ISLAMABAD, Apr 24 (APP):Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal on Tuesday said the development budget was a part of Finance Bill and was approved by National Assembly while according to the constitution of Pakistan, National Economic Council (NEC) had only a consultative role in this regard.
He said the federal government could not present a budget for only one quarter of the year as per demand of the chief ministers of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Balochistan.
In a statement issued here, Ahsan Iqbal was of the view that after the 18th amendment, the main focus of federal development budget had been on the national infrastructure.
However, he said, some provinces wanted to include the provincial level schemes in the federal PSDP 2018-19.
He said usually special funds were allocated for under developed provinces and the present government had allocated record funds for Balochistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan.
Approval of budget is mandate of National Assembly, not NEC: Ahsan Iqbal
Federal Budget 2018-19 to be more responsible: Miftah Ismail
ISLAMABAD, Apr 24 (APP):Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance Dr Miftah Ismail Tuesday said that the government was set to present a balanced, responsible, and low deficit Federal Budget for the year 2018-19 on Friday (April 27).
“We will present a responsible budget that will be acceptable to any upcoming government,” he said while talking to a private news channel.
To a question regarding opposition’s demand for presenting the budget for only three months, Ismail said it was lly irrational and not workable.
“We will need a foreign loan of around $1.8 billion during the next year so how can we make a commitment with the international financial institutions for only three months,” he said adding for mega projects like Diamir Bhasha Dam, it was not possible to allocate budget for three months only.
Similarly, he said, changes in tax regime and increase in salaries of government employees also could not be announced for only one quarter of the year.
“They (opposition) know these things but they were doing politics on the issue,” he said.
He said about a month ago, he met leaders of the PTI and PPP Sheerin Mazari, and Naveed Qamar in the Speaker’s Chamber where both of them agreed to present the budget, but now he did not know as to why they were opposing the matter.
Ismail said after meeting with the PPP and PTI leaders, the federal government wrote letters to chief ministers of all the provinces to start preparations for the budget 2018-19.
To a question regarding allocation for various projects under Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), he said that most of them were old projects.
He said keeping in view the upcoming general election, the government deliberately kept relatively low volume of the federal PSDP 2018-19 and left a space of around 70 to 80 billion rupees for the new government, which could introduce new projects of its own choice.
He said the PSDP was not the mandate of National Economic Council (NEC), but it was to be approved by the Parliament.
Responding to a question regarding walkout by the chief ministers of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Balochistan from the NEC meeting, Ismail said they were doing politics on the issue. They walked out even before the start of meeting,
Earlier after staging walkout from the NEC meeting, Chief Minister Kyber Pakhtunkhwa Pervaiz Khattak, Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah, and Chief Minister Balochistan Abdul Quddus Bazenjo addressed a press conference here and expressed reservations over the presentation of federal budget 2018-19 by the present government.
They said that since the tenure of present government was going to be completed by the end of May, therefore it had no mandate to present the budget for the full next year.
They urged the federal government to provide equal funds to all the provinces in the next budget.
Murad Ali Shah was of the view that all the provinces should have been treated equally regarding the development budget.
Government introduced unprecedented PM Health Programme for free & easy access to health facilities: Marriyum
ISLAMABAD, Apr 24 (APP):The present government has introduced unprecedented Prime Minister’s Health Programme for providing free and easy access to health facilities to the people and this initiative was the vision of the former prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.
This was stated by the minister of State for Information, Broadcasting, National History and Literary Heritage Marriyum Aurangzeb here Tuesday, while speaking at the awareness campaign regarding health of the child and mother with the theme ‘Umeed Say Aagay”(Beyond the Hope) jointly organized by Human Development Foundation and Sun Secretariat. She said that for the first time a health programme initiated for the people living below the poverty line was running successfully and will be a step forward towards welfare state.
The minister reiterated that large scale awareness campaign was imperative for resolving health issues of mother and child, particularly in the rural areas where it was badly needed. She said that the media could play a very vital role in the success of the awareness campaign and it could also be effectively run through mobile phones.
She emphasized the need for awareness campaign at the local level which she said could be more effective in producing the desired results.
Marriyum revealed that awareness campaign on the subject would also be started through PTV and Radio. She said that there was a mandatory provision in the licensing of the TV channels by PEMRA that they would devote 10% of their airtime to the social messages and campaigns. The minister said that the performance of Basic Health Units could also be improved with the cooperation of the private sector.
