CM Kamal calls for using natural resources to boost revenue

CM says govt is trying to increase its annual income to Rs40b by 2020

QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan has stressed the need for a good governance system in Balochistan, saying “we have to generate more revenue from our natural resources”.

“We are paying Rs23 billion in pensions which will increase to at least Rs200 billion by 2025. We have to earn this huge amount from our natural resources,” said the chief minister while addressing an inauguration ceremony of the Online Tax Collection system on Tuesday.



“Balochistan is running on just Rs15 billion. The provincial government is trying to increasing its annual income to Rs40 billion by 2020,” said CM Kamal. “For 15 years, bad governance was witnessed in the province. We held at least 10 cabinet meetings and took initiatives by introducing legislation to enact 40 to 45 laws at provincial level.”

The provincial government was taking steps for the generation of revenue, said Kamal, adding that they were trying to provide jobs to the people of the province.

“Provincial government is trying to make better laws,” he said.
On online tax collection, Kamal said, “This programme was started in 2013 and it took just eight months to complete it, but unfortunately we have spent five years on this programme.”



The CM congratulated the excise department for the successful launch of the programme.

Stressing that strong economic policy was key to success for every institution and department, Kamal said, “If we don’t have a strong economic policy we cannot succeed nor achieve our targets.”
On the occasion, the CM announced 23,000 to 24,000 vacancies for the people of Balochistan by the end of the month.

Taking over the dais, Adviser to the CM on Excise and Taxation Malik Naeem Bazai said, “The excise department is collecting six types of taxes for the provincial and federal government in Balochistan.”
The adviser announced tax collection target of over Rs2 billion for the current year.



“We have linked the system with NADRA for vehicle registration. The provincial government has introduced a seven-feature smart card which will be an alternative to the registration book.

“Balochistan is the only province in Pakistan where people can pay their taxes round the clock without any holiday,” said provincial adviser. “The Central Data Centre has complete information about vehicles registered from Balochistan and the people can easily verify their vehicles from anywhere in Pakistan.”

The Balochistan Excise Department and NADRA have inked a Memorandum of Understanding for the identification of the seller and buyer of vehicle, said Bazai.