PM decides to remove top CCP officials over corrupt practices: Awan

• Firdous says hoarders will be given jail sentence of up to three years in addition to a fine amounting to the value of 50 per cent of the hoarded items.
• PM has also decided to constitute an inquiry commission on power sector: Special assistant.
• Awan says the cabinet has decided to waive off various taxes on services relating to construction industry.

(Karachi) Special Assistant to Prime Minister for Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan said that the prime minister has decided to remove top officials of the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) for their involvement in corrupt practices.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Tuesday, Awan said that the commission will be revived and restructured for better performance.

She highlighted the prime minister has directed that those people who are on senior positions in the CCP and has been "match-fixing" by helping mill owners be removed from their positions.

She pointed out that the PM has also decided to constitute an inquiry commission on power sector.

She said according to ordinance related to hoarding and smuggling, hoarders will be given jail sentence of up to three years in addition to a fine amounting to the value of 50 per cent of the hoarded items. She said all the confiscated items will also be seized by the government.

She maintained that any member of the public who reports the crime will be given 10 percent of the fine collected by the government.

Awan said the cabinet has decided to waive off various taxes on services relating to construction industry. "Five percent tax on various services of the construction industry has been reduced from five percent to zero."

She said tax on low cost housing units to be constructed under Naya Pakistan Housing Project has also been made zero rated.

The special assistant said that the cabinet also decided to send one million chloroquine tablets to Saudi Arabia and United States each. Besides, she said 500,000 tablets will be sent to Turkey and Italy, five million to the United Kingdom, 700,000 to Kazakhstan and 300,000 to Qatar following some encouraging results in treating the coronavirus.