She said that awareness about the health of the child and mother was given top priority in the world and the nutritional deficiency and shortage of food were regarded as the most important issues. The minister said that the subject needed unruffled attention in Pakistan in addition to proper research for finding plausible solutions adding that the matter was being dealt through the SDGS.
The minister said that Pakistan was playing its due role for the achievement of SDGS and was the only country in the world which had established a proper secretariat of SDGS in its parliament. She said that the targets of Vision 2025 were also linked with SDGS.
The minister said that a parliamentary task force comprising representatives of all political parties had been set up for the achievement of SDGS and during the last three years it had ensured implementation of a number of steps taken in that regard adding that without the help of the parliament it was impossible to achieve the targets of the SDGS. She said that the task forces constituted at the provincial level were also functioning effectively.
Marriyum said that the problems regarding shortage of food for children were being addressed on priority basis and the parliamentarians had also been assigned roles in the implementation of the polio campaign and other health issues.
The minister said that food shortage was an issue which required a proper and authentic data to deal with it effectively and to formulate comprehensive policies on that basis. She said that census had been held in Pakistan after a long period and relevant data was being collected which would help in setting up future targets.
She said that some data had also been collected with the arrival of MDGS in the country. The minister said that one of the reasons for the failure in achieving the MDGS targets, the signing of which also made Pakistan part of the SDGS, was the lack of proper framework. The minister congratulated the HDF and Sun Secretariat for initiating the awareness campaign.
Executive Director HDF Saeed Ahsan shed light on awareness campaign, food shortage, health issues of the newly born babies, precautions and timely treatment. Chairman Board of Directors of HDF Khalid Riaz, CEO HDF Azhar Saleem and Chief Nutrition of Sun Secretariat also addressed the audience.
PPBF seeking permission for title fight for boxer Ali
LAHORE, Apr 24 (APP):Pakistan Professional Boxing Federation is seeking permission from the World Boxing Council Asia to get Quetta boxer Ali Dad a youth title fight.
PPBF chief Rasheed Baloch approached WBC Asia General Secretary to allow Ali Dad to fight for youth title. “The WBC Asia General Secretary will confirm the fight after he gets permission from his president,” said Rasheed here on Tuesday.
Ali Dad on Monday knocked out Muhammad Umair Khan in a lightweight bout organized by the PPBF in connection with the Asger Ali Pro-Boxing Night at KPK. The federation arranged six bouts in a bid to get professional boxing popularity in Pakistan.
Ali Dad was up against Umair and by the 58th second of the second rough, the former pugilist knocked down his rival to win the bout and now hope for a WBC youth title fight provided the world body in Asia allows him.
During the pro-boxing night apart from lightweight, bouts were held in bantamweight, light fly weight, super feather weight, super welter weight and feather weight categories. The duties of referee and judges were performed by Kaleem Ahmed Azad, Abdul Hameed, Muhammad Ajmal Khan and Muhammad Afzal Khan.
In the opening bout of bantam weight category, Muhai Uddin defeated Muhammad Asfand Yar Khan by a unanimous decision of the judges 3-0.
The lightweight category bout was between Muhammad Sadiq and Sajjad Khan. It was also a unanimous decision 3-0 in favour of Muhammad Sadiq.
In bout three which was in super featherweight held between Shahid and Fazl Ullah and after a close fight Fazl won. The boxers remained even in the first round and in the remaining two rounds Fazl edged to win by a slender margin with final point being 2-0.
The fourth bout which was in lightweight, Ali Dad was the winner against Umair. Ali knocked out his rival technically in the second round’s 58 second.
Muzafar Khan and Mansoor fought in the Super welterweight bout that also did not last long. Muzafar knocked out Mansoor in the first round and to be precise in two minutes and 49 second.
The final bout of the day was in featherweight category and the winner was Sikandar Abbasi. Sikandar dominated the entire proceeding and won the fight against Saleem 3-0 with a unanimous decision of the judges. Now these boxers will further train for six round professional fights.
Directorate of Sports distribute cash incentives in national, international players
PESHAWAR, Apr 24 (APP):On the direction of Provincial Minister Sports Mehmood Khan, Director General Sports Junaid Khan Tuesday distributed cash incentives among national and international players.
