SECP receives overwhelming response to amnesty schemes

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) have received an overwhelming response to its amnesty scheme for regularization of belated returns and easy exit facility to dormant companies, which was launched on July 1, 2010 for three months.

Under the Company Regularization Scheme (CRS) some 250 companies have regularized their defaults and have filed 700 returns by July 27, 2010. Similarly, under the Companies Easy Exit Scheme (CEES) around 100 companies have applied to avail themselves of the exit facility.

The schemes have been launched for three months from July 1, 2010 to September 30, 2010 (in three phases of one month period each) with different fee schedule. The first phase of the schemes would be closed on July 31, 2010. However, the documents under Phase- I shall be accepted by Monday August 2, 2010 due to holiday on July 31, 2010. As such, only three days have been left in closing of the first phase.

The regularization scheme was applicable to all types of companies other than listed companies, and enabled acceptance of overdue returns and annual accounts by paying only normal filing fees plus one half of the normal filing fee as additional fee without any penalties, during the first month. However, in the second month of the scheme, the fee will increase and the late submission of documents will be accepted by paying of normal filing fees plus one time the normal filing fee as additional fee.

The SECP always facilitates the corporate sector in compliance of law through simplification of procedures. The schemes will increase compliance of law by registered companies and also help weed out the dormant ones.

SECP starts online survey on services provided by Company Registration Offices

Islamabad, July 9: Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has started an online survey on its website, entitled ‘Survey on Services provided by the Company Registration Offices’. The survey is available at http://sraposrc/secsurvey/index.php?sid=99227&lang=en

The survey is aimed at eliciting feedback and suggestions from companies, consultants and other stakeholders, on the services extended by the SECP at its eight regional offices called the Company Registration Offices (CROs). The CROs play a vital role as the front offices of the SECP having direct interface with the public. They are located in the provincial capitals and in industrial hubs of the country. They mainly function as corporate registry and are the custodian of corporate records.

Consisting of 25 simple multiple-choice questions, the survey takes only a few minutes to complete. It also includes specific questions on eServices, seeking inputs from the participants, with a view to making it more user-friendly.

The SECP encourages the users of services provided by the CROs, to share their opinions about the existing service delivery system and also to make their suggestions for future improvement. This will enable the SECP to further extend its facilitation and to provide more efficient services to the utmost satisfaction of the stakeholders.

Pak Suzuki enhances car prices from today

The Pak Suzuki Motor Company (PSMC) on Saturday again increased the prices of its various models by Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000. This is the second time within two months that the popular PSMC has increased its prices, which are applicable from March 29, 2010. Previously, the company had raised its prices by Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 on January 26. According to auto analyst it is expected that in the near future prices will further rise. Shafiq Shaikh spokesperson PSMC said that under unavoidable circumstances the company has to pass on a minor production cost to the consumers owing to increase in prices of international steel sheets and increases in wages and utility prices.
He added that still the company is bearing most of the cost pressure despite the depreciating rupee and other inflationary conditions affecting the economy that have pushed up the CKD and the local vendor parts costs. The price tag on all Suzuki Mehran models have been raised by Rs 10,000. Now Mehran VX, VXR, VX CNG, VXR CNG are tagged Rs 4,29,000, Rs 480,000, Rs 474,000 and Rs 524,000 respectively.

Pakistan on path of economic recovery: IMF

Pakistan’s economic growth has started to recover despite security and energy challenges and the country met almost all targets under the International Monetary Fund program, the global financial institution said on Tuesday.

“Pakistan’s program is progressing well,” the Fund said in a statement following ‘constructive discussions’ with Pakistani officials focusing on Pakistan’s recent economic performance, the outlook for the rest of the fiscal year.

Adnan Mazarei, who met with the Pakistani officials in Dubai over the past week to initiate discussions on the fourth review under Pakistan’s Stand-By Arrangement (SBA), noted that Islamabad observed all quantitative performance criteria, except for the budget deficit target, which exceeded by a small margin.

