Servants (Amendment) Bill 2025 passed in Senate
Already passed by the National Assembly, the bill now seeks the final yet ceremonial assent of President Asif Ali Zardari to become a law.
Law Minister Azam Tarar presented the bill in the Senate session, presided over by Chairman Yousaf Raza Gilani on Thursday, following its passage by the standing committee concerned, earlier this month.
The Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill, 2025 seeks to amend the Civil Servants Act, 1973 with the insertion of new Section 15-A.
This section provides that the declaration of assets of civil servants of basic scale (BS) 17 and above, their spouses and dependent children, including domestic and foreign assets and liabilities (if any), shall be digitally filed with the FBR, and same shall be publicly available— 'Provided that the extent of disclosure, under this section, shall give due regard to the balance between public interest for good governance and individual privacy and security.'
The Statement of Objects and Reasons of the bill reads: To further operationalise the Government Servants (Conduct) Rules, 1964— and consistent with the Right to Information Act of 2017, to 'ensure that asset declarations of high-level public officials (BPS 17 - 22) (Including domestic and foreign assets beneficially owned by them or a member of their family) will be digitally filed and publicly accessible (with sufficient safeguards over data protection and privacy of personal information such as ID numbers, residential addresses, bank account or bond numbers) through the FBR with a robust framework, resources and tools for the Establishment Division to conduct risk-based verification.'
Speaking on the floor of the House, Tarar, the Law Minister, said, the civil servants of BS-17 to 22 would have to declare their assets and those of their spouses and dependent children 'just like politicians declare their assets and those of their family members.'
New bills; Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2025, were moved in the House and referred to the relevant standing committees.
Meanwhile, the Senate continued discussion on the proposed federal budget for the upcoming financial year 2025-26.
Speaking on the occasion, Husna Bano from Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) demanded complete withdrawal of taxes on solar panels.
Another PPP Senator Aslam Abro demanded withdrawal of proposed carbon levy on vehicles.
Different senators from other political parties also shared their views on the proposed federal budget. The Senate was adjourned till today (Friday).
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
2 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Aurangzeb vows to close tax loopholes, boost investor confidence
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb is interviewed during the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors' Meeting at the IMF and World Bank's 2024 annual Spring Meetings in Washington. PHOTO: REUTERS Listen to article Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Wednesday pledged to close tax loopholes, enhance investor confidence, and maintain economic reforms, as he addressed the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Independence Day event. Aurangzeb said international institutions had welcomed Pakistan's reform measures, while recent Gallup surveys showed rising economic confidence. He noted a 60% growth in the stock exchange, an increase in new investors, and 250,000 new company registrations. Aurangzeb suggested the key policy rate could be cut further this year, citing falls in average and core inflation. Earlier in May, governor SBP, in a press conference along with other Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) members, announced a 100 bps cut, highlighting an improved inflation outlook and signs of moderate economic recovery. Beating the market expectations of a 0-50bps cut, the central bank reduced the policy rate by 100bps to 11% in a meeting," wrote Topline Securities. "We expect interest rates to come down to 10% by Dec 2025." Read: Policy rate slashed to 11% The minister said the government had finalised economic growth-focused agreements with the IMF, reached a favourable tariff deal with the United States, and was working on key accords with China. Panda bonds would be issued by year-end, and a benchmark for Sukuk bonds had been set, the finance czar. Aurangzeb further highlighted ongoing rightsising of 45 ministries, accelerated privatisation of state enterprises, and reductions in electricity tariffs, with further energy cost improvements expected. He assured that taxation reforms would not burden the salaried class and that the prime minister was personally overseeing FBR's transformation. Monthly meetings with chambers would be held to address business concerns. Read more: PM approves creation of digital ecosystem at FBR Calling for unity, Aurangzeb said the private sector must lead economic growth, with the government's role being to provide a favourable business climate.
Business Recorder
4 hours ago
- Business Recorder
New Zealand prime minister says Israel's Netanyahu has ‘lost the plot'
New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said on Wednesday that Israel's leader Benjamin Netanyahu had 'lost the plot' as the country weighs up whether to recognise a Palestinian state. Luxon told reporters that the lack of humanitarian assistance, the forceful displacement of people and the annexation of Gaza were utterly appalling and that Netanyahu had gone way too far. 'I think he has lost the plot,' added Luxon, who heads the centre-right coalition government. 'What we are seeing overnight, the attack on Gaza City, is utterly, utterly unacceptable.' Luxon said earlier this week New Zealand was considering whether to recognise a Palestinian state. Close ally Australia on Monday joined Canada, the UK and France in announcing it would do so at a UN conference in September. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached 'unimaginable levels', Britain, Canada, Australia and several of their European allies said on Tuesday, calling on Israel to allow unrestricted aid into the war-torn Palestinian enclave. Israel has denied responsibility for hunger spreading in Gaza, accusing Hamas militants of stealing aid shipments, which Hamas denies. Ahead of Wednesday's parliamentary session, a small number of protesters gathered outside the country's parliament buildings, beating pots and pans. Local media organisation Stuff reported protesters chanted 'MPs grow a spine, recognise Palestine.' On Tuesday, Greens parliamentarian Chloe Swarbrick was removed from parliament's debating chamber after she refused to apologise for a comment insinuating government politicians were spineless for not supporting a bill to 'sanction Israel for its war crimes.' Swarbrick was ordered to leave the debating chamber for a second day on Wednesday after she again refused to apologise. When she refused to leave, the government voted to suspend her. 'Sixty-eight members of this House were accused of being spineless,' House speaker Gerry Brownlee said. 'There has never been a time where personal insults like that delivered inside a speech were accepted by this House and I'm not going to start accepting it.' As Swarbrick left, she called out 'free Palestine.' Reuters
Express Tribune
7 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Sindh unveils SEPRA plan for cheaper power
Listen to article Sindh Minister for Energy, Planning and Development Syed Nasir Hussain Shah has said affordable electricity for businesses and the public is the vision of President Asif Ali Zardari and Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, backed by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah. Speaking at the "Multi-Stakeholders Conference on Competitive Electric Market in Pakistan," he said the Sindh Transmission and Dispatch Company (STDC) and the Sindh Electric Power Regulatory Authority (SEPRA) will ensure cheaper electricity than K-Electric (KE). Power will be generated in Sindh, transmitted through STDC, and priced by the Sindh government instead of the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA). SEPRA's staff has been hired, and its notification will be issued this month. The first supply will target the K-IV project grid, with a focus on economic zones. He said hybrid parks will help reduce tariffs and that Sindh is adopting global models to resolve energy issues. High capacity charges of Independent Power Producers (IPPs) can be tackled by expanding industries. Several IPP deals have been reviewed, bringing relief to consumers. Shah also noted Sindh has no representation on KE's board and has asked the federal government to allow two provincial representatives. The province has signed an agreement with KE for solar power supply and urged the utility to avoid expensive fuel-based electricity when solar is available. The conference, organised by Renewables First and the Pakistan Business Forum (PBF), aimed to shift from the monopolistic single-buyer model to a competitive market. Speakers stressed the Competitive Trading Bilateral Contracts Market (CTBCM), approved by the ECC and NEPRA decades ago but not operational, is key to affordable electricity.
