Latest news with #CivilServantsAct
Business Recorder
20-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Servants (Amendment) Bill 2025 passed in Senate
ISLAMABAD: The Upper House of the Parliament has passed the Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill 2025, which provides that the financial assets of gazetted officers and those of their spouses and dependent children, to be filed with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), shall be publicly available. Already passed by the National Assembly, the bill now seeks the final yet ceremonial assent of President Asif Ali Zardari to become a law. Law Minister Azam Tarar presented the bill in the Senate session, presided over by Chairman Yousaf Raza Gilani on Thursday, following its passage by the standing committee concerned, earlier this month. The Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill, 2025 seeks to amend the Civil Servants Act, 1973 with the insertion of new Section 15-A. This section provides that the declaration of assets of civil servants of basic scale (BS) 17 and above, their spouses and dependent children, including domestic and foreign assets and liabilities (if any), shall be digitally filed with the FBR, and same shall be publicly available— 'Provided that the extent of disclosure, under this section, shall give due regard to the balance between public interest for good governance and individual privacy and security.' The Statement of Objects and Reasons of the bill reads: To further operationalise the Government Servants (Conduct) Rules, 1964— and consistent with the Right to Information Act of 2017, to 'ensure that asset declarations of high-level public officials (BPS 17 - 22) (Including domestic and foreign assets beneficially owned by them or a member of their family) will be digitally filed and publicly accessible (with sufficient safeguards over data protection and privacy of personal information such as ID numbers, residential addresses, bank account or bond numbers) through the FBR with a robust framework, resources and tools for the Establishment Division to conduct risk-based verification.' Speaking on the floor of the House, Tarar, the Law Minister, said, the civil servants of BS-17 to 22 would have to declare their assets and those of their spouses and dependent children 'just like politicians declare their assets and those of their family members.' New bills; Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2025, were moved in the House and referred to the relevant standing committees. Meanwhile, the Senate continued discussion on the proposed federal budget for the upcoming financial year 2025-26. Speaking on the occasion, Husna Bano from Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) demanded complete withdrawal of taxes on solar panels. Another PPP Senator Aslam Abro demanded withdrawal of proposed carbon levy on vehicles. Different senators from other political parties also shared their views on the proposed federal budget. The Senate was adjourned till today (Friday). Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
20-06-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Senate passes Civil Servants Amend Bill
The Senate on Thursday passed the Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill, 2025, aimed at enhancing transparency and enabling public access to asset declarations of senior government officials. The bill, moved by Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar on behalf of Senator Ahmed Khan Cheema, Minister for Establishment, seeks to amend the Civil Servants Act, 1973, as reported by the Standing Committee. The legislation is intended to further operationalise the Government Servants (Conduct) Rules, 1964 — specifically Rules 12, 13, and 13-A — and align them with the provisions of the Right to Information Act, 2017. Under the proposed framework, asset declarations of officers in Basic Pay Scale (BPS) 17 to 22 — including assets beneficially owned domestically or abroad by the officials or their family members — will be filed digitally and made publicly accessible. The bill provides that sufficient safeguards will be ensured to protect sensitive personal information, such as national identity numbers, residential addresses, and bank or bond account numbers. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will maintain the digital platform, while the Establishment Division will be equipped with a robust framework, resources, and tools to conduct risk-based verifications of the submitted declarations. Meanwhile, senators expressed grave concerns over the country's fiscal policies, particularly the imposition of taxes on essential sectors and the economic hardships facing ordinary citizens. While participating in the general discussion on Budget 2025-26, Senator Dost Ali Jeesor criticized the 18 percent solar tax, calling it unfair and burdensome on low-income families who invest in solar panels and batteries. He called for the total elimination of the tax, asserting that the recent cut — lowering the GST on solar panels by more than 10 percent from the previous 18 percent — remains insufficient. Senator Muhammad Abdul Qadir presented an overview of the federal budget, said that we would need more loans to finance ongoing development projects, pension disbursements, and social welfare programs like BISP. He cautioned that Pakistan's debt servicing costs are alarmingly high, with interest payments consuming 30 to 35 percent of loans taken by successive governments. Jam Saifullah pressed for the commencement of the long-delayed M-6 Motorway project, criticizing insufficient PSDP allocations. He also raised environmental concerns, opposing taxes on electric and hybrid vehicles, which he said undermine national climate goals. Furthermore, he called for increased support for salary earners and pensioners to fight inflation. Senator Haji Hidayatullah Khan highlighted the disproportionate tax burden on the poor, deeming the 10 percent pay raise for government employees inadequate in the prevailing economic crisis. He warned of declining agricultural productivity and stressed urgent government intervention to revive the sector. Calling solar energy a vital resource for Pakistan's future, Hidayatullah demanded the removal of taxes on solar panels to encourage wider adoption. Citing a World Health Organization report, he stressed that 45 percent of people live below the poverty line and over 270 million children remain out of school, underscoring the urgent need to prioritize education and healthcare.
