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PR. No.66. Federal Tax Ombudsman Justice ® Munir A. Sheikh has asked Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to re-open the impugned Order-in-Original under the Sales Tax Act, 1990 issued by Additional Collector, Sales Tax, Multan to the complainant.
The FTO decided the case of complainant i.e. M/s Adam Sugar Mills Ltd, Bahawalnagar who had sold/supplied sugar against tax invoices at prices ranging from 20.8600 to 30.8260 per Kg in the year 2005-2006 against the impugned 0-I-0 passed by the Additional Collector, Sales Tax, Multan. The Sales Tax Department, Multan in its show cause notice had alleged that the complainant had supplied sugar @ of Rs.20 and Rs.21 per Kg instead of prevailing price of Rs.40 per Kg. The FTO has ruled in his decision that the Department has committed an act of maladministration.
He has recommended to the FBR to direct competent authority to reopen the impugned 0-I-0 under Sales Tax Act, 1990 and decide the case on merit in accordance with the law, provide an opportunity to the complainant to defend his case before the competent authority. The FTO has ruled that the complainant in this regard will provide all the reverent record for verification and further ruled that compliance be reported with 30 days of the receipt of this order.
FK/AR.
PR. No.67. Dr. Fehmida Mirza, Speaker National Assembly has said that Literacy is the basic right of individuals, enabling them to address the challenges they can face in life for active participation in the societies and economies of the present time. She said that in her message on the World Literacy Day being commemorated worldwide, today. She said that education is crucial for nation building, creating literate environment and societies for eradicating poverty, reducing child mortality, curbing population growth, achieving gender equality and ensuring society development to the peace and democracy. Expressing her concern about the persistent gender gap in education, she called upon the government to reinforce political will and commitment and mobilize adequate national resources and develop more conducive policymaking environments and devise innovative strategies for reaching the poorest and most marginalize segments of the society, specially the women. She also asked the government to coordinate the activities at national level, taking on-board all the relevant quarters and stakeholders in policy formulation, implementation and evaluation of literacy efforts. Dr. Fehmida Mirza urged the non governmental and professional organizations to strengthen the educational institutions in the country with view to expand their capacity and promote the quality of education. She was confident that the sagacious policies and well coordinated strategies devise by the government and the stakeholders would result in stimulating and catalyzing the activities under taken at national and provincial level for achieving the desire results. She also called upon the provincial and local governments for allocating substantial amount of funds for the literacy specially earmarking funds for the female literacy. She said that population of Pakistan consists of more than 50 % of women who do not have access to education besides other basic amenities. In order to bring the women folk into the national mainstream, it is imperative to focus on enhancing female literacy rate.
Speaker National Assembly also paid glorifying tributes to the Unites Nations specially United Nation Education Scientific Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for its efforts for enhancing literacy throughout the world.
MT/AR.
PR. No.68. Mr. Qamar Zaman Kaira, Minister Incharge,AJ&K Council Secretariat, presented the budget(2008-09) of AJ&K Council during the 1st sitting of the session here Monday. The first sitting of the 42nd session of AJ&K Council was held at the AJ&K Council Secretariat, Islamabad under the chairmanship of the Vice Chairman, AJ&K Council/ President of AJ&K, Raja Zulqarnain Khan. Presenting the current year’s balanced budget for the financial year, the Minister informed that the total revenue receipts target is being proposed at Rs 5678.312 million which includes Rs 3500.000 million from Income Tax. The development expenditure has been estimated at Rs 2000.000 million, non-development expenditure of Rs 693.049 million and 80% share of Income Tax to AJ&K Government ( including Rs 311.116 million as difference for 2007-08) at Rs 2985.263 million. Thus the total expenditure has been estimated at Rs 5678.312 million. Mr. Qamar Zman Kaira informed the house that the government is preparing economic and social development report for the AJK on the pattern of other provinces. The report would present a comprehensive medium term strategy where sectoral interventions would be integrated to achieve the highest form of governance that is outcomes-based governance. Referring to the Kashmir dispute, he said the Kashmiri people have undergone untold sufferings and hardships over the years. Their legitimate aspirations cannot be ignored and must be accommodated. Fateha was offered for Kashmiri shuhada and Muhtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed. Raja Zulqarnain Khan also welcomed the newly apppointed members to the Council which include five nominated members of the Council nominated by the Prime Minister of Pakistan from amongst the Federal Ministers namely, Mr. Qamar Zaman Kaira, Minister for KA&NA, Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Farooq