Listing positive trends Pakistan registered in recent months, the Fund said the exchange rate has remained stable at Rs 84–85 per US dollar, and the international reserves position has strengthened (the banking system’s gross foreign exchange reserves, including the State Bank and commercial banks, reached $14.3 billion in mid-February, of this total, the State Bank held $10.5 billion).

The early signs of recovery in some sectors and the improved external position are encouraging, although there are risks and challenges to Pakistan’s economic program.

“Economic growth in Pakistan is starting to recover; large-scale manufacturing output has started to increase, the improvement in the global economy has helped manufacturing exports, and private sector credit growth has picked up to some extent as businesses rebuild their working capital.

The IMF’s package for Pakistan - approved in November 2008- has been extended to $11.3 billion. Looking ahead, the IMF statement said, a resumption of higher growth is needed to raise living standards and will require improvements in the business climate to stimulate higher investment by local and foreign investors.

Emphasizing the need for stepped up donors support for the key anti-terror partner of the international community, the Fund said, early disbursement of donor financing remains crucial to support Pakistan’s stabilisation and reform efforts as well as laying the basis for a sustainable growth.

The IMF mission staff will prepare a report on the fourth review under Pakistan’s SBA, which is scheduled for consideration by the IMF Executive Board in late March.

Annual General Meeting of Pak German Business Forum

The annual general meeting of the Pakistan German Business Forum (PGBF) was held with the agenda of holding the election for a new Board. An announcement here said that the outgoing President, Salahud Din Ahmed, presented the annual report and welcomed the old and new members.

It said that the elections conducted under the supervision of Syed Khurshid Pervez in a very peaceful atmosphere.

The new board consists of Saifuddin Zumkawala of M/s. Allanz EFU insurance, Qazi Sajid Ali of BASF, Masud Akhtar of KSB Pumps, Abdul Baqay Khan of Merck Pakistan, Syed Nadeem Ali Kazmi of Siemens Pakistan, Razzak H.M. Bengali of Baluchistan Wheels Limited, Dr. Islam Hamid of Delta Pharma, Wasim Mirza of Pakistan Specialty Chemicals, Noordin Karim of Shermah Enterprises, Salahud Din Ahmed of Universal Business Equipment, Mian Abrar Ahmed of Cuckoo Industries and Khawaja Jahanzeb of Zeb Travels.

After the election proceedings, the newly elected Board members unanimously elected Saifuddin Zumkawala and Razak Bangali, as President and Vice President respectively.

Saifuddin Zumkawala thanked all the members for their confidence reposed in him and stated that he will try his level best to promote the affairs and aims/objectives more vividly of PGBF amongst in the country and internationally as well.

Federal Board of Revenue identifies 0.5 Million tax evaders

The task force of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on broadening the tax base has identified 0.5 million rich people, who are not ready to come into the tax net. Sources stated that FBR and National and Database Registration Authority (Nadra) are jointly working on actual number of rich people earning huge income, but still out of the tax net. In this regard, the FBR and Nadra officials have convened meetings in recent past to identify such non-filers of income tax returns in all posh areas of Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and other cities.

Based on risk-profiling of the taxpayers, the Nadra informed the FBR that approximately 0.5 million potential individuals, belonging to elite class, have not obtained the National Tax Numbers (NTNs). The risk-based profiling of un-registered rich individuals has been jointly done by the FBR and the Nadra. The FBR updated database has shown that out of 2.5 million NTN holders there are more than 1.8 million who are not filing income tax returns. Only 0.7 million are actually filing their due income tax returns. The FBR’s task force on broadening the tax base has decided that initially 150,000 (about 5 percent of the 1.8 million including abovementioned 0.5 million) individuals may be sent letters to file returns or explain why they did not file tax returns. These non-filers would be picked randomly through the computerised system to avoid discrimination.

The selection process would be done under the relevant provisions of the Income Tax Ordinance 2001 with the help of data particularly addresses provided by the Nadra. To ensure credibility of FBR, these letters may be prepared by one person and checked by another FBR official before such intimations are issued to the non-filers. This verification process would ensure transparency during the whole exercise. Taking another major initiative, FBR’s task force has also decided that thorough scrutiny of 150 most potential people would be done at the FBR level. The detailed data analysis of their profiles would be done to check their business trends using third party data. Senior officials of the FBR would be involved during this exercise to ensure that those potential taxpayers are selected, who have a high likelihood of being tax evaders. The analysis of 150 big tax evaders would also help to identify similar nature of cases within the same sectors.

