Tax imposed on luxury items, imports only, claims Dar

LAHORE: Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has said the Operation Zarb-e-Azb would be completed by the end of this year and the affected tribal families would start returning home.
Talking to reporters here on Tuesday, he said the government did not believe in the policy of begging from anyone, and all decisions would be made as an independent and sovereign state.
The minister claimed that new taxes had been imposed on luxury items and imported goods only and these taxes would not affect the common man. The new tax would not cause any inflation in the country, he claimed. He said the successful policies of the government had visibly curtailed poverty and inflation, adding that the nation would be rid of loadshedding and all other problems soon.
The minister said the government did not impose the new tax to appease the IMF or any other body. He said those who could afford the use of imported goods could also afford paying taxes. He said no tax was imposed on any product manufactured in the country. He said price control committees should keep a vigilant eye on profiteering. He denied that Rs40 billion new taxes had been imposed. He said these taxes were not imposed earlier in the annual budget but now these had been imposed to meet the requirement.