ISLAMABAD: Member of National Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce and Vice President Federation of Pakistan Chambers Sajida Zulfiqar has said that the government announced a lot of concessions for business community but there is nothing for common man in the recently announced federal budget 2016-17.
She expressed these views during an exclusive interview with Customs Today. She said that the government announced concessions on import of machinery for establishing factories and the government has also withdrawn a lot of duties. She said that the government failed to announce any relief package for cottage industry.
She said that as government imposed tax on construction sector this will also put a burden on common man who thinks to construct his own house. She said that government also enhanced prices of cement. She said that government should reduce prices of essential commodities specially during the holy month of Ramazan. She said that in European countries prices of daily use items are far less as compared to prices in Pakistan. She said that we prepared budget according to instuctions of International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Replying to a question she said that present government announced its fourth budget but there is nothing new in this budget. She agreed that government announced some concessions for business community but nothing announced for women. She said before the announcement of federal budget we were expecting that fifty percent of budget will be reserve for betterment of women but there is nothing for women in present budget.
She said that she will raise this issue on the floor of national assembly. She said that government should announce some incentives for working women and take some steps to encourage women who are doing their business. She said that lot of women are working in cottage industry but government failed to announce any concessions for cottage industry. She said there is dire need for concession package for cottage industry.
Sajida Zulfiqar said that in Khyber Pukhtunkhawa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak established a special board for women who extend every help and support to women who are performing their duties in offices. She advised government to take immediate measures to enhance country’s export.
