NBP, Balochistan’s Excise, Taxation and Anti-Narcotics Dept. sign agreement for automation of tax collections
The National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) signs an agreement with Baluchistan’s Excise, Taxation and Anti-Narcotics department for the automation of tax collection system across the province.
The agreement was signed by Muhammad Farooq, NBP’s Executive Vice President, Payment Services and Digital Banking Group and Fateh Muhammad Khajak, Director General Excise, Taxation and Anti-Narcotics Balochistan. The NBP President, Saeed Ahmad and Baluchistan’s Secretary Excise and Taxation, Zafar Ali Shah Bukhari were also present at the occasion. The JazzCash is collaborating with NBP in the tax automation project.
Speaking at the occasion, Zafar Ali Shah Bukhari, Secretary Excise, Taxation and Anti-Narcotics, Balochistan, said that earlier the taxes were collected manually through NBP’s branches, which had its own challenges and complications. Reconciliation of collected money was one of the biggest problem while at times transparency and timeliness were compromised in manual system, he added and said that the implementation of new automated system would make the process much easier for customers and will provide real time validation as well.
Saeed Ahmed, President NBP said that automation and digitization of all government procedures and payments & taxes collections is one of the primary objectives all federal and provincial governments to achieve complete E- governance. The NBP is assisting all the provincial governments in digitalizing their various payments, fee and taxes collection systems. He mentioned that the NBP has already inked MoUs and agreements with various provincial and federal departments for digitally colleting their fee and payments including Directorate General of Immigration & Passports, Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment, Public Service Commission KPK, Islamabad Traffic Police, Driving License Sindh and Dealer Vehicle Registration System (DVRS) and collection of e-Tax in Punjab.
He further stated that NBP is playing a major role in enhancing the financial inclusion by aligning with digital banking revolutions in Pakistan. NBP is in process of developing systems for digitization of all G2P & P2G payments. He highlighted that NBP is actively working to digitalize its banking services built on a collaborative model with Telcos and other stakeholders. This will help in promoting Alternate Delivery Channels and enabling the right environment for inclusive growth and achieve the goal of financial inclusion, Saeed said.
Being a public institution, he said, it is our mandate to develop a digital suite of financial services with an access to market players through any available digital channels for enhanced customer convenience with focus on enabling e-governance infrastructure. Our substantial participation in e-credit program, as well as forging links with other stakeholders including telecom service providers is expected to boost formalization of the economy. He said that Bank’s biggest projects recently, was to rapidly grow our ATM network which already grew from 376 ATMs in the year 2014 to over 1,000 ATMs in the year 2016. This exponential growth in our ATMs extended financial services to far flung areas of the country, where previously no other bank had ventured even in the remotest of areas in FATA. He said that his aim is to geographically cover the NBP’s services from the peaks of Karakoram to the Arid Zones of Baluchistan.
Regarding the agreement with Baluchistan tax department, President NBP said that the NBP has chosen JazzCash to be its official partner in branchless banking project. People could pay their due taxes and payments from the JazzCash outlets and shops across Baluchistan and they wouldn’t need to visit Excise and Taxation department. Through this service, outstanding amounts of the relevant taxes can be extracted and payment options will be available for real time collections through JazzCash. Saeed said that this facility will minimize the operational hassles of the Excise and Taxation Department and also provide convenience, comfort, transparency and fast track options to general public.
Saeed Ahmad said that initially this will be rolled out through JazzCash and gradually other partner mobile money operators as well as ADCs of the bank i.e Mobile App. And ATMs will be added in due course.
The NBP’s Head of Central Payment Services and Digital Banking Group, Farhan Durrani, Muhammad Sultan Jaffar, Regional Head Quetta, NBP, Qazi Muhammad Ali/Director IT Excise and Taxation, Faheem Mumtaz, Head of B2G JazzCash, Muhammad Ghufran Abbassi, Regional Head, MFS JazzCash, Naveed Ejaz, Regional Head, B2G JazzCash, Shakeel Tareen, Regional Head Sales, Balochistan Jazz Cash and others attended the ceremony.
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FATA & PATA merger with KP is in accordance to the Locals demand and appreciated: Mian Zahid Hussain
President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF), President AKIA, Senior Vice Chairman of the Businessmen Panel of FPCCI and former provincial minister Mian Zahid Hussain last Friday said that in accordance to the demand of local people the merger of FATA and PATA with KP is a bold and marvellous step of civil and military leadership, which will help resolution of problems of the area and residents thereof.
