MNA Shahid Khaqan Abbasi arrives to attend budget session at Parliament House
Govt spends over Rs 1598m in FY2022-23 for media advancement
ISLAMABAD, Jun 09 (APP):The federal government has so far spent an amount of Rs 1598.116 million in the fiscal year 2022-23 to execute multiple projects of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for the advancement of the media sector.
According to a budgetary document unveiled here Friday, an amount of Rs 2100 million was allocated in PSDP 2022-23 for five ongoing and twelve new projects of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, aimed at improving production, transmission, quality of audio signals, increasing the coverage area of radio network and digitalization of terrestrial network of Pakistan Television Corporation (PTVC).
These projects were also aimed at upgrading and restructuring of Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), imparting training to the media professionals and journalists, capacity building of the officers and officials of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and promotion of local film industry.
Six out of the 17 projects are expected to be completed by June, 2023 while the remaining 11 will be carried over to the next financial year 2023-24.
Under PSDP 2022-23, an amount of Rs 204.650 million was allocated to PTVC for one each ongoing and new project. The ongoing project was aimed to digitalize the terrestrial network of PTVC, while the new project titled “Establishment of National Film Institute at PTV Academy, Islamabad” sought to establish an integrated production and post-production facility as well as an academy to impart training in film trades in the premises of PTV Academy H-9, Islamabad.
For Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC), under PSDP 2022-23, an amount of Rs 562.777 million was allocated to three each ongoing and new projects. The three ongoing projects of PBC were aimed to strengthen radio coverage in the uncovered areas of Balochistan (Gwadar) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir through installation of digital-enabled medium wave transmitters.
As far as the three new projects of PBC are concerned, the first one pertains to establishment of Saut-ul-Quran FM network phase-II to transmit the marathon transmission of Holy Quran through FM network in 19 districts across the country. An amount of Rs 212.777 million was earmarked to the project for completion.
The second project titled “Up-gradation of Studios and Master Control Room of PBC” sought to renovate the studios and master control room, replace outdated equipment and upgrade the signal and sound quality of the programs.
An amount of Rs 100 million was allocated to the project which has been utilized on the renovation of the studios and purchasing of electric power and other equipment for the said project.
The third project, titled “Rehabilitation of Medium Wave Services from Khairpur” aimed to promote local language and culture and strengthen radio coverage in uncovered areas of the Khairpur District and counter cross border propaganda.
An amount of Rs 100 million was allocated to the project. The released amounts have been utilized on civil work of the Broadcasting House Khairpur and procurement of electric power and other equipment.
Under PSDP 2022-23, an amount of Rs 162.709 million was allocated to one ongoing and two new projects of Press Information Department (PID).
The project titled “Establishment of Pakistan Information Centre Phase-I” aims to establish Information Centres for imparting training and capacity building of media professionals/journalists at seven cities including Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
The project is nearing completion as the trainings and workshops have been conducted for journalists and media practitioners at all seven locations.
The second project titled “Establishment of PID Media Cell to Counter Violent Extremism” is part of the National Security Policy Implementation Plan. Work on the project is in progress.
The entire balance cost of Rs 298.956 million was given to the project titled “Restructuring of News Operations of APP by Replacing Existing Outdated Equipment with Modern Cutting-Edge Technology” of Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) in PSDP2022-23.
The project is expected to be completed by June, 2023. Procurement of equipment has been completed for the up-gradation of all nine locations of APP.
Similarly, an amount of Rs 326.290 million was allocated for the two new projects of the Directorate of Electronic Media and Publications (DEMP)
The project titled “National Information Media Archive Repository” in PSDP 2022-23 was granted an allocation of Rs 503.00 million to develop a centralized digital archival and retrieval platform for historical, classical and current data of the Information Ministry and all of its organizations under one roof.
The entire allocation has been released and utilized by the project.
Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Youth Affairs talking to media persons while arrives to attend budget session at Parliament House
Rs1 bln allocated in budget for health insurance of journalists & media workers: Marriyum
ISLAMABAD, Jun 09 (APP):Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb on Friday said the Federal Government had allocated an amount of Rs 1 billion in the budget for fiscal year 2023-24 for health insurance of working journalists and media workers.
