While discussing the imposition of customs duty on mobile phones the Committee lauded PTA and FBR for the measures taken as it has collected Rs 7 billion in taxes to date. The FBR asserted that this will discourage smuggling especially through PTA DIRBS, since no matter how the device is procured the user would be taxed once a sim is inserted. Foreigners will be exempted for 60 days after which they will have to pay tax. Discussing the issue of smuggling of LED TVs referred by the Chairman Senate the matter was deferred due to absence of Chairman FBR. While taking up the matter of the closure of regular container liner KGS service it was decided that the Committee was satisfied with the response provided by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs that the service is in place. The committee passed the Companies Act, 2019 unanimously with an amendment with the consent of member Incharge. Other Bills that included the Maternity and Paternity Bill, 2018, the Constitution Amendment Act, 2019, were deferred due to absence of the movers. Starred question asked by Senator Mir Kabir Muhammad Ahmed Shahi regarding the number of employees from Balochistan in the Ministry of Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs was deferred due to the absence of Advisor Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs. The Committee directed the Ministry that the Advisor must be present in the next meeting to answer queries, since being a policy issue he is the best person that can respond. The consideration of Public Petition submitted by one Muhammad Irfan addressed to Chairman Senate regarding simplification of the procedure of filing tax returns was deferred. The Committee was briefed regarding the Tax Asan Application. It was recommended that the decision on the issue would be taken up in the next meeting and the Committee decision will be communicated to the petitioner.
