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PR. No.10. Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO), Justice ® Munir A. Sheikh has asked Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to redress the grievances of the complainants. This decision was taken on the complaint of M/s Ampex Agencies, Karachi, an importer and exporter against Pakistan International Freight Forwarders Association (PIFFA) which levies unlawful and illegal charges on the importers and exporters. The FTO has observed that there is an urgent need to have clear rules/regulations for the working of Freight Forwarders so that unscrupulous elements are not allowed to exploit these importers and exporters. He has also ruled that it would be appropriate if FBR formulates rules for licensing of the Freight Forwarders, monitor their business, take corrective action if they deviate, violate or do not comply with the defined rules. The FTO has recommended to the FBR to constitute a task force under the Chief Collector of Customs who should call all the stakeholders, formulate rules for the freight forwarders to make it incumbent on them to work under a Customs License and propose a procedure for punitive action to maintain effective check on malpractices. He has ruled that the task force should also examine the charges being collected by the Freight Forwarders and ensure that no unjustified charges are levied so that the their business is saved from exploitation and also to ensure that no trading conditions are imposed which are prejudicial to the interest of the stakeholders. The FTO has also asked FBR to complete the action within the three months and complaisance in this regard be reported within 07 days. FK/AR.
PR. No.11. Ministry of Social Welfare & Special Education is going to improve its projects for the betterment of poor and needy masses of Pakistan, such as Social Welfare Training Programme, Women welfare and development Projects and social protection programme. Ministry is launching Tawana Pakistan Programme pre-test also in its other important initiatives are processing of senior citizens welfare bill 2008. Draft Non-Governmental Organization (Registration Governance and support Bill 2007. The Ministry of Social Welfare and Special Education and its allied organizations have undertaken multifarious programmes/projects for the well being of down trodden and marginalized segments of the society, which include destitute children, special persons, senior citizens, women, widows etc. JG/AR.
PR. No.12. Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that housing, agribusiness, and energy are some of the areas in which the government is keen to promote domestic and foreign investment to generate and expedite economic activity in the country. The Prime Minister said this while taking to a delegation of bankers who called on him at the State Guest, Karachi this morning. The Chief Minister Sindh, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Special Assistant to the PM on Economic Affairs, Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar, Special Assistant to the PM on Social Sector, Ms. Shahnaz Wazir Ali and Ms. Fauzia Wahab, MNA also attended the meeting. The Prime Minister said that foreign investment invariably follows domestic investment and the best way to promote it is through establishing joint ventures between Pakistani and foreign investors. He said joint ventures promote foreign investors’ confidence in the country and that’s why the government is encouraging them. He said that his government is considering various proposals to promote foreign direct investment in the country. He said the government will provide level playing field to both local and foreign investors by allowing foreign investors to hold 100% equity without restriction on the movement of capital. Talking about the priorities of his government, the Prime Minister said that the government is committed to providing housing to all segments of the population and has already announced construction of one million houses. He said that he would welcome suggestions from the private sector to help the government achieve this objective. The Prime Minister said that his government is also keen to promote agribusiness in the country especially dairy development as 75% of our population is connected to agriculture for its livelihood. He said the government is taking several measures to modernize and promote agriculture which is the mainstay of the economy. The delegation gave several proposals for promoting FDI in Pakistan and for the strategic realignment and reprioritization of resources to achieve this objective. The Prime Minister said that he has established Economic Advisory Council in which the private sector is fully represented. He said he would direct the Council to consider the various proposals given by the bankers and associate with various professional groups to benefit from their advice and experience. The bankers delegation comprised Mr. Khalid Amin, Chief Executive, New Project Dubai-9 Group; Mr. Zaigham Rizvi, Consultant to World Bank Housing Expert; Mr. Athar Naseem Sheikh, Sr. Partner, Arkan Capital Partners, Dubai; Mr. Humayun Murad, Head of Orix Leasing Pakistan and Middle East; Mr. Javed Callea, SEVP, Saudi-Pak Investment Company and Mr. Wamiq Rizvi, Secretary, Pak-Kuwait Investment Company. DSG/AR.