H. Naik, Federal Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Ms. Sherry Rehman, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Syed Khurshid Ahamad Shah, Federal Minister for Labour Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis, and six elected members of the AJ&K Council namely, Sardar Naseim Ahmad Sarfraz Khan, Raja Iftikhar Ayub, Sarddar Farooq Sikander,Mr. Hamid Khan,Mr Ghulam Raza Shah Naqvi and Mr. Pervaiz Akhtar. The session was adjourned after presentation of the budget, till Friday. The first sitting was attended by Sardar Attique Ahmad Khan (Prime Minister of AJ&K), three members of the Council nominated by the Prime Minister of Pakistan from amongst the Federal Ministers namely, Mr.Qamar Zaman Kaira, Minister for KA&NA, , Ms. Sherry Rehman, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Syed Khurshid Ahamad Shah, Federal Minister for Labour Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis, six elected members of the AJ&K Council namely, Sardar Naseim Ahmad Sarfraz Khan, Raja Iftikhar Ayub, Sarddar Farooq Sikander,Mr. Hamid Khan,Mr Ghulam Raza Shah Naqvi and Mr. Pervaiz Akhtar and Secretary Incharge, AJ&K Council, Mr. Salman Siddique. The 42nd Session (Budget 2008-09) of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Council has been summoned by the Prime Minister of Pakistan in his capacity as the Chairman, Azad Jammu and Kashmir Council to transact budget and certain budget related legislative business. AK/AR.
PR. No.69.
PRESS RELEASE
PML (N) Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif along with a seven member delegation of PML (N) called on the President-elect, Mr. Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minster, Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani at the PM's House this afternoon. The President-elect said that greater political engagement is the top most priority of the PPP-led coalition government. He said that we want to work together with all the political forces and our aim is to strengthen democracy in the country. The PML (N) Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif extended warm felicitations to Mr. Asif Ali Zardari on his election as President of Pakistan. He assured that for the promotion of democracy in the country his party will extend its all out support to the government. The meeting was held in a very pleasant atmosphere and continued for about an hour. Other members of the delegation who attended the meeting included, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Mr. Javed Hashmi, Raja Zafar-u-Haq, Mr. Ishaq Dar, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Mr. Ahsan Iqbal and Mr. Zafar Iqbal Jhagra. Senator Mian Raza Rabbani, Parliamentry Leader PPP, Mr. Khursheed Shah, Federal Minster for Labour and Manpower, Mr. Qamam Zaman Kaira, Federal Minster for IT and Mr.Nazar Muhammad Gondal, Fedral Minster for Food and Agriculture were also present during the meeting. SS/AR.
PR. No.70.
On the direction of the Prime Minister, Chairman National Disaster Management Authority Gen ® Farooq Ahmed Khan has reached Khar Headquarter (HQ) of Bajour Agency. He will stay there for two days to assess the situation and report back to the Prime Minister. MIC/AR.
PR. No.71.
A meeting of the Special Committee on National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) was held on September, 8, 2008 with Ms. Faryal Talpur, MNA in the chair at Planning Commission. The Special Committee reviewed the programs of NCHD and it was agreed that the programs on primary education shall be focused more effectively keeping in view our National and International commitment for universal primary education. Further the committee also emphasized the importance of adult literacy and agreed that it would be managed in a holistic manner through an integrated approach. After detailed discussion it was agreed to set up a Finance Committee to look into the expenditure of Feeder School teachers along with its operational and managerial expenditures. The Finance Committee will work out the total budget requirement that will be submitted in the next meeting of the Special Committee scheduled l to be held on 13th September, 2008. MA/AR.
PR. No.72.
In order to commemorate the October 08-2005 devastating earthquake in a befitting manner, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is holding a two days Disaster Management Exhibition and Conference (DMEC). For this purpose, a renowned Karachi based event organizing firm SARG (South Asia Resources Group) has been engaged and preparation for the conference & exhibition are in full swing. 8th October is also a National Disaster Awareness day. The said conference and many other activities on this day in different parts of the country are aimed at creating awareness and better understanding among government officials, political leaders and society at large. The Exhibition along side the conference is a unique idea / exercise to show the products, skills, equipments and technology so for available in Pakistan which can help in disaster preparedness, mitigation and prevention. Many firms and industries are likely to showcase their relevant products in this exhibition. One of the objectives of this Conference & Exhibition is to initiate the process of public private partnership in the field of disaster awareness, mitigation, and preparedness. This conference is also expression of commitment on the part of government towards realizing the dream of safer Pakistan.
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