ISLAMABAD: Senate Standing Committee on States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) on Friday recommended to waive off the agricultural loans in order to provide relief to small farmers.
Regarding agricultural loans to small farmers from erstwhile FATA (Federal Administrated Tribal Areas), the Committee was told that the total amount of outstanding loans given to people from FATA between 2009 and 2012 was Rs 471 million, out of which only Rs 30 million was agricultural loan.
The meeting was held under the Chairmanship of Senator Hidayatullah and was attended among others Senators Hilal-ur-Rehman, Sajjad Hussain Turi, Shamim Afridi, Najma Hameed, Secretary SAFRON, Member IR Policy Wing, CEO TESCO and officials from State Bank and relevant ministries.
The Senate body has directed the Deputy Commissioners of all seven districts of FATA to complete work on proposed and recommended Annual Development Program (ADP) projects for the year and submit details to the Committee by mentioning of the agency or parliamentarian who has recommended the project.
The Committee was told that according to Planning and Development Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Law Enforcement Agencies, MNAs, Senators and tribal elders have to be consulted before proposing any project in the area.
On the matter of tax exemption to FATA, the Committee was informed that the statutory regulatory orders (SROs) 1212 and 1213 relating to sales tax and income tax were not in force now and the tax situation is the same as was applicable before 25th amendment.
The Committee decided to call Chairman FBR, secretary Finance and Secretary Law and Justice to next meeting to discuss the matter. The Committee was also given update on the status of non-payment of salaries and pension to the personnel of levies and Khassadar working in Kurram and Orakzai Agencies.
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