of its activists, bringing an abrupt end to the day’s proceedings.Outraged over the dismissal of their motion on the grounds of being out of order and ‘hypothetical’, the legislators of the opposition party shouted slogans and tore copies of the day’s agenda, forcing the proceedings to be adjourned till Friday.

Sindh Assembly passes resolution against threats to Bilawal

 

KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly on Friday unanimously passed a resolution condemning a threatening letter received by PPP Patron-in-Chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari from the outlawed Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ).
In a related development, a special security squad has been detailed for Bilawal following the threats by the LeJ.PPP MPA Abdul Sattar presented the resolution which condemned the threatening letter received by his party chief. The resolution was unanimously passed by the assembly.

Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani said the situation had become clear after the threats to the PPP chief and added that action should be taken against those terrorists who had been identified.Another MPA Irfanullah Khan Marwat from the PML-N claimed that the threatening letter to Bilawal was an attempt to sabotage the dialogue process between the government and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. He further claimed that every time steps were taken for the betterment, such conspiring elements became active.

On the other hand, a special security squad has been formed for the PPP patron-in-chief following the LeJ’s threatening letter. Sources told Online the Sindh government had chalked out a special security plan under which 30 special commandoes would perform duties for his security while three bullet-proof vehicles had also been allotted in this regard.

Bilawal in a tweet on Thursday claimed that he had received threats from the LeJ and he would hold the Punjab government responsible if it continued to provide protection to the group and refused to take action against them. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif took notice of the tweet and directed the Punjab Police chief to probe the matter. Later, the Punjab IGP contacted Bilawal who appreciated the prompt action of Shahbaz over the threat given to him and other party leaders.

The Punjab chief minister had directed the concerned officials to probe the matter. It is worth noting that Bilawal has been the most vocal and the boldest voice among the Pakistani political leadership against the militant groups since the start of his political career last year.

Meanwhile, PML-N leader Hamza Shahbaz, while answering a question outside the Parliament House about the threats to Bilawal, said, “We pray to Allah Almighty for the safety of everyone.” However, he said that it would not be appropriate to accuse anyone without having solid proof.

He also spoke to a private TV channel where he accused Bilawal of issuing senseless statements and added that there should be no politics on important national issues such as terrorism. “May Allah protect Bilawal Bhutto Zardari,” prayed Hamza.

According to Hamza, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif did not play politics on the issue of Thar and instead visited the drought-affected district of Sindh.

This triggered a harsh response from the PPP, as Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon said it would be better for Hamza to advise the federal government and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to refrain from bowing before the terrorists rather than issuing statements against Bilawal. Sharjeel said the PML N leader should keep his advice to himself as the government’s ‘reconciliation policy’ with the Taliban had raised serious concerns among the 180 million Pakistanis.

He described the ongoing negotiations with the terrorists as an insult to the Constitution and said Hamza should listen to the heirs of families whose loved ones sacrificed their lives to safeguard the country. –Agencies

Meanwhile, Manzoor Wattoo, President, PPP Punjab, in a statement issued here on Friday said that the PPP workers were upset and agitated over the life threat given to Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari by the LeJ adding that the response of the Punjab government on this was equally disappointing. He called upon the Punjab government to take action against the terrorist organisation that had safe havens in the Punjab. He described the statement of Hamza Shahbaz Sharif on the matter as in bad taste.

National Assembly session today

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly will meet today (Monday) at the Parliament House.

The government is expected to take the lower house of the parliament into confidence over talks with the Taliban.

Sources said that issue of Saudi Arabia’s financial aid to Pakistan will also come under discussion over a calling attention notice.

Asian Parliamentary Assembly to be made vibrant: Nayyer Bokhari

ISLAMABAD: Chairman Senate and President of Asian Parliamentary Assembly Syed Nayyer Hussain Bokhari on Wednesday reiterated the commitment to reinvigorate Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA) to its fullest potential.
He said it is aimed at achieving the objectives envisaged in Islamabad Declaration, whic was adopted during the 6th Plenary in Pakistan last December.
He said that APA is an important forum and collective efforts would be made to realise the dream of establishment of Asian Parliament come true.
He expressed these views while talking to Dr. M.H Nejad Hosseinian, Secretary General APA in a meeting here.
The Chairman Senate observed that Asian region is faced with common challenges and member states share commonality of views on issues being faced by the region.
As President of APA, the Chairman Senate stated that he would play an active role to give a practical shape to the line of action delineated in the Islamabad Declaration.
It is pertinent to mention here that Chairman Senate was elected as the President of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly for two years during the 6th Plenary of APA.
The Chairman Senate also highlighted the importance of bilateral relations between Pakistan and Iran.
He observed that Pakistan desires to further strengthen ties for mutual benefit.
APA Secretary General Dr. M.H Nejad Hosseinian appreciated the remarks of the Chairman Senate and expressed the hope that under the leadership of Syed Nayyer Hussain Bokhari as President of APA, the forum would be able to play an active role for regional integration and prosperity of the member states.
Modalities with regard to organizing Troika Plus meeting were also discussed during the meeting.
The Secretary General APA assured all his support for operation and administration of Troika Plus meeting.