ISLAMABAD, Dec 13: The Senate standing committee on finance, revenue, economic affairs and statistics on Monday suggested a couple of amendments to the Federal Employees' Benevolent Fund and Group Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2004.

The committee meeting presided over by Senator Ahmad Ali was held at the Parliament House.

In reply to a question from the members whether any declaration had been made by the speaker National Assembly under Article 73 of the Constitution, the committee was informed that the secretary of the lower house in pursuance of clause (1) Article 73 of the Constitution had transmitted a copy of the bill as introduced in the National Assembly on October 8.

The Managing-Director Federal Employees Benevolent Fund Maj- Gen (retired) Rehmatullah Khan apprised the committee of the aims and objectives of the bill and said it would give effect to the decisions of the board of trustees regarding enhancement of rate of monthly benevolent grants/contribution and to exclude certain categories of employees/beneficiaries from the purview of the Federal Employees Benevolent Fund and Group Insurance Act 1969.

The committee examined the bill clause by clause and unanimously approved some amendments for consideration by the lower house. Earlier, the committee was given a briefing on the organizational set-up and working of the benevolent fund.