ISLAMABAD, Nov 13 (APP) Minister fir Finance, Revenue, Economic
Affairs, Statistic and Privatization Ishaq Dar on Friday informed the
Senate that the Federal Government wanted to finalize the next
National Finance Commission (NFC) Award as soon as possible.

MURREE, Nov 13 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon on Friday held a second round of exclusive talks here, agreeing on the early implementation of CASA-1000 and infrastructure projects between their countries.

ISLAMABAD, Nov 13, (APP): The 121 session of the Upper House has been prorogued sine die on Friday after completion of business.

ISLAMABAD, Nov 13 (APP): Chairman Senate Mian Raza Rabbani on Friday admitted a motion regarding the government’s announcement that dues of the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) amounting to Rs 37 billion against the Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) would be settled by transferring its land to the company.
Minister for Petroleum and Natural Recourses Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said
that PSM was asked to pay the dues for restoration of gas connection
but its administration in reply said a piece of land could be given
SSGC to adjust the bill.
Abbasi said the PSM administrant was asked to look into legal aspects
of the offer but it did not give any reply in this regard so far.

ISLAMABAD Nov 13 (APP) Senate on Friday passed unanimously a bill to
amend the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2010 [The Anti-Money Laundering
(Amendment bill), 2015].

ISLAMABAD, Nov 13 (APP): National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has adopted zero tolerance policy across the board to eradicate corruption by using all its resources, Acting Chairman, National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Muhammad Imtiaz Tajwar said.
He said this while addressing a workshop on Fraud Awareness
and Prevention in USAID funded projects, organized by USAID and
Transparency International here on Friday.
He said under chairmanship of Qamar Zaman Chaudhry, NAB drives
its legal mandate from National Accountability (NAB) Ordinance 1999
which authorizes NAB to take cognizance of acts constituting the
offence of corruption and corrupt practices.
The NAO, he said, is providing effective measures for
detection, investigation, prosecution and disposal of cases
involving corruption, corrupt practices, misuse of authority,
misappropriation of property and taking of kickbacks and
commissions.
Considering huge amount spent on public procurement
expenditure, the Acting Chairman said, it has turned to be
a strategic planning activity from a mere operational decision
making. It is considered as an important tool for poverty
alleviation and aid effectiveness, he said, adding that this
overall planning ensures social, political and economic development
of the country.
Imtiaz Tajwar said Pakistan realized way back in year 2002
that corruption in public procurement and contracting is a serious
impediment to efficient and effective utilization of resources.
The government, he said, implemented one of the Reports’ key
recommendations, by creating the Public Procurement Regulatory
Authority (PPRA) in May 2002 to serve as repository of procurement
expertise.
NAB takes cognizance of cases of mis-procurement under section
9 of NAO 1999.
With regard to violation of procurement rules, necessary
instructions have been issued to concerned departments to make the
procurement processes transparent.
Earlier, in their address, Dan Altman of USAID, John Graarke,
Mission Director, USAID and Saad Rashid, Executive Director,
Transparency International (TI) said they have signed a five-year
cooperative agreement for “Anti-Fraud Hotline” Project.
The objective of the project is to ensure transparency and
prevention of fraud, wastage and proper utilization of aid provided
by USAID.

ISLAMABAD, Nov 13 (APP): Federal and Provincial government must provide the proper protection to labourers throughout the country.

PESHAWAR, Nov 13 (APP): Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) has organised the 5th Consultative Session on Water Security Issues here, in line with the directive of the Prime Minister.