Handsome Amount Earmarked In Budget As Subsidy For Electricity Consumers: Hafeez Sheikh

Handsome amount earmarked in budget as subsidy for electricity consumers: Hafeez Sheikh

Adviser on Finance Hafeez Sheikh has stated that two hundred and sixteen billion rupees have been earmarked in the budget as a subsidy for those electricity consumers using less than three hundred units per month

Islamabad (Pakistan Point News / Online - 12th June, 2019) Adviser on Finance Hafeez Sheikh has stated that two hundred and sixteen billion rupees have been earmarked in the budget as a subsidy for those electricity consumers using less than three hundred units per month. He said this subsidy is aimed at protecting the poor electricity consumers from the rise in power prices.He started that "rich people in other countries pay higher taxes" as compared to the upper class in Pakistan.

He stated that despite difficult economic situation, the government has enhanced allocations for protection of vulnerable segments of the society and development projects in the next year's fiscal budget.Flanked by Planning Minister Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar and Minister of State for Finance Hammad Azhar has stated this while addressing a post budget news conference in Islamabad on Wednesday.The Adviser on Finance said two hundred and sixteen billion rupees have been earmarked in the budget as a subsidy for those electricity consumers using less than three hundred units per month.

He said this subsidy is aimed at protecting the poor electricity consumers from the rise in power prices.As regards the development budget, the adviser said that the annual development plan for the next fiscal year envisages allocation of nine hundred and fifty billion rupees as against the 550 billion rupees allocated for the current fiscal year.He said this amount will be spent on the construction of infrastructure including roads and dams which will help create job opportunties for the youth.

We have also announced separate packages both for Karachi and Balochistan.Hafeez Sheikh said the new budget also aims to reach out to the poor districts including those in Balochistan as well as erstwhile FATA. He said one hundred and fifty two billion rupees have been earmarked for the development of tribal districts."We are also giving subsidies to the private sector on the gas and electricity tariff besides they will be given loans as part of efforts to promote economic activity in the country' he added.

The Adviser on Finance said the focus of new budget is to check fiscal and external deficits, adopt austerity measures and cut the expenditures of the government.Referring to the country's debt, Hafeez Sheikh said we have also earmarked two thousand and nine hundred billion rupees for the payment of interest of loans taken by the previous governments. He said the present government has inherited debt burden of thirty one thousand billion rupees.

"If a person, who has been a non-filer in the past, buys a car or property, he will automatically have to become a filer. If he fails to become a filer within 45 days, he will receive a tax liability within half an hour after the 45-day limit has lapsed," Shaikh warned.The Adviser said all out efforts will be made to achieve the big target of 5550 billion rupees revenue collection. He said different measures, including automation of tax payment system, have been introduced to improve efficiency of the tax collection system.

He said a system is being developed to ensure that no one remains non-filer. Every person purchasing a car or property will have to become a filer.Shaikh said that the average tax rate of Pakistan is 11-12 per cent, which is "one of the lowest in the world and is not acceptable". "If we have to offend some people for this (increasing tax rate), then we are ready to do it," he declared. Commenting on the ambitious tax target for fiscal year 2019-20, Shaikh said: "Pakistan's people, especially the rich, will have to be sincere with the country and will have to pay taxes.

"Hafeez Sheikh said salary of government and armed forces employees from grade one to 16 has been increased by ten percent, while the employees from grade 17 to 20 will receive five percent raise, and no increase has been given to the government servants of grade 21 and 22. He said slabs of income tax for government employees have been rationalized. He said the last government had exempted government employees earning 1.2 million rupees in a year from any tax, which was not rational.