Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal has said that the government is prioritizing the development of Balochistan.
Responding to points raised by different members in the National Assembly today, he said two hundred billion rupees have been allocated in the development budget for projects in Balochistan, describing it as the highest allocation for any province.
The Minister for Planning announced that an additional five thousand scholarships would be awarded to students from Balochistan and the tribal districts under the second phase of the programme, enabling them to pursue education at leading universities. He emphasized that education is the key to overcoming backwardness.
Ahsan Iqbal also informed the House that the government would launch a solarization project in the tribal districts. In addition, a programme would be introduced to equip young people in these areas with digital skills.
Responding to a Calling Attention Notice, Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik said fuel prices are determined by OGRA through a transparent mechanism based on the seven-day average of international market prices. He said that, on the Prime Minister’s instructions, refineries reduced their gross refining margin yesterday, resulting in a decrease in petrol and diesel prices.
The Minister said Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) is also being restructured to improve its operational efficiency.
In response to a point of order, Minister of State for Religious Affairs Kesoo Mal Kheal Das said minorities enjoy complete religious freedom in Pakistan. He said Hyderabad Electric Supply Company will be instructed to ensure no load shedding during Diwali celebrations to facilitate the Hindu community.
Govt to continue EFS while preventing misuse
Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Bilal Azhar Kayani on Tuesday informed the National Assembly that the government would continue the Export Facilitation Scheme (EFS) while taking measures to prevent its misuse, protect local industry and promote exports.
Responding to a point of order, the minister said the government had conducted a detailed review of the scheme, which allows exporters to import raw materials and other essential inputs required for export production without paying duties.
He acknowledged that the scheme had been misused in some cases in the past, prompting the government to introduce corrective measures.
However, he said past misuse did not mean that the government should discontinue the scheme, which was important for exports, or further reduce the number of items covered under it.
The minister said the government was consulting all relevant sectors of the textile industry, including the All-Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA), local loom operators, garment manufacturers and other exporters.
He added that the government was working with all stakeholders to introduce measures to eliminate the possibility of misuse. These efforts would continue in the future, he said.
Bilal Azhar Kayani made it clear that the government would retain the EFS because of its importance to Pakistan’s exports. At the same time, he said, concerns about protecting local industry and preventing misuse that could harm domestic production would be addressed.
He said the government wanted to ensure that exporters had access to quality raw materials and other essential inputs at reasonable prices. This would help Pakistani products remain competitive in international markets and support export growth.
The minister added that the government would continue working with relevant sectors to strike a balance between promoting exports, protecting local industry and ensuring the transparent use of the scheme.
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