Latest news with #AzamNazeerTarar
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
PM orders third-party validation of reforms
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday directed for third-party validation of ongoing initiatives and reforms in the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) by internationally renowned companies, stressing that the government was determined to lead the country toward a stable economy through institutional reforms. Chairing a review meeting of the FBR affairs, the prime minister noted that institutional reforms were progressing rapidly across all sectors and that all the government institutions were working tirelessly to eliminate corruption and addressing other deficiencies, such as a lack of transparency. "The recent positive economic indicators are clear proof of the correct government policies," the prime minister told the meeting, attended by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, the FBR chairman, and senior officials from the relevant institutions. Expressing satisfaction over the recent performance of the faceless customs assessment system, the prime minister highlighted that reforms such as the faceless customs assessment system were yielding promising results in maintaining transparency. The prime minister received a briefing about the performance of the faceless customs assessment system and progress in the reforms in the Pakistan Revenue Automation Limited (PRAL). Officials said that a simplified digital tax return system for the general public would be implemented soon. The implementation of the faceless customs assessment system has led to an overall increase in revenue and a significant reduction in customs clearance time, while the reform process in the PRAL is progressing rapidly, the meeting was informed. The officials stated that efforts were under way to introduce the digital tax return system in Urdu and other local languages for the convenience of ordinary users. "God willing, we will succeed in our struggle to make Pakistan economically stable," Prime Minister Shehbaz said, after the briefing. (WITH INPUT FROM APP)
Business Recorder
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Whistleblower Protection and Vigilance Commission Bill approved
ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary body on Friday, unanimously, approved the Whistleblower Protection and Vigilance Commission Bill, 2025, paving the way for the creation of an independent body to safeguard individuals who expose corruption and wrongdoing. The Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice, chaired by Senator Farooq Hamid Naek passed the legislation following a detailed briefing from the Ministry of Law and Justice. The bill, presented by Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar, aims to establish a robust legal framework to encourage whistle blowing while ensuring whistleblowers are shielded from reprisals. Officials from the ministry highlighted that although a whistleblower protection law has existed since 2017, it remained largely ineffective due to inadequate enforcement mechanisms. The new bill seeks to address these gaps by forming an autonomous Whistleblower Protection and Vigilance Commission. This body will be responsible for receiving disclosures, ensuring the anonymity of informants, and providing them with legal protection and possible rewards. Senator Naek underscored the importance of institutionalising whistleblower protection as a means to restore public trust and promote transparency within governance structures. According to the bill, whereas, it is expedient to provide for establishment of the Whistleblower Protection and Vigilance Commission in order to facilitate a mechanism for whistleblower information relating to corruption and to protect whistleblowers from disadvantageous measures and to give them rewards for such whistleblower information and for matters connected therewith and ancillary thereto. It says that the headquarters of the Commission shall be at Islamabad and it may establish offices at such other places in Pakistan as it considers necessary. The Commission shall be administratively and functionally independent and the government shall use its best efforts to promote, enhance and maintain the independence of the Commission. The Commission shall consist of at least three members including a chairperson and the government shall have power to increase the number of members from time to time as it may consider appropriate. In addition to the whistleblower bill, the committee also reviewed the Pakistan Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which proposes changes to the current laws on diyat—financial compensation for unintentional homicide. The proposed amendment seeks to standardise the diyat amount at Rs30,600 along with 36 grams of silver. An alternative clause suggests payment in the form of 2,000 grams of gold or one-fourth of the convicted individual's total estate and resources. Committee members voiced serious concerns about the feasibility and legal implications of these amendments, particularly questioning whether the state could or should pay diyat on behalf of convicts. Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar also expressed doubts, warning that the proposed changes could impose an undue financial burden and raise equity issues. The committee decided to consult the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) for guidance and invited the Ministry of Interior to provide its input at the next meeting. The meeting was attended by senators, Shahadat Awan, Zamir Hussain Ghumro, Federal Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, and senior officials from the Ministry of Law and Justice. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
LPG safety bill in limbo for past two years
