ISLAMABAD: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) moved a bill in the National Assembly on Tuesday seeking the distribution of the National Finance Commission (NFC) award between districts on the basis of their respective populations.
At present, provincial governments hold the authority to distribute the award amongst projects, rather than allocating a certain amount to each district.
The MQM’s bill was opposed by Pakistan People’s Party’s Naveed Qamar who said that distribution of the NFC award is a provincial matter.
On the other hand, Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab, who at first opposed the bill, appeared convinced after a while.
However, Qaumi Watan Party chief Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao said that the bill was tantamount to an attempt at weakening the federal government.
The bill was forwarded to the relevant House committee by the NA deputy speaker, who was presiding over the session.
MQM lawmaker Kishwer Zehra additionally introduced a second bill to extend the benches of higher courts to district headquarters. This bill was also referred to the relevant standing committee.
The NA also adopted a resolution moved by MQM’s Dr Fozia Hameed calling for construction of new small dams in the country.
The NA also adopted a resolution from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s Shakeela Luqman seeking an incremental increase in the educational allowance provided to the children of government employees.
In response to an attention notice on the closure of Habib Bank Limited (HBL) and United Bank Limited (UBL) branches in the US, Parliamentary Secretary of Finance Rana Afzal said that as many as 142 branches of Pakistani banks are still operating worldwide.
He added that banks were bound to abide by the laws of the land in foreign countries.
Afzal said that the HBL’s matter is not related to money laundering, but regarding its failure so streamline its operations, resulting in the imposition of a $225 million fine.
He informed the NA that the State Bank of Pakistan had constituted a committee to look into the matter as well.