FAISALABAD: President of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain has proposed fixed tax for unorganized sector, allocating primary education exclusively for women, enhanced role of private sector to increase GDP growth rate to 7 percent and expeditious completion of energy projects to spur national economy. He was addressing achievements Award Ceremony of Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI).
The President in its speech encompassed multifarious problems relating to all sectors of life and told that in 1999 he had proposed fixed tax but it could not be processed due to the change of the Government. He said that organized sector is paying its taxes and to bring the unorganized sector into the tax net, FPCCI should work on this proposal to make it acceptable for the unorganized sector. He said that taxes are like blood in human body and each and every person should pay its due tax liability in order to contribute its role in the overall development of Pakistan. He feared opposition to this proposal from IMF but stressed that we must adopt suitable tax strategy appropriate to our own system. He said that the fixed tax would facilitate tax payers from all income and sales tax related liabilities.
Regarding main streaming of women, President Hussain said that 50 percent of our population is consisted of women. This must be involved in productive economic activities. In this connection, President also proposed that primary education could be exclusively allocated for women. It will have a salutary impact on our society starting from the education of the girls and their involvement in education sector; he said and hoped that it will pave way to utilize 50 percent of the dormant female population for productive economic gains. President urged upon the women to get highest education. They should go abroad for education but they should not copy the western culture blindfolded. Pakistani girls should wear their own dress and their behavior should also be reflective of true Pakistan social and cultural values.
Regarding GDP growth, he said that at the moment, it was 4 percent which should be 7 percent to make a breakthrough in the economic front. He said that private sector and particularly FPCCI have to take this responsibility and generate much needed economic activities. He assured that the Government was already making efforts to overcome loadshedding of electricity which will either be eliminated or minimized to the lowest level by 2018.
He also spelled out has four social sector priorities including health, education, support to the people belonging to fine arts and Jehand against corruption and misappropriation. He said that corruption is eating up our economy and society has to play its due role to discourage it. He said that people should make corrupt persons realized that they are being hated by the society. He said that Government was also making serious efforts to root out the corruption and it was encouraging that no major scandal of corruption has surfaced during this tenure. The President also criticized the mud-slugging and unnecessary criticism and said that we should also shun this tendency which was detrimental to the national progress and prosperity.
Quoting Nandipur Power Project, he said that no corruption has been done in this project. The file for this project remained dumped by in the Law Ministry which resulted into escalation of its estimated cost and hence we cannot term it corruption. He said that similarly, rumors are being fomented regarding LNG import.
He said that he think that LNG imports will not only help in overcoming the energy crisis but also pave way to reduce its rate. He said most of the critics were silent in the decade of 1970 when the country was being looted. The load-shedding surfaced about 14-15 years ago but no steps were taken to undertake new power projects. The power plants conceived during this period were also based on dishonesty. He further said that during the election of 2008, Pakistan’s debt liability was Rs.6700 billion which escalated to Rs.14800 billion during the election of 2013. He said that people ought to ask the then rulers that where this huge loan was spent.
It is also a hard fact that new major projects were launched during this period. He said that Present Government has to get new loans to repay the loan installment which have already been taken by the previous rulers. However, it is heartening that they are paying the costly loans first which is a healthy and positive step. He asked people to support the Government who are working on mega development project. It is the duty of masses to give a shut up call to the elements that were creating hurdles in these development projects.
Responding a question about IT University in Faisalabad, he said that business community of Faisalabad has generously donated to health and education sector and they should also take this initiative at their own. Regarding non-payment of refund claims, he asked the businessmen to immediately file appeals with Federal Ombudsman who is bound to decide their appeals within a period of 60 days. He hoped that it will help them to get their refund claims without any further delay.
Earlier Mian Muhammad Adrees, President FPCCI said that present Government is pro-businessman. The Government not only attentive to our problems, but also understand their issues and it was also trying to resolve the same. He said that all economic indicators are positive, foreign investors are rushing to Pakistan to capitalize the availability business opportunities and hoped that the Pakistan economy will be put on the right track very soon.
Chaudhary Muhammad Nawaz President FCCI introduced Faisalabad and FCCI and said that this Chamber was playing its reinvigorated role in resolving issues confronted by the business community of Faisalabad. He demanded bench of High Court and new Airport in this city adding that it is the right of 8 million people of this region. He also reiterated its demand for necessary tax reforms.