Category: Sales

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has directed to launch an inquiry into the levy of increased Sales Tax ratio on small traders through electricity bills other than the agreed one.

Chairing a meeting in Lahore, he also immediately suspended the fixed Sales Tax collection through electricity bills and directed to evolve a new mechanism in this regard.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister specially asked for the inclusion of representatives of traders in consultation process prior to taking any decision for collection of taxes from small traders through the utility bills.

Shehbaz Sharif also expressed his government’s resolve to take all steps for economic protection of poor segments of the society.

He also directed the concerned authorities and ministries concerned to immediately devise an effective mechanism for slashing the electricity rates for the poor.

Source: Radio Pakistan

Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Masood Khan held a meeting with Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs Ambassador Michele J. Sison in Washington.

They discussed a host of issues ranging from Pak-US multilateral cooperation on Sustainable Development Goals, connectivity and digital inclusion.

Ambassador Masood Khan in his tweet termed the meeting as productive conversation.

In a tweet Ambassador Michele Sison said that meeting with Pakistani Ambassador Masood Khan will help to further strengthen our multilateral cooperation including on the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Bilaterally, Pakistan and United States are engaging each other vigorously to promote their ties in trade, investment, health, energy, agriculture and the tech sector.

There are indications that two countries would be collaborating and cooperating more closely at multilateral fora United Nations New York, UN organizations in Geneva and UN affiliated specialized organizations in Vienna, Nairobi, Italy and Paris.

Pakistan and the United States would be working collaboratively to address the issues related to food security, climate challenge and global financial architecture.

Moreover, the US and Group of 77 (G-77) will have a dialogue to address matters of mutual interest.

Currently, Pakistan is the chairman of the Group of 77 in New York.

Source: Radio Pakistan

Minister for Finance Miftah Ismail has announced lifting of ban on import of non-essential and luxury goods.

Speaking at a news conference in Islamabad on Thursday, he said the Regulatory Duties will be enhanced manifold to discourage import of such products.

The Finance Minister said the duties being imposed would not let these commodities to enter into Pakistan as finished goods.

He said Regulatory Duties would be enhanced three times or to maximum possible level and can go even up to 400 to 600 percent or more.

Miftah Ismael said Pakistan is not having many dollars to spend on import of luxury items and the existing resources would be utilized to provide the people of the country with flour, wheat, cotton, edible oil instead of I-phones or luxury vehicles.

Source: Radio Pakistan

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif says the government’s immediate priority is to safely navigate through current economic crisis.

In an essay written in British weekly “The Economist”, he said the whole world is facing a difficult year but we have the protection of an IMF programme to see us through.

He said some measures will create hardship and require sacrifice, but we are committed to implement the programme as it is our path to safety.

The Prime Minister said this challenging moment also offers us an opportunity.

Emphasizing on developing consensus among political parties, he said there must be agreements on a few principles, including managing our finances prudently, investing in our people, encouraging merit and innovation, and promoting regional peace.

Shehbaz Sharif said it is important to modernise Pakistan’s social contract. He said people must pay their fair share of taxes in return for vital public services.

He said we must do better for our youth and women, and enable them to fulfil their aspirations and become drivers of economic growth.

Source: Radio Pakistan

Minister for Power Khurram Dastgir Khan says the government has put the economy of the country on a positive trajectory.

Addressing a news conference in Islamabad on Wednesday, the situation will further improve in next two months.

Referring to the speeches of PTI leaders, the Minister said freedom of speech and expression is a constitutional right but has to be exercised within the contours of the constitution.

He said freedom of speech and expression does not mean hideous social media campaigns against state institutions.

Source: Radio Pakistan