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Tag: Prime Minister Imran Khan

  • Karachi Chamber urges PM to honor genuine taxpayers

    Karachi Chamber urges PM to honor genuine taxpayers

    KARACHI: Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on Monday urged Prime Minister Imran Khan to honor genuine taxpayers instead saying all the countrymen as tax thieves.

    Chairman Businessmen Group & Former President Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) Siraj Kassam Teli and President KCCI Agha Shahab Ahmed Khan, while disagreeing to PM Imran Khan’s remarks wherein he accuses everyone for not paying taxes across the board, appealed to make public the city-wise tax collection so that everyone could know which city is paying what taxes and which isn’t and running away from the national obligation.

    In a statement issued, Chairman BMG and President KCCI said that although there are gaps in the taxation system but that cannot be made the reason to call all the countrymen tax thieves hence, the Prime Minister Imran Khan may please amend his statement.

    They said: “The Prime Minister talks a lot about Change and Justice but it is a matter of grave concern and a sheer injustice to the taxpayers when our Prime Minister claims that nobody wants to pay taxes. The loyal taxpayers contribute billions of rupees each year which are being utilized to run the government yet they (the taxpayers) are being discouraged as they stand at the same array where the tax thieves and evaders were standing.”

    Referring to a press conference by Advisor Finance Hafeez Shaikh and Chairman FBR Shabbar Zaidi held to respond to Small Traders’ reservations along with a recent data of the FBR, they said that as per FBR statistics, the small traders of Karachi paid tax of Rs30 billion while the traders from Lahore paid a mere amount of just Rs567.7 million and the situation in other cities was much worse.

    Hence, Chairman BMG and President KCCI urged the Prime Minister Imran Khan, Advisor Finance Hafeez Shaikh, Minister of State for Revenue Hammad Azhar and Chairman FBR Shabbar Zaidi to publicize the city-wise data of all other taxes including the Income Tax, Sales Tax, Custom Duty and Federal Excise Duty in detail so that the ground realities could be revealed.

    “We believe that the actual contribution of Karachi, which is the economic hub of the country contributing 70 percent revenue to the national exchequer, has to be publicized without any excuse of being the port city with a precise breakup of tax collection from the ports and dry ports along with details of the imported items belonging to which city and the consignee, besides carrying detailed fragmented tax collection from the head offices of corporate entities and their branches located in all parts of the country which would surely present the actual city-wise contribution”, they suggested.

    Siraj Teli and Agha Shahab further said, “We agree that many individuals and corporate entities from different areas of the country may not be paying their taxes to the level they should but that doesn’t mean that nobody was paying taxes. It is highly unfair to give such statement as it creates a false impression. Realistically, there are millions of individuals and corporate entities who are paying all their taxes. The FBR and Ministry of Finance should be told to get those individuals first who are paying zero tax instead of furthering squeezing the existing tax payers.”

    They hoped that the Prime Minister Imran Khan would soon issues strict directives to the Ministry of Finance and the FBR to compile city-wise data of tax collection and the same will also be publicized at the earliest.

  • PM directs eradication of corruption in Utility Stores, ensure availability of essential items at lower prices

    PM directs eradication of corruption in Utility Stores, ensure availability of essential items at lower prices

    ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed administration of Utility Stores Corporation (USC) to ensure eradication of corruption in the organization and ensure availability of essential foods items at subsidized rates following release of Rs6 billion.

    Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday chaired a meeting to reduce prices of essential commodities which will provide immediate relief to the people.

    The Prime Minister directed that the supply of essential items should be ensured through use of Information technology and corruption must be eradicated at all Utility Store outlets.

    The meeting was attended by Minister for Planning Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar, Minister for Communications Murad Saeed, SAPM for Social Welfare Dr. Sania Nishtar, Secretaries and Additional Secretaries of Ministry of Finance, Planning Commission, Communication, National Food Security and Industry, Chairman and Managing Director Utility Stores Corporation, Chief Commissioner Islamabad and other senior officials.

    The prime minister said that provision of relief to the people is the top priority of the government.

    “We strive to provide special relief to low income groups and poverty-stricken families,” he said.

    The Prime Minister said that in view of the challenging economic situation, the government took difficult decisions.

    Due to these decisions, the economy is stabilizing today and economic indicators are showing improvement; the situation will improve further in the coming days.

    Despite the difficult conditions, every possible effort to provide relief to the people will be undertaken, added the prime minister.

    The meeting was briefed on the current situation of the prices of essential commodities (flour, wheat, sugar, ghee, rice and pulses) and measures to control them.

    Chairman and Managing Director Utility Stores Corporation apprised the meeting that immediate grant of Rs6 billion from the government will reduce the prices of basic essential food items.

    The prime minister was informed that the immediate supply of funds by the government would lead to price reduction of Rs-132 per kg in flour, Rs-09 per kg in sugar, Rs-30 per kg in ghee, Rs-20 per kg in rice and Rs-15 in pulses which would be made available for public consumption at Utility Stores.

    The prime minister was briefed on the steps taken to curb corruption and embezzlement in the Utility Stores, and to ensure the sufficient and steady supply of essential food items to the public.

    The prime minister was informed that it is being ensured that the purchased items at the Utility Stores are received at the Stores’ warehouses without pilferage for packaging and onward dispatch to the Utility Stores outlets.

    The measures are aimed at ensuring the quality of goods at Utility Stores in addition to eradicating corruption.

