LAHORE

Provincial Minister for Finance Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha has said that provincial government has not imposed any tax on common man and tax has been levied on such sectors and services which are not used by common man. She said that our focus is on such sectors or services which do not pay tax or pay less tax and bringing them into a tax net will not affect common man. She said that common man does not use services of chartered accountant and corporate lawyers. She said that KPK and Sindh have already imposed infrastructure development cess and Sindh has increased it. She said that we have not increased tax rates but reduced the rate of some taxes.
She expressed these views while replying to objections of opposition in Punjab Assembly and talking to media. She said that we have launched various projects for improving socio-economic condition of the people and the project of improvement of rural road infrastructure has been started with Rs 150 billion. She said that besides subsidy on tractors, provision of potable water in 11 districts of South Punjab with Rs. 30 billion, setting up of Solar Park in Bahawalpur with 150 billion rupees energy projects have been started in other cities of the province.
Replying to a question, the Minister said that we have not increased tax while our tax ratio according to GDP is less in the world. She said that government has brought such sectors and services under tax net for running mega projects of public welfare which does not effect common man. She said that Punjab budget 2015-16 is a people-friendly budget.