Islamabad: The Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue, chaired by Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, held a comprehensive review of multiple financial and administrative matters at Parliament House today.
During the session, Senator Zarqa Suharwardy raised concerns over reports that some Islamic banks are compelling female employees to wear abayas. State Bank officials clarified that dress code policies vary across banks, and the Committee emphasized the need for a regulatory notification from the State Bank of Pakistan mandating only modest, professional attire.
The Committee examined Starred Question No. 24, referred from the House on 9 October 2025 by Senator Kamran Murtaza, regarding alleged Rs. 375 trillion financial irregularities. It was clarified that this figure resulted from a typographical error in the consolidated executive summary, verified and corrected by the Attorney General. No statutory report contained the error, and a fact-finding inquiry is underway. The Auditor General will provide a detailed briefing on the correct Rs. 9 trillion figures in a separate session.
The Committee also addressed the non-implementation of the Presidential Order dated 16 July 2025 and directed that the order be enforced without further delay.
Fire hazards in the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) Karachi were reviewed, particularly the accumulation of large quantities of uncleared scrap and waste due to delays in removal and auction procedures. Officials confirmed that past fires were not caused by waste accumulation, though EPZ representatives disagreed. New procedures have been introduced to ensure automatic monthly disposal to prevent future risks.
Additionally, the Committee unanimously ratified the nominated members of the FBR Policy Board under Section 6(5) of the FBR Act, 2007.
The Committee also discussed salary disparities for tenure-track faculty at the Institute of Quality and Technology Management, University of the Punjab. Despite a 2021 directive to maintain a 35% differential, delays persist, prompting some faculty to consider litigation. The Committee urged Finance and Education authorities to coordinate and resolve the issue promptly.
Concerns over backlog of consignments at the Sost Border were also raised, noting that delays in customs clearance and auction procedures had left goods stranded for months. Officials stated that most consignments have now been cleared, generating revenue, and the Committee stressed the need for mechanisms to prevent future backlogs.
Senators Farooq Hamid Naek, Manzoor Ahmed, Zarqa Suharwardy, Taimur Dilawar Khan, and Kamran Murtaza (participating online), along with the Minister of State for Finance and Revenue, Chairman FBR, representatives from the State Bank, Deputy Auditor General, and senior officials from relevant departments attended the meeting.