ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly was informed Friday that smuggled Iranian oil worth Rs 24 billion has been confiscated this year and all out steps are being taken to check the smuggling which is causing huge losses to the national exchequer.
Answering a question, Parliamentary Secretary for Finance Rana Afzal told the House that new check posts have been established at Sohrab, Rakhni, Sheela Bagh, Gwadar-Pasni Road, Gwadar Zero-point, Khari and Lak to control the smuggling of Iranian oil into Pakistan.
To another question, he said 26 percent shares of PTCL were sold to M/s Etisalat International for 2.598 billion dollars in 2006. The amount paid by the company so far is 1.799 billion dollars and the total outstanding amount against Etisalat is 799.306 million dollars. He said progress is being made to get the unpaid amount from the company.
To a question, Parliamentary Secretary for Finance told the House that the plan to privatize Pakistan Steel Mills Karachi has not been abandoned. He said the financial adviser for privatization of PSM has been appointed in June this year and he is conducting the due diligence of the entity. He said before privatization, restructuring of PIA is being carried out and there is improvement in its services.
He said the percentage share as well as actual transfers is being made to each province from divisible pool as per the recommendations of National Finance Commission Award. He said over 1033 billion rupees have been released to Punjab, over 596 billion rupees to Sindh, over 360 billion rupees to KPK and over 216 billion rupees to Balochistan with effect from January 2014 to June 17, this year. He said new Population Census will provide a data which will help distribution of resources in better way.
Answering a question, Rana Afzal said the government is working hard to broaden the tax net to enhance revenue collection. He said now-a-days the government is in intensive negotiations with traders and business community for this purpose. He said direct taxes have been increased and indirect taxes lowered to some extent during the last two years. He said the government will consider reducing GST after improvement in tax collection.
In a written answer, the National Assembly was informed that loans have so far been sanctioned to 15637 borrowers and disbursement made to 6176 borrowers under Prime Minister’s Youth Business Loan Scheme. The scheme is being implemented by nine commercial banks and major disbursements have so far been made by National Bank and First Women Bank Limited.
To a question, Minister of State for Interior Muhammad Balighur Rehman told the House that the National Database Registration Authority has approved to equip registration centres in US cities of Washington DC, New York, Houston and Los Angles for online processing of requests for issuance of National Identity Cards to Overseas Pakistanis. He said registration centres are also being set up in Malaysia,Bahrain, Canada and Spain for this purpose.
Replying to a question, Balighur Rehman said in total 257433 Pakistanis have been deported from foreign countries since January 2012.
