ISLAMABAD, Jun 14 (APP):Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Wednesday stressed the need for getting rid of sick organizations and taking effective measures to stop the billions of rupees tax evasion, causing a constant dent to the national economy.

Participating in the National Assembly debate for the budget 2023-24, he said giving the life-support and keep-pumping the financial resources to the deadwoods was the ‘crime against the state,’ being committed since long.

He said the incumbent government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, tried to give ‘beyond the possibility’ relief to the common man despite the severe financial challenges, and in his view it remained successful to some extent.

The minister highlighted financial hardships of the public due to prevailing economic situation in the country and increased inflation, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar tried his best to ‘possible the impossible’ within the limited resources but there was dire need to strengthen the national economy with corrective measures.

He said the government had to pay a huge interest amount against the loans which was higher than the ‘federal receipts.’

Khawaja Asif said the government would have to get rid of the sick organization, citing examples of two such departments [without taking their names] of which debt was over Rs 1000 billion but they were being carried forward for reasons beyond understanding. Their early disposal would be better for the country, he added.

“Billions of rupees are being spent on such organizations sick to keep them alive and pumping the dead ones whose survival is impossible. It is a crime against the state,” he said, adding the CEO and COO of the departments, supposed to alleviate poverty from the country, were getting Rs 300,000-350,000 monthly salaries while holding their positions intact on stay orders of the courts.

The minister said revenue collection was the major source of the country’s income, but it was unfortunate that billions of rupees tax evasion was taking place.

Citing examples of some sectors, he said in the real estate around Rs 500 billion tax was evaded with under invoicing and on account of land evaluation, Rs 240 billion in tobacco sector as two foreign companies were paying 99 percent tax and rest of the companies which constituted 40 percent paid only 1 per cent.

Similarly, he said, Rs 50 billion tax was evaded by automobile and tyres sector, Rs 56 billion by lubricant dealers, Rs 65 billion by pharmaceutical companies, Rs 45 billion in tea import , Rs 30 billion in steel sector while Rs 2880 billion in the retail and Rs 222 billion in the yarn sectors.

He was of the view that if such kind of thefts would continue taking place in the country and how a government could be able to present a budget that mitigate sufferings of the common man in the real term.

He suggested a more effective mechanism to prevent the sale of smuggled items in open markets of the country as it would help generate more revenue and boost the national economy.

The minister said around Rs 2000 billion tax-related cases were pending with the courts that needed early disposal.

“The country has the solution to all economic problems but needs the strong will,” he said adding Pakistan was a nuclear state and had an impregnable defence system, so there was no external threat but the economic challenges kept haunting the nation.

“Budget is a transactional mega event in which the fiscal plan is presented every year with upward and downward adjustments. It is considered a major event for the economy of any country. If fundamental things are not aligned with, the national economy can’t be put on the track,” he observed.

The minister reiterated that the country had the required resources to generate funds and improve the national economy but lacked the will for which all institutions including politicians were responsible.

He criticized the last government of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf that ruined the national economy and institutions due to its failed policy.

Khawaja Asif also talked about the May 9 incidents which he said was equal to challenging writ of the state, adding it never happened in the country that a party after being ousted from the government in a legal and constitutional way resorted to attacking the military installations and damaging the martyrs memorials.

He informed the House that around 32,000 persons had so far been identified for their alleged involvement in vandalism of the military installations and memorials of the martyrs.

APP/mag-zah-muk

ISLAMABAD, Jun 14 (APP): The Pakistan Army after Tropical Cyclone Biparjoy intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm (VSCS) have expedited its efforts for the evacuation of vulnerable communities of coastal areas on a fast-track basis.

The Pakistan Army has also issued statistics pertaining to the masses relocated from the areas to be impacted by the cyclone.

Over 82 per cent population of the to-be impacted areas have been shifted to safer places and the evacuation process would complete by tonight (Wednesday).

According to recent data, some 60,442 people have been relocated out of the total 73,843 to safer locations. Pakistan Army has established some nine relief camps in Thatta, and 14 each in Sujawal and Badin.

The Corps Commander Karachi has directed to complete the relocation process in the night at all costs.
The Army and Rangers Troops have been directed to remain alert for the next 72 hours.

The Corps Commander Karachi has said that the Army troops deployed in the field would extend all possible assistance to the masses with the help of the civil administration during these times of distress.