Business Recorder
17-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
NA passes amendment requiring top officials to publicly declare assets
ISLAMABAD: In a bold power move that's bound to shake up the country's power brokers, the National Assembly on Friday passed a game-changing amendment to the Civil Servants Act, forcing top government officials to air their financial dirty laundry – publicly. The new law, Section 15-A, demands that civil servants from Grade 17 to Grade 22 disclose not only their own wealth but also the financial details of their spouses and dependents, including assets, liabilities, and loans. And here's the real bombshell: this financial intel will be made available to the public for all to see. Gone are the days when bureaucrats could quietly pad their pockets without a second thought. Now, every asset, every debt, will be exposed to the public eye – under the watchful gaze of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), including those working within the tax-collecting powerhouse itself. Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill passed: Senior officials obliged to disclose all assets For years, asset declarations from the country's bureaucratic elite have been shrouded in secrecy. But this new legislation aims to bring much-needed transparency and accountability to the country's entrenched bureaucratic establishment. It's worth noting, however, that the country's political elite remains silent when it comes to asset declarations for the military bureaucracy, which is still unwilling – or perhaps too powerful – to allow any such legislation that would expose their financial dirty laundry. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
16-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Assets declaration must for govt servants
PML-N-led coalition government in the Centre now has 229 members in the NA. PHOTO: APP The federal government on Friday managed to pass a bill, amending the Civil Servants Act. Under the Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill 2025, Clause 15A was added after Clause 15 of the Act, making it mandatory for civil servants from Grade-17 to Grade-22 to declare all their domestic and foreign assets. As per the proposed law, civil servants must also disclose the domestic and foreign assets and liabilities of their spouses and dependent children. Officers will be required to submit details of their own and their family's assets to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). These asset details will be made public. Earlier, the NA Friday passed a total of nine legislative items, including six government bills, two private members' bills, and a resolution, with a majority vote. The government successfully secured the house's approval for the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill 2024, a crucial piece of legislation related to the upcoming federal budget. Among the other government-sponsored bills passed were: Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (Amendment) Bill 2024, Anti-Dumping Duties (Amendment) Bill 2025, Pakistan Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2024, Transfer of Offenders (Amendment) Bill 2025. In addition, the house also adopted two private members' bills from the supplementary agenda: Trade Organisations (Amendment) Bill 2025 and the Prohibition of Child Marriage Bill 2025 (applicable within the limits of Islamabad Capital Territory). All bills were passed with a majority vote, without division. The assembly also approved a resolution moved by MNA Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar, urging the government to increase the upper age limit for CSS candidates to 35 years, and to allow five attempts for the competitive exam. The resolution stressed that qualified aspirants were being excluded due to the restrictive age cap and limited number of chances. Speaking on a point of order, PTI MNA Asad Qaiser raised concerns regarding the lack of a clear government policy on tobacco cultivation. "Farmers are deeply worried. The matter should be referred to the relevant standing committee," he urged. In response, the federal minister for law and justice assured the house that the government was aware of the farmers' difficulties. "International market fluctuations do impact prices, but we will ensure that tobacco growers are not unduly burdened," he said. The session was later adjourned by Deputy Speaker Zahid Akram Durrani until Monday at 5pm. Wheat procurement The government would not procure wheat this season and the Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (Passco) would be closed down, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry informed the National Assembly on Friday. Speaking during the Question Hour, the minister said that farmers who were able to store their produce in their own warehouses would be compensated. He added that there were no restrictions on the movement or transport of wheat across the country. "Wheat is currently performing well in the open market, which is benefiting farmers and improving their income," the minister told the house in response to a question. "The farmers who are able to store their produce in their own warehouses will be compensated," he added.
Express Tribune
13-03-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
IMF raises concerns over FBR's performance
Listen to article The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has raised concerns regarding the performance of Pakistan's Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and rejected claims that the revenue shortfall has been resolved. Sources stated that discussions between the IMF mission and the Ministry of Finance are ongoing for $1 billion tranche. A team led by Federal Finance Minister Mohammad Aurangzeb met with the IMF mission to discuss new tax targets, Express News reported on Thursday. During the meeting, the government provided a briefing on the integration of public institutions and cost-saving measures, including the merger of institutions and the elimination of positions, which resulted in savings of Rs17 billion. Despite these efforts, the IMF questioned the effectiveness of FBR in addressing the revenue shortfall and rejected the claims made by Pakistani officials regarding the resolution of this issue. Additionally, the meeting explored the right-sizing of government employees and the possibility of a 'golden handshake,' which could lead to the elimination of 700 positions in grades 17 to 22, along with thousands of lower-grade positions. Sources also mentioned that amendments to the Civil Servants Act are being considered to facilitate the removal of excess government employees. The Ministry of Finance alos presented a strategy to reduce expenditures and address the revenue shortfall. Earlier, the IMF rejected Pakistan's request to grant tax exemptions for foreign investment projects. The Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) had sought the exemptions during a detailed briefing to the IMF delegation, arguing that tax relief would help attract foreign investors. However, the global lender refused the request, maintaining its stance on fiscal discipline. During the briefing, SIFC officials presented investment opportunities, governance structures, and infrastructure plans.