“Delighted to announce that an allocation has been made in the budget for health insurance of working journalists for the first time ever,” the minister said in a tweet.
She extended gratitude to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar for allocating funds for the “very important measure”.
“As Information Minister, it was one of my goals to be able to arrange this facility for working journalists, especially during these difficult times,” the minister remarked.
Regulatory duty 10% on import of used clothes repealed: Dar
ISLAMABAD, Jun 9 (APP):Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday said the government had decided to repeal the regulatory duty of 10 % on import of second-hand clothing to facilitate lower-income segment of the society.
Delivering the budget 2023-24 speech in the National Assembly, he said usually the lower-income class buys secondhand clothing, hoping that the proposed repeal would facilitate them.
The minister also announced launching of micro deposit scheme for low income people under the National Savings on 1st July.
This scheme would offer relatively higher profit ratio and the leverage to open an account digitally, he added.
Informing about another initiative to be taken to facilitate people with lower income, the minister said only 1% sales tax would be imposed on Unani (homeopathic) medicine so that the rural and lower income population might not be affected.
Govt allocates Rs107 bln in energy sector
ISLAMABAD, Jun 9 (APP): The Federal Government has allocated Rs107 billion for power production, distribution and transmission in the budget 2023-24.
Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar told the National Assembly on Friday that the power production capacity has risen to 41,000 megawatts out of which 25 per cent is generated through hydropower.
the minister stressed the use of renewable energy to reduce national imports and reduce the cost of production.
He said improvement in distribution system, renewable energy and the use of water resources have been given special emphasis in PSDP.
He said the government will provide Rs12 billion for the completion of the Jamshoro coal power plant in the next fiscal year which will produce 1,200 megawatts of electricity.
He said that the government has allocated Rs16 billion to further expand the 500 KV transmission line project between Pakistan and Tajikistan.
For Suki Kinari, Kohala and Mahal hydro plant, the government has allocated Rs13 billion and Rs 6 billion for power distribution from the Dasu Hydropower plant, said the minister adding that to improve the capacity of existing grid stations of NTDC, the government has allocated Rs 5 billion.
To achieve the targets of sustainable development goals (SDG) the government has allocated Rs90 billion in the fiscal year 2023-24
Rs 107 bln earmarks for brining improvement in electricity network system in budget: Dar
ISLAMABAD, Jun 09 (APP): Minister for Finance and Revenue Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Friday said that the government has earmarked Rs107 billion for bringing improvement in electricity generation, transmission and distribution systems in the budget.
Presenting the annual budget for the fiscal year 2023-24 in the National Assembly, the minister said that the country’s total electricity production stood at 41,000 megawatts (MW). Out of the total energy mix, the share of hydel stood at 25 per cent, he said.
He said in the current situation, it was imperative to enhance the share of Renewable Energy (RE) and indigenous sources in order to reduce the cost of electricity generation besides reducing the country’s imports.
He said bringing improvement in electricity distribution was also the government’s top priority. Special focus was given to electricity transmission, distribution system, promotion of RE and increase in water resources in the annual public sector development programme (PSDP) for the fiscal year 2023-24, he said.
The minister said an amount of Rs12 billion would be provided to the local coal power plant Jamshoro (1200 MW) in the next budget.
A sum of Rs 6 billion has also been allocated for the Pak-Tajikistan 500kV transmission line. Similarly, he said that Rs 5 billion has been specified in bringing improvement in National Transmission and Despatch Company NTDC), Rs 13 billion for power transmission from Sukki Kinari, Mahal and Kohala power plants.
APP/raz-zah-muk
Proposed budgetary measures of Sales Tax, FED
ISLAMABAD, Jun 9 (APP):Following are the proposed budgetary revenue and relief measures pertaining to Sales Tax and Federal Excise Duty (FED) for FY 2023-24:
-Extension in exemption of sales tax to NMDs (FATA/PATA) for another one year ending 30.06.2024.
-Grant of exemption of sales tax on contraceptives and accessories.
-Grant of exemption of sales tax on plant saplings, combine harvesters, dryer for agricultural products, no-till-direct seeder, planters, trans-planters, other planters AND bovine semen.
