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Business Recorder
04-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
NA panel told: Uplift budget of MoNFS&R curtailed due to fund crunch
ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research was informed that development budget of the ministry had been significantly reduced from Rs24 billion to Rs4.7 billion due to fiscal constraints imposed by the federal government under its obligations to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), leading to the curtailment of various planned projects. The committee met under the chairmanship of Syed Tariq Hussain, which considered agenda item regarding the point of order raised by Asad Qaiser, MNA and former Speaker of the National Assembly, concerning the challenges faced by tobacco growers and the need for a comprehensive policy to address their concerns. It was informed that tobacco is a significant cash crop in Pakistan, cultivated over approximately 55,000 hectares with an annual production of 186,000 tons. Of this, KPK contributes significantly, with 32,936 hectares under cultivation and annual production of around 97,385 tons making it the primary contributor to Pakistan's exportable tobacco. Despite its importance, tobacco growers face financial hardship. The crop spans eight months, and the cost of cultivation on one hectare reaches approximately Rs1.9 million, while farmers report an average monthly profit of only Rs3,700. Contributing factors include delays in announcing the indicative price, lack of government procurement, poor performance of the Pakistan Tobacco Board (PTB), insufficient federal oversight, lack of research and development, and failure by the Ministry of National Food Security and Research to appoint or nominate PTB members. The Pakistan Tobacco Board informed the committee that it had conducted meetings with stakeholders and that tobacco is currently being purchased using a weighted average method. The board also claimed to address concerns regarding pricing, rejections, and related matters. However, the committee expressed concern over the PTB's lack of performance and coordination with growers. The committee issued several directives to ensure comprehensive follow-up. The Pakistan Tobacco Board, the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, the KPK Agriculture Department, and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) were instructed to present detailed information in the next meeting, including the current tobacco taxation policy, CESS collected over the last 10 years, utilisation details of collected CESS and the policy framework under which it was used, CSR activities undertaken, and the breakdown of CESS collected by the federal government and shared with provinces, including under which budgetary heads. The committee directed the secretary of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research to constitute the Pakistan Tobacco Board within one month and submit a report to the committee. Additionally, the secretary was instructed to convene an emergency meeting of the board to address the outstanding issues faced by tobacco growers and to provide a follow-up report within one week. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is to be invited to the next meeting to present details specifically related to CESS collection. The Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) was also assigned the task of outlining its support initiatives for tobacco growers and presenting a proposal for establishing a research centre aimed at improving the quality and productivity of tobacco crops. The committee directed the Pakistan Tobacco Board, along with the relevant provincial and federal government authorities and representatives of tobacco growers, to hold a joint consultation and submit a comprehensive report addressing all unresolved issues prior to the next meeting. To further facilitate discussions on this matter, the committee granted Shehram Khan Tarakai, MNA, the status of Special Invitee for all future proceedings related to tobacco issues. The committee raised concern with the ministry over the exclusion of several schemes previously discussed and recommended by the committee, in particular the proposed Dates Research Centre at Khairpur, to be established in collaboration with Shah Abdul Latif University. In response, the secretary explained that the ministry's development budget had been significantly reduced from Rs24 billion to Rs14 billion, then to Rs7 billion, and finally to Rs4.7 billion due to fiscal constraints imposed by the federal government under its obligations to the IMF, leading to the curtailment of various planned projects. The committee reiterated its directive to the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) to visit Khairpur along with the concerned Member and to submit a feasibility report before the Committee, so the project may be