ISLAMABAD: On Monday, the National Assembly extended the Tax Code (Amendment) VI 2021, which is due to expire on June 11th.
The House adopted a resolution to extend the regulation for a further period of 120 days, subject to Article 89 (2) (a) (2) (a) of the Constitution.
The regulation aims, in line with its objectives, to intensify efforts to achieve economic stability and ensure swift implementation of tax policy, innovation and documentation of the economy, encouraging foreign investment in the local debt market, eliminating anomalies and mitigating the real impact provides for the needs of taxpayers. The aim is to digitally connect non-resident Pakistanis with banking channels in Pakistan and give them the opportunity to invest in financial instruments, government securities, stock exchanges and real estate.
Government says civilian, military leadership on one side over Kashmir, Palestine
PML-N lawmaker Ahsan Iqbal, who opposed the extension, noted that Article 73 stipulates that a monetary bill should come from the National Assembly. According to him, the NA spokesperson said he would seek a legal opinion on the matter.
Mr Iqbal said the government had made significant changes to the 2001 Income Tax Act, 1990 Sales Tax Act, 1969 Customs Act and 2009 Federal Excise Tax Act through ordinances, and many facilities were being withdrawn. It is estimated, he added, that the government imposed taxes of 700 billion rupees through these regulations.
He said the powers conferred on the president to enact Rule 89 ordinances apply only when parliament is not in session or when there is an emergency in the country. Citing an example, he said an ordinance was issued between two sessions of the House when there was no emergency in February this year.
The PML-N leader said the current administration has allowed Afghanistan air entry into the United States and has requested that the terms reached with the US be brought to the house.
Parliamentary Foreign Minister Andleeb Abbas told the assembly that the civil and military leaderships on the issues of Kashmir and Palestine were on one side.
She responded to a tip from PML-N MPs asking what measures Pakistan had taken to stop the Indian atrocities in occupied Kashmir.
PML-N Khurram Dastgir said there were reports that the country’s military leadership told some journalists that they would start talks with India by December. He said media officials were also told that the national security advisor and ISI chief would represent the country.
On the other hand, he said, Prime Minister Imran Khan said there would be no talks with India until it withdrew its action of annexing detained Kashmir on August 5, 2019. “Why are there contradictions in Kashmiri politics?” he asked.
Andleeb Abbas said the government, military leadership, foreign minister and cabinet are on one side when it comes to the national interest, be it Kashmir or Palestine. She said Prime Minister Khan had already claimed there could be no talks with India until the neighboring country withdrew the annexation of occupied Kashmir.
“The military feels that and every Pakistani feels that,” she added. She said the Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) had discussed the issues of Kashmir and Palestine. She informed the House that the Kashmiri policies pursued by Prime Minister Khan and his government have completely changed the way the international community is presented on this issue. “Now the world sees India as a terrorist and Pakistan as a peace-loving country and facilitator of talks,” she added.
Ahsan Iqbal asked why the government could not implement a House resolution passed a year and a half ago calling for a special OIC meeting on Kashmir.
The National Assembly also passed PAF Air War College Institute’s 2021 Act, reorganizing as a degree-awarding institute, and 2020 Pakistani Weapons Act (amendment) amending the 1965 Pakistani Weapons Act (amendment) to the scope of Islamabad Capital Territory.
Posted in Dawn on May 25, 2021