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Sunday, June 23, 2013
Shah dismayed over no reduction in GST
Staff ReportISLAMABAD: The Leader of opposition in the National Assembly, Syed Khursheed Shah on Saturday expressed his dismay for government refusal to reduce GST standard rate from 17% to 16%.
Expressing his views on budget windup speech by the finance minister, Shah said in the house that media was highlighting the adverse impact of increase in GST rate on common man and finance minister instead had strongly defended his position while announcing no reduction in the rate. He said flood of price hike was being predicted in the media as well as general public.
He took serious notice of finance minister’s remarks during his windup speech and mentioned that previous government had allocated Rs.40 billion for Benazir Income Support Programme. Shah clarified that PPP government had allocated Rs.60 billion for BISP and according to the revised estimates for the outgoing fiscal year 2012-13, around Rs.58 billion spending out of the total ammount has been reported.
He also expressed his dismay over marginal 20% increase in BISP disbursement from Rs.1000 to Rs.1200 per month and said due to high inflation and currency fluctuation the actual value of Rs.1000 have gone down to Rs.500. He was of the view that government should have increased the BISP monthly disbursements from Rs.1000 per month to Rs.2000 per month to benefit the poor.
He said BISP also had a set of safety net programmes including Wasela-e-Haq programme, Health Insurance Programme and Skill Development Programme.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk