Senators on Wednesday unanimously rejected government''s proposal to grant validations to hundreds of statutory regulatory orders (SROs) and notifications issued by the FBR in last few years through Finance Bill 2017-18. Members of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance here on Wednesday also recommended for tabling all such SROs before the federal cabinet for approval in the light of judgement given by Supreme Court of Pakistan.

Senator Kamil Ali Agha of PML (Q), Mohsin Aziz from PTI and Ilyas Bilour from ANP sternly opposed the government''s move for seeking validation of all SROs in one go. "We recommend the government to seek approval of the cabinet instead of getting approval through the Finance Bill," Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Finance Senator Saleem Mandviwalla said while chairing the panel meeting here at the Parliament House on Wednesday. He further said that the government is creating controversy by bypassing cabinet and giving more powers in hands of minister for in-charge which could also annoy the judiciary. The senators belonging to treasury benches and some independent senators were also present during the meeting but no one opposed the move for rejection of the government''s proposal for approving validation of SROs issued by the FBR in last few years through Finance Bill.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2017