Bilal Azhar Kayani, Prime Minister’s Coordinator for Economy and Energy, addressing a press conference. APPLICATION
ISLAMABAD:
The National Assembly on Thursday passed the Income Tax Ordinance (Third Amendment) Bill, 2025, aimed at strengthening the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism for tax disputes.
Proposed by Minister of State for Finance, Revenue and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani, the legislation aims to plug gaps in the existing framework, particularly in the appointment of the ADR committee chairman.
The measure is designed to ensure impartiality, improve efficiency and reduce the burden on courts, thereby making ADR a credible and cost-effective option for taxpayers.
Under the new law, taxpayers and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will each nominate three names for the presidency. If consensus fails, one candidate from each side will be forwarded to the Minister of Justice for a final decision.
The President must be a retired judge of the High Court, Federal Constitutional Court or Supreme Court with relevant tax or commercial experience.
Kayani pointed out that earlier, the FBR held sole power to appoint the president, raising concerns over its impartiality. The revised process, he said, strengthens taxpayer protection, improves the alternative dispute resolution framework and ensures fair resolution of disputes.
BISP
Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Security Syed Imran Ahmad Shah informed the National Assembly that the total allocation of the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) stood at Rs716 billion, describing it as one of the world’s leading finance-led social protection initiatives.
Responding to a question from Sharmila Faruqui during Question Hour, the minister said the BISP operated through three main components – the Kafalat Cash Assistance Program, the Nashonuma Nutrition Initiative and the Education Allowances under Taleemi Wazaif – and was widely recognized internationally for its transparency and scale.
He clarified that BISP was strictly an income support program and not a disaster response mechanism.
The minister said the organization does not carry out relief operations independently during floods, earthquakes or other calamities, adding that it only acts on the basis of formal policy guidance issued by the government or relevant authorities, including coordination with institutions such as the National Disaster Management Authority and provincial disaster management authorities, when necessary.
The minister told the House that the BISP operated as an autonomous body with its own chairman and board, and any proposals to expand its mandate or introduce new initiatives must come from the board.
Upon receipt of a formal request, he said, the ministry would forward a summary to the federal government for review.
Replying to a supplementary question from Naima Kishwar Khan, Imran Ahmad Shah said that BISP has established a comprehensive national network comprising regional offices, facilitation centers, hospital offices and dynamic registration centers operating in all provinces up to tehsil level.
He explained that beneficiaries were selected through the Proxy Means Test (PMT) system, with the poverty line currently set at 32.
Households below this score were eligible for assistance, and eligible families currently received Rs 7,500 per quarter under the Kafalat program.
The Minister informed the Assembly that over 10 million beneficiaries were currently enrolled in BISP across the country, making it one of the largest social protection programs in the region.
He urged members to attend parliamentary committee meetings to stay fully informed on verified data and program execution.
Replying to another question from Ahmed Saleem Siddiqui, the minister reiterated that BISP operated under clearly defined rules, standard operating procedures and governance mechanisms as an autonomous institution, with oversight exercised by its board of directors.
He added that the structure and operations of the program were also aligned with commitments made with international partners, including the International Monetary Fund.
Concluding his speech, the Minister said the Government remained committed to strengthening the BISP as a sustainable, rules-based social safety net to ensure transparency, accountability and continued support to vulnerable households across the country.
