ICMA Pakistan’s National Budget Conference 2018-19

The Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Pakistan organized National Budget Conference at Islamabad. Federal Minister for Finance Dr. Miftah Ismail was the Chief Guest. Minister of Finance Miftah Ismail has said that relief announced in the Budget 2018-19 will help increase the tax base and give an impetus to national growth. He said taxes in the real estate sector have also been rationalized in order to shun the undocumented economy and encourage people to declare the real worth of their properties. Referring to new tax slabs recently announced by the Prime Minister, the Finance Minister said tax procedure has not only been simplified but its rate also reduced to facilitate the tax payers. On a question regarding increasing the petroleum levy, the Minister said the government will pass on the reduction of international oil prices as it did in previous years. The Finance Minister also emphasized the importance of enhancing manufacturing in the country in order to reduce import bill.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Zia ul Mustafa Awan, President, ICMA Pakistan said that the primary objective of the formation of Institute in 1951 was to provide sustained institutionalized assistance for the development of industries in Pakistan, especially keeping a steady flow of qualified ‘industrial accountants’ to professionally support country’s just initiated industrial drive.

Mr. Shehzad Malik, FCMA,  Honorary Secretary,  ICMA Pakistan, Dr. Vaqar Ahmad, Joint Executive Director, SDPI, Mr. Zahid Latif Khan, President, Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) - Sohail Altaf, Chairman/ Group Leader – Rawalpindi Chamber  of Commerce  and Industry - Hafiz Muhammad Idrees, Sheikh Law Associates Mr. Ghulam Mustafa Qazi, FCMA Member National Council, ICMA Pakistan and Mr. Abid Latif Lodhi, Member National Council, ICMA Pakistan, Mr. Muhammad Yasin, Honorary Treasurer and Mr. Ather Saleem Ch., Chairman CPD Committee, ICMA Pakistan also expressed their thoughts on Federal Budget 2018-19.***