President Zardari Issues Ordinances with Major Federal Law Changes
President Asif Ali Zardari has signed several ordinances that introduce sweeping changes to key federal laws, including significant salary hikes for federal ministers, expanded powers for the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), and major amendments to the Capital Development Authority (CDA) Ordinance.
Over 140% Salary Increase for Ministers
In a move that has sparked considerable attention, President Zardari has amended the Salary, Benefits and Privileges Act, 1975, resulting in a staggering 140% increase in the salaries of federal ministers. Under this new ordinance:
Read More: Federal Cabinet Approves Significant Salary Hike for Ministers
- Federal ministers’ monthly salary will rise from Rs 218,000 to Rs 519,000, a massive boost.
- Ministers of state will also benefit from the new salary structure, which will be aligned with the salaries of members of parliament.
- The new salary framework is retroactive to January 1, 2025.
FBR Granted Expanded Powers
In another major shift, the President signed an ordinance that grants the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) broad new powers. These include:
- Freezing bank accounts of individuals and businesses.
- Monitoring business premises, including oversight of production and inventory at commercial and industrial sites.
- Confiscating property of individuals or businesses that violate tax laws.
Key provisions of the new FBR framework include:
- FBR officers can be deployed at commercial sites for regular monitoring.
- Collaboration with other federal and provincial bodies for enforcement.
- Taxes will become immediately payable after a High Court or Supreme Court decision.
- Unannounced bank withdrawals by the FBR are now legally permissible.
CDA Ordinance Amended for Better Compensation
A separate ordinance introduced by President Zardari brings major amendments to the CDA Ordinance of 1960, focusing on fair compensation for land and property owners affected by government development projects.
Key changes in the amended ordinance include:
- Affected individuals can now choose between cash, alternate land, or other forms of compensation.
- Separate compensation awards will be issued for land and built-up properties.
- 8% annual compensation will be provided for delays in payment.
- Alternative land provided must match the original land in value, accessibility, and utility.
- A special compensation system has been introduced for minors and special persons.
- Agricultural land used temporarily for government projects will also be compensated fairly.
- Pending rehabilitation cases will be addressed under the current framework.
These reforms are part of a broader effort to streamline governance and ensure more equitable treatment for citizens impacted by government policies.
