Taj Haider, Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs Presiding over a Meeting of the Committee at Parliament House

Islamabad, August 01, 2023 (PPI-OT): Meeting of Senate Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs was held here at Parliament House on Tuesday with Senator Taj Haider in Chair. The Senate Committee deliberated on the Bill titled “The One Stop Service Bill,2023”. The Bill aimed to established ‘One Stop Services’ for investors, interested in investing special economic zones and the country in general. Senator Taj Haider inquired as to why the establishment of new organisation is necessary for the promotion of industry in the country and why doesn’t the Board of Investment provide these services inhouse. Khashih ur Rehman, Additional Secretary for BOI, apprised that Special Economic Zone act made it compulsory for investors to initiate industrialization within the two years of land allocation, however, the provision of required certificates and NOCs create a massive hurdle in doing so. He stated that the act will aide investors in acquiring all the public services in timely manner and it will also play a key role in colonization of Special Economic Zones. Senator Sania Nishtar pointed out that the act provides sweeping power to One Stop Service and despite giving these, one stop service will not be able to yield the desired results in the current hostile industrial environment.

Chairman Committee commended the purpose of the bill and suggested that the Provinces and the basic Service providers shall be made the members of the Board.The Members raised the issue that the Bill also provides absolute power to one-stop service center to bypass the provisions of law and also touches upon issue/ matters related to the Provincial Governments. However, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, apprised the Committee that the Ministry supports “The One Stop Service Bill, 2023”, as the same has been approved by the Federal Cabinet.The Committee unanimously was of the view that the Bill may not be passed in its present form and directed the Board of Investment (BOI) to address the required necessary details and limitations in a proper manner.

The meeting was attended by Senator Sania Nishtar, Senator Syed Waqar Mehdi, Senator Abida Muhammad Azeem, Additional Secretary for Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs Asif Saeed Khan, Additional Secretary for BOI Khashih ur Rehman and other senior officers of relevant departments were also on attendance.

For more information, contact:

Senate of Pakistan

H.No.7, Cat-II, G-8/2, Islamabad, Pakistan

Tel: +92-51-9204564534

Fax: +92-51-9205703

E-mail: senate@comsats.net.pk

Website: www.senate.gov.pk

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