MULTAN - Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) Chairman Suhail Haral demanded the government to review the fixed tax policy on factories.
Addressing a press conference here on Monday, chairman Suhail Haral observed that cotton factories used to operate during the winter season only. He posed the question how is it possible to pay fixed tax for the whole year. If the government wants to get fixed tax throughout the year then it should provide raw material to ginning factories for 12 months, he added.
He demanded the government to manage audits of Independent Power Plants (IPPs) from international firms to assess their capacity building as capacity charges were being paid regularly. IPPs produce nearly one third of total electricity in the country, however fuel price adjustment was being taken for overall electricity production whether it was prepared from hydro, coal, wind or solar systems, he stated.
Responding to a question about production of cotton, he stated that PCGA was expecting production of 12 million bales. However, the rains and floods caused havoc with the crop. There could be a loss of four to five million cotton bales.
About the present condition of cotton, Suhail Haral maintained that ongoing weather conditions were favorable for the cotton crop. The temperature drops especially during night time and it is good for the crop, he hinted.
AVAILABILITY OF ESSENTIAL ITEMS BEING ENSURED-ADC REVENUE
Additional Deputy Commissioner-Revenue (ADC-R) M Khalid has said that the availability of essential commodities to the consumers at government controlled rates is being ensured.
The ADC-R said that keeping the prices of vegetables and fruits under control is one of our duties and in this regard, artificial inflation and unnecessary increase in the rates of commodities will not be tolerated. He said that the Price Control Magistrates continue to monitor food prices on a daily basis to curb inflation. He said that the action will be taken against those who will create artificial crisis of food items.
Defective and substandard items will not be allowed to be sold, he added. Khalid further said that along with monitoring the auction process in the vegetable market, practical steps are being taken to ensure the quality of vegetables and fruits.
FBR OFFICIALS ANTICIPATE 35PC MORE TAX RETURN THIS YEAR IN MULTAN
Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) officials have recorded 30 per cent increase in the number of tax returns filed so far in Multan region compared to last year and hoped it might reach 35 per cent with cut-off date just days away.
Deputy commissioner inland revenue, Regional Tax Office (RTO) Multan Shah Jahan Durrani told APP that people were paying taxes and filing returns despite destruction caused by floods and attributed this development to rising awareness among the people. Moreover, FBR has also introduced digital mode of payments for convenience of tax payers, Durrani said adding that traders and industrialists also had the facility to asses taxes themselves and pay.