ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Ishaq Dar chaired the First Steering Committee meeting on implementation of Federal Shariat Court (FSC)’s judgment on Riba here on Friday.
Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Dr. Aisha Ghous Pasha, SAPM on Finance Tariq Bajwa, Governor State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Secretary Finance, members of the Steering Committee and senior officers from Finance Division and SBP attended the meeting.
Inaugurating the First meeting of the Steering Committee, Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar appreciated Governor SBP for his sincere efforts in making a roadmap for implementation of Islamic financing and interest free system and hoped that the guidance of Governor SBP will lead the implementation of interest free system to its logical destination.
He also expressed satisfaction on SBP and NBP for withdrawing appeals in the Supreme Court against the judgment of Federal Shariat Court and paving the way for its implementation.
Finance Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar further expressed commitment of the Government to promote Islamic finance and eliminate interest based system in Pakistan in true spirit and achieve its goal of transformation within the timeframe of five years. He expressed hope that the decisions of this meeting would be beneficial for the proliferation of Islamic financing system in the country.
He stressed all the stakeholders to work with commitment, sincerity and understanding to overcome all the hurdles in the way of implementation of interest free system and making the system feasible and stronger that all citizens would aspire for it, as already 21 per cent of banks enjoy Islamic banking system.
The Finance Minister urged to include professional experts on Islamic laws in the committees and also sought guidance of Ulema and Islamic intellectuals into launching of additional Islamic Sukuk bonds. He further extended full support to every effort towards implementation of FSC decision on Islamic finance system.
Earlier, Governor State Bank of Pakistan welcomed the participants of the meeting and briefed on the roadmap and areas of actions on implementation of the FSC’s judgment. He further informed that five working groups have been formed to overcome the technical issues, getting recommendations and deciding on a way forward for full implementation of the Islamic financing.
Meanwhile, in another communique, Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar held a meeting with Chairman Senate Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani, Acting Governor Baluchistan Mir Jan Mohammad Jamali and Balochistan Provincial Minister Zamrak Khan Achakzai in Islamabad.
The meeting discussed the current economic situation in the country and financial issues and execution of development projects especially in flood affected areas of Balochistan.The Finance Minister committed to extend full support of the federal government for the development and progress of Baluchistan province.
