67th meeting of the Standing Committee on Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs of the National Assembly was held today i.e. February 14, 2018 in Women’s Parliamentary Caucus Conference Room, Parliament House, Islamabad under the Chairmanship of Mr. Qaiser Ahmed Shaikh, MNA.
 
2.         The Committee approved the minutes of the last meeting held on 9th February, 2018. While considering the implementation status of the recommendations of the Committee, which were made in previous meetings regarding lowest mark up ratio/interest to farming sector. The Committee recommended that Government should give exemptions to ZTBL and other commercial banks on lending for farmers. The Committee also directed to Ministry of Finance & Revenue to provide the details of ZTBL quantifying figures.
 
3.         The Committee deferred agenda item pertaining to “An Eradication of  Riba Bill, 2015” (Moved by Mr Sher Akbar Khan, MNA).
 
4.         The Committee discussed the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) of Finance Division for financial year 2018-19. While considering the ‘Financial Inclusion and Infrastructure Project’, the Committee unanimously recommended that Finance Division will provide PC-I of the said project for further consideration of the Committee. The Committee disapproved the project regarding Renovation & Repair of Audit Complex, Lahore (Old PT&T Building). The Committee Members have shown their observations for not providing satisfactory reasons in this regard. However, the Committee recommended all other projects presented by Finance Division.
 
5.         While considering the PSDP of Revenue Division, the Committee Members have expressed their concerns about the performance of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) towards their objectives. However, the Committee recommended the projects submitted by the Revenue Division.
 
6.         The Committee decided that its next meeting would be convened on 28th February, 2018 for consideration of pending PSDP, highlighted above. The Committee was briefed by the Additional Secretary Ministry of Finance regarding current account deficit, debt servicing and financial strategy of the Government. 
 
7.         The meeting was attended by Dr. Nafisa Shah, Mr. Asad Umar, Ms. Arifa Khalid Parvez, Syed Naveed Qamar, Syed Mustafa Mehmud, MNAs Mr. Sher Akbar Khan (Mover) MNA besides the senior officers from Ministry of Finance & Revenue.