Aug 08 , 2015
News
‘Govt will open eight NADRA centres abroad’
*PML-N lawmaker financial advisors have been hired to privatise Pakistan Steel Mills
By Zeeshan GhayurISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker Balighur Rehman on Friday told the National Assembly that eight NADRA centres are being opened in Malaysia, Bahrain, Canada and Spain to facilitate the overseas Pakistanis.
He said the offices in UK lacked human resources due to which issues arise in London, Manchester and Bradford. He, however, said mobile vans are working in the UK to reach far-flung areas.
As per the new policy, the overseas Pakistanis caught getting a duplicate identity card who already have their original card will be fined Rs 100,000 or will be jailed for one year. He said, “Keeping more than one ID cards is a crime.” He said for duplicate cards Rs 10,000 has been made mandatory. He said that 186,000 cases of duplicate ID cards are being investigated overseas.
He said the federal government is setting up passport offices at district levels across the country. He said that the focus would shift to tehsils once all districts are covered.
He said Pakistan has been deporting foreigners belonging to Category-B countries such as India “if a case of overstaying or criminal involvement is found”. He said that recently a prostitution racket belonging to Central Asian countries was deported.
He said that the Senate’s Cooperative Housing Society was registered in 1996. The society, he added, was subject to financial frauds while the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has caught and jailed several corrupt officials. He said the management committee elections were held in May 2015. He said a request has been sent to the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to obtain a no objection certificate (NOC).
PML-N lawmaker Rana Afzal said share of the Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) sold to private investors have issues related to “encroachment of properties” which are being probed. He said at some plots of PTCL slums have grown while at others housing societies were established, out of misunderstanding. He clarified that so far 60 percent land has been cleared. He said that the board has decided to give out Rs 3 million dividends this year. He said, “Around 26 percent of shares in PTCL are held by a private company.”
He clarified that financial advisors have been hired for the privatisation of Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM). He clarified that for the privatisation of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is underway. He said, “New routes” have been added while joint ventures are being agreed upon with foreign airlines.”
He clarified that in NFC awards the share of Balochistan is 9 percent while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) is getting 14 percent. He said that 82 percent of NFC share is based on population. He added that 10.3 percent share is for poverty-stricken regions. He clarified that for business centres generating much revenue have a mere five percent share. He said that Balochistan is provided 2.7 percent share for area management. The minister also said Balochistan is provided funds in every development project.
He said that Pakistan-Iran share a 730 kilometre long border. He said that this year the total oil confiscations are worth Rs 24 billion. He said, “150 illegal petrol pumps have been shut down while over 9 million litres of petrol has been seized.”
He said the federal government is considering to reduce the general sales tax (GST) from 17 percent. He said this focus is despite the fact that the GDP to tax ratio in Pakistan is the “lowest in the region”. He said the GST on finished product is 17 percent, which does not mean that the same is charged at the factory, distribution and sales stages.
He said the direct taxes have been increased from one to 1.5 percent while the indirect taxes have been reduced. He said the levy of 0.3 percent on banking transactions is not final. However, he added, that probe is underway on reports that banks have charged customers the levy at 0.6 percent.
He said that electronic price labels are being introduced in the next six months especially for cement and sugar. He said that the population census is due in March 2016.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk