ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Wednesday unanimously passed the Companies (Amendment) Bill 2015, moved by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar.

The bill seeks to provide for the listed companies to either cancel the repurchased shares or retain them as treasury.

Listed companies which feel that their shares are undervalued on the stock market may buy back their scrips to improve and stabilise earnings.

Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi deferred the Pakistan Halal Authority Bill 2015 for Thursday to reach at consensus after Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) member Naeema Kishwar sought amendment in clause 17.

JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that utmost care should be taken during legislation.

He was of the view that there should be proper check on import and export of commodities. Only halal products should be imported, he added.

Published in Dawn, November 26th, 2015