Islamabad:
The Senate approved on Thursday the bill of public officials (amendment), 2025, aimed at improving transparency and allowing public access to statements of assets of high government officials.
The bill, moved by Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar in the name of Senator Ahmed Khan Chema, Minister of Establishment, seeks to amend the Civil Services Law, 1973, as reported by the Permanent Committee.
The legislation is destined to further operationalize the rules of government servers (conduct), 1964, specifically rules 12, 13 and 13-A, and align them with the provisions of the Law on Information Law, 2017.
According to the proposed framework, the officials of officials of the officials in the basic payment scale (BPS) 17 to 22, including property assets nationwide or abroad by officials or family members, will be presented digitally and will be made publicly.
The bill establishes that sufficient safeguards will be guaranteed to protect confidential personal information, such as national identity numbers, residential addresses and bank accounts numbers or bonds.
The Federal Income Board (FBR) will maintain the digital platform, while the establishment division will be equipped with a solid framework, resources and tools to carry out verifications based on the risk of the statements presented.
Meanwhile, the senators expressed serious concerns about the country’s fiscal policies, particularly the imposition of taxes on the essential sectors and the economic difficulties faced by common citizens.
While participating in the general discussion about the 2025-26 budget, Senator Dost Ali Jeesor criticized the solar tax of 18 percent, qualifying it as unfair and heavy in low-income families that invest in panels and solar batteries.
He requested the total elimination of the tax, stating that the recent cut, reducing the GST in the solar panels by more than 10 percent of the previous 18 percent, remains insufficient.
Senator Muhammad Abdul Qadir presented an overview of the federal budget, said we would need more loans to finance current development projects, disbursements for pension and social welfare programs such as Bisp.
He warned that Pakistan’s debt service costs are alarmingly high, with interest payments that consume 30 to 35 percent of loans taken by successive governments.
Jam Saifullah pressed for the beginning of the M-6 highway project long delayed, criticizing the insufficient assignments of PSDP. He also raised environmental concerns, opposes taxes on electric and hybrid vehicles, which, according to him, undermines national climatic objectives. In addition, he asked for greater support for salary winners and pensioners to combat inflation.
Senator Haji Hidayatullah Khan highlighted the disproportionate tax burden on the poor, considering the salary increase of 10 percent for employees of the inappropriate government in the prevailing economic crisis. He warned about the decrease in agricultural productivity and emphasized urgent government intervention to relive the sector.
By calling solar energy as a vital resource for the future of Pakistan, Hidayatullah demanded the elimination of taxes on solar panels to encourage broader adoption.
Citing a report by the World Health Organization, he emphasized that 45 percent of people live below the poverty and more than 270 million children remain out of school, underlining the urgent need to prioritize education and medical care.
