ISLAMABAD: Six bills related to Islamabad including the Food Safety and Rent Restriction Amendment Bills were passed in the joint session of the Parliament on Wednesday.

The Islamabad Capital Territory Food Safety and Rent Restriction Bills were moved by Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Capital Development Authority Affairs Ali Nawaz Awan.

The SAPM told Dawn that with the approval of the bills, he fulfilled the promises he had made during the election campaign.

While explaining the Food Safety Bill, he said an authority will be set up to ensure adulteration-free food supply in Islamabad.

“Unfortunately, due to weak regulations, currently unhygienic food and milk is being sold in Islamabad. After formation of proper authority equipped with stringent law, we will ensure elimination of sale of substandard food items in the capital city,” he said, adding the Rent Restriction Bill was a decade old demand of tenants and landlords in the capital. They had been demanding amendments in the Islamabad Rent Restriction Ordinance 2001.

Food Safety, Rent Restriction, University of Islamabad bills approved

He said the amended bill protects the rights of tenants and landlords.

The statement of object and reasons of the bill said: “The amended bills entails that every agreement between landlord and tenant shall be presented before the controller for record keeping. Any payments related to the tenancy agreement shall be made through cross cheques or with an official receipt/acknowledgment. The rent of residential and non residential building shall be annually increased by 10pc automatically unless the parties decide to contrary in writing”.

It stated that for dispute resolution, there shall be a mediation council to be presided by the president of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce or his nominee as its convener. A representative of the tenant and the landlord will both be part of the council. “The controller before proceeding with a case shall refer it to Mediation Council. In case of no settlement, the controller shall proceed with the case. In case of settlement, the order passed by the controller in accordance with the decision of the Mediation Council shall be considered final,” read the bill.

University of Islamabad Bill

The University of Islamabad Bill, 2020 was also approved in the session. Under this bill, a private university will be set up at Bahria Golf City along Murree Expressway.

The university will offer programmes in management sciences, computer science, international relations and mathematics. “It brings immense social benefits for the local population of Islamabad and Rawalpindi and adjoining areas,” read the bill.

The Islamabad Capital Territory Charities Registration, Regulations, and Facilitation Bill, 2021 was also passed.

According to statement of object and reasons of this bill: “It becomes necessary to make effective provisions for registration, administration, regulation and facilitation of their charities so as not only to encourage the resourceful people who endow their sources for the welfare of mankind but also ensure the receipt, registration, administration, regulation and utilization of the charities just for the purpose of human uplift,” read the bill. It added that it is also necessary that charities “may not be misused in any illegal activities like terrorism, sectarianism, money laundering, discord, distortion or the activities declared illegal by any national or international law”.

The National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2021 was passed to merge National Training Bureau with National Vocational and Technical Training Commission as both organisations have common and overlapping functions.

The bill stated all the existing employees of the bureau, who are civil servants, will be given options to either become employees of NAVTTC or report in the surplus pool at Establishment Division.

The National College of Arts Institute Bill, 2021 was passed to give NCA the status of a federal institute. An amendment to the Pakistan Academy of Letters Bill, 2013 was passed whereas a bill related to corporal punishment was also approved.

Amendment to Muslim Family Laws

The Muslim Family Laws Ordinance, 1961 which deals with family matters including divorce (talaq) was amended.

The bill said that there has been a demand from members of the Shia community for legislation on divorce as per their interpretation of Quran and Sunnah.

Published in Dawn, November 18th, 2021