On November 8, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Hussain Chaudhry told a media briefing that the government had decided to formulate Tax Policy Board as per the longstanding demand of the business community which is also in line with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government's vision.
The minister said that as per the new decision, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will only be responsible for tax collection and execution of the policy with no authority in making the tax policy. He said that ministers for finance and commerce and economic experts will be included in the Tax Policy Board. An official said that the separation of policy and administration is a major reforms initiative within the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
The cabinet also noted that strict fiscal discipline will be maintained in the country for the purpose of curtailing fiscal deficit and to ensure that the expenditures and revenue remain within the budgeted estimates. The cabinet also discussed in detail the issue of availability of surplus sugar stock in the country and the pending payments of growers and decided to refer the matter to the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet for detailed deliberations and proposing a workable solution to address the issue on priority basis. The Prime Minister stated that the interests of the sugarcane farmers will be protected while resolving the issue of sugar mills.
The cabinet while considering financial difficulties of Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation, especially the issues being faced by the employees in getting their salaries and pensions, approved a technical supplementary grant of Rs 400 million in order to provide relief to the organisation. The meeting, however, stressed upon the need for chalking out a comprehensive plan to ensure strict financial discipline and enhancement of revenues for the purpose of financially sustainability of the organisation.
The Prime Minister directed that no employee working in the government will be sacked from service. The cabinet approved reconstitution of a Search Committee for appointment to the post of vice-chancellor Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Medical University Islamabad. The committee would be headed by Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari.
The cabinet approved appointment of Ayla Majid, Ghias-Ud-Din Ahmed, and Hamid Ali Khan as independent directors of Central Power Purchasing Agency (Guarantee) Limited. The meeting also approved appointment of Faisal Ahmed, Pharmacist Drug Testing Laboratory Quetta, as Technical Member-I of Drug Court Balochistan, Quetta.
The cabinet approved release of Rs 20 billion in financial year 2018-19 for the fencing and lighting project of Pak-Afghan border. The cabinet ratified the decisions of the ECC taken during its meeting on November 22, 2018 which included grant for disbursement of provident fund, gratuity and payroll due to the heirs of deceased employees of Pakistan Steel Mill, natural gas load management during winter 2018-19 and release of public sector's surplus wheat to poultry association of Pakistan.