Our Staff Reporter MULTAN - Former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that 13.5 percent increase in gas tariff, hike in CNG rate and monthly increase in electricity prices will crush the masses besides exerting pressure on national economy. Addressing the participants of an iftar dinner held in his honour here in a suburb of Multan on Monday, he asked the government to change its strategy and revamp its tax system instead of putting more burden on masses. He suggested to the government to control corruption and improve its financial management. He pointed out that the economic condition of the country was very poor and the government was likely to miss all budget targets. He added that the achievement of tax targets also looked impossible. He said that he had pointed out all of these issues in his budget speech in the national assembly but the government did not consider it seriously. He said that the government had claimed to bring fiscal deficit down to four percent. But it cannot be done without imposing new taxes on masses or cutting development budget down, he added. Referring to the imposition of 3.5 percent withholding tax on ginning factories, he declared it a highly unjust step and said that it would ruin cotton industry. He feared that the tax would ultimately be shifted on to the farmers. He said that national economy heavily depended on cotton based items and destruction of cotton industry was tantamount to destruction of national economy. He said that the cotton ginning factories were shut down by the ginners as a sign of protest against the tax. He suggested to the government to invite cotton ginners and sort out this issue amicably. He regretted that the poor farmers were left helpless by the government as cotton procurement had not started in the country as a result of which they were not getting appropriate price of their produce. He regretted that Urea production in the country declined seriously because of suspension of gas supply to the factories. He said that the farmers and their representatives were not consulted before evolving gas distribution formula. He demanded of the government to take up this issue seriously and restore gas supply to the fertilizer factories as it was the only way to cope with brewing fertilizer crisis in the country. Shah Mahmood also condemned policy torture on citizens protesting against loadshedding in Makhdoom Rasheed. Brokers back PCGA: The Brokers Association (BA) on Monday expressed complete solidarity with Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) against imposition of 3.5 percent withholding tax. Talking to the journalists, the president of Brokers Association Kh Shafique said that his organisation would fully support any strategy evolved by the PCGA against the tax. He lashed out at the government and said that the rulers imposed new taxes on poor masses instead of recovering taxes from wealthy class and checking corruption. He regretted that the commerce and industry were at the verge of complete destruction in the country because of governments policies. He pointed out that thousands of industries were shut down across the country as a result of which millions of people lost their jobs. He said that the country expected bumper cotton crop this year but a certain group of corrupt bureaucracy was bent upon depriving the farmers of its benefits. He said that the Brokers Association Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawalpur, Burewala, Vehari, Khaneewal, Jhang and Multan chapters had joined hands with the PCGA. nancial management Our Staff Reporter MULTAN - Former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that 13.5 percent increase in gas tariff, hike in CNG rate and monthly increase in electricity prices will crush the masses besides exerting pressure on national economy. Addressing the participants of an iftar dinner held in his honour here in a suburb of Multan on Monday, he asked the government to change its strategy and revamp its tax system instead of putting more burden on masses. He suggested to the government to control corruption and improve its financial management. He pointed out that the economic condition of the country was very poor and the government was likely to miss all budget targets. He added that the achievement of tax targets also looked impossible. He said that he had pointed out all of these issues in his budget speech in the national assembly but the government did not consider it seriously. He said that the government had claimed to bring fiscal deficit down to four percent. But it cannot be done without imposing new taxes on masses or cutting development budget down, he added. Referring to the imposition of 3.5 percent withholding tax on ginning factories, he declared it a highly unjust step and said that it would ruin cotton industry. He feared that the tax would ultimately be shifted on to the farmers. He said that national economy heavily depended on cotton based items and destruction of cotton industry was tantamount to destruction of national economy. He said that the cotton ginning factories were shut down by the ginners as a sign of protest against the tax. He suggested to the government to invite cotton ginners and sort out this issue amicably. He regretted that the poor farmers were left helpless by the government as cotton procurement had not started in the country as a result of which they were not getting appropriate price of their produce. He regretted that Urea production in the country declined seriously because of suspension of gas supply to the factories. He said that the farmers and their representatives were not consulted before evolving gas distribution formula. He demanded of the government to take up this issue seriously and restore gas supply to the fertilizer factories as it was the only way to cope with brewing fertilizer crisis in the country. Shah Mahmood also condemned policy torture on citizens protesting against loadshedding in Makhdoom Rasheed. Brokers back PCGA: The Brokers Association (BA) on Monday expressed complete solidarity with Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) against imposition of 3.5 percent withholding tax. Talking to the journalists, the president of Brokers Association Kh Shafique said that his organisation would fully support any strategy evolved by the PCGA against the tax. He lashed out at the government and said that the rulers imposed new taxes on poor masses instead of recovering taxes from wealthy class and checking corruption. He regretted that the commerce and industry were at the verge of complete destruction in the country because of governments policies. He pointed out that thousands of industries were shut down across the country as a result of which millions of people lost their jobs. He said that the country expected bumper cotton crop this year but a certain group of corrupt bureaucracy was bent upon depriving the farmers of its benefits. He said that the Brokers Association Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawalpur, Burewala, Vehari, Khaneewal, Jhang and Multan chapters had joined hands with the PCGA.