pursued through re-appropriation of funds. In relation to Agenda Item No 4, the Pro Vice-Chancellor of Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Agriculture, Multan briefed the committee on the university's ongoing and planned research initiatives, their impact on national food security, collaborations at both national and international levels, and the utilisation of research funds. Key innovations highlighted included the development of hybrid wheat varieties that can increase crop yield by up to 20 per cent, and self-irrigating wheat with modified leaf angles to channel water directly to the roots while minimising evaporation. Additionally, they are working on drillers expected to be commercialised within the next three years, aimed at increasing wheat productivity to 80–100 maunds per acre. Other areas of research include pulse production, digital marketing platforms for post-harvest handling and market access, fruit value addition, soil-less vegetable farming, salinity adaptation in the Southern Indus Basin, cotton and vegetable seed research, and the establishment of a National Crop Genomics and Speed Breeding Centre. The committee appreciated the university's efforts and emphasised the importance of making research outcomes accessible to farmers. It stressed that practical application of these innovations is critical to enhancing agricultural productivity and ensuring national food security. Furthermore, the committee urged the ministry to present a comprehensive 20-year agricultural development plan. Despite the research and efforts underway, major crop production has declined by 17 per cent, highlighting the urgent need for a long-term strategy that addresses the growing challenges of pollution, climate change, and sustainability in the agriculture sector. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
19-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
GST on imported solar panels reduced to 10pc
ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said that the digital sales tax on services would remain within the jurisdiction of provinces and proposed general sales tax (GST)on solar panels has been reduced from 18 per cent to 10 per cent. Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly on Wednesday, Dar said that after detailed discussions with coalition partners and relevant stakeholders, consensus had been reached on resolving several contentious budgetary issues. He said that as part of the revisions, it was agreed that the imposition of digital sales tax on services falls under the constitutional domain of provincial governments. 'The concerns regarding digital taxation were valid. We held in-depth consultations with all stakeholders, including the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), and it has been decided that the matter will be clearly addressed in the finance minister's budget winding-up speech.' NA panel rejects 18pc GST on solar panels He said that the earlier proposal of imposing 18 per cent general sales tax (GST) on solar panels had sparked considerable debate. Upon review, he said that it was revealed that 54 per cent of components used in solarisation were already taxed under the existing regime, and the 18 per cent tax applied only to the remaining 46 per cent. However, after mutual consultations, we have now proposed reducing the solar GST from 18 per cent to 10 per cent, he announced. The deputy prime minister said that tax proposals are essential for revenue generation, and any relief in one area necessitates compensation elsewhere. He pointed out that when the cabinet found the initial proposal of a six per cent salary increase for government employees insufficient and raised it to 10 per cent, corresponding budgetary adjustments also had to be made. 'We must move forward collectively. Our approach is rooted in consensus and cooperation.' Highlighting another key issue, he said it was decided to maintain funding for proposed universities in Sindh under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) at Rs4.7 billion through the Higher Education Commission (HEC). He said that fund would be released for the universities. The deputy prime minister acknowledged valid concerns raised by the members of the house about the closure of the Public Works Department (PWD) and confirmed that the Pakistan Infrastructure Development Company Limited (PIDCL) would now oversee all federal development projects across provinces. He said that the PIDCL was initially formed for Sindh, but its mandate has now been expanded to oversee development projects across all provinces. Dar concluded by reaffirming the government's willingness to address genuine concerns through mutual dialogue and constructive engagement. Pakistan People's Party (PPP) senior leader Syed Naveed Qamar thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar for accommodating the proposals of the party and Sindh government. 