Federal cabinet has granted tax exemptions to services relating to construction industry.

Briefing media in Islamabad on Tuesday, she said tax on services provided by property dealers, real estate agents, property developers and promoters has been reduced from five percent to zero. Besides, tax on services of property developers on low cost housing units to be constructed under Naya Pakistan Housing project has also been reduced to zero percent, she said.

The SAPM said the relief in construction industry will benefit daily wagers, plumbers, carpenters, developers and other stakeholders of this sector. She quoted Prime Minister Imran Khan as saying that stove of labourer's home will start burning if wheel of the industry starts turning.

Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said cabinet has also nodded export of chloroquine tablets to friendly countries to help them in their time of need in wake of the outbreak of COVID-19.

She said Pakistan has around 40 million tablets in stock, more than sufficient for domestic needs, and possesses raw material to make the drug in greater numbers. She said one million chloroquine tablets each will be dispatched to Saudi Arabia and United States, half million each to Turkey and Italy, five million to the United Kingdom, 700,000 to Kazakhstan and 300,000 to Qatar.

The Special Assistant said Prime Minister Imran Khan informed the cabinet that leaders of various countries had called him and expressed a desire to import chloroquine tablets from Pakistan following some encouraging results in treating the coronavirus. She said Pakistan has always been asking these countries for something or the other and for the sake of humanity and to improve Pakistan's credibility and face value, this is a good chance to help them in this time of need.

The cabinet endorsed decisions taken at the Cabinet Committee of Energy regarding amendments in Section VIII of OIL and Gas Regulatory Authority Act 2002 to end gap, while determining regular and semiannual tariff.

It approved restructuring and reforms in the Competition Commission of Pakistan to prevent cartelization against public interest. She said since the PTI has come to power, Prime Minister Imran Khan is determined to make CCP a powerful institution to safeguard public interest.

She said unfortunately, CCP became puppet in the hands of powerful individuals and remained busy to protect influential people instead of protecting interests of the common masses. She said it is need of the hour to restructure and reform CCP, linked with digitalization, for effective implementation of anti-hoarding law in the best interest of the common people.  

The cabinet was informed that so far 27 petitions have been filed against CCP and liabilities of 27 billion rupees have yet not been paid by various stakeholders, including Sugar Mills Association and Flour Mills Association, to the government of Pakistan. 

She said these stakeholders took stay orders from courts against CCP's decisions. He said some decisions have been pending for 11 years over which Prime Minister expressed his strong displeasure and repeated his resolve that any individual or organization will be discouraged to make people of Pakistan hostage. She quoted Prime Minister Imran Khan as saying that the commission will be more empowered to protect common people's interest. She said, taking forward the reform agenda, Prime Minister directed to fill vacant posts in appellate tribunal within one week. She said it was also approved to remove people sticking to a post for years to benefit mills' owners and representatives of various organizations.

The Special Assistant said the cabinet has withdrawn finance ministry's order of 1991, entitling government employees to retain their official residences even if they get retired after completing 30 years of service, till reaching their superannuation age of sixty years and six months beyond that age limit. She said now a uniform housing policy will be adopted under which a government employee can retain his official residence, while remaining in service till the age of sixty years and six months beyond this age limit. 

Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said the cabinet approved reconstitution of National Commission for Minorities, giving more representation to minorities. She said the commission will now comprise two Muslims, two Hindus, three Christians, and one member each from Sikh, Parsi and Kailash communities, while its chairman will also come from minorities. She said Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad and Mufti Gulzar Ahmed Naeemi will represent the Muslim community in the commission.

Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said the cabinet also approved appointing Finance Advisor Dr Abadul Hafeez Shaikh to look after cabinet committee on finance and revenue in order to reduce burden on the Prime Minister as he was looking after it earlier.

She said now Finance Advisor will take care of all matters relating to state owned enterprises before getting final approval from the Prime Minister.

Later, in another media briefing, Planning Minister Asad Umar said that the cabinet has also decided to public a report relating to power projects in Pakistan.

He said an independent Commission of Inquiry will be constituted to probe the issue pertaining to Independent Power Producers, which will finalize its findings in ninety days.

He said any person involved in irregularities and violation of law will be forgiven, but those investors, who invested in the power sector to generate electricity in Pakistan and did not violate any law, will be protected.

Akram/Ijaz/Karrar