Islamabad Capital Territory

Islamabad | ReNews Pakistan
Under the Finance Act 2026 27, registered persons who clear outstanding duty liabilities before the issuance of a show cause notice will be required to pay only 25% of the prescribed penalty in cases involving non payment, short payment or evasion of duty.

According to details, if a registered person pays the amount of duty not paid, short paid or evaded along with the default surcharge during an audit or after completion of the audit but before the issuance of a show cause notice, only 25% of the prescribed penalty will be payable.

The provision is aimed at encouraging registered persons to voluntarily clear their outstanding liabilities at an early stage and avoid prolonged departmental and legal proceedings. Once the outstanding duty and default surcharge are paid along with the applicable 25% portion of the prescribed penalty, the matter will be settled.

Under the procedure, a registered person who pays the outstanding amount after the issuance of a show cause notice will be required to pay 50% of the prescribed penalty. After payment of the outstanding duty, default surcharge and applicable penalty, further proceedings in the matter will be discontinued.

The Finance Act 2026 27 has therefore linked the amount of penalty with the stage at which the outstanding liability is cleared. A lower penalty applies where the registered person settles the liability before the show cause notice, while a higher portion of the prescribed penalty becomes payable after the notice has been issued.

The provision covers cases involving non payment, short payment or evasion of duty. The registered person is required to pay the outstanding amount along with the applicable default surcharge and the relevant portion of the prescribed penalty under the law.

The mechanism is expected to facilitate early recovery of outstanding government dues while providing registered persons with an opportunity to settle their liabilities before the matter proceeds further through departmental action.

The arrangement may also reduce the need for prolonged proceedings in cases where the registered person accepts the outstanding liability and completes payment along with the applicable surcharge and penalty within the prescribed legal framework.

Under the new provisions, the stage at which the liability is settled therefore determines the portion of the prescribed penalty payable by the registered person, with the lower 25% rate available before issuance of the show cause notice and the 50% rate applicable after the notice.

Islamabad | ReNews Pakistan
The future of the Prime Minister's Roshan Maeeshat power package for industrial and agricultural consumers is set to be reviewed, with the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority scheduling a hearing for October 5 for the six month review of the package.

According to sources, the hearing will review the existing power package for industrial and agricultural consumers, including the discounted tariff and the relief being provided to eligible consumers under the programme.

Following the review, several options may be considered, including continuation of the existing discounted tariff, an increase in the discounted tariff or suspension of the package.

NEPRA will hear the views of relevant stakeholders on the implementation of the package, the applicable tariff and its impact on industrial and agricultural consumers. The review will help determine the future structure of the package and whether any changes are required.

The Roshan Maeeshat power package was introduced to provide tariff relief to industrial and agricultural consumers and support electricity use in these sectors. The discounted tariff is intended to help reduce electricity costs for eligible consumers.

According to sources, the six month review will also examine the sustainability of the existing discounted tariff and its financial implications for the power sector.

The October 5 hearing is expected to provide an opportunity for relevant stakeholders to present their positions on the continuation and structure of the package. A decision regarding the future of the tariff relief will be taken after completion of the review process.

Islamabad : ReNews Pakistan
The Federal Government Employees Housing Authority has approved the outsourcing of four amenity plots reserved for health and education facilities in Islamabad's G 13 and G 14 sectors. The plots will be used for a hospital, two dispensaries and a school under a proposed public private partnership and joint venture model.

According to officials, the projects will be developed under a Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer model with an initial concession period of 20 years. The concession period may be extended for another 10 years under the proposed arrangement.

The FGEHA board has also authorised the authority to invite Expressions of Interest and Requests for Proposals through open competitive bidding. The process will allow private sector partners to be selected for financing, construction, operation and maintenance of the proposed facilities.

The identified sites include a 4,813 square yard plot for a hospital in G 14 Markaz, a 4,813 square yard plot for a dispensary in G 14/3, a 67 square yard plot for another dispensary in G 14/4 and a 333 square yard plot for a school in G 14/3.

Under the proposed arrangement, FGEHA will retain ownership of the land, while the selected private partner will be responsible for financing, constructing, operating and maintaining the facilities.

The developed infrastructure will be transferred back to FGEHA after the concession period expires. The authority expects the model to attract private investment and operational expertise while supporting the development of health and education facilities in populated and developing sectors of Islamabad.

FGEHA officials also informed the board that 13 school plots had previously been handed over to the Federal Directorate of Education for the development of schools and colleges. However, only two plots have so far been utilised due to limited government funding.

The authority expects the proposed outsourcing model to help put the identified amenity plots to productive use and facilitate the development of essential health and education infrastructure through private sector participation.