‘Facilities to masses priority’

LAHORE

Punjab Finance Minister Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha has said the Punjab government is bringing citizen budget for year 2016-17, focusing on health, education, energy and agriculture sectors, and giving facilities to the masses is the top priority of the government. 

During her visit to Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry regional office, she appreciated FPCCI’s proposals and suggestions and assured that all highlighted issues will be considered. The minister said the government is well aware of double taxation issues and making serious efforts to inter-provincial tax harmonisation. A special committee for resolution of 0.9pc infrastructure Cess was formulated which has members of FPCCI, PRA and stakeholders. 

The regional chairman and vice president, FPCCI, Mian Rehman Aziz underlined various issues being faced by the business community, vehicle registration, property tax and transfer laws, PRA legislation federal excise duty on service, double taxation, and professional tax. He said 0.9pc infrastructure Cess recently imposed by the Punjab government has badly disturbed business community as both Sindh and Punjab are imposing infrastructure Cess on the same consignment that increased cost of doing business in Punjab. 

Rehman Aziz said interprovincial tax harmonisation is dire need of time and finance ministries and departments of four provinces should made harmony on right of taxability as the taxpayers are facing double taxation on the basis of origin and destination. He added revenue collections should be merged under one ministry or body, currently revenue collections of the Punjab fall under various ministries or bodies, Punjab Revenue Authority, Punjab Excise & Taxation, Board of Revenue, Energy Department and Transport Department. Syed Aasim Shah, vice-president, FPCCI, said 0.19 per cent negative growth by agriculture is most worrying aspect of the year and he proposed subsidy to major crops, wheat, sugarcane, cotton, and rice as important crops output fell by 7.18 per cent against the target of 3.2 per cent.