The government will be unable to utilize donations received in Diamer Basha and Mohmand Dam Fund for other purposes including budgetary support because an exclusive account has been opened for the purpose, sources in the Finance Ministry told Business Recorder. An official of State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on condition of anonymity confirmed that as the apex court has opened en exclusive account for this purpose, the government will be unable to utilize the funds for purposes other than the construction of dams.
The official added that if donations were made into any other account of the government, then it could have used the amount for budgetary support. The SBP has set up an account titled, "Supreme Court of Pakistan - Diamer Bhasha & Mohmand Dams - Fund". The account has been set up to receive donations for the sole purpose of construction of the aforementioned dams (Diamer Bhasha & Mohmand Dams).
Donations can be made at all branches of the SBP, all treasury offices and branches of National Bank of Pakistan as well as other banks including micro-finance banks.
The SBP will communicate the amounts received in its account to the Registrar of the Supreme Court on an hourly basis through its data acquisition portal. Further, the Pakistani Missions abroad as well as all branches of Pakistani banks abroad can receive donations/contributions for the dam fund.
The SBP has also set up a toll free helpline for answering queries as well as receiving complaints from anyone interested in making a donation. An IBAN number has also been allocated to facilitate receipt of online donations/contributions in the Fund through internet banking and ATMs. Those wishing to make donations through credit/debit cards may do so without any extra charge on payments made through such cards if these are issued domestically.
The routing instructions for remittances from abroad shall be displayed on the websites of the apex court as well as the SBP. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is directed to issue appropriate directions to the Pakistani Missions abroad in consultation with the SBP for receiving donations/ contributions and transmission of the amounts received by them to the designated account of the Fund with the SBP, states the order.
Subscribers of cellular mobile phone companies namely Mobilink (Jazz), Telenor, Zong and Ufone wishing to make donations/contributions may dial short code ie 8000 which will result in an automatic deduction of Rs 10. The court held that the amount received by the said companies will be transferred on daily basis to the Fund with the SBP. All four cellular mobile phone companies are displaying on their websites, the amounts received by them which shall be transferred to the Fund account on daily basis. According to the Jazz website Rs 65,000 has so far been donated in the Fund through automatic deduction of Rs 10 by the company.
The apex court also stated that the contributions made to the Fund are to be treated as contributions towards charitable purposes and will not be subject to any tax/duty whatsoever.
The apex court also ruled that the ordinance will also cater for exemption to any income of "Supreme Court of Pakistan - Diamer Bhasha & Mohmand dams - Fund; exemption to the Fund from minimum tax on turnover under Section 113 of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 and withholding tax on payment received by the Fund". Further, all provincial governments and their respective revenue authorities are to provide appropriate exemptions under their respective laws and if necessary issue appropriate ordinances, adding that any person making donations/contributions to the Fund shall not be subjected to any inquiry or probe as to the sources of the funds utilised for making contributions/donations by any department, authority or person.
The systems being put in place on the recommendation of the Governor, SBP, various government departments as well as representatives of the cellular mobile phone companies and other experts shall operate smoothly and seamlessly towards achieving the objective of this national cause. The court directed for listing the instant matter for hearing on July 30.