The Federal Cabinet has directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to explore the possibilities of imposing fixed tax on brick kilns (Bhattas) and conduct survey of traders across the country through college graduates, official sources told Business Recorder.
These directions were issued by the Cabinet on September 3, 2019 on individual suggestions/ proposals of Cabinet members. According to the Prime Minister's Advisor on Finance and Revenue, with a view to facilitating tax payers, the FBR would soon pay income tax refunds of up to Rs 100,000 pending since 2015. Priority was being given to middle income groups.
Ministry of National Health Services and Regulations has been directed to bring improvement in the services of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and Federal Government Services Hospital (Polyclinic), Islamabad and submit a weekly report to the Prime Minister office in this regard.
Ministry of Finance has been asked to consult NADRA and State Bank of Pakistan to find out alternate ways of biometric verification/registration of senior citizens/ pensioners whose finger prints are not machine readable within 10 days i.e. September 13.
All Ministries/Divisions will ensure that the necessary documentation of retiring employees/pensioners is completed within one week of their retirement. Establishment Division will issue necessary directions in this regard.
The Ministry of Maritime Affairs will brief the Cabinet about the high-rise buildings/ projects planned by the KPT in the next Cabinet meeting (today).
Ministry of Interior has been directed to take immediate stern action against all actors involved in organized crime related to land grabbing, extortion, drug pedaling in Islamabad. Monthly report to that effect will be shared with the PMO.
The Minister for Education will provide year on year comparative statement of the expenditures of Governor Houses to PMO in one week.
The National Heritage Division will submit a proposal to the Cabinet for establishment of Heritage Authority to take proper care of heritage sites/ buildings.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been directed to devise a mechanism, within one week, whereby oversees Pakistani workers could give their feedback on the quality of services provided by the respective Missions.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Overseas Pakistan will disseminate date relating to Pakistani prisoners released by Saudi Arabia and UAE for the information of the public.
Ministry of Information Technology will take lead role for establishment of Special Economic Zone for IT in Islamabad by December 31, 2019.
Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has been directed to explore the idea, in consultation with Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, of engaging college graduates to collect data of traders for tax purposes.
Minister for Religious Affairs informed the Cabinet that his Ministry had focused on the Evacuee Trust Properties Board (ETPB) and recoveries had increased substantially. The Cabinet observed that a large number of properties of ETPB were under illegal occupation and underscored the need for creation of a databank of properties of ETPB and other such organizations. The Cabinet was informed that recent actions of the government had led to substantial recoveries of rent from ETPB lands and properties. The government was also considering alternate usage of these properties for setting up of colleges, universities and hospitals.
Advisor to the Prime Minister on Institutional Reforms, in consultation with Ministry of Religious Affairs, shall give a detailed presentation to the Cabinet on the databank of properties of Evacuee Trust Properties Board (ETPB) with special emphasis to effectively utilize the available land for development projects and resource mobilization.
Petroleum Division has been directed to immediately issue advice to OGRA to make it binding upon Petroleum Marketing Companies (OMCs)/ petrol pump owners to provide mask and gloves to the workers at their petrol pumps to protect them from the hazard of inhaling fumes of petroleum products.
Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation informed the Cabinet that following the labour force survey, the government should consider making it compulsory to pay the domestic workers through bank accounts. The National Bank of Pakistan was ready to facilitate through creation of easy bank accounts. She suggested that construction workers should also be similarly paid through their bank accounts. The measures would in time help in implementing the minimum wage.
Prime Minister's Special Assistant on Human Resource and Overseas Pakistanis will make recommendations to the Cabinet for: (a) eradication of bonded labour in the brick kilns (Bhatta) sector; and (ii) measures to protect rights of domestic workers/ informal sector workers, within a period of one month.
FBR has been directed to explore the possibility of imposing fixed tax on brick kilns (Bhatta).
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