ISLAMABAD (July 30, 2010): The Senate on Thursday unanimously passed "The Benazir Income Support Programme Bill, 2010." Federal Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Babar Awan presented the Bill in the Upper House of the Parliament, which was passed unanimously. He said Benazir Income Support Programme is for the welfare of the poor masses. He said it is a targeted programme for the people who are living on or below the poverty line.

ISLAMABAD (May 09, 2010): The President Asif Ali Zardari has approved horizontal revenue sharing formula based on multiple criteria between the provinces and also authorised all four provinces to impose and collect General Sales Tax (GSP) on services, official sources at Ministry of Finance informed Business recorder. The President approved the amendments in the Distribution of Revenues and Grants in Aid Order, 2010 to ease Sindh's concerns.

ISLAMABAD (May 07, 2010): The SBP is being given additional powers to regulate shareholders of banking companies. Hith-erto, the central bank could only regulate the management of these institutions.

ISLAMABAD (May 06, 2010): Senate Standing Committee on Finance passed the Competition Ordinance 2009 with some amendments including setting up an independent "Competition Appellate Tribunal" and abolishing high court as forum for hearing appeals against the orders of the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP).

ISLAMABAD (May 05, 2010): The Senate on Tuesday passed Alternative Energy Development Board Bill, 2010, piloted by Water and Power Minister Pervez Ashraf, to provide for establishment of an Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB). Moving the bill in upper house of the parliament, the minister said that alternative energy resources had been receiving world-wide attention to safeguard against vulnerable shortages or price increase of conventional fuels.

ISLAMABAD (April 06, 2010): The Cabinet, which is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, will clear the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Amendment Bill 2010, enhancing effectiveness of the central bank in monetary policy formulation, according to official documents obtained from Finance Ministry. These amendments are part of the agreement between the GoP and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

ISLAMABAD (April 01, 2010): The Senate on Wednesday passed 'The Banks (Nationalisation) (Amendment) Bill, 2004' to further amend the Banks Nationalisation Act 1974 on the plea that the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) classify House Building Finance Corporation (HBFC) as a non-banking institution.

LAHORE (March 28, 2010): Private sector credit growth is expected to remain stagnant and banks are expected to charge higher rate on risk-free government guaranteed debt, in order to absorb the cost of ongoing roll-over instead of repayment of outstanding credit, says the State Bank of Pakistan.