Pakistan Army soldiers have also evacuated people stuck in the Village Musa Tehsil Kharochan during their continuous efforts in the areas to face the impacts of the cyclone.

The local population thanked the Pakistan Army for providing timely relief during the cyclone. Pakistan Army shifted the trapped people through vehicles and buses to safer places. The village population included women, men, children and older people.

The villagers paid tribute to Pakistan Army for its timely evacuation of the local masses.

ISLAMABAD, Jun 14 (APP):Speaker of the National Assembly, Raja Pervez Ashraf, emphasized the significance of focusing on the policies, processes, and challenges related to the localization of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Pakistan and assured full support from parliament to facilitate the legislative processes for achieving the SDGs Agenda 2030.

Speaking at the National Conference titled “Empowered Local Governments–Moving Forward to Accelerate the Implementation of Agenda 2030” organized by Lead for SDGs in Islamabad, the Speaker highlighted the need to accelerate SDGs implementation in the country. He acknowledged the substantial progress made by Pakistan in defining national strategies, development plans, and institutional reforms to achieve the SDGs.

The Speaker commended the efforts of the SDGs Task Force, led by Ms. Romina Khurshid Alam, emphasizing the pivotal role of localizing SDGs for the socio-economic development of the country. He assured support from parliamentarians at all levels, including the National, Provincial, and local governments, to facilitate the legislative processes for achieving the SDGs Agenda 2030.
Furthermore, the speaker emphasized the crucial role of local governments in achieving the SDGs by implementing and monitoring sustainable policies at the grassroots level. Local governments possess a deep understanding of local needs, resources, and challenges, enabling them to address unique development issues within their jurisdictions. The speaker stressed the importance of integrating SDGs into local development plans and strategies to contribute to the global agenda while ensuring measurable and impactful progress at the community level.
Ms. Romina Khursheed Alam, Convener of the SDGs Task Force, reaffirmed the commitment of the SDGs Secretariat to localize the SDGs. She highlighted the achievements of the SDGs Secretariat and emphasized the need for unity and consensus to successfully achieve the SDGs.
Addressing the conference, Ms. Shaza Fatima, Federal Minister for Youth Affairs, emphasized that local government support is crucial for achieving the goals of SDGs. She also stressed the importance of empowering youth, as they can actively contribute to resolving challenges at the local level.

ISLAMABAD, Jun 14 (APP):Member of National Assembly (MNA), Syed Javed Hasnain Wednesday emphasized the need to empower Parliament and give it a substantial role in the budget-making process rather than solely seeking its formal approval.

Speaking during his budget speech in the National Assembly, the MNA asserted to consider Parliament as supreme and its involvement in the budget preparation should be significant.

He expressed concern that certain entities tend to dominate the decision-making process, undermining the role of the National Assembly in budget formulation.

Syed Javed Hasnain stressed the importance of upholding the supremacy of Parliament by ensuring its more involvement in budget making process.

He said the government of Punjab had granted up to a 150 percent allowance to its engineers and similar policy had also been implemented by high-ranking officials for themselves in Islamabad.

However, he pointed out that some engineers in Islamabad were not getting this allowance.

As a member of the Government Assurance Committee, Syed Javed Hasnain drew attention to the non-payment of honorarium to government employees who served during the budget session.

The MNA cited the Islamabad police, Capital Development Authority, and attached departments of the Ministry of Interior as examples of departments where employees had not received this honorarium.

Expressing gratitude to the Minister for Finance for acknowledging agriculture as the backbone of the country’s economy and providing incentives for the agricultural sector, Syed Javed Hasnain emphasized the need to attract investment in the tractor industry to break the monopoly of two companies.

He argued that such investment would reduce tractor prices, which were currently unaffordable for farmers.

Highlighting Pakistan’s annual import of edible oil worth 4-6 billion dollars, Syed Javed Hasnain proposed providing incentives to farmers for oilseed production and ensuring timely payments by oil mills.

He suggested that the government should introduce a direct subsidy system, where subsidized prices were clearly mentioned on the fertilizer bags instead of using coupons, considering that the majority of farmers were illiterate and may faced difficulties in redeeming the coupons.

Syed Javed Hasnain also recommended the government to encourage farmers towards adopting solar systems for their tube wells which would ultimately reduce electricity consumption and lower crop production costs.

Additionally, he proposed providing short-term loans to farmers at 7-8 percent markup and implementing effective measures to increase per-yield production.