LAHORE - Pakistan Industrial and Traders Associations Front (PIAF) has urged the Government to announce a special package of incentives in forthcoming budget for the revival of business activities and to give boost to exports so that the country could be able to undo the negative affects caused by global financial crisis, acute shortage of electricity and deteriorating law and order situation. In its budget proposals, the PIAF Chairman Irfan Qaiser Sheikh, Vice Chairmen Iqbal Baig Chugtai and Khawaja Shahzeb Akram said that Continuous supply of electricity to the industry, satisfactory law and order situation and cut in cost of doing business are the few areas which should be given priority in the budget. The PIAF also suggested creation of a special fund to deal with the losses suffered by the importers in case of delay in clearance. The genuine tax payers should be issued Privileged Cards for the encouragement of other tax payers. The increase the exports, the PIAF leaders proposed cut in duties on raw materials for export-oriented industry while the appointment of commercial attaches in foreign countries should be linked to promotion of Pakistani merchandise in global market. They said that high markup needs to be brought down to single digit as it would increase industrial productivity on the one hand while help increase local investment in the country. The banking spread that has crossed the figure of seven per cent should also be narrowed down in the larger interests of trade and industry. Income tax exemption limit shall be enhanced to Rs.300,000/- from Rs.100,000/-. Income tax on cash withdrawal from Banks shall be reduced to 0.2% and threshold be increased from Rs.25,000/- to Rs.50,000/-. As the country at the moment is facing a number of external and internal pressures, the PIAF leaders suggested to the government to curtail all non-productive expenditures to the minimum level so that the funds could be utilized for the betterment of people. They said that the government should also announce austerity drive in the budget and all government functionaries entitled to use official vehicles should be directed to use small vehicles and their fuel consumption limit should also be fixed. As this would help save precious foreign exchange. Over law and order situation, the PIAF leaders said that there is a dire need to allocate special funds to strengthen intelligence network in the country as the previous happenings have proved that police alone can not handle any untoward incident. The PIAF office-bearers also urged the government to evolve both short-term and long term policies to overcome the shortage of electricity. In this regard, he local businessmen could be asked to make investment in power sector jointly or individually. As a large number of industrial units have stopped their operations while many are on the way to closure. They said that uninterrupted supply of electricity to the industry would not only increase industrial production but it would also arrest the fast galloping unemployment graph. They said that the govt should also announce work on Kalabagh Dam which had been politicized for nothing as it would not only expedite economic activity but would also ensure cheapest electricity on completion. The PIAF leaders said that there is a dire need to promote research culture in the country as despite having all the resources the country is lagging far behind in every sector only because on non-availability of required information. Our neighbouring countries are progressing leaps and bounds but we are fast losing our due place in the global market. They said that the existing rate of General Sales Tax is very high and it seems prohibitive for economic growth therefore it is strongly recommended to reduce it. As Pharmaceutical sector is fulfilling local demands as well as earning precious foreign exchange for the country therefore Customs Duty on raw material of Life Saving Drugs should be reduced to 5% besides Sales Tax on Packing Material and Locally Manufactured Raw Material should be withdrawn. Moreover, it is proposed to withdraw the restrictions on import of pharmaceutical machinery, to promote BMR and new Pharmaceutical Industries in Pakistan. The PIAF leaders also urged the government to announce a cut in petroleum prices and their fixation for at least one year.