ISLAMABAD: The Senate on Thursday approved 114 recommendations on the Finance Bill 2021 and 180 on the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) which would be forwarded to the National Assembly for consideration.
Chairman, Standing Committee on Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs Senator Muhamad Talha Mehmood presented report on the proposals for making recommendations on the Finance Bill, 2021, containing the annual budget statement. The House adopted 114 recommendations on the Finance Bill, 2021 containing the annual budget statement as reported by the Standing committee on Finance. Speaking on the occasion, he thanked the members of the committee and Minister for Finance and his team while working on the recommendations.
The Senate proposed to increase 20 percent pension and basic pay of the government employees and to increase retirement age to 62 years. It also recommended to enhance minimum wages to Rs. 25000 for the Islamabad Capital Territory. The House recommended to the National Assembly that withholding tax on Health Care Sector should be reduced from 8% to 3 % and GST exemption should be restored upto the extent of edible items which are part and parcel of daily life of the common man of the country.
The Senate also recommended to the National Assembly that Fresh National Finance Commission (NFC) award be announced in terms of the Article 160 of the Constitution. The Upper House also recommended to the National Assembly that indirect taxation should be reduced and no further increase should be made in the Petroleum levy. The Senate also recommended to the National Assembly that sufficient funds be allocated in Fiscal Year 2021-22 for erstwhile FATA/PATA as elaborated in 25th amendment and promised by the federal government to reduce the grievances of the people of the erstwhile FATA/PATA.
The Upper House also recommended that the budget for Health and education sectors should be doubled. The Upper House also recommended that an allocation be made for the provision of interest-free loans to help small farmers with regard to escalating cost of agriculture inputs including seeds.The House also recommended that an allocation be made for a special pay package and training in public health care for paramedical staff and nurses performing their services during COVID19 pandemic.
The Senate recommended that Higher Education Institutions should be funded additionally so that they may equip themselves with latest IT and LMS system for teaching online classes in any discipline. The Upper House recommended that young entrepreneurs aged 18-25 may be given more incentives in terms of taxes and bank loans for setting up manufacturing units.
Furthermore, the Senate recommended that GST should be reduced to 8.5 % from 17 %. The House recommended that to restore zero rating on Milk and fortified dairy based nutritious powder and restoration of previous sales tax of 10 % on value added dairy based products. The Senate recommended that the raw materials required for local manufacturing of Welding Electrode Products must also be included in the 5th schedule. The Upper House recommended that to facilitate construction industry, contractors may be allowed to make payments in cash to the supplies of material and labour.
Chairman Senate Muhammad Sadiq Sanjran felicitated and lauded the efforts of Senate Standing Committee on Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs. Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Yousaf Raza Gillani also appreciated and thanked Senate Standing Committee on Finance committee for tremendous work on the recommendations. Leader of the House in the Senate Dr. Shahzad Waseem also congratulated Senate Finance Committee for proposal making recommendations on the Finance Bill, 2021.
He said that tax thieves have no place in the country. Opposition Leader in the Senate raised the issue that the Senate budget proceedings were not live broadcast. He demanded to broadcast the proceedings following which the Chairman Senate directed Secretary Senate to write to PTV and ask that why Senate proceedings were not broadcast live.
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