- Calls on business community to pay taxes for the sake of country’s prosperity
Directs to waive off unnecessary taxes on small shopkeepers
ISLAMABAD, January 20: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday stressed the need for the business community to contribute their bit to the country’s prosperity by paying their taxes.
The premier, who was addressing a gathering of heads of over 100 trade organisations, lamented that previous governments had wasted public money on the lavish lifestyles of their leaders, which was why people weren’t willing to pay taxes.
“When leaders live lavishly on public expense, who will pay taxes?” he questioned, adding that he was trying to change the culture starting with himself. “We reduced the expenses of the PM House by 40%,” he said. “I live in my own home, pay my own expenses. My salary is not enough to fulfill my own household expenses,” he added.
The premier also said that his expenses on foreign trips was 10 times less than what was spent by leaders before him.
“I’m just saying that I am starting with myself,” he said. “There should be a realisation about the need to respect public money,” he added, while seeking the business community’s support to raise the country out of the crisis. “Nations only rise when the whole nation is united. The government alone can’t do it,” he said.
Underlining the need for increase in tax collection, the premier said that during the first year of his government, half of the amount collected in taxes went towards payment of interest on loans acquired by the previous governments. “And yet, we allocated Rs190 billion for the Ehsaas programme,” he said, adding, however, that there were many sectors that needed improvement such as education, health and provision of safe drinking water but that would only be possible if the government had the funds.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed to waive off unnecessary taxes on small shopkeepers and to not put them in undue trouble.
The premier held consultations with the chief ministers and the Pakistan Board of Investment while taking notice of the taxes that are collected in the name of inspection and unneeded certification.
Imran Khan ordered to remove taxes on 15 small businesses and directed the provincial chiefs to instruct the Local Government Commission that the regime cannot allow harassing the traders in the name of unnecessary certification.
The PM said it is our priority to provide peaceful atmosphere to small shopkeepers. Subsequently, the provincial governments decided to remove taxes on 15 small businesses and to wave off inspection clause from 74 different trades. -DNA