PR. NO. 13. The Ministry of Housing and works has notified the following revised rental ceilings for hiring of residential accommodation by Federal Government employees at Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Karachi, Lahore, Quetta and Peshawar. Entitlement BPS Existing Rental Ceiling Revised Rental Ceiling
Islamabad Other Station Specified Islamabad Other Station Specified
1-2 Rs.1750 Rs.1640/- Rs.1926 Rs.1805 3-6 Rs.2735 Rs.2405 Rs.3010 Rs.2645 7-10 Rs.4090 Rs.3660 Rs.4500 Rs.4025 11-13 Rs.6170 Rs.5350 Rs.6785 Rs.5885 14-16 Rs.7750 Rs.6765 Rs.8525 Rs.7440 17-18 Rs.10260 Rs.8950 Rs.11285 Rs.9845 19 Rs.13640 Rs.11675 Rs.15005 Rs.12840 20 Rs.17130 Rs.14730 Rs.18845 Rs.16205 21 Rs.20515 Rs.17730 Rs.22565 Rs.19505 22 Rs.24550 Rs.22260 Rs.27005 Rs.24485 The rental ceilings will come into force with effect from 01.07.2008. EH/AR.
PR. NO. 14. The Senate Standing Committee on Women Development has called for urgent steps to improve conditions at the female ward of Adiala Jail Rawalpindi, which is presently housing 172 female prisoners against the total capacity of 80. The Senate Committee headed by its Chairperson Senator Tahira Latif undertook a visit to the jail today with a view to obtaining first hand knowledge of the prisoners lodged there especially female and to suggest measures for improvement. The Senate Body recommended that for overcoming the present overcrowding and congestion, construction of new women jail should be taken up on top priority basis, for which a piece of land measuring 87 acres has already been acquired. It urged the Punjab Government to release the remaining amount of Rs. 39963900/- to the provincial Revenue Department for this purpose. Terming the present dietary charges i.e. Rs. 20/- daily (per each prisoner) being too meager be enhanced to at least Rs. 100/- per day immediately as many female prisoners are accompanied by young children. It further recommended that at least one full time medical specialist and one medical officer be provided for the women jail alongwith acquiring the services of a skin specialist to cope with growing number of patients with scabies and other diseases. It also urged the government to make the necessary arrangements for repatriation of all female prisoners back to their respective provinces, for completing the remaining term in the jails of their respective provinces. Responding to the complaints regarding manhandling/use of abusive language, thrashing etc, by some prisoners, the Senate Body urged the government to arrange special ‘behavioral training courses’ for female jail wardens and superintendents in addition to acquiring the services of psychiatrist in order to bring about a permanent attitudinal change both in captors and the prisoners. The Senate Committee also called upon the affluent sections of the society to come forward for payment of petty sums of money due to many prisoners as their release could not be secured due to non-payment of fines despite the fact that most of them have already completed their respective sentences. Earlier, the Superintendent of Central Jail Rawalpindi briefed the Senate Committee on the overall jail conditions with special reference to the plight of female prisoners. He informed that against a authorized accommodation of 1994 prisoners, the present population of this jail is toughing close to 5906 which is almost four times greater than the sanctioned strength. ‘This overcrowding is the root cause of the prevailing problems’, he added. He said that present amount of funds being provided to us are barely adequate to look after such a large number. The issue of non-entitlement of any remission announced by the government from time to time to the women prisoners accused of murder, also figured during the visit. A number of such female prisoners urged the Committee to review this policy as according to them it tantamounts to discrimination. The Committee took exception to the present practice of taking both male and female prisoners to Courts in the same van and directed the jail authorities to immediately discontinue it and arrange separate transport for females. Some Members of the Committee suggested surprise visits to jail premises and barracks in future to know the actual conditions prevailing there instead of planned visits ‘which produce little or no results’. Besides the Chairperson of the Committee, the meeting/visit was attended by Senators Mrs. Rukhsana Zuberi, Mrs. Razina Alam Khan, Mrs. Fauzia Fakhar-uz-Zaman, Dr. Kausar Firdous, Mrs. Sabina Rauf, Nawab Mohammad Ayaz Khan Jogezai and Saeed Ahmed Hashmi besides the senior officials of the Ministry of Women Development. SM/ank
PR. NO. 15. The meetings of Zonal/district Ruet-e-Hilal Committee for sighting the moon of Rajab, 1429 Hijri will be held on Friday, the 4th July, 2008 at their respective headquarters. Chairman Central Ruet-e-Hilal committee will attend the meeting of Sindh zonal Ruet-e-Hilal Committee at Habib Bank Plaza, Karachi whereas the members of Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee will join the meetings of their respective Provincial/District Committees. All information about the position of moon will be conveyed to the Chairman at Karachi on Telephone Nos. 021-, 081-2418000-35 EXT: 2650 and Mobile No. 0300-9285203, for final announcement.
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