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Friday, May 24, 2013
Provinces need more financial autonomy
Staff Report
KARACHI: Finance, Planning and Development Minister Shakaib Ahmed Qureshi stated that the provinces must be empowered to collect tax on goods in order to improve their financial position.
While talking to a delegation of World Bank at Chief Minister House, Qureshi urged the government to adopt an outcome-based approach in order to streamline the tax system. He further said that NFC and the 18th amendment are optimistic signs for the systematic strengthening of the provinces.
Qureshi suggested that land leveraging and asset management would be the best approach to mobilise non-tax resources for sustainable development. He said that the government must set the direction of its priorities by resolving the administrative bottlenecks.
The minister stated that we have plenty of ideas but we need the right projects in order to capitalise on them. He informed the visiting delegation that the tax collection system needs to be simplified in order to ensure smooth collection process.
The meeting was attended by the World Bank Mission, which discussed the issues related to Finance Department, Sindh Revenue Board (SRB), Excise and Taxation besides other topics of mutual interest like improvement of infrastructure. The Minister Excise and Taxation Shabbar Zaidi also attended the meeting.
Zaidi said that there is an urgent need for the automation of government departments so that the piling up of files may be avoided. He said that SRB has successfully switched to such automated culture in government sector.
He said that the model of SRB has developed a documented record of sales tax potential in Sindh province. He said that provincial revenue collection is an important aspect to ensure sustainable development.
The delegation of World Bank agreed with the views of Qureshi and stressed on resource mobilisation. On the occasion Qureshi presented a souvenir to the representative of World Bank senior education specialist Margo Hoftijzer on behalf of Chief Minister.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk
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