The veteran businessman while talking to the business community said with eradication of frontier crime regulations (FCR) the locals will enjoy the benefits of true freedom and will be able to actively participate in the economic and social growth of area in particular and the Country in general. It is the end of a cruel era being faced by the tribal population in term of difference in rules and regulations.
The former minister said the tribal area and its population are blessed with various resources which will now become a part of the national growth. The population of more than five crore settled in seven agencies and six regions will take the national economy to new limits through their active participation in trade, industry and other economic activities. Thousand Billion rupees will be allocated to be used in the areas for development within 10 years. Tax amnesty will be available for five more years to come.
FATA has been the centre of terrorism due to distance from its managerial centre Peshawar and close with the boarder of Afghanistan, which has fought back with sacrifices of millions of military men and civilians. Now peace has restored by the grace of Almighty and it is the right time to say bye to the FCR and cruel laws of tribal areas. 12 seats of National Assembly will be reduced after abolishing FATA’s seats, while KP assembly seats will be increased by 21 seats and senate seats will be reduced by 8; abolished after FATA’s merger. Rs. 100 Bn will be allocated in addition to Rs. 24 Bn in NFC awards, he added.
Mian Zahid Hussain said reconstruction of FATA and PATA is in progress. The Military establishment with the support of public private partnership is developing the area in accordance to modern day need of infrastructure development, roads, hospitals, colleges, business and trade centres are under construction. The business community should actively support the cause of promoting FATA and invest in the tribal area to utilize the area’s resources to its fullest potential. He congratulated civil / military establishment and leadership on the rightly merger of FATA with KP and expected that this merger will bring prosperity in the Country and will endure the peace process in the area. He also congratulated people of the tribal areas on this long demanded merger of all federally administered tribal areas to Khyber Pukhtunkhwan province.
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Khushhali Microfinance Bank Receives Green Office Certification
Khushhali Microfinance Bank has recently been awarded ’Green Office Certification’ by WWF-Pakistan in recognition for its concrete efforts to implement environmentally sustainable practices within the head office. Khushhali Microfinance joined this programme in October 2017 and was able to get the certification within six months. Over this time, KMBL worked in close collaboration with WWF team to implement effective measures that will reduce the carbon footprint of the office by reducing wastage of resources like electricity, water and paper. Several innovative measures were introduced aimed at reducing the consumption of energy, improving waste management practices and enhancing staff awareness on sustainability and environment conservation through regular communication and training sessions.
The Certification was awarded after an in-depth inspection drive by the WWF Green Office Audit Team which took into account all the environmentally sustainable practices implemented within the office and their impact. Talking about the Green office certification President Khushhali Microfinance Bank, Ghalib Nishtar said ìThe Green Office certification recognizes the continuous efforts that the Bank is taking towards environment conservation with a particular focus on increased awareness of the staff on the issue so that they are able to replicate it outside this office as well.”
Green Office is a programme of WWF-Pakistan which centers on reduction in consumption of natural resources, promotion of climate change mitigation measures and increased awareness about environment. The first audit scores offices based on their practices involving energy conservation, waste reduction, recycling, and awareness programmes. WWF Green Office conducts annual audits to ensure that all implemented practices are followed in true spirit and efforts are being made for continuous improvement towards reduction of carbon footprint. KMBL is committed to the cause of environment conservation and is promoting it through multiple avenues including tree plantation activities, staff awareness activities and effective changes in its policies and procedures that support environment conservation.
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JS Bank and Honda Atlas Cars Pakistan enter into a Strategic Alliance
JS Bank Limited, one of the leading banks in Pakistan, has joined hands with Honda Atlas Cars Pakistan Limited to offer exclusive financing solutions and value-added services to their customers.
As part of the strategic alliance between JS Bank and Honda Atlas Cars Pakistan Limited, customers can avail fast track vehicle delivery along with priority processing at JS Bank through Honda Atlas Authorized Dealerships.
Speaking at the occasion Amna Tahir, National Manager Corporate – Honda Atlas Car Pakistan Limited, said “This initiative has created an ideal scenario for both JS Bank and Honda Atlas Cars (Pakistan) Limited. With this alliance, we aim to strengthen our customer relations by providing best Honda vehicles at the best possible financial package offered by JS Bank Auto Finance”.
