KP also rejects proposed flood tax, RGST

PESHAWAR After Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has also rejected the proposed imposition of flood tax and Reformed General Sales Tax, however, the Centre has started efforts to force KP to endorse these proposed taxes. Sources informed TheNation that some high-ranking federal officials had contacted KP Chief Minister, Amir Haider Hoti and assured him that the reservations of the province would be addressed. After the approval of flood tax and RGST by the Federal Government, all the provincial assemblies were asked to approve it as well, however, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had refused to approve it. The province has argued that it was already bearing losses, as the floods inflicted heavy losses to the provincial economies and people. The provincial government expressed its unwillingness to put more burdens on the calamity-hit people of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by imposing new taxes. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani during his visit to the flood-hit areas of KP had exempted these areas from the GST and other taxes and now they want us to put more burdens on the affected people, which is impossible for us, an official of the provincial government said. The Federal Secretary for Treasury, Chairman FBR, and Prime Ministers Secretariat officials contacted the KP Chief Minister and urged him to resolve the issue.

ePaper - Nawaiwaqt