FAISALABAD: The government is fully committed to honoring its promise to eliminate power loadshedding by 2018 while the process to make it cheaper will start this year. State Minister for Water and Power urged the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to release the sales tax refunds and customs rebates, which is creating enormous cash problem for the value-added sector.
He said this while addressing the Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PHMA), Southern Zone Community Faisalabad.
He said the power production has been increased from 13,500 to 17,000 mega watts due to hectic efforts of the government while another 8,000 to 10,000 mega watts of electricity will also be added to the system in October 2018, which will be sufficient to meet the country’s needs. He said that, during the period of previous government, 18 to 20-hour loadshedding had crippled the life of a common man while the industrial sectors were also protesting on the roads. The previous government did not spend even a single penny on the transmission system.
He further said the Sahiwal Coal Power Plant will be completed in May. Similarly, work is also in progress on Thar Coal Power Plants. These power plants will use indigenous coal to produce cheaper electricity. He told businessmen that another three power projects are also under construction in Bhikhi, Baloki and Hawaili Bahadar Shah. These plants will generate total 3,600 megawatts of power.
He also offered Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PHMA), Southern Zone, to arrange a delegation to personally visit these projects, which is going to play a major role in the total elimination of loadshedding.
Responding to a question, he said as per promise made by Finance Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar, the government has cleared Sales Tax refunds of over Rs49billion in this year and Regional Tax Office Faisalabad ( RTO ) paid 40 percent growth to business community. He said all the refunds were transferred directly to the taxpayers’ accounts online to provide maximum facilitation to the business community. Abid Sher Ali promised the exporters that all their sales tax refunds would be paid as the FBR has already cleared 10,439 refund cases worth Rs26.43billion in recent two installments.
Earlier in his address of welcome, Main Muhammad Naeem, Chairman Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PHMA) Southern Zone, thanked Chaudhary Abid Sher Ali and also pinpointed the issue of gas suspension for industrial sector during winter season.
He requested Abid Sher Ali to realize his duty to save textile processing industry, which is totally dependent on gas. He said that at least 50% gas quota should be allowed as per previous practice. Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan, Parliament Secretary Finance, and Syed Zia Alamdar Hussain, President PHMA, presented a memento to State Minister Abid Shair Ali.
