The National Assembly was informed on Thursday that Hajj and Umrah Service Management Bill 2017 is being prepared to bring the affairs of Umrah under the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
Responding to the queries of the members during question hour, Parliamentary Secretary for Religious Affairs Khalil George said the bill would soon be laid before the house after consultation with the stakeholders. He also clarified that no Hajj quota has specifically been allocated for the parliamentarians this year.
Minister for Ports and Shipping Hasil Khan Bizenjo told the house in a written reply that construction work on pilot phase of Gwadar Port Free Zone would be completed by December this year. Work on next phase would be started from January next year. He said the federal government has allowed 23 years tax incentives to the investors registered in Gwadar port free zone.
These include exemptions from paying federal taxes like import and export duties, sales tax, corporate income tax and federal excise duty. Parliamentary Secretary for Housing and Works Sajid Mehdi said there was acute shortage of houses for federal government employees in Islamabad and the government was taking steps on war footing to address the situation.
Parliamentary Secretary for Industries and Production Rao Muhammad Ajmal Khan said the Utility Stores Corporation registered about thirteen per cent increase in sale during the last fiscal year. He said necessary steps were being taken to improve supply chain of the utility stores. The house has now been adjourned to meet again on August 17 at 3pm.
