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  • Jun 19th, 2014
  • Comments Off on Fiscal Year 2014-15: 118 demands for grants approved by National Assembly
The National Assembly on Wednesday approved a total of 118 demands for grants relating to various federal ministries and departments for fiscal year 2014-15. The government rejected over 437 cut-motions moved by the opposition political parties on demands and grants of various ministries and departments.

Federal Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar presented demands for grants of Ministries of Finance, Foreign Affairs, Cabinet, Capital Administration and Development Division, Communication, Climate Change Division, Commerce Division, Defence Services, etc, in the house for approval.

The lower house of the Parliament approved Rs 4.755 billion for Cabinet Division, a Rs 5.15 billion grant for other expenditure of Cabinet Division, Rs 87 million for Aviation Division, Rs 14.258 billion for Capital Administration and Development Division, Rs 2 billion for Establishment Division, Rs 1.1 billion for other expenditure of establishment division, Rs 212.69 million for Board of Investment, Rs 57.456 million for Prime Minister's Inspection Commission, Rs 6.152 billion for Atomic Energy, Rs 4.833 billion for Commerce Division, Rs 4.299 billion for Communication Division, Rs 2.32 billion for other expenditure of Communication Division, Rs 1.33 billion for Defence Division, Rs 4.135 billion for Federal Government Educational Institutions in Cantonments and Garrisons, Rs 700 billion Defence Services, Rs 15.9 billion for other expenditure of Finance Division and Rs 211.6 billion for Superannuation Allowances and Pensions, etc.

The National Assembly also approved Rs 63.937 billion for Grant-in-Aid and Miscellaneous Adjustments between the Federal and Provincial government, Rs 43 billion for Higher Education Commission, Rs 3 billion for Federal Board of Revenue, Rs 829.5 million for Law, justice and Human Rights Division, Rs 1.797 billion for National Accountability Bureau, Rs 10.877 billion for Foreign Affairs, Rs 1.8 billion for other expenditure of Foreign Affairs, etc.

Speaking on cut motions, the opposition members, including the leader of Opposition, Syed Khurshid Shah, said the government missed almost all economic targets. He asked the government to take steps to reduce the budgetary deficit. Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said that federal government did not make appointments on merit in Agriculture Bank and Pakistan Baitul Maal. He said the government should deposit public money in government banks instead of private banks.

Jamshed Dasti said the government should stop billion of corruption in FBR and give a 20 percent raise in their salaries. The Opposition members also called for holding of next population census. They also underscored the need for increasing direct taxes and bringing down indirect taxes to provide relief to the masses. Some of members urged the government to take steps towards replacing the existing system with Islamic banking.

Describing the 10 percent ad-hoc relief for government employees as meager, the members said the price-hike has hit the government employees most; therefore, their salaries should be enhanced by at least 30 percent. Responding to points raised by opposition members, Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar said the government had ensured transparency and merit in appointments in Zarai Taraqiati Bank and other departments. He said the government would take steps to deposit public money in State Bank of Pakistan and National Bank of Pakistan.

The Finance Minister said that Rs 8 billion has already been paid and Rs 31 billion would be released by the beginning of the next month for K-2 and K-3 nuclear power projects in Karachi. In this regard, the Bank of China will give Rs 31 billion on July 1, 2014 for K-2 and K-3 nuclear power plants, according to him. Dar said a Steering Committee on Islamic banking has been set up to make recommendations on Islamic banking by December 31, 2014.

He said that Cabinet Secretariat purchased two BMW cars for the security of foreign dignitaries. He said it is the property of Pakistan not of the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. He told the House that the Federal Government is in favour of holding next population census and the process would be initiated after completion of the process of consultations with provinces.

He said the issue of census was discussed at Council of Common Interest (CCI), adding Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have some reservations about the census. He said the government is paying special attention to development of water sector and work on much-delayed Diamer-Bhasha Dam would begin next financial year. Funds have been allocated and the land acquisition is under way, he added. Winding up discussion, State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmed said that metro bus project would lessen people's transport woes. He said that the performance of Board of Investment has been increased. He said that federal government would provide free education to students from class 1 to matric in the federal capital.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2014


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