ISLAMABAD: The local small traders have urged the government to a pro-growth budget to trigger development and generate employment in the country.
“Now the country needs policies to increase production, boost revenue, employment opportunities and exports,” the chamber said in its budget proposals. “IMF has the same recipe for all the countries facing balance of payment crisis,” said the Islamabad Chamber of Small Traders (ICST) Patron Shahid Rasheed Butt.
He said that cut in developmental budget not only hurt masses but also negatively affect the economy; therefore the government should avoid heeding the foreign experts and listen to the local economists.
Calling for effective monitoring of remittances and real estates, he said that these two sectors were used by the corrupt people to whiten their ill-gotten money.
ICST patron said that monetary, fiscal and banking policies were contradictory, which must be aligned to ensure national development through increased economic activities. Butt further stressed the need for an equitable taxation regime. “We will not accept any new tax in the upcoming budget unless all the favourite sectors are brought under the tax net,” he said categorically. He demanded that steps be taken to reduce increasing poverty, which, he said, would never allow peace to prevail in the country.
“The ritual (budget) should not bring more miseries for the ordinary Pakistanis and more hurdles for businessmen,” he demanded.