'We had wanted to reduce all 18 per cent tax on solar panels but it cannot do so. After approval of budget, a committee will be formed to discuss further reduce tax on solar panels.' He also acknowledged the government's decision to expand the mandate of the Pakistan Infrastructure Development Company Limited (PIDCL) to all provinces, instead of limiting it to Sindh, effectively addressing another PPP concern. Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani highlighted the steps being taken by Sindh government for development of Karachi including its health infrastructure. He said that we also want to eliminate arrest power of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). He also said that the Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway is a vital need of the people and urged the authorities to pay attention to the project. Earlier, legislators from both opposition and treasury benches called for the establishment of Special Agriculture Zones, IT Facilitation Centres nationwide, increased farmer support, and funding for churches and temples to promote economic growth and social inclusion. Resuming general budget discussions on the fifth day in the National Assembly, Dr Zulfikar Ali Bhatti of PML-N stressed the need to develop rural areas and strengthen the agricultural sector. He proposed the establishment of Special Agriculture Zones nationwide, equipped with all necessary facilities to enhance agricultural productivity. He also advocated for providing incentives to farmers. Additionally, he called for the creation of IT facilitation centres in rural regions and the implementation of skill development programs for youth, particularly in these areas, to promote self-sufficiency. Fatehullah Khan of PPP strongly denounced Israel's aggression against Iran. Drawing attention to the suffering of flood victims in his constituency, he urged the government to provide compensation to those affected. Awais Haider Jhakar of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) highlighted the challenges faced by farmers and criticised government policies that have contributed to a decline in agricultural production. Sanjay Parwani of the MQM criticised the government for failing to allocate what he described as even a single penny for the country's churches and temples in the 2025-26 federal budget. Abdul Ghafoor Haideri of JUI-F urged the Deputy Speaker Ghulam Mustafa Shah to issue a ruling demanding strict punishment for the miscreants involved in the attempted abduction of Maulana Fazlur Rehman's son and called for the immediate arrest of those responsible. PPP's Zulfiqar Ali Behan called for the imposition of an agricultural emergency in the country and the removal of taxes on fertilisers to boost agricultural production. Chaudhry Mubeen Arif Jatt of SIC called for the immediate withdrawal of the proposed 18 percent GST on solar panels. He also highlighted the hardships faced by farmers, noting that their produce is being sold at prices lower than their production costs. Chaudhry Riazul Haq of PML-N demanded a review of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR)'s excessive powers and emphasised the need to lower fertiliser prices. Sohail Sultan said that it is the government's duty to provide relief to the people. He urged the government to increase the monthly income of labourers and suggested including youth programmes in the current budget. Parliamentary Secretary Sajid Mehdi lauded the armed forces and their chiefs for performing outstanding performance against the Indian aggression against Pakistan. He said that Pakistan is far behind in modern agriculture, lamenting that we cannot even produce the seed of any crop. He linked the development of the country with the agriculture sector, adding, we cannot progress unless we develop agriculture sector. He said that a small relief was given to farmers in the shape of solar power but the government imposed tax on this facility which is injustice. He demanded that the pesticides and fertiliser be tax-free. Mahtab Akbar Rashdi, Muhammad Moeen Wattoo, Rai Hassan Nawaz Khan, Chaudhry Anwarul Haq, Nasir Iqbal, Musa Gilani, Ali Jadoon, and others participated in the budget debate. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
30-03-2025
- Express Tribune
HMP recovers Rs4.7m excessive fares
The National Highways and Motorways Police (NHMP) recovered Rs4.7 million from public transport operators for overcharging passengers during Eidul Fitr and imposed an additional Rs23.3 million in fines for overloading, officials said on Sunday. The rush of passengers is a routine occurrence during Eid, as commuters working away from home return to their villages and towns in large numbers. However, complaints of excessive fare charges by public transport operators also emerge during this period. An NHMP official stated that the crackdown against overcharging and overloading continued across Pakistan.
