ISLAMABAD – Finance Minister Dar, on the floor of the National Assembly, said the government had estimated to face revenue collection shortfall worth Rs 196 billion for several reasons.
He maintained the government had reduced the revenue collection target by Rs 119 billion from Rs 2,810 billion to Rs 2,691 billion for the current fiscal year. He said, “We cannot ignore expenditures in the wake of the Zarb-e-Azb operation, debt servicing and payment of salaries,” he said and justified the practice of the previous government to issue SROs as the Constitution empowers the executive to enhance different taxes, including GST and regulatory duties etc. “Sovereignty of the Parliament has not been undermined.”
As the government could not satisfy the opposition parties over imposing additional taxes without the parliamentary approval, they continued their walkout for the fourth consecutive day.
The opposition parties left the house in protest attaching no value to the detailed justification from Finance Minister Ishaq Dar for imposing the sales tax.
Opposition Leader Syed Khursheed Shah, at the fag-end of proceedings, even demanded the government withdraw at least five percent GST out of total 10 percent additional levy imposed on petroleum products in last couple of months.
