A meeting of the panel, presided over by Senator Saleem H. Mandviwalla, took up complaints regarding dress code instructions at certain banks, particularly those running Islamic operations.

Senator Dr Zarqa Suharwardy Taimur informed the committee that female employees were allegedly being compelled to wear abayas, although there was no such compulsion for male staff who were free to dress as they chose.

Senator Sherry Rehman argued that no employee should be forced to adopt any specific attire. She remarked that a shalwar kameez, as worn by ex-prime minister Benazir Bhutto, was also sufficient for other women, adding that the state had defined national dress for both genders.

State Bank Pakistan (SBP) Governor Jameel Ahmed said that the panel had also issued similar guidelines last year, which had already been conveyed to all banks.

The committee reiterated that it had only directed observance of a modest dress code and had never mandated any specific attire. It directed all banks to submit their dress code policies and instructed the SBP to circulate updated guidelines to ensure that no employee was subjected to unnecessary compulsion.

Meanwhile, Mandviwalla took exception to the non-implementation of the committee’s instructions for the payment of a budget honorarium to Senate staff. The committee was told that the matter was sub judice.

The payment of special honorariums, equivalent to five months’ salary, to various government and parliamentary employees on account of the annual budget has continued to be the subject of lobbying and political and bureaucratic influence.

Mandviwalla stressed that Parliament had passed a law and no court had the jurisdiction to interfere in such matters.

“Have we ever interfered in judicial matters? Have we ever asked why they are taking so much in salaries? How can they interfere in our domain?” he questioned, emphasising that he wanted payment of salaries to Senate employees.

He asked the finance ministry to return to the Supreme Court and inform it of the law, adding that a notice of privilege motion would be issued if the matter was not resolved within seven days.

Regarding the non-issuance of revised payslips to directors, staff and private secretaries of the Senate Secretariat by Accountant General Pakistan Revenues (AGPR), the committee chairman directed the authorities concerned to resolve the matter within seven days, warning that “failure to comply would result in referral to the Senate Privileges Committee”, a statement said.

Earlier this month, officials from the AGPR briefed the committee on the matter, seeking additional time for implementation. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and the AGPR officials were non-committal about making the honorarium payments to Senate staff without first obtaining legal opinion.

The committee also reviewed complaints regarding difficulties faced by customers, particularly Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs), in dealing with commercial banks.

MNA Muhammad Moin Amir Pirzada informed the committee that despite its earlier directions to designate dedicated officers in banks including the SBP, no uniform standard operating procedures (SOPs) had been developed in this regard.

He said his bank account had been closed in April this year and despite repeated correspondence with the concerned bank and the SBP, no response had been received. He stressed the need for a standardised annual data update mechanism to prevent such incidents.

The SBP governor acknowledged that while regulations governing PEP-related cases already exist, the lapse occurred at the branch level. He informed the committee that a backup officer had been designated and assured members that a dedicated focal person would also be appointed in this regard.

The committee emphasised the need for uniform SOPs across the banking sector, while the finance minister termed standardised procedures “essential” to ensure effective customer service and grievance redressal, according to a statement.

The committee also discussed investment protection policies. Senator Manzoor Ahmed proposed extending the incentives currently available for the Reko Diq project to other investment projects across Pakistan.

Officials of the finance ministry informed the committee that only one project currently qualified under the existing criteria, and that the government’s fiscal position did not permit extending similar concessions. However, the finance minister assured the committee that future proposals would be considered within the available fiscal space.

Discussing taxes collected through electricity bills, Senator Kamil Ali Agha expressed concern over the burden on consumers.

Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Muhammad Rashid Langrial informed the committee that approximately Rs476 billion had been collected through electricity bills, including Rs351bn in sales tax and Rs124bn in adjustable withholding income tax. He explained that sales tax on electricity formed part of the country’s overall sales tax regime.

Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry welcomed the decision and said it would improve the competitiveness of Pakistani exports and strengthen the confidence of international shipping companies, traders and investors in the country.

He added that Pakistan’s removal could also make Karachi Port, Port Qasim and Gwadar more attractive to global shipping lines and investors, creating opportunities for regional trade, cargo transit and transshipment.

According to the minister, the issue was taken up on March 13, 2026, when it was noted that Pakistan and its maritime areas had been among the JWC’s Listed Areas for two decades — after the US declared its war on terror following the 9/11 attacks in 2001.

Their inclusion had resulted in additional war-risk insurance premiums and surcharges for Pakistani shipping and trade.

The prime minister subsequently constituted a special committee, headed by Chaudhry, to pursue the matter. This committee held negotiations with Lloyd’s officials and presented Pakistan’s case on the basis of technical evidence and factual data.

