KARACHI: State Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan has assured the business community that the government will consider their suggestions for the Federal Budget 2018-19.
Speaking at a seminar on ‘Forthcoming Federal Budget 2018-19’ at local hotel here on Wednesday evening, the minister thanked the participants for the recognition of government’s achievements in the last four years.
The seminar was organised by the President of Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum, Mian Zahid Hussain. Renowned businessmen, including former president FPCCI Zakria Usman, Saqib Fayyaz Maggon, Mirza Ishtiaq Baig, Zafar Iqbal and Arif Habib also addressed the seminar. They appreciated the federal government’s measures to overcome the major challenges of power shortages and law and order situation after coming into power in 2013.
They also appreciated the federal government for putting the country’s economy in the right direction and for initiating various mega development projects, as well as the game-changer the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.
The business community also lauded the government for initiating various mega development projects, as well as the game-changer the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.
The business leaders called for a general amnesty scheme for bringing money back from abroad. They were of the view that because of the poor law and order situation in the recent past a large number of businessmen had transferred their money abroad and now they want to bring it back.
They said that the scheme will bring huge foreign exchange and help boost the country’s economy.
The minister said suggestions of businessmen for the annual budget would be considered. He said China imports billions of dollars goods every year and Pakistani businessmen and traders should focus on increasing exports to China.
He said the government wants to simplify the tax collection system and the complaints of businessmen community to this effect would be addressed.
