ISLAMABAD  - Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday formed a committee headed by Secretary Finance to review the matters pertaining to long-standing issue of payment of compensation to Mirani Dam affectees of Balochistan.
He formed a committee during a meeting with the Chief Minister Balochistan Dr Abdul Malik Baloch. The Chief Minister drew Finance Minister’s attention to the long-standing issue of payment of compensation to Mirani Dam affectees. He said that in 2007 floods had inflicted unimaginable damage on homes and hearths of the population in the area. It may be recalled that in June 2007, when the cyclone Yemyin hit the coast of Balochistan, a massive backflow of water occurred at the Mirani Dam affecting population across three union councils.  The affectees, the CM said had not yet been duly compensated even after passage of a long time and were continuously suffering. He also discussed some issues relating to FBR. The Finance Minister formed a committee headed by Secretary Finance to review the matters pertaining to payment of compensation and FBR and sought report by Thursday.
The Minister assured the CM Balochistan that he would issue immediate instructions for resolving the issues regarding compensation and other matters upon submission of the report by Secretary Finance on Thursday.
Meanwhile, in other development, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar approved Rs 2.9 billion incentive grants for immediate apportionment among the provinces. It may be recalled that the CCI on a proposal from the Finance Division had decided that the provinces would be given incentive grant on quarterly basis for maintaining cash surpluses with State Bank of Pakistan.
The grant approved by Finance Minister Wednesday covers Oct-December quarter of FY 2014-15.