Budget will give relief to common man: CM

Hamza hints at expanding tax base to increase provincial resources

LAHORE:

Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shahbaz has rejected the proposals to impose new taxes on the common man in the next budget, keeping in view the price hike and made it clear that his government does not want to burden them.

While presiding over a meeting of the resource mobilization committee, the CM declared that reducing the problems of the downtrodden was a priority of his government.

Instead of imposing new taxes, providing relief to the common man should be focused on while expanding the tax base of the affluent, he said and invited out-of-the-box measures, including consulting the stakeholders, to increase the provincial resources.

Provincial ministers Sardar Awais Leghari, Atta Tarar, Khwaja Salman Rafiq and MPAs Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, Zeeshan Rafiq and others were also present at the meeting.

The chief minister condemned terrorists’ firing on a military post in North Waziristan and paid tributes to the bravery of the martyred Sepoy, Hamid Ali.

“The nation salutes Ali’s bravery as he got the highest rank of martyrdom by sacrificing his life for the Motherland,” the CM said and extended heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved family.

Meanwhile, a comprehensive plan of action has been chalked out under the chair of the chief minister to curb price hike and hoarding, and tasks have been assigned to price control committees and deputy commissioners across the province.

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While chairing a video link meeting of price control committees, commissioners, deputy commissioners and DPOs, the CM directed them to hold daily price control committee meetings in DC offices across the province.

It was decided in principle to set up a committee to reduce the prices of tandoori roti and naan, and the CM directed the officials that a uniform price list should be displayed at shops, stalls and markets.

The CM said that price control was a matter of service to humanity, and work should be done in such a way that people were facilitated.

Welcoming the decision of the wholesale dealers of Faisalabad who had announced not to make profit on pulses, the CM said it was commendable for the business community to support the government in its efforts to reduce price hike in these unusual circumstances.

The price control magistrates should treat shopkeepers well and for this purpose, they should be given professional training, the CM suggested.

“It is not our intention to harass the traders but to ensure price control,” he said.

PML-N MPA Maulana Ghiasuddin called on Chief Minister Hamza Shahbaz at his office on Friday and expressed complete confidence in the leadership of the CM.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 4^th, 2022.