Central Bank keeps discount rate unchanged @ 12.5 percent

The State Bank of Pakistan has decided to keep the policy rate unchanged at 12.5 percent. This was announced by the Governor, State Bank of Pakistan, Syed Salim Raza while unveiling the Monetary Policy Statement at a press conference held at SBP, Karachi this afternoon.
Mr. Raza said that macroeconomic stability has proceeded apace, as evident in the considerable decline in average Consumer Price Index inflation – which is the primary objective of monetary policy. In the first half of the current 2009-10 fiscal year (FY10) inflation recorded at 10.3 percent, compared to 24.4 percent during H1-FY09, he said and added that this decline is visible across almost all the subgroups of CPI.
“The inflation outlook for full FY10, nevertheless, remains somewhat vulnerable to the effects of fiscal consolidation efforts and to incipient international commodity price pressures,” he said and added that the State Bank expects the average CPI inflation for FY10 to remain between 11 and 12 percent, still much lower than the 20.8 percent inflation of last year, but higher than the 10.3 percent recorded in the first half of FY10.
Talking about the real economy, Mr. Raza said that the agriculture sector has shown improvement and the wheat crop was good with higher prices stimulating demand for consumer goods, and the cotton crop higher than last year improving textile production and corresponding exports. Modest but consistent recovery in Large-scale Manufacturing (LSM) is also encouraging, he
said and added that the LSM grew by 0.7 percent in November 2009 compared to a low of negative 20 percent in March 2009. “Revival in private sector credit and better-than-expected global recovery should further support economic growth,” he added.
Assuming that the current trend in LSM growth continues, the Governor said and added that the overall real Gross Domestic Product growth is expected to be 3.0 – 3.5 percent in FY10, as compared to 2.0 percent in FY09.
Referring to external current account, Mr. Raza said that progress in the external sector is also encouraging. The external current account deficit has declined to $2 billion during H1-FY10 from $7.8 billion in H1-FY09. A small decline in exports was substantially offset by a higher decline in imports resulting in significant reduction in the trade deficit, he said and added that the sustained flow of workers’ remittances ($4.5 billion during H1-FY10) has further contributed to the reduction of the external current account deficit.
“External current account deficit is projected at 3.4 percent of GDP for FY10 - a significant improvement over last year’s deficit of 5.6 percent and earlier projections of close to 5 percent,” he emphasized.
SBP Governor said that as a result of significant contraction in the external current account deficit, the overall balance of payments has posted a surplus of
$1.4 billion during H1-FY10 compared to a deficit of $4.8 billion in H1-FY09. A
modest increase in foreign portfolio investment, additional SDR allocation, and
SBA flows from IMF, more than compensated for the decline in foeign direct investment, he added.
However, he said sustained improvement in the balance of payments would depend significantly on the timing and scale of projected foreign inflows, especially the official flows pledged in Tokyo by the Friends of Democratic Pakistan. “Assuming the revised financial inflows are realized, the SBP’s foreign
exchange reserves are projected to reach close to $15 billion by the end of FY10,”
On the fiscal front, Mr. Raza said that the Federal Government has continued efforts for rationalizing expenditures, by phasing out subsidies and by adjusting the administered energy prices. “It has also taken in hand the organizational and administrative measures to bolster tax administration and revenue collection,” he added.
Mr. Raza said the State Bank has managed system’s liquidity to both support smooth functioning of the market and to do this consistent with the monetary policy stance. As a consequence, volatility in the interbank overnight money market Repo Rate – the operational target of SBP – has come down substantially and market interest rates have gradually eased in line with reduction in the Policy Rate."
“Integrating projections for balance of payments, fiscal accounts, and credit growth and given their interrelationships with inflation and real GDP projections, the equilibrium M2 growth is forecasted to be around 14.5 percent for FY10,”

While summing up the overall macroeconomic scenario, Mr. Raza said that much has been gained with respect to macroeconomic stability front on a challenging economic and security environment. Difficult decisions have been taken and adjustments were made to address a host of structural constraints, he
said.
“However, work remains to be done to consolidate this stability and set the stage for sustainable recovery. At the short term, we would want to see a reversion of the current inflationary uptick, and a more certain outlook for system’s liquidity,” Mr. Raza asserted.

