ISLAMABAD - Federal Minister for Revenue, Haroon Akhtar Khan said on Friday the government was aiming to give a businessman-friendly and pro-industry budget for the next fiscal year (2018-19).

“The next year budget would include several innovative policy measures to shore up the growth rate and jump start further economic activity in the country,” he said while talking to a delegation of the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry which called on him at the FBR House. The minister said, “The government wanted the next budget to be a reflection of our intent to improve the areas of economy which have not kept up with growth in other sectors.”

Haroon said the budget would also reflect the aspiration and expectations of the business community which had always reposed confidence in our government to provide them a level-playing field to boost their businesses.

The minister invited the Rawalpindi Chamber and other trade and business organisations across the country to come up with solid and practical proposals and recommendations for incorporation in the next financial budget to sustain and further accelerate the pace of growth and economic activity in the country. He said the prime minister was keen to give maximum possible incentives and concessions to the business community in the next budget and his team at FBR was working on those lines to make the next budget more favourable for the business community.

He said the government was keen to further accelerate the pace of economic growth and already several suggestions and propositions were being considered and examined to give maximum relief and incentives to the business community.

Earlier, the delegation members congratulated Haroon Akhtar Khan on his elevation as the federal minister, calling it a very welcome development given his experience and expertise on the revenue side as well as his deep understanding of the day-to-day problems and issues confronting the business community.

They said the business community and chambers were keen to work with him to broaden the tax base and add more people to the tax net.