Moving forward: Sindh forms committee to streamline agriculture tax

Sindh CM wants input of all grower organisations and stakeholders.

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah has formed a committee that would prepare a draft for an amendment in law to streamline agriculture tax.

The committee, headed by Sindh Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Sikandar Mendhro, will consult grower organisations and other stakeholders. Shah has also directed the committee to submit the proposed draft in the Sindh Assembly.

The chief minister ruled out the impression that the agriculture sector was not being charged with income tax, adding that there were many taxes including agriculture income tax which were already imposed and charged but not being considered by the media.

Shah was of the view that not only agriculture income tax, but water tax, drainage tax, local cess and other indirect taxes are also being collected. He, however, blamed revenue officers for not playing their role.

Shah asked Mendhro to identify the lacuna in law and prepare a formula draft paper on agriculture income tax to ensure equal privilege of taxable slab, concessions, remission and other facilities which are being provided to industrialists and traders.

“Sindh is an agro-based province,” he stated. “Its entire economy and livelihood of more than 80% people depends upon agriculture.”

He said the Sindh government is keen on assisting the agriculture sector by providing more facilities, modern cultivation methodologies and agricultural implements the growers. “This will also to benefit the government, industrialists and traders.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 27^th, 2014.

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