TURK ENVOY CALLS ON CITY NAZIM

Ambassador of Turkey called on City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal at his office on Thursday to discuss matter of mutual interest.

City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal on this occasion said that Pakistan has strong brotherly relations with Turkey. Local Government of Turk City Istanbul can provide valuable cooperation to City District Government Karachi in its Rapid Bus Transport System and training program for rescue workers. He said that Istanbul has one of the best rapid bus transport system while they have also excelled in the rescue works particularly in the earthquakes. He said that we also need cooperation in the solid waste management.

Nazim Karahi informed the ambassador Mr. Hizlan about the importance of Karachi in the region. He said that Karachi offers lucrative business opportunities to foreign investors. Turk business community can also earn heavy profits from doing business here. He said that the government has upgraded infrastructure in Karachi for promotion of investment activities. Turk investors will also be provided with best facilities and support.

Turk ambassador Mr. Hizlan said that Turkey will soon arrange for the training of rescue workers in Karachi for which a permanent office will be established in the city so that the training could be arranged on permanent basis. He also appreciated the performance of City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal for his role in the rapid development of Karachi.

Pay Orders will be distribute by President Asif Zardari: on 29th Jan: Siraj Kassam Teli

Siraj Kassam Teli, Chairman Businessmen Group has said that Insha Allah the initial disbursement of Pay Orders will be made by the President of Pakistan , Mr. Asif Ali Zardari on 29th of January 2010 exactly one month after the unfortunate incident and immediately after that this process will continue at Karachi Chamber for all the affected parties till the completion of handing over pay orders to those whose final assessment is below Rs. 1.5 million, said Siraj Teli and the process of making these pay orders has already started in the National Bank as they have received statements and cheques duly signed by the signatories accordingly which is 1437 affected parties and the amount is Rs. 730,227,212.

Karachi Chamber by the Grace of Almighty Allah and as per the commitment has completed the scrutiny and assessment of the losses/claims of the goods/stocks/cash etc. except property/ buildings of the victims of Ashura day of Boulton Market/Light House and vicinity whose claims are below Rs. 1.5 million said Siraj Teli, and the ongoing process of finalizing those, whose amounts are above 1.5 million will be made in a week and Insha Allah they will also get their pay orders as and when their cases are finalized by the Scrutiny Committee.

Karachi Chamber altogether received over 2600 claim forms and after verification it was found that there was a lot of duplication and some were even from the people who were not affected by this incident, therefore the number came down to 1559, this was informed by Siraj Teli, and after the scrutiny of these forms by the Committees of the Managing Committee and Businessmen Group of Karachi Chamber along with representatives of the respective markets, verifying their details under oath with each and every individual concerned decided these cases which was a very hectic and lengthy exercise and consumed over 12 hours on daily basis of 60 businessmen who volunteered and the total staff of Karachi Chamber which is over 100 from the day this incident happened.

Siraj Teli, Chairman Businessmen Group and former President KCCI appreciated the role of the government which started from the day one after the incident i.e. 29th December 2010 when the Governor, Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad and the Minister of Interior Mr. Rehman Malik along with Dr. Farooq Sattar and Mr. Raza Haroon visited Karachi Chamber on our request and committed to compensate the affected traders.

In this process of providing relief to the victims the role of the Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has been tremendously supportive, said Siraj Teli, by making an Official Committee for the purpose led by Zubair Motiwala and with the majority of the members being from the private sector and Karachi Chamber, and would like to personally thank the President of Pakistan Mr. Asif Ali Zardari for providing immediate time for the meeting with us on 30th December and accepting our demand of immediate initial relief of Rs. 3 billion and also the Honourable Prime Minister of Pakistan Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani for announcing of first Rs.One billion as early as 30th of December in the Cabinet Meeting in Gwadar on our request communicated by Rehman Malik, Dr. Farooq Sattar and Babar Ghouri informed Siraj Teli.

