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Express Tribune
23-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Govt to wind up idle depts in budget
Listen to article Days before the presentation of the federal budget, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has instructed ministries to identify redundant government organisations that can be wound up in the budget to save money and to also sort out the issue of power sector subsidies. Government sources told The Express Tribune that after taking a briefing on the new budget, the prime minister constituted about half-a-dozen committees to address major pending issues. The committees have been constituted 10 days before the presentation of the budget in the National Assembly. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb is scheduled to present the budget on June 2 in the National Assembly. The prime minister asked him to sort out all pending issues by Saturday. The sources said that the ongoing discussions with the International Monetary Fund are expected to conclude today with the most crucial meeting between the IMF, the Federal Board of Revenue and the finance ministry. They said that the FBR remained the thorny issue in the talks and a couple of meetings were also tense in which the IMF staff questioned the credibility of the commitments given by the FBR at the time of the staff level discussions in March. The sources said that after the briefing on the budget, the prime minister decided to constitute the committees to resolve the pending issues. He set the deadlines till May 24 for the ministries aimed at concluding the budget exercise in time. The sources said that the prime minister has instructed all the ministries to review the pink book to identify redundant and dysfunctional organizations and recommended winding up as part of the government's downsizing and cost-cutting agenda. The deadline is May 24th. The prime minister had constituted a cabinet committee on reducing the size of the government, which undertook the exercise in five different phases. However, the results remained below the government's own expectations. The federal rightsizing committee is now expected to complete the review of the purpose and rationale of various state-owned enterprises, which will be completed by end-December 2025. In a briefing to the Senate Standing Committee on Finance last month, the Cabinet Division stated that the drive to reduce government expenditures by abolishing posts would save Rs36 billion annually. It further informed that one-fifth of the savings were ensured by cutting the lowest pay grade-1 posts of gardeners, sweepers and peons. About 40,000 positions have already been either abolished or declared dying positions in the public sector. Out of these 11,558 positions that were either abolished or declared dying belonged to Pakistan's lowest pay scale 1. This is equal to 29% of the total positions that are being abolished. The average salary of pay scale one is Rs42,888 and peons, gardeners and sweepers are recruited in this scale. The committee was informed that abolishing all these nearly 40,000 positions would save annually Rs36.3 billion. But 19% or Rs7 billion savings were against the lowest pay scale 1. The PM also instructed the Finance Minister to submit contours of key budget initiatives and priorities that will form the narrative component of the Budget Speech. The instructions have also been issued to the media publicity wing of the government and the ministry to ensure favourable narrative, the sources added. In an important development, the PM also instructed the Planning Minister and the Finance Minister to hold consultative meetings with relevant ministries to deliberate on proposed plans, projects, and initiatives for the fiscal year 202526. The committee has been tasked to finish the job by today (Friday) and ensure that only those projects are added in the Public Sector Development Programme that can be fully funded in the midst of scarcity of the resources. The sources said that the Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar is expected to chair a meeting today (Friday) to finalize the next year's PSDP. The development budget size remains uncertain, as the Planning Ministry and the coalition partners have termed the Rs921 billion proposed size insufficient. The sources said that the PM asked the concerned party that the agreed-upon proposals, along with a summary of key initiatives from all important ministries, should be submitted for his consideration. The sources said that one of the outstanding issues is how much money should be allocated for discretionary spending under the parliamentarians programme. The original allocation for this fiscal year was roughly Rs50 billion but the chances are the spending will be higher than this, contrary to cuts against other ministries. For the next fiscal year, the government is facing pressure to allocate a larger pie for these schemes, known as SDGs Achievement Programme. Ishaq Dar on Thursday chaired the 45th meeting of the Steering Committee on SDGs Achievement Programme (SAP). Dar stressed the importance of involving local communities in identifying basic development infrastructure projects. He emphasized the Government's resolve to ensure that resources are utilized in the best interest of Pakistan's citizens, aligning them with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It was decided that unallocated funds will be surrendered while the implementing agencies were directed to utilize the allocated funds efficiently and responsibly. However, the unspent money is hardly Rs2 billion, said the sources. The PM has also asked the Finance and Power ministries to sort out the issue of the quantum of power subsidies. A meeting between both the ministries took place on Thursday but the issue remained unresolved, said a senior ministry official. The government has allocated Rs1.04 trillion for power subsidies for the next fiscal year, which is equal to 0.8% of the GDP. The sources said that the Power Division was asking for roughly Rs180 billion more on account of share from the petroleum levy. Shehbaz Sharif had increased the levy rate by Rs10 per liter to reduce the cost of electricity by Rs1.71 per unit. The PM instructed that the Power Division and Finance Division should further fine-tune the proposal regarding allocation of Petroleum Development Levy (PDL) for providing tariff subsidies, said the sources. The PM asked the Petroleum Division to take lead and sort out the issue of input tax adjustments of the refineries. The Petroleum Division has been asked to sort out the issue in consultation with the Finance Division and Revenue Division by Saturday.
