According to Minister of State for Finance Aisha Ghaus Pasha, Pakistan had a challenging situation when the coalition government took office, but there is no longer a default danger.
The minister stated that the suspension of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) program was causing the country to experience a difficult period during question time in the assembly session.
While exports are improving and remittances are flooding the nation, we have restarted the IMF program, Pasha stated.
She went on to say that because of reforms, investors were showing interest in making investments in the nation. She noted that measures were being developed to increase the size of the formal economy by bringing potential taxpayers into the tax net. The international community had demonstrated its intention to assist Pakistan in post-flood rehabilitation.
The minister said that the FBR system was being linked throughout the entire supply chain, from import to retail, to assure documentation. Every Pakistani, according to her, has a duty to pay taxes in order to support the country’s defense, transportation, health, and educational systems. The government made it a priority to investigate the recent price increase, which was caused by both internal and external reasons.
Responding to a question, Minister for Commerce and Trade Naveed Qamar said full-fledged trade with Iran could not take place due to US sanctions on the country. Talks with Iran on strengthening trade between the two countries would be held once the US sanctions were lifted.
Jamaluddin, a JUIF member, questioned what obstacles stood in the way of Pakistan and Iran beginning trade when India and Iran were already doing so. According to Qamar, the administration wants to grow Pakistan’s trade with the UAE even further.
The damage assessment was finished in Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan, according to Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Javed Abbasi, and assessments will be finished in the other provinces by the end of this month. The water was still standing in several places, making it impossible to conclude the damage assessment in Sindh and Balochistan. He was sure that by the first week of the next month, the information from the damage assessment would be accessible.
Later, the National Assembly passed a resolution on safeguarding the rights of all children as enshrined in the 1973 Constitution and under the UN Convention on the Rights of Child for a more equal and inclusive Pakistan. The resolution moved by Mehnaz Akbar Aziz recognized the rights of every child as well as mothers and the need for the provision of the best available early care and a safe environment for all children.
The resolution condemned merciless practices of child trafficking, abuse, pornography, and prostitution and recommended legislation and its implementation to curb these inhumane offenses. It also reaffirmed to tackle the menace of child and bonded labor as enshrined in the Constitution. The resolution pledged to ensure the inclusion of children’s voices in important matters to establish peace and harmony in society. It vowed to create equal opportunities for all to acquire quality education in true letter and spirit. The House resolved to invest time and effort in reducing malnutrition in children and mothers and combating the menace of stunted growth amongst children to protect the future of Pakistan.