The Karachi Chamber is thankful to Dr. Zulfiqar Mirza, Home Minister of Sindh for visiting personally and after inspection in detail endorsing with 100% satisfaction and trust on the Business & Industrial Community of Karachi, said Siraj Teli and appreciating the fact that such a kind of colossal losses and involvement of thousands of traders in the incident could only be handled by the Businessmen Group of Karachi Chamber. I would like to specially appreciate the support and trust of Federal Finance Minister Mr. Shaukat Tareen and for providing the funds, said Siraj Teli.

Siraj Kassam Teli appreciates and salutes his colleagues of the Businessmen Group and the staff of Karachi Chamber for the job well done and also the great people of the affected areas, who even after suffering critically have cooperated and came down to their genuine losses under oath and proving once again that the vast majority of the traders are God fearing people and allowing to make this process transparent. The involvement of such a huge number of people in the process made sure that the transparency is maintained for above board finalization of the cases.

In the end, Siraj Kassam Teli wants to ensure the affected people that the rest of the claims will be paid and we have already made separate committee for reconstruction of the buildings as they were on 27th of December and this process will start very soon.

28/12 VICTIMS TO GET RELIEF CHEQUES FROM THIS MONTH; SHOPKEEPERS WILL NOT BE VACATED FROM THEIR OLD PREMISES; KARACHI AFFECTED MARKETS RELIEF COMMITT

First Meeting of Government of Sindh’s constituted “Karachi Affected Markets Relief Committee” for the rehabilitation and relief of victims of 28-December, 2009 tragic incident, was held under the Chairmanship of Committee and Advisor to Chief Minsiter Sindh for Investment, Muhammad Zubair Motiwala on January 8, 2010, wherein Chairman Businessmen Group & former President-KCCI, Siraj Kassam Teli, District Coordination Officer- City District Government, Javed Hanif, Additional Secretary Finance – Govt of Sindh, Saeed Ahmed Awan, Special Secretary Finance – Govt of Sindh, Najmus Saqib, President-KCCI, Abdul Majid Haji Muhammad, former President-KCCI, A.Q. Khalil and President, All Pakistan Memon Federation, Ahmed Chinoy also participated.

The House condemned and expressed sorrow on the tragic incident and reiterated the intent that the rehabilitation and relief to the victims will be extended on emergency-basis and it would be ensured that payment of claims would start for disbursement from current month. For this purpose, all the victims were asked to submit their claims through the platform of Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry by January 20, 2010, afterwards no claim will be received for assessment/ evaluation and processing. It is pertinent to mention that claim forms for City District Government Karachi and other institutions will also be submitted at KCCI where all the data will be amassed and accumulated for scrutiny in the presence of empowered and authorized representatives of the affected markets.

Committee with consensus agreed with the modus operandi suggested by KCCI and decided that after initial assessment of all claims; payments for disbursement to victims will be commenced from current month for claims being scrutinized (analysed/ assessed, evaluated and processed) in all aspects. Committee asked all the victims to submit their claims with entire responsibility and honesty. If any affected shopkeeper, in hesitation, has submitted wrong claim, he will also be given opportunity to correct the already presented claim and resubmit by January 20, 2010. Committee with consensus agreed that all affected markets which are already collapsed and those shall be demolished as declared dangerous by Karachi Building Control Authority will be reconstructed and repaired by City District Government Karachi. Similarly, all shopkeepers, Office and Godown holders in the said buildings, will be provided with same covered area space and they will not be evacuated from the old premise under their use. In this regard, KCCI, representatives of authorized affected markets, construction experts will give recommendations. Subsequently, it is requested to all affectees to extend their complete cooperation to the Committee. The Committee appreciated the decision of City District Government, especially Nazim-Karachi, Syed Mustafa Kamal whereby they announced for repair of affected buildings by CDGK. Next meeting of the Committee will be held on January 22, 2010.