LAHORE: Punjab Finance Minister Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha has said that promotion of tax culture is need of the hour but it does not mean that the poor should be burdened with more taxes.
She expressed these views while addressing a seminar on the topic “Rights of Taxpayers, Situation and Demands” held in collaboration with Hamid Nizami Press Institute of Pakistan.
She said that the aim of setting up Punjab Revenue Authority is to increase tax net but not increase tax rate. She said that out of 100 million population of the province, 70 percent comprises youth who can be equipped with education and skills through which they can become self-reliant.
Participation of private sector will supplement government efforts in this regard, she added. Referring to complaints of business community of chamber of ommerce and problems of the industrial sector, Dr. Ayesha Ghaus Pasha said that aim of visiting the chamber again and again is resolution of problems of traders and assurance of government cooperation. She said that promotion of local industries is an integral part of government policy. She assured that after increase in tax net and improvement in recovery rate, tax rate will be reduced at provincial level and implementation of conditions recommended with regard to payments will be ensured. She said that PRA will neither harass taxpayers nor increase their difficulties.
She said that government is introducing a best system of internal audit of provincial departments. Vice Chairman Liaison Committee Lahore Tax Bar Umer Zaheer Mir, Prof. of Economics University of Central Punjab Dr. Qais Aslam, Columnist Mujahid Mansoori and Director Hamid Nizami Absar Abdul Ali also addressed the seminar. Senior Vice President Chamber of Commerce Almaas Haider, President Nasir Saeed and other members were also present on the occasion.
