Senate body delays report on RGST
Standing Committee on Finance Chairman Ahmed Ali says the body has neither approved nor rejected the RGST bill.
The Senate's Standing Committee on Finance on Wednesday delayed its report on the Reformed General Sales Tax (RGST) bill.
The Committee Chairman Ahmed Ali said the body has neither approved nor rejected the bill.
Addressing the media after the session Ali said that the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) will not support the RGST till its recommendations are accepted.
Awami National Party (ANP) Senator Ilyas Bilour said in the meeting that he could not support the RGST, because his party's proposals have not been accepted.
Earlier in the day, Ali had summoned an emergency meeting of the committee in Islamabad after expressing his disapproval of the committee's role in sanctioning the RGST.
On Tuesday, the government had managed to have the proposed bill approved from the Senate’s standing committee on finance.
Ali said he disagreed with the recommendations of the committee over the reformed GST and would reconsider the recommendations presented.
The chairman of the senate responded by saying Ali had the privilege to call a meeting of the committee he heads. Ali also said he does not want the tax to affect the poor.
Meanwhile, an MQM delegation met Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Shiekh and Interior Minister Rehman Malik in Karachi on the issue.
Speaking to Express 24/7 outside the Parliament House, State Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar said taxing agriculture is nonsense and politically motivated.
The Committee Chairman Ahmed Ali said the body has neither approved nor rejected the bill.
Addressing the media after the session Ali said that the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) will not support the RGST till its recommendations are accepted.
Awami National Party (ANP) Senator Ilyas Bilour said in the meeting that he could not support the RGST, because his party's proposals have not been accepted.
Earlier in the day, Ali had summoned an emergency meeting of the committee in Islamabad after expressing his disapproval of the committee's role in sanctioning the RGST.
On Tuesday, the government had managed to have the proposed bill approved from the Senate’s standing committee on finance.
Ali said he disagreed with the recommendations of the committee over the reformed GST and would reconsider the recommendations presented.
The chairman of the senate responded by saying Ali had the privilege to call a meeting of the committee he heads. Ali also said he does not want the tax to affect the poor.
Meanwhile, an MQM delegation met Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Shiekh and Interior Minister Rehman Malik in Karachi on the issue.
Speaking to Express 24/7 outside the Parliament House, State Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar said taxing agriculture is nonsense and politically motivated.