In this connection a simply but impressive ceremony was organized in Qayyum Sports Complex Conference Hall with DG Junaid Khan was the chief guest. AD Youth Aziz Ullah Khan was also present on this occasion. A total of Rs.1.5 million has been distributed from the Sports Endowment Fund
among national and international players who excelled in different Games so that to encourage them besides extending a financial support with the players.
Speaking on this occasion, DG Sports Junaid Khan said that they have started the process of giving monitory support to talented players and decision would be taken case to case wise as directed by the Minister Sports KP Mehmood Khan.
He said every player need financial support would be going through a scrutiny committee and after approval by the committee cheques of Rs. 100,000 would be released accordingly. He said the medal winners of the Inter-Provincial Games would also be awarded cash incentives as announced well
before the Games.
“We are looking for appropriate time to call all medal winners to a ceremony and as announced they cash incentives would be distributed among them,” he explained.
He said we have made more expenditure than the allocated amount for the recently concluded Inter-Provincial Games that is why we could not be able to give cash incentives as announced prior to the Games for the medal winners.
“We have now taken the decision in principle to award cash incentive to all medal winners by utilizing the grant allocated for the National Games,” he replied to a question said. Promising and National medalist Maaz Akhtar in Swimming, Muhammad Naeem in Bodybuilding, Asmat Ali in Skiing,
Saif Ullah Gul and Abdur Rehman in Full Body Contact, Arbab Sardar Ahmad Khan in Zurkhana, Muhammad Imran in Wushu, Riasat Khan and Sana Ullah in Blind Cricket, Sami Ullah and Abdur Rauf in Hockey, Baz Muhammad, Muhammad Kashif and Shah Faisal in Karate, Kashan Umar and Hamid Israr in Tennis and Haris Iqbal in Squash were awarded cash incentives from 75000 up to Rs. 100,000.
Karachi Timber Manufacturing group calls on Rana Afzal
ISLAMABAD, Apr 24 (APP):The Karachi Timber Manufacturing Group delegation called on the Minister of State for Finance Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan here Tuesday and discussed matters of mutual interests.
The delegation was led by the General Secretary of the group, Mukhtar Dosani, a statement said here today.
Members of the delegation discussed with the Minister matters regarding duties and taxes on import of Medium Density Fireboard (MDF). They also shared with the Minister proposals that would help the commercial importers of MDF which is eventually supplied to small workshops, carpenters and value addition industry.
The Minister said that the proposals will be discussed in detail with the Revenue Division and accorded due consideration.
Other members of the delegation were Mr. Mushtaq Vali Muhammad and Mr.Saeed A. Basathia.
President SME Bank, MoS Finance discuss expansion in Bank’s outreach
ISLAMABAD, Apr 24 (APP):President Small and Medium Enterprises Bank, Ihsan ul Haq Khan called on the Minister of State for Finance Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan here Tuesday and discussed expansion in Bank’s outreach.
He shared with the Minister, the proposal for increased funding requirements and expansion in the Bank’s network through opening of more branches across the country.
He added the expansion would help to better meet the financing needs of small and medium level entrepreneurs.
The Minister assured Ihsan ul Haq of his support in the matter.
He said promotion of SME sector was important for job creation and enhancing economic activities.
Government attached due importance to betterment of the SME sector and it would support measures for its further growth, the Minister added.
Gov’t to announce tax relief of Rs 80 bln in next budget: Rana Afzal
ISLAMABAD, Apr 24 (APP):Minister of State for Finance, Rana Muhammad Afzaal Tuesday said that the government would announce in the up coming budget 2018-19, a tax relief of around Rs 80 billion for salaried class of the country.
From July 1, 2018, the people who have income of less than Rs 100,000 per month, will be exempted from any tax, while tax ratio for those who have monthly income of over Rs 100,000 per month is also being cut significantly, Rana Afzaal said while speaking in Senate Standing Committee on Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs here.
Discussing on the Money Bill to further to emend the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 (The Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2018), the Minister of State said due to rational measures taken by the government, the total revenues of Federal Board of Revenues (FBR) had increased from around Rs 2000 billion in 2013 to more than Rs 4000 billion now.
The meeting of the committee was presided over by Senator Farooq H. Naik, and was attended by its members Senators Saud Aziz, Saleem Mandviwala, Ayesha Raza Farooq, Musadiq Malik, Khanzada Khan, Dilawar Khan, Aurangzeb Khan, and Muhammad Akram.
