Business

SIFC approves FBR overhaul, subsidy phase-out

Published

6 months ago

Farwa

Special committee formed on FBR restructuring.
PRAL restructuring with Nadra also gets a green light.
CMs asked to launch crackdown against fertilizer hoarding.

ISLAMABAD: The Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) jointly run by the civilian and military top brass has approved a plan for the FBR, PRAL restructuring with the Nadra and the introduction of a simplified scheme for retailers within a 15-day period.

The SIFC’s Apex Committee also considered a proposal of the Finance Division and granted its assent that the federal government may stop subsidy on fertilizer, agriculture tube-wells and expenditure on provincial public sector universities from the next financial year (FY) 2024-25. The committee met under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar recently and top official sources disclosed that Minister of Finance Dr Shamshad Akhtar proposed a new governance structure for the FBR to establish separate Federal Board of Customs and Federal Board of Inland Revenue and appointment of DGs from respective cadres as their heads.

It has been decided that the separate Oversight Boards for Customs and Inland Revenue Administrations to be chaired by independent high-caliber professionals and members of the board will include public and private sector representation which will be nominated based on proper criteria and right expertise and integrity.

The focus of reforms will be on strengthening governance with accountability through oversight boards. The reconstitution of the Federal Policy Board under the minister for Finance with the secretary Revenue Division will report to the Federal Policy Board with a new policy mandate. The Tax Policy Office will be constituted with HR having right expertise including taxation and industry professionals under the Federal Policy Board which will look after harmonization of assets valuation modalities and legal and regulatory framework of taxation regimes and promote revenue and policy coordination. The proposed reforms will be implemented within existing allocation of resources of the FBR. The Governor SBP advised that the audit function of the FBC and the FBIR would be placed under the Tax Policy Unit (TPU) for ensuring independence.

The Apex Committee in principle approved the proposed implementation of the plan for restructuring the FBR, constituting a special committee led by the Finance minister and including the cabinet secretary, Establishment, the secretary Finance, Law, Revenue and the secretary/chairman FBR which would conduct inter-ministerial consultation as required by the Rules of Business and a summary to the cabinet will be moved within two weeks for approval.

The PRAL restructuring with the Nadra also got a green light to conduct PRAL restructuring and rightsizing with focus on technical HR, Broadening to Tax Base (BTB), IT integration and transformation including data analysts and Artificial Intelligence for BTB and developing of Mathematical Models. The reorganization of the IT Wing will also be done.

Chief of Army Staff Gen Asim Munir has asked the chief ministers and chief secretaries of all provinces to initiate a nationwide crackdown and take strict action against those individuals engaged in hoarding of fertilizers (urea) to sell it at a higher rate to farmers, unethically expanding the dealer margins. He said fertilizer wholesalers and retailers must ensure transparency of operations for facilitating farmers across the country.

Business

An investigation was “launched” into PTA’s inability to get Rs. 78 billion back from Telcos

Published

14 hours ago

Farwa

The PTA has reportedly been instructed to reply to NAB by July 29. According to the enquiry, the national exchequer has suffered losses as a result of the delay in collecting dues.

The PTA has been asked to provide NAB with information about any pertinent records, court proceedings, and overdue bills. The NAB Karachi has summoned the PTA officials to appear with all pertinent documentation.

All of the principle sum has to be paid by the LDI firms, according to sources. But due to judicial stay orders, the collection of dues has been impeded.

These sources further state that a steering group has been established by the Ministry of IT to supervise the issue of dues recovery.

In a previous event, the tariffs levied on importing cell phones from outside were clarified by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).

Contrary to what some internet reports claim, PTA clarified in response to recent news regarding the tariffs on mobile phone imports that there hasn’t been a formal decision to remove these levies in Pakistan.

the PTA.Pakistanis living abroad will be the only ones free from these levies, according to the PTA. A SIM card can be inserted and the phone restarted to temporarily register a device for non-PTA mobile subscribers.

Business

Weekly inflation in Pakistan increased by 0.17 percent.

Published

14 hours ago

Farwa

The SPI for the week under review in the aforementioned group was reported at 321.95 points, as opposed to 321.40 points during the previous week, according to the PBS statistics.

The SPI for the combined consumption group saw a 20.09 percent increase in the week under review compared to the same week the previous year.

The weekly SPI includes 51 necessary items for every spending group and 17 urban areas, with a base year of 2015–16 = 100.

The SPI for the lowest consumption category, which is up to Rs 17,732, grew by 0.08 percent from 311.97 points to 312.22 points this past week.

0.18 percent,The index of consumption for the lowest consumption groups, which are Rs 17,732-22,888, Rs 22,889-29,517, Rs 29,518-44,175 and above Rs 44,175; increased by 0.13 percent, 0.15 percent, 0.18 and 0.19 percent, respectively.

Nineteen (37.25%) of the fifty-one commodities had price increases over the week, eight (15.69%) had price decreases, and twenty-four (47.06%) had unchanged pricing.

On a weekly basis, the following commodities saw significant price decreases: tomatoes (9.19%), onions (2.14%), LPG (1.04%), bananas (0.53%), wheat flour (0.35%), potatoes (0.17%), pulse masoor (0.16%), and bread (0.05%).

Chicken (4.80%), garlic (2.01%), pulse gramme (1.87%), eggs (1.71%), beef (0.93%), gur (0.89%), pulse moong (0.84%), fresh milk (0.45%), firewood (0.23%), and cigarettes (0.12%) were among the items whose average prices increased significantly week over week.

The commodities that saw a year-over-year decline were: wheat flour (31.75%); cooking oil (13.44%); vegetable ghee 2.5 kg (10.42%); vegetable ghee 1 kg (9.85%); mustard oil (8.33%); eggs (5.82%); rice basmati broken (4.15%); and tea package (2.52%).

Gas prices for Q1 (570.00%), onions (96.01%), pulse gramme (40.39%), powered milk (39.11%), garlic (34.61%), pulse moong (29.77%), men’s sandals (25.01%), beef (23.52%), salt powder (23.28%), pulse mash (22.50%), and energy saver (17.96%) were among the commodities whose average prices increased year over year.

Business

The price of gold has drastically dropped in Pakistan.

Published

2 days ago

Farwa

As per the All-Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA), the cost of 24-karat gold per tola decreased by Rs 2,300, standing at Rs 250,500.

A kilogramme of 24-karat gold costing Rs1,972 less at the local market, making it worth Rs2114,763. Ten grammes of 22-karat gold had a price decrease to Rs196,866 as well.

After losing a significant $43 during the day, the rate per ounce of gold on the international market also decreased. It currently stands at $2,370.

On Thursday, the price of 24-karat silver also experienced a decline, falling by Rs60 to settle at Rs2,860 petal.