MNAs endorse adoption of Senate recommendations

ISLAMABAD: Members of the National Assembly on Saturday urged the government to incorporate key Senate recommendations into the Finance Bill during debate on the upper house’s proposals, with speakers focusing on inflation relief, taxation, energy reforms, disaster preparedness and education funding.

Aliya Kamran said the government should seriously consider the Senate’s recommendations, particularly measures intended to reduce the burden on the public. She supported cutting the advance tax on telecom services under Section 236 of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001, from 15 per cent to 8 per cent, saying the move would help mobile and internet users and widen digital access for education, business and employment.

She also endorsed lower general sales tax on essential goods such as food, medicines, educational materials and agricultural inputs, saying reduced taxation on these items would lessen pressure on low-income households. On the energy front, she backed targeted electricity subsidies for low-consumption consumers, reforms to address capacity payments and circular debt, and a cap on the petroleum levy along with greater transparency in how it is collected and used.

Kamran further said Balochistan needed special attention in both development allocations and implementation of projects.

Concerns over constitutional role and youth funding

Umair Khan Niazi said the Senate’s role in financial legislation had been reduced largely to a symbolic one under Article 73 of the Constitution, arguing that this had weakened provincial autonomy. He also highlighted what he described as contradictions in budget priorities.

According to Niazi, funding had been withdrawn from youth programmes while projects such as the prime minister’s e-sports arena continued to receive support. He called for a more coherent and consistent policy for the country’s youth.

Taxation, disaster management and universities

Former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser objected to the proposed nine per cent tax on tobacco crops, saying the burden would fall on farmers rather than manufacturers. He said taxes should instead be imposed on finished tobacco products, while adding that he supported higher taxation on cigarettes.

PTI Chairman and MNA Gohar Ali Khan stressed the importance of setting up a permanent and adequately financed disaster management system. He called for a dedicated disaster risk fund supported jointly by the federal and provincial governments, saying recent floods had revealed major shortcomings in preparedness at the district level and showed that the country’s response system remained largely reactive.

MNA Ayesha Nazir called for effective implementation of the Senate’s recommendations relating to education, research and the economy. She supported better pension arrangements for public universities, increased research funding, support for innovation and measures aimed at retaining skilled professionals.