Express Tribune
24-02-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
CJP's political outreach sparks questions
The country's top judge played host to some unusual guests at his residence last week, first meeting with executive officials and later conferring with the key opposition party to seek their input on the judicial reform agenda, among other matters -- sparking debate over the judiciary's role in political affairs and the implications of such engagements. In the curious turn of events, Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Yahya Afridi not only waded into politically charged waters but also reportedly counselled the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to stay within the system and shun boycotts – advice that comes as PTI and other opposition parties gear up for an anti-government push. Political experts have described the development as unprecedented, noting that previous chief justices have also attempted to "fix the system" despite it being beyond their constitutional mandate. They argue that engaging with a select group of political representatives was an unwise move and question whether the chief justice will now extend the same opportunity to other political parties. In the first meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had requested CJP for expeditious disposal of tax-related cases on merit as, as of January 2025, as many as 33,522 cases worth Rs4.7 trillion are currently pending nationwide in various courts and tribunals. Though the executive's meeting with the top judge went smoothly, PTI somewhat grilled CJP by telling him it doesn't recognize the 26th Amendmentthe very amendment that paved the way for CJP's appointment and urged him to decide petitions regarding the 26th Amendment first, refrain from 'court packing', put his house in order, and do not become an accomplice against PTI. Referring to recent letters and petitions of Supreme Court and Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges pertaining to the 26th Amendment and seniority of high court's judges, respectively, as well as the alleged role of spy agencies, the PTI delegation had gone on to say that it was CJP's responsibility to fix things in his own backyard. PTI had also briefed CJP in detail about how PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were being treated unfairly and urged him to ensure the rule of law and the Constitution in the country instead of allowing the judiciary to become an accomplice against PTI. "Many past CJPs remained under the illusion that they had a much greater role to fix the national problems beyond the role assigned to them by the Constitution," the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT), Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, said. The PILDAT chief argued that previous CJPs had also attempted to take on broader responsibilities but it didn't lead to anything meaningful. "CJPs tried to assume the role but judges are neither cut out for that role nor our constitution defines such a role for judges or CJP," Mehboob said. To the questions about how things have played up in SC and IHC in the past few weeks, Mehboob said that "it was not a very wise move for CJP to meet PM and PTI delegation led by Leader of the Opposition," saying "it was unnecessary, against the past practices and potentially counterproductive." In addition, he said, "CJP unnecessarily exposed himself to the political narrative of PTI." He further added that it will be difficult for CJP now if other political parties also ask to be heard. Professor Tahir Naeem Malik of NUML University opined that CJP's newly-assumed role of meeting political parties was unprecedented as none invited and met political parties to discuss political, judicial and other issues in the past few decades. "CJP stepping out of his institutional role and trying to resolve political crisis can be interpreted in different ways but simple truth makes sense: it's not his job to meet a select few political parties, assure them to resolve their grievances and then later on decide their cases," Professor Malik said.
Express Tribune
21-02-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
SCBA welcomes PM-CJ meeting
A day after a rare meeting between Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJ) Yahya Afridi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, a delegation led by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) present called on the top judge and expressed its appreciation for the meeting that focused on legal and judicial reforms. According to an official statement, SCBA President Mian Muhammad Rauf Atta met with Justice Yahya Afridi on Thursday. Atta was accompanied by SCBA Senior Vice President Nadeem Qureshi and Balochistan Bar Council member Khalil Panezai. "The meeting encapsulated discussions on a range of issues concerning the overall performance of the judiciary. President SCBAP hailed the Chief Justice of Pakistan for his initiatives taken for the efficient functioning of the court, which have effectively resulted in the reduction of longstanding pendency." The SCBA president "expressed his appreciation" for the meeting between the CJ and the PM, "which aimed to focus on the judicial and law reforms necessary for establishing an efficient and effective judicial system". He said these reforms are not only need of the hour but extremely essential for prompt dispensation of justice to the general public at the grassroots level. Atta suggested that to make the most of such policies, consistency in their implementation is crucial. "In the end, he reasserted his full confidence and support for the Chief Justice of Pakistan on behalf of SCBAP and the entire legal fraternity, commending the Chief Justice's efforts toward creating a robust judicial system aimed at improving overall effectiveness and efficiency," it added. In an unprecedented move, PM Shehbaz on Wednesday requested CJ Yahya Afridi for expeditious disposal of tax-related cases on merit. The request was made during a meeting between the country's top chief executive and the top adjudicator wherein the issue of tax-related cases that had been pending for adjudication, for long, in different courts of the country came under discussion. As of January 2025, as many as 33,522 cases worth Rs4.7 trillion are pending nationwide in various courts and tribunals. According to a press release issued by the Supreme Court, the premier visited the chief justice's house at the invitation of the CJP Afridi. During the meeting, the CJ shared the agenda of the upcoming meeting of the National Judicial Policy Making Committee (NJPMC) and sought the input of the government.
