ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has constituted a nine-member committee under the chairmanship of Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif sans any representative from Finance Ministry to propose pro-poor measures in the Federal Budget 2023-24, well informed sources told Business Recorder.
The members of the Committee will comprise Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah Khan who is also President PML-N Punjab, Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Resources Musadik Malik, SAPM on Government Effectiveness Dr Jehanzeb Khan, SAPM on Youth Affairs Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, Chairman National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue, Ahmed Umair, a progressive farmer, and Asif Peer, CEO/ MD, System Limited- a well renowned IT company.
However, neither Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, who is being criticized for further damaging the already vulnerable economy, nor Minister of State for Finance Dr. Ayesha Ghaus Pasha or Secretary Finance has been taken made members of the Committee.
The Committee will deliberate and suggest pro-poor measures in the budget 2023-24 with main focus on improving the living conditions and livelihood of vulnerable segments.
The Terms of Reference (ToRs) of the Committee shall be as follows: (i) to suggest pro-poor and public-friendly measures for inclusion in the upcoming budget 2023-24; (ii) to recommend measures to provide buffer and protect the masses from prevailing high inflation; (iii) to examine adequacy of targeted subsidies for the poor and propose plan to further expand their scope and coverage; (iv) to suggest measures for youth empowerment through provision of business and employment opportunities and; (v) any other issue, deemed relevant/ appropriate for consideration.
The Committee may co-opt any person as per requirement for the purpose of this task.
The sources further stated that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will also start budget meetings with individual ministries from Monday (today).
According to a schedule issued by the Principal Secretary to Prime Minister, Dr Syed Tauqeer Shah, Prime Minister has desired that concerned Ministries shall, after deliberation and consultation with stakeholders, make a presentation on budgetary proposals relevant to the business allocated to each Ministry as per the following schedule, i.e., on May 29, 2023 (Monday) Ministry of National Food Security and Research, Revenue Division (Revenue Measures) and Information Technology whereas Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Ministry of Energy (Power and Petroleum Division), Ministry of Finance(current expenditure, i.e., salary, pension etc, subsidies and grants) and Ministries of Commerce (MoC) and Industries and Production (industrial growth including SMES, exports, etc.) will present their plans for the FY 2023-24.
The following participants will attend meeting on Agriculture: Minister for Finance & Revenue, Minister for NFS&R, Minister for Interior, Minister for PD & SI, Advisor to PM on Establishment, SAPM Government Effectiveness, SAPM on Finance, Secretary Finance, Secretary NFS&R, Secretary Industries ,Secretary Power, Chairman FBR, Secretary PD &SI, Governor SBP, Sector Experts/ Agriculturists, Amir Hayat Bhandara, Agriculturist, Pakpattan, Mehmood Nawaz Shah, Member FPCCI Board, Vice Chancellor, University of Agriculture , Faisalabad, Afaq A. Tiwana, Chairman Agrimall (Pvt) Ltd and Rana Muhammad Ajmal Khan, MNA.
The list of participants of revenue measures proposed in budget 2023-24: Minister for Finance & Revenue, Minister for PD & SI, Minister for Defence, Minister for Commerce, Advisor to PM on Establishment, SAPM Government Effectiveness, SAPM Finance, SAPM Revenue, Secretary Revenue Division/ Chairman FBR, Secretary Finance, Secretary Industries, Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, sector experts/ industry representatives, Ashfaq Yousaf Tola, Mian Muhammad Mansha, Nishat Group, Muhammad Ali Tabba, Lucky Group, lrfan lqbal Sheikh, President FPCCI, Kashif Anwar, President LCCI and Muhammad Tariq Yousaf President KCCI.
Participants of budget proposals related to IT & Telecom Industry is as follows: Minister for Finance & Revenue, Minister for IT & Telecom, Minister for PD& SI, Advisor to PM on Establishment, SAPM Government Effectiveness, SAPM Finance, SAPM Revenue, Secretary Finance, Chairman FBR, Governor SBP, sector experts/ industry representatives Chairman P@SHA Saleem Ghori, Chairman Netsol Technology Naseer Akhtar, CEO Infotech (Pvt) Limited, Nadeem Hussain, Pakistan Fintech Network and Jehan Ara CEO Katalyst.
The participants of development budget (PSDP-2023-24) will be as follows: Minister for Finance & Revenue, Minister for PD& SI, Advisor to PIM on Establishment, SAPM Government Effectiveness, SAPM on Finance, Secretary PD & SI, Secretary Finance, Secretary Communications, Secretary Water Resources, Secretary Cabinet and Secretary Power Division.
The following participants will present their viewpoints on power and petroleum sectors: Minister for Finance & Revenue, Minister for Power, Minister of State for Petroleum, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Minister for Defence, Minister for Commerce, Advisor to PM on Establishment, SAPM Government Effectiveness, SAPM Finance, Secretary Finance, Secretary Power, Secretary Petroleum, Secretary Commerce, and sector experts/ industry representatives to be proposed by Power & Petroleum Division.
The following participants will share their opinion on current expenditure (salary, pension, grants and subsides): Minister for Finance & Revenue, Minister for PD &SI, Minister for Federal Education & PT, Minister for Poverty Alleviation, Minister for Power, Minister of State Petroleum, Advisor Kashmir Affairs, Advisor to PM on Establishment, SAPM Government Effectiveness, SAPM Finance, Secretary Finance, Secretary Poverty Alleviation, Secretary Power and Secretary Petroleum.
Participants of meeting on industrial growth (including SMEs, exports, etc., will be as follows: Minister for Finance & Revenue, Minister for Commerce, Minister for Industries & Production, Minister for PD & SI, Advisor to PM on Establishment, SAPM Government Effectiveness, SAPM on Finance, SAPM Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, Secretary Finance, Secretary Industries & Production, Chairman FBR, Governor SBP, industry representatives, Shahzad Saleem Nishat Chunian Group . Musadiq Zulqarnain Interloop Group, Gohar Ejaz APTMA, Zubair Motiwala CEO TDAP, Fawad Anwar Al-Karam Textile Mills and Haji Bashir Ali Mohammad of Gul Ahmed Textile Mills.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2023