Commenting on the partnership, Imtiaz Bukhari, Business Head Central, JS Bank stated, “At JS Bank, we provide customers with high value products and services which result in convenience and benefits for the end user. This alliance with Honda Atlas enables us to ensure that our clients are able to purchase their vehicles in the most efficient and smooth manner possible.”
HACPL believes that this alliance will play an essential role in cultivating a strong mutually beneficial business relationship for both JS Bank and HACPL.
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JazzCash becomes nbp’s partner in its Service of Excise and Taxation Department
A signing ceremony between JazzCash, National Bank of Pakistan and Excise & Taxation Department, Government of Balochistan took place in Quetta, Balochistan. Under this agreement, JazzCash has become the official branchless banking partner for NBP’s ongoing collaboration with Excise and Taxation Department, Government of Balochistan.
Citizens of Balochistan can now pay their Vehicle Registration, Vehicle Token Tax, Property Tax and other similar taxes through JazzCash using payment options such as JazzCash Mobile Accounts or JazzCash’s retail network prior to visiting the Excise and Taxation department. This will minimize the operational hassles for the Excise and Taxation Department, while residents will have convenience, comfort, transparency and fast track options.
Speaking on the occasion, Saeed Ahmad, President & CEO – NBP, stated, “This service simplifies work, and allows for reaching a greater population, which ultimately leads to time saving, minimizes book entry errors and provides convenience to the residents. Leveraging the bank’s financial expertise coupled with the strength of JazzCash’s extensive network, we are continuously striving to provide digital solutions to the financial needs of our customers.”
“As a leading digital company, our customer’s financial services need take top priority and we continue to strive hard in providing them with the best services. JazzCash remains committed to the digitization of financial services and facilities like these further enhance our digital payments ecosystem,” said Faheem Mumtaz, Head of Business to Government, Business Services Division – Jazz
Previously, NBP and JazzCash have also partnered to introduce digital payments collection facility for Passport Fee Payments and Public Service Commission Fee payments.
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Orientation Ceremony IBA Talent Hunt Program 2018 held
The orientation ceremony of the IBA Talent Hunt Program (THP) took place at the Gani Tayub Auditorium, IBA main campus. Representatives from the sponsoring organizations namely, Ihsan Trust – Meezan Bank Limited, OGDCL Pakistan and Community Development Program (CDP) – P&D Government of Sindh, attended the event along with the faculty and scholars of IBA-IT National Talent Hunt Program and IBA-CDP Sindh Talent Hunt Program.
Dean & Director, Dr. Farrukh Iqbal, Director THP, Ms. Zeenat Ismail, General Administration Manager, Wg Cdr. (Retd) Aamir Shabbir and management team attended the ceremony.
Dr. Zeenat Ismail, welcomed the batch of 2018 and informed the audience that a select group of 170 students with 35% girls and 75% boys will be taught by the IBA faculty for the Aptitude Test. Launched in 2004, the Talent Hunt Program (THP) is aimed at the students from far-fetched areas of Sindh, Punjab, Baluchistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Kashmir, FATA and Gilgit Baltistan. The orientation program is an intensive two-month educational and training program that prepares students for the IBA’s entry test.
Wg Cdr. ((Retd) Aamir Shabbir, while presenting the vision and mission of the IBA, stressed upon the core values of the institution and their role in the nurturance of the IBA community.
Expanding on the educational philosophy of the NTHP program, Dr. Farrukh commented that the IBA THP program caters to not only the financial gap but also the awareness and preparation gap, which otherwise hinders the access to education. Acknowledging that the batch of 2018 is the largest one in the history of THP, he emphasized on the significance of the diversity it will add to the IBA student body.
Mr. Ahmed Ali Siddiqui, Managing & Founding Trustee Ihsan Trust, mentioned that Ihsan Trust is the largest interest free loan provider for the educational institutions of Pakistan and intends to expand its provision of financial support to an even larger number of students with financial constraints.
Among other speakers were Mr. Pervez Ahmed Chandio, Director UCBPRP, Government of Sindh, Mr. Syed Hussain Haider, Director AISEM & International Consultant, Brig. Waseem ul Haq, Principal Cadet College Spinkai, Mr. Fayyaz Ur Rehman, Vice President Ihsan Trust, and Mr. Danish Sajid Khan, NTHP Alumni.
The lead faculty members and mentors were introduced followed by success stories of THP students. Dr. Farrukh Iqbal concluded the ceremony by presenting tokens of appreciation to the esteemed donors and prestigious guests.