India Gazette
22-05-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
AP: Jagan accuses CM Naidu of financial mismanagement, targets 'yellow media' for bias
Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh) [India], May 22 (ANI): Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and YSRCP president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the current TDP-led government in the State, accusing Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu of failing to deliver on pre-election promises and engaging in financial mismanagement. The former chief minister also took aim at what he called the 'yellow media' for biased reporting in favour of the ruling party. 'I am not only fighting against Chandrababu Naidu but also against the 'yellow media',' Reddy said in a press conference. 'Before the elections, Naidu promised development, welfare, and income generation. He even claimed that Andhra Pradesh was turned into Sri Lanka during my regime. But now, let us examine what he has actually done in the last 11 months. He did not implement welfare schemes to the beneficiaries,' he added. He claimed that his government successfully managed the state even during the unexpected COVID-19 pandemic. 'Despite the crisis, both investments and GDP increased during that time and throughout our (YSRCP) tenure,' the YSRCP chief said. He said that in just 11 months, the state's revenue saw a growth rate of 3.08%. This is an important figure the public should be aware of, he said. 'The gross tax and non-tax revenues of the central government in FY 2024-25 (up to February 2025) amounted to Rs36,97,545 crore. In FY 2023-24 (up to February 2024), it was Rs32,50,181 crore. This reflects a total growth rate of 13.76% at the central level,' he said. Reddy said that under the coalition government led by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, additional borrowings of Rs30,100 crore were made. 'Capital expenditure declined by 17.80%, and most of the budgetary expenditure is being funnelled into the pockets of CM Chandrababu Naidu's associates,' he said. 'During the YSRCP government, even when accounting for all forms of liabilities, the total increase amounted to Rs3,32,671 crore over five years. In comparison, the liabilities in just the first year of the TDP government have risen by Rs1,37,546 crore, which is 41% of the total borrowings made during the entire five-year YSRCP term,' he added. He said that borrowings secured specifically for Amaravati amount to Rs3,10,000 crore. 'Chandrababu Naidu has been involved in a financial deal amounting to Rs11,000 crore with Access Energy India Pvt. Ltd. This agreement is for 400 megawatts of power at an annual cost of Rs210 crore, with a tariff of Rs4.60 per kWh,' he alleged. The YSRCP chief said that on 31st July 2024, SECI (Solar Energy Corporation of India) invited tenders for the procurement of power with an assured four-hour daily supply during peak hours. The tariff discovered and the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) executed were at Rs3.53 per kWh. 'During our (YSRCP) regime, the Andhra Pradesh Government executed a Power Supply Agreement (PSA) with SECI for power supply at Rs2.49 per kWh, with a complete ISTS (Inter-State Transmission System) waiver,' he said. (ANI)
Hans India
20-05-2025
- Business
- Hans India
SC blow to telecom operators on AGR waiver
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed petitions filed by telecom operators Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea (Vi) and Tata Teleservices, seeking waiver of interest and penalties in their adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues, terming the petitions 'misconceived.' The ruling came as the government earlier rejected debt-ridden Vodafone Idea Ltd's plea for fresh relief on its AGR dues, according to reliable sources. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT), in a letter dated April 29, said the request for further concessions on AGR liabilities 'can't be considered' due to the Supreme Court's verdict announced in the case in 2020. The apex court ruling fixed a 10-year timeline for telcos to clear dues. Vodafone Idea had sought a waiver of over Rs45,000 crore in AGR-related liabilities to ensure its survival. Bharti Airtel, along with its unit Bharti Hexacom, requested a waiver of Rs34,745 crore in dues related to interest and penalties. Meanwhile, DoT pointed out that Vodafone Idea has already sought and received partial support when the government converted spectrum-related dues worth Rs36,950 crore into equity, increasing its stake in the company to 49 per cent. The government had earlier requested the court to extend the repayment window to 20 years, but the plea was turned down. Vodafone Idea has been fighting a losing court battle over the definition and calculation of AGR, which began with a 2019 ruling. Telecom companies challenged the calculations, citing arithmetic errors, but the Supreme Court rejected the claims. Vodafone Idea filed a curative petition in July 2024, which was also turned down in September 2024.
