1 (37Th Session) NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SECRETARIAT

1 (37th Session) NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SECRETARIAT ————— “QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWERS AND THEIR REPLIES” to be asked at a sitting of the National Assembly to be held on Thursday, the 29th December, 2011 (Originally Starred Question Nos. 53, 2, 3, 4, 8, 14 and 15 were set down for answer on 15-12-2011) 53. *Mrs. Shagufta Sadiq: Will the Minister for Interior be pleased to state: (a) whether it is a fact that the smuggling of different items is increasing at the entering points of the country; if so, the names of institutions/forces working alongside the borders of the country to control the said smuggling at present; (b) the steps taken to control the smuggling since March, 2008 till date; and (c) the achievements gained therefrom so far? Reply not received. 2. *Ms. Khalida Mansoor: Will the Minister for National Disaster Management be pleased to state whether the process of rehabilitation and settlement of the people affected by floods and rains has been completed; if so, the details thereof? 2 Minister for National Disaster Management: Comments/Action Taken: 1. The entire response to the disaster has been categorized into three phases as under; a. Rescue and emergency relief. b. Early Recovery. c. Rehabilitation and Reconstruction. 2. As part of the relief NDMA provided relief items including shelter, food and non food items to flood affectees through provincial and District authorities to address the immediate needs of affectees. In addition to the provision of relief by Government agencies, the relief efforts of UN agencies, donors and civil society organization was also coordinated, facilitated and assisted by NDMA to make the entire national response more effective. Details of major relief items provided is attached at Annexure-A. 3. In order to facilitate smooth transition from emergency to rehabilitation, reconstruction and long term development, an Early Recovery Framework/Plan is being prepared for implementation from January, 2011. The Early Recovery Framework will include projects related to the following sectors; a. Housing. b. Agriculture & Food Security. c. Health & Nutrition d. Education e. Water & Sanitation f. Governance g. Non Frame Livelihood h. Community infrastructure. 4. For need based and all comprehensive construction & rehabilitation, the Government of Pakistan upon the request of Province of Sindh has engaged, the World Bank and Asian Development Bank to carry out detailed Damages and Need Assessment (DNA) in the affected areas. DNA exercise is under way and is reported to be completed soon. Construction and Rehabilitation is primarily the responsibility of Provincial Government. Therefore, reconstruction and rehabilitation 3 plan in different sectors based on the results of the DNA will be prepared by them. However, the Federal Government and NDMA will assist the Provincial Government with technical assistance & resource mobilization to fill the gaps if any. 4 3. *Mrs. Shagufta Sadiq: Will the Minister for National Disaster Management be pleased to state the steps being taken to improve and make effective the role of NDMA? Minister for National Diaster Management: The National Disaster Management Authority, established in the year 2007, has been actively engaged in managing the complete spectrum of disasters including preparedness, mitigation, relief, response, rehabilitation reconstruction. It has been striving to put in place a robust DRM system in the country through the following initiatives; – Formulation of National Disaster Risk Reduction Policy. – Institutional strengthening and capacity Building. – Hazard, Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment. – Training, Research, Awareness and Linkages. – Community Based Disaster Risk Management. – Mainstreaming DRR into Development. – Preparedness and Mitigation Initiatives. – Enhancing Early Warning capacities. – Implementation of national DRM plans with the assistance from donors and UN agencies. The NDMA has meager financial resources available to it for undertaking such a daunting challenge, while climate change related issues have further complicated the situation, particularly in tackling hydro-metrological disasters. It would need allocation of dedicated financial and material resources, to further improve its role in effective disaster management, including preparedness, undertaking disaster risk reduction initiatives, and effective response to any disaster situation. The NDMA has been performing its functions and managed at least four mega disasters since its establishment in 2007, despite human resource constraints as it is manned with only 110 regular staff members. 5 In terms of financial resources during the recent monsoon disaster of 2011, the NDMA had only Rs.300 million seed money available in its fund for undertaking its functions in different areas of interventions. However, it actually required over Rs. 5 billion for immediate provision of life saving relief to affectees of unprecedented rains/floods in Sindh this year, where reportedly over 9.1 million people were affected. Despite such a challenge it managed to provide immediate relief primarily by procuring and supplying relief goods on credit basis and establishing a massive and effective supply chain system. It has been the biggest ever relief operation managed by the government out of its own resources; notwithstanding the international humanitarian assistance which remained too little and too late. Similarly, keeping in view the impact of climate change and hazards threatening Pakistan in future, there is an urgent need to focus on preparedness including strategic stock piling of relief items and training the vulnerable communities to be able to meet the adverse affects of disasters. Pakistan being developing country cannot afford to lose its development infrastructure due to recurrence of multiple disasters. Therefore, it has to invest on preparedness, mitigation, and disaster risk reduction rather than putting resources on emergency relief every time. The Government is considering to augment financial and human resource capacity of NDMA to ensure preparedness measures, stock-pile important relief inventory and effectively implement national policies and programs related to disaster management. 4. *Mrs. Nisar Tanveer: Will the Minister for Finance, Revenue and Planning and Development be pleased to state: (a) whether it is fact that FBR had misreported the revenue collection at the end of financial year 2010-11; if so, whether any inquiry conducted thereof; (b) whether it is also a fact that major corporate clients of the FBR have asked to grant advances to help the FBR for meeting the revenue targets; if so, the justification thereof; 6 (c) the details of dubious sale tax refunds in inland revenue, misdeclaration and fabricated valuation reported alongwith action taken thereupon during the last three fiscal years; and (d) the steps being taken to reform and make the postings/transfers in the FBR in transparent manners? Minister for Finance, Revenue and Planning and Development (Dr. Abdul Hafeez Sheikh): (a) In the month of June, 2011 FBR, contrary to the practice of relying on Monthly Performance Reports regarding revenue collection, adopted the practice of getting provisional collection figures on daily basis through fax. The collection figures were obtained from field formations, compiled and reported to the higher authorities along with the copies of faxes. A few LTUs and RTOs reported gross collection in respect of Sales Tax instead of net collection, which resulted in reporting of over collection. (b) This is not a fact. There were no such advances made during the Financial year 2010-11. (c) Field Formations have reported that 414 cases of dubious sales tax refunds were detected involving revenue of Rs. 9,389 Million as per attached Annexure. The proceedings for recovery have already been initiated besides penal action against the persons found involved in it. (d) FBR has drawn guidelines for mobility and posting/transfer policy for all the officers from their initial appointment into service till senior level positions. (i) Rotation Plan for the first twelve years of service (BS-17/18). (ii) Specialization for Mid Career Management and Senior Level Position (BS-18 and above). (iii) All officers will be required to serve on field assignments for the first five years after completion of their Common Training & Specialized Training Programs. During these five years each officer will be rotated in all the functional domains of the field formations. (iv) During the next five years all officers will be rotated for posting in FBR (HQ)/Training Institutions and other support functions. (v) After completion of twelve years service, the officers will undergo a specialization plan in order to specialize in a specific area of interest relevant to their technical known how, organizational needs and professional interest. 7 8 9 8. *Mr. Mohammad Pervaiz Malik: Will the Minister for Finance, Revenue and Planning and Development be pleased to state: (a) the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) with regard to determine the rate of inflation as on March 15th, 2008 and November 25th, 2011 respectively in the country; (b) whether it is a fact that the percentage of Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Sensitive Price Indicator have increased; if so, the reasons thereof; and (c) the steps being taken to control the said increase? Minister for Finance, Revenue and Planning and Development (Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh): (a) Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a statistical measure

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