The government Wednesday introduced "The National Tariff Commission (Amendment), Act, 2012" delegating the powers of commission to any of its two members to carry out the laid down functions of the institution. The Bill was introduced by State Minister for Commerce Abbas Ahmed Afridi. Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi referred the Bill to the concerned standing committee for further deliberation.
According to the Bill, after section 5, the following new section shall be inserted, namely: "5A Manner of disposal of case.- Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, all or any of the powers of Commission under this Act may be delegated to any of the two members of the Commission who shall exercise the powers so delegated and it shall have the same sanctity and shall be binding in the, same manner as if the same is exercised by the Commission. Explanation of new section; For the purposes of this section two members means the Chairman and a member or two members of the Commission".
3. Insertion of section 7A, Act VI of 1990.- In the said Act, after section 7, the following new section shall be inserted, namely:
"7A. Distribution of powers.- Notwithstanding anything contained in section 5, the Chairman may distribute the business of the Commission amongst its members pertaining, to Commission's determinations about initiation,, preliminary or final orders and a decision of the Commission in cases falling within the jurisdiction of the Commission. Such determination or decision shall be considered as decision of the Commission, even if it is signed by any of the two members of the Commission". The National Tariff Commission (NTC) is a Corporate Body established under the NTC Act, 1990 (Section 3). It has been entrusted with the following functions (Section 4):
i. tariff measures or other forms of assistance for:
a. providing protection to the indigenous industry;
b. improving the competitiveness of the indigenous industry; or
c. promoting exports from Pakistan;
ii. measures to counter dumping and other unfair measures adopted in respect of import and sale of foreign goods in Pakistan; and
iii. any other matter relating to protection or assistance to the indigenous industry that the Federal Government may refer to the Commission.