Government and Pakistan Peoples Party Reach Consensus on Proposed IMF-Related Legislation; Amendments Concerning Privatized Entities and Financial Laws Also Under Review, Say Sources
ISLAMABAD: After a high-level consultative session, the federal government and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) have formally agreed on proposed legislation linked to International Monetary Fund (IMF) conditions.
The government, in its ruling coalition, wanted the PPP to cooperate with the government for the fast-track approval of several proposed legislative changes, the media reported. Under the chairmanship of National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, an important consultative meeting was held attended by the members of the National Assembly and the Senate to discuss some of the strategies that will be implemented to ensure the smooth passage of some of the bills in both the National Assembly and the Senate.
The meeting in Islamabad was a government-private sector consultation and it featured the following highlights:
During the meeting, individual review of laws was done by PML-N and PPP leaders by clause-by-clause basis while IMF conditions on the adjustments in taxes and duties were also discussed.
Proposals for Ministerial Amendments (MAs) for laws relating to SOEs to be privatised have been comprehensively considered. They also met on draft bills to amend the Ministry of Railways, the Ministry of Petroleum and the Ministry of National Food Security and financial laws and changes in the context of the Supreme Court’s landmark judgment in the case of Mustafa Impex.
High Level Meeting: Federal Minister for Law Azam Nazeer Tarar, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry attended the high level meeting. The PPP delegation consisted of senior leaders like Naveed Qamar, Senator Sherry Rehman, Farooq H. Naek, Hussain Tariq and Senator Zamir Hussain Ghumro.