Appreciating the FBR’s move to reschedule the tax regime, Musadiq Malik said this decision would specially give relief to the salaried class who were poor or belonging to the lower middle class and would get a reasonable relief.
He said the the effect of Rs 80 billion in term of relief was a very minor one if we wee the total revenues of more than Rs 4000.
Member inland revenue FBR, Dr Muhammad Iqbal informed that the tax payers whose income was less than Rs 100,000 per month and were tax filers would remain among the tax filers but would be declared as zero rated.
Meanwhile the meeting also considering the Money Bill to provide for declaration and repatriation of assets and income held outside Pakistan (The Foreign Assets (Declaration and Repatriation) Bill, 2018).
While discussing the Bill, the meeting was informed that all those who remit more than US $100,000 per year from abroad would have to prove the source of their income.
The committee also considered and discussed in detail money bill to provide for voluntary declaration of domestic assets in Pakistan (The Voluntary Declaration of Domestic Assets Bill, 2018), and the Money Bill to further to amend the protection of economic reforms Act, 1992 (The Protection of Economic Reforms (Amendment) Bill, 2018).
The committee members unanimously gave a go ahead to these bills, however they proposed some amendments to these bills for further consideration.
Economic Survey, a Pre-Budget Document to be launched Thursday
ISLAMABAD, Apr 24 (APP):The government is all set to launch the Economic Survey 2017-18 on Thursday, April 26, to share key economic indicators and the performance of different sectors of the economy during the year.
The survey would highlight the main features of the government’s economic policies, which had resulted in macro-economic stability and growth rate of about 5.8 per cent.
The survey will cover the development of all the important sectors of economy, including growth and investment, agriculture, manufacturing, mining, fiscal development, money and credit, capital markets, inflation, debt and liabilities.
The survey will also highlight the performance of agriculture, education, health and nutrition, besides showing the overall population, labour force and employment, poverty, transport and communication and per capital income, sources said.
It will also highlight issues of environment, contingent liabilities, tax expenditure as well as economic and social indicators.
PM chairs CCI meeting; first-ever National Water Policy of Pakistan unanimously approved
ISLAMABAD, Apr 24 (APP): The Council of Common Interest (CCI) in its 37th meeting held here at the PM Office Tuesday with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in chair unanimously approved the first ever National Water Policy (NWP) of Pakistan.
Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah, Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pervez Khattak, Chief Minister Balochistan Abdul Quddus Bizenjo, Federal Ministers and senior officials attended the meeting.
Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission of Pakistan Sartaj Aziz briefed the CCI on the draft National Water Policy of Pakistan.
He informed that the policy has been prepared after consultation with all major stakeholders and a national level consultative seminar was also held to reach a consensus. Proposals presented in the 36th CCI meeting have also been incorporated in the policy.
He further briefed about the salient features of the NWP including water uses and allocation of priorities, integrated planning for development and use of water resources, environmental integrity of the Basin, impact of climate change, trans-boundary water sharing, irrigated and rain-fed agriculture, drinking water and sanitation, hydropower, industry, ground water, water rights and obligations, sustainable water infrastructure, water related hazards, quality management, awareness and research, conservation measures, legal framework and capacity building of water sector institutions.
The CCI was briefed that implementation of NWP will be undertaken through a national level body namely “National Water Council” (NWC) to be chaired by the Prime Minister and comprising of Federal Ministers for Water Resources; Finance; Power; Planning Development and Reforms and all provincial Chief Ministers as members.
The NWC shall oversee the implementation of NWP and a Steering Committee, headed by Federal Minister for Water Resources, will monitor the implementation with representatives from federal and provincial governments and concerned departments.
The CCI appreciated the efforts of Planning Commission of Pakistan and the Ministry of Water Resources.
The Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa presented a brief on implementation of Kazi Committee Methodology (KCM) for calculation of Net Hydel Profits (NHP).
After detailed deliberations, the CCI directed the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination, Planning Commission of Pakistan and Ministry of Water Resources to reconcile the claims in consultation with the provinces and resubmit the issue for decision in the next CCI meeting.
Later, in a simple ceremony, the Prime Minister along with four Chief Ministers signed the “Pakistan Water Charter” pledging commitment to the National Water Policy.