Islamabad, March 27, 2023 (PPI-OT): The National Assembly, which met at Parliament House in Islamabad on Monday with Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf in the chair, was informed that the government is making hectic efforts to provide relief to the common man keeping in view the current inflationary trends. Responding to the queries of the members during Question Hour in the House today, Minister of State for Finance Aisha Ghaus Pasha said we have enhanced the stipends under Benazir Income Support Program to support the deserving families.
She said, Ramadan package has also been given to provide essential commodities to the people at reduced rates. She said the government is also planning to provide targeted subsidy on petroleum products. The Minister of State said it is our effort to bring down the inflation which has both domestic and international factors. She said we need the cooperation of the provinces to check the price hike.
Aisha Ghaus Pasha said the government is also giving priority to the tax revenue mobilization in view of the current economic challenges and to reduce deficits. She said a committee has been formed to expedite tax cases pending in different courts. Responding to a question, the Minister of State said the government is committed to an interest-free economy. She said a committee has been constituted and deliberations are underway to prepare a transformational plan in this regard.
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Javed Abbassi told the House that National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has received data of the houses destroyed in recent floods from the three provinces, while data from two federating units is still awaited.
He said minimum compensation for fully damaged houses has been revised up to five hundred thousand rupees and for partially damaged houses, it has been fixed at two hundred and fifty thousand rupees. Responding to a Calling Attention Notice, Minister of State for Interior Abdul Rehman Khan Kanju said FIA is taking steps to check human trafficking with the cooperation of international organizations.
He said the capacity building of the relevant departments is also being done to deal with this menace. Meanwhile, the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Amendment Bill, 2023 and the Press, Newspapers, News Agencies and Books Registration Amendment Bill, 2023 were also laid before the House.
These were laid by Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Javed Abbassi. At the outset, newly elected MNA Muhammad Mohsin Leghari took oath of his office. Speaker National Assembly Raja Pervaiz Ashraf administered the oath to him.
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