Express Tribune
12-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
600k wheat farmers offered Rs5,000 per acre
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has approved the issuance of a wheat support price of Rs5,000 per acre to 600,000 farmers through the Kissan Card. The farmers who do not have the Kissan Card will also be granted subsidy worth Rs5,000 per acre. Presiding over a meeting, the chief minister said subsidy of billions of rupees would be given to the farmers for the next crop as well. The participants of the meeting were informed that the farmers have utilised Rs36 billion to purchase agricultural inputs and disbursement of 60 per cent of the loans being issued for the purpose through the Kissan Card had been completed. The farmers have repaid loans amounting to Rs22 billion obtained through the card. The second installment of financial support has been issued to the farmers for the new crop through the Kissan Card. The participants were informed that 50 per cent of the applications received for the wheat support programme had been verified. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz reviewed a solarisation scheme for agricultural tube wells. Proposals for the implementation of the wheat support programme were also reviewed. A proposal to include contractors along with agricultural land owners in the scheme was also reviewed in the meeting. Health projects Chairing a meeting of the health and population department, the chief minister sought a plan for providing blood to patients across Punjab as per international standards. She approved in principle a proposal to establish a thalassemia centre in each division. The centres will also be set up in 21 district and 15 tehsil headquarters hospitals. The chief minister took a decision to implement a most effective central monitoring system for streamlining the health department in the province. She ordered completion of the revamping of hospitals at the earliest. The revamp of 800 health centres should be completed by June 20, she said. The CM directed the authorities concerned to establish an effective monitoring system for cleanliness and security services in the district and tehsil hospitals across Punjab. The proposed projects of ten department for the next financial year were reviewed in detail in the meeting. As many as 71 projects of Maryam Nawaz Health Clinics and 75 of the Population Management and Family Planning Programme were also reviewed. Projects for the rehabilitation of dispensaries, provision of equipment and furniture were presented. A project for the production of oxygen and other essential gases in the province has been prepared. A proposal to establish trauma centres equipped with the latest equipment in hospitals across Punjab was unanimously agreed. The chief minister emphasised the need to hire trained staff to operate the medical machinery in government hospitals. Chief Minister Mayram Nawaz also said In her message on the International Nurses Day, "The Punjab government is determined to ensure the dignity, respect and professional development of nurses in all government hospitals across Punjab." She added, "The Punjab government is developing the nursing sector on modern lines. Language courses are also being conducted and all possible steps are being taken for the uplift of the nursing sector in Punjab."
Business Recorder
04-05-2025
- General
- Business Recorder
Punjab CM launches ‘Apni Zameen, Apna Ghar' programme
LAHORE: 'As many as 300 more houses are being built every day in Punjab for the homeless people,' said Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif while formally inaugurating e-portal of 'Apni Zameen, Apna Ghar' Programme by pressing a button. The CM added, 'People can apply for free plots on the e-portal: She highlighted, '2000 plots will be given in 23 housing schemes in 19 districts across Punjab.' The Chief Minister said, 'Under 'Apni Zameen, Apna Ghar' Programme, homeless people will be given free 03 marla plots. Those who get plots in the draw under this programme will also get loans to construct their houses. In Phase-I of the programme free plots will be given in Jhelum, Pattoki, Mamun Kanjan, Lodhran and Renala Khurd.' 'Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar' Program: New records set for constructing houses in short span The Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said, 'Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar' programme is very close to my heart. Providing shelter to homeless people is the vision of Quaid Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, who gets very much pleased when listening about completion of houses for the homeless people.' She said, 'In a short period of 06 months, approximately 34000 houses are being built, 2000 have already been completed. These are not 34000 houses but prayers.' She flagged, 'I congratulate all those who built houses under 'Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar' programme. This programme is the easiest and 03-month grace parade has also been set for the construction of houses. Repayment of loans has also started in instalments.' She lamented, 'There are people across Punjab who do not have land to build houses. Initially, 2000 people will get free plots, for which they can apply on The Chief Minister said, 'Until today, governments have not been able to build 34000 houses even during their full tenures.' She added, 'Feeling of security comes with your own house, but unfortunately it is very difficult for a common man to easily manage a house. Under the programme, plot owners from 01 to 10 marla can apply for a loan to build their own houses.' Provincial Minister Housing Bilal Yasin explained the details of 'Apni Zameen, Apna Ghar' project. He said, 'Rs36 billion loan is being provided to build houses for 33500 people under 'Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar' Programme. People of Punjab are grateful to Chief Minister for the launch of 'Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar' Programme.' Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