Listen to article Despite losing hundreds of lives in LPG blasts across the country, the law ministry has been reluctant to clear Ogra's LPG Industry Amendment Bill for the last two years, which envisages strict penalties, including imprisonment. The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) has proposed 10 years of imprisonment along with a Rs10 million fine. Secondly, the regulator has proposed 14 years of imprisonment with Rs15 million fine for those involved in cases of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinder and browser blast. According to LPG industry officials, they have written letters multiple times to the law ministry, but it has not moved to save the lives of people from substandard LPG cylinders and bowsers. Ogra had submitted a draft bill to the law ministry two years ago, but it is still pending with no progress to date. The LPG Distributors Association of Pakistan, in a letter sent to the prime minister, has said that there is no proper legal framework to ensure safety in the LPG industry. Existing laws carry negligible penalties for illegal practices. In the letter, the LPG Association expressed concern over the continued delay in the Ogra amendment bill by the law ministry and demanded that Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar take prompt action on the matter. Incidents are occurring frequently due to the mixing of CO2 in LPG and those involved in this hazardous malpractice are being let off without punishment. The association has urged the Ministry of Law and Justice to present the proposed amendments to the bill in parliament, noting that strict penalties have been recommended for those responsible. If the bill is not tabled soon, the association warned it would be compelled to protest. In a video statement, Association Chairman Irfan Khokhar said that two explosions and four fatalities occur every day due to this issue. He noted that more than 36 letters have been sent to government bodies and the Ministry of Law, highlighting the delay in passing the bill. He cited incidents such as the tragic bowser explosion in DG Khan and the casualties from bowser blasts in Hyderabad last year. Khokhar further stated that in recent days five people lost their lives in an LPG explosion in Lahore. "We respectfully urge the immediate approval and implementation of the pending bill regarding petroleum and explosive materials, with a clear and enforceable ban on the manufacture and sale of substandard LPG cylinders, bowsers and valves across Pakistan. The continued operation of illegal and non-compliant manufacturers has led to frequent explosions, severe injuries and tragic loss of life."
Express Tribune
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
K-P blamed for delay in reserved seat elections
Federal Law Minister Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar told the Senate on Thursday that the case of election on the Senate reserve seats of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa currently in the apex court, has been fixed for hearing next week. The minster said that due to sluggish response of the K-P government, the election process of reserve seats in the Senate got delayed. The minister said that the government reduced power tariff and gave relief of around Rs10 per unit to the public during the last two months. He said that the incumbent regime was taking various steps for the development of the power industry to provide maximum relief to the masses.
Express Tribune
15-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Captive power levy sparks Senate clash
Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and Opposition Leader Shibli Faraz engaged in a heated debate on Thursday over a money bill proposing an "off-the-grid" levy on gas-based captive power plants. The exchange took place after Senator Anusha Rahman, on behalf of the Standing Committee on Finance Chairman Saleem Mandviwalla, presented the committee's report on the Off The Grid (Captive Power Plants) Levy Bill, 2025 in the house. Opposing the bill, Fraz argued that imposing a levy on captive power plants would negatively impact not only industries but also housing societies that depend on them. He warned that the added cost would hurt industrial growth. In response, Law Minister Tarar said that electricity prices had dropped by Rs10 per unit in the past two months. He added that the decision to impose the levy was made after thorough deliberation by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. "Re-negotiation has been carried out with three power plants, and all the things have been discussed in the standing committee," Tarar told Faraz. "I was hoping that the opposition leader would himself attend the committee meetings on the matter," he added. Tarar said that captive power plants earned significant profits over their cost, adding that poor people were also taken into consideration while drafting the policy. Faraz, meanwhile, insisted that with the imposition of the levy, electricity for industries will become expensive. "Unemployment will increase due to the high cost of electricity for industries." He then addressed directly to the minister, saying: "Talk about the captive power plants, instead of my presence in the committee meeting. While presenting the report, Anusha Rehman said that the recommendations on the money bill had been approved unanimously by the standing committee. She said that the Senate's recommendations would also be sent to the National Assembly Secretariat. Earlier, the Senate Committee on Finance met with Anusha Rehman in the chair. During the meeting, Petroleum Secretary Momin Agha told the committee members that the government wanted to transfer captive power plants to the electricity grid. While giving a briefing on the bill, the additional finance secretary said that 70% of captive plants were in Sindh. After a detailed review, the chair ruled that this bill was passed unanimously and recommendations would be sent to the house. Meanwhile, four committee reports were also presented in the Senate. Senator Shahadat Awan, on behalf of Farooq Naek, chairman of Standing Committee on Law and Justice, presented the report on The Civil Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2025. Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training Chairperson Senator Bushra Anjum Butt presented the report on The Nexus International University of Health Emerging Sciences and Technologies, Islamabad Bill, 2025. Minister for Human Rights, Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar laid before the Senate the Annual Reports of the National Commission for Human Rights for the years 2023 and 2024.