-Grant of exemption of sales tax on import of IT equipment by exporters of IT and ITeS registered with Pakistan Software Export Board.
REVENUE MEASURES:
-Withdrawal of exemption of sales tax on edible products sold in bulk under brand names or trademarks.
-Enhancement in reduced rate of sales tax from 12% to 15% on supplies made by the POS retailers dealing in leather and textile products.
STREAMLINING MEASURES:
-The requirement of shop area for tier-1 retailers is proposed to be withdrawn.
-The Directorate General of Digital Invoicing and Analysis is proposed to be renamed as -Directorate General of Digital Initiatives.
-The scope of penal action is proposed to be enhanced by substituting the “cigarette packs” with “goods specified by the Board”.
-S. No. 12(xxv) of Fifth Schedule is proposed to be amended by substituting the current description with the “Other drawing, marking out or mathematical calculating instruments (geometry box) (PCT heading 9017.2000)”.
-Scope of S. No. 21 of Fifth Schedule providing zero-rating to exporter registered under Export Facilitation Scheme, 2021 is proposed to be enhanced by inserting the word “commodities”.
-For the purpose of clarification regarding exemption of sales tax on transfusion sets not packed in the aluminum foil imported in one consignment with the blood bags, explanation is proposed under S. No. 121 of Table-1 of the Sixth Schedule.
-Omission of S. No. 159 and 160 of Table-1 of the Sixth Schedule is proposed being redundant as the time bound exemption has already expired on 31.12.2021.
HARMONIZATION MEASURES:
-Production, transmission and distribution of electricity is proposed to be excluded from the purview of sales tax in accordance with the decision of the National Tax Council.
Federal Excise Duty
The proposed budgetary measures pertaining to Federal Excise Duty (FED) for FY 2023-24 are:
-Imposition of FED on energy inefficient fans @ Rs. 2000 per fan and incandescent bulbs @ 20% ad valorem is proposed as approved by the Federal Cabinet in Case No. 01/01/23, dated 03.01.2023.
-The scope of FED on services is proposed to be enhanced by adding royalty and fee for technical services.
STREAMLINING MEASURES:
-New clause (e) of sub-section (1) of section 3 is proposed to be added which will elaborate further the chargeability of federal excise duty on goods and services.
-The Directorate General of Digital Invoicing and Analysis is proposed to be renamed as Directorate General of Digital Initiatives.
-The procedure for publication of general orders and departmental instructions and ruling of the Board on its official website are proposed to align with provisions under the Sales Tax Act, 1990.
Govt policies rescue country from default: Ishar Dar
ISLAMABAD, Jun 9 (APP):Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar on Friday said that the country had been rescued from default due to the wise policies and difficult decisions of the incumbent coalition government.
Addressing in National Assembly while giving a budget speech, he said that the reduction in foreign reserves had been seized with the concrete policies and timely action of the government.
The minister said that the government had fulfilled all the conditions of the ‘ninth review’ of the IMF programme. The government, he said, was still formally engaged with the IMF as the IMF programme was our priority.
Ishaq Dar said that the government was making all-out efforts for the early signing of SLA, adding that the ‘ninth review’ of the IMF programme would end in the current month.
Govt introduces lucrative incentives for overseas Pakistanis in budget
ISLAMABAD, Jun 09 (APP):The federal government on Friday introduced many lucrative incentives for Overseas Pakistanis in the federal budget 2023-24 to increase remittances.
Minister for Finance Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar in his budget speech, stated that remittances were important source of reserves as remittances were 90 percent of the total foreign reserves.
The minister said that the government had introduced incentives for those overseas Pakistanis who send their remittances through formal channels.
The minister said that the government had abolished two percent final tax on purchase of immovable property through foreign remittances.
He said that the government had introduced a new card namely Diamond Card in Remittances Card category for those who would send more than $ 50,000 foreign remittances annually. The Diamond Card beneficiaries would enjoy one non-prohibited bore license, Gratis Passport, preferential access to Pakistani Embassies and counsels and fast track immigration service at Pakistani Airports, he added.
He said that a new scheme of prizes for Remittances Card Holders would also be introduced.