“Even during Ramazan, lengthy meetings were held for several hours after iftar,” the minister said, adding that sustained negotiations eventually resulted in Pakistan being removed from the list.

He added that the decision would reduce the additional financial burden on the country’s maritime trade and help Pakistani exports compete more effectively in international markets.

Chaudhry hailed the development as an important step towards making Pakistan a major regional logistics, transit and transshipment hub, adding that the government would continue efforts to improve maritime safety and efficiency, expand port capacity and attract investment in the sector.

Polls in AJK are being held in three phases over security concerns, with the first set of polls held in Mirpur division on Monday. Scuffles, violence and allegations of rigging had marred the polling process, with the PML-N and PPP accusing each other of electoral malpractice.

“The PML-N thinks that after its defeat in Gilgit-Baltistan, a defeat in AJK would mean a countdown begins for its government,” Bilawal said while addressing a rally in Muzaffarabad ahead of the August 2 elections. “But this is a misconception.”

“If you steal [the election] … write it down, take my guarantee, that a countdown will start for your federal government,” he warned. “If you steal my mandate, I will come for your throne.”

The PPP scion added that his party had elders who had challenged former leaders, including General Ziaul Haq and Pervez Musharraf, and were experts at “hunting lions”.

He also extended a message to the PTI — which has rejected the AJK elections over alleged rigging concerns — to “start doing politics” and leave behind “boycott politics”.

“Boycotting elections, boycotting Parliament, boycotting committees, boycotting your work, boycotting struggle — if you want to boycott, you might as well just sit at home,” he said, calling on the PTI to contest the elections and conduct themselves as a political party.

“Today I extend my hand towards PTI’s workers, towards its serious politicians,” he said. “To every political party that is tired of rigging, to every political worker who wants to make their own decision, come and join your hands with mine.”

He expressed hope that together they could bring about parliamentary reforms and ensure fair elections in Kashmir and across Pakistan, saying he was ready to work with all political parties on that agenda.

Bilawal added that there was one way to stop rigging in an election: to turn out in such large numbers that an “injection” of false votes would not be effective. He called on PPP supporters to ensure such massive turnout during the second phase of the elections on August 2.

While addressing the rally, he said he welcomed the PML-N’s promise to provide buses to Kashmir, but added: “If you come to Muzaffarabad bringing the spectacle of what you have done in Lahore, people will ask: what have you done in Muzaffarabad?”

Referring to the CMH flyover project in AJK, he pointed out that it had not been completed in five years. Meanwhile, the PPP was responsible for the construction of all three medical colleges in Kashmir as well as the construction of universities.

“I don’t want to make Kashmir into Punjab, or even Sindh,” the PPP chairman said. “I want … to make Kashmir into a strong Kashmir. I want to see it free.”

Bilawal said that the first task for the elected government would be to end the difficulties faced by the people of AJK, including opening roads, delivering essential supplies and restoring internet and banking services. He highlighted that the PPP wanted to bring “fast, modern” internet to the region to allow it to stay connected.

Throughout his address, he stressed his commitment to Kashmir’s right to make decisions regarding its own future, votes and resources, as well as jobs for its youth.

He restated his intention to deliver “sovereignty, ownership and employment” to the people of AJK, saying that in institutions of Pakistan where decisions were made on Kashmir’s “water, electricity, economy, budget and future”, Kashmir should have rightful representation and its own voice.

“Election decisions should be done by ballots, not bullets. Votes should be counted during the election, not bodies,” he said.

Recalling that Benazir Bhutto had given Kashmiris observer status at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, he pledged to also deliver observer status to Kashmiris in the National Finance Commission, Council of Common Interests, National Assembly and Senate.

Bilawal also stated his intention to deliver the same sovereignty and ownership to refugees, calling them “a part of our existence, our history and our movement”. He called for their rightful proportional representation in the AJK Assembly to be protected.

He stressed that Kashmiri citizens were the “real owners” of the region’s natural resources, calling for the protection of their rivers and environment and for the region to receive a fair financial share for the use of its resources. He added that the first right to jobs created through projects in the region should go to its own youth.

The PPP chairman stressed that the PPP had submitted proof of winning 90-100 per cent of votes in Mirpur to the AJK Election Commission, but regretted that a notification had been issued instead.

“I want to ask the election commissioner: are you an election commissioner for the PML-N, or the state of AJK?” he said, adding that a notification could not hide theft or stop justice. He demanded that ahead of August 2, complaints regarding the first phase of elections be heard publicly, and polling station results and ballot counts be brought before the public.

“If it is not theft, then what are you hiding?” he emphasised, calling on the commission to restore its credibility.