    Minister of Communications Murad Saeed said that in addition to a network of 4,000 utility stores, 800 post offices spread across the country can also be used to supply essential food items to the public.

    He further elaborated that home delivery service will soon be started by Pakistan Post Office to supply items at home to the poor and the needy.

  • FBR to conduct nation-wide survey of immovable properties to assess wealth parked in real estate sector

    FBR to conduct nation-wide survey of immovable properties to assess wealth parked in real estate sector

    ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will conduct nation-wide survey of immovable properties to assess and tap colossal wealth parked in the real estate sector.

    The decision has been taken and approved at a meeting under the chairmanship of the prime minister held last month.

    According to minutes of the meeting it has been decided to conduct nation-wide survey of immovable property to assess and tap colossal wealth parked in the real-estate sector.

    The survey would be conducted along with geo-tagging within next two years.

    It has been considered that Chinese proposal for conducting digitized land survey (digital cartography) of entire country is pending for the last two years.

    Proposal for proof of concept of digital survey of Islamabad industrial area (1-9) along with geo-tagging option is already under consideration with FBR.

    Proposal of digital nation-wide survey has been approved in principal. Further the digital survey of Islamabad Industrial Area (1-9) with geo-tagging would be undertaken at priority.

    It is also decided that nation-wide survey would be undertaken and completed over the next two years while taking Chinese proposal in consideration.

    The meeting also considered proposal of nation-wide tax assessment and documentation drive to effectively check tax evasion and ensure documentation of economy.

    The documentation drive needs to be undertaken over the next two to three years. The documentation drive will assist in ascertaining untapped segments including businesses, real-estate and industries.

    Therefore, it is decided that a comprehensive proposal for nation-wide tax assessment and documentation drive (undertaken over two years) would be formulated.

    It is also decided that tax reforms must not create choking effect for the economy. And correct taxation measures would be taken with prompt implementation instead of entanglement in extended impasses.

    The meeting discussed the actualization of tax advisory board to alleviate trust deficit, preparation of objective tax policies and improve taxpayers’ awareness.

    The tax advisory board (as amended in FBR Act, 2007) needs to be actualized at the ministry of finance (Revenue Division) as formal feedback mechanism for policy level advice on taxation issues.

    This will effectively separate tax policy and tax administration functions whereby FBR to act as revenue collection agency only.

    In this regard, it is decided that tax advisory board should be actualized immediately to discuss threadbare all taxation policies relieving FBR from additional burden of tax policy formulation.

  • PM inaugurates CPHGC 1320MW Coal-fired Power Plant

    PM inaugurates CPHGC 1320MW Coal-fired Power Plant

    KARACHI: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday inaugurated CPHGC 1320MW Coal-fired Power Plant, Hub, Balochistan and said that more collaborations on the same pattern may be seen in future.

    The prime minister said that the government will facilitate joint collaboration between Pakistani and Chinese businesses in various sectors.

    Addressing inaugural ceremony of China Hub Power Generation Plant in Balochistan on Monday, he said this is the first joint project under China Pakistan Economic Corridor and we want to see the pattern in future too. He said a large number of Chinese business corporations are interested in investing in different sectors of the economy.

    He said the government is moving towards the second phase of CPEC and it has established CPEC Authority to facilitate the projects under the program.

    The prime minister said during his recent visit to China, the Chinese President and Prime Minister expressed interest to give momentum to CPEC projects.

    The prime minister said the productivity of Chinese companies is quite higher than their counterparts in Pakistan and our country would like to benefit from it.

    He said we will introduce new techniques in farming sector in collaboration with Chinese enterprises.

    The prime minister congratulated the Hubco Chairman Habibullah Khan on the project and asked him to use more indigenous coal for power generation. He also asked him to work on water projects for Karachi.

    He regretted that Pakistan has a rich hydropower resources and capacity which was not utilized effectively by the previous governments.

    Imran Khan said government is committed to increase ease of doing business in the country to attract foreign investment. He said red tapism and undue hurdles in the way of business are being removed.

    Imran Khan said Balochistan is the province that is full of rich mineral deposits. He said during his visit to the US chairman of company previously working on Rekodik project informed him that Pakistan has one of the largest and finest quality gold reserves in the world. Chairman said they are still interested in working on the reserves as they believe that incumbent government of Pakistan is free of corruption. In past, a small group of people plundered the national wealth and filled their pockets.

    The prime minister said apart from mineral resources, the province of Balochistan is also blessed with huge fisheries resources and its development can help earn valuable foreign exchange.

    Imran Khan said PTI government inherited a record debt which led to more inflation, devaluation of rupee and other challenges. However, difficult decisions were made which have started yielding positive results.

    The Prime Minister said we have to give clean governance to our country for the future generations. Imran Khan said we are committed to mobilize the youth of the country for national development.

    He said youth are the biggest asset of Pakistan and government will give them skills training to work in various sectors. He said centers of artificial intelligence, robotics and other modern fields are being opened to prepare our youth for the modern work requirements.

    Earlier, in his address Balochistan Chief Minister Jamal Kamal said investment worth billions of dollars in the province will change the outlook of Balochistan. He said Balochistan will become a hub of investment in the coming days.

    Jam Kamal Khan said Prime Minister Imran Khan is taking special interest in development of Balochistan.

    He said it is an unexploited province and is the only place in Pakistan that can boost the economic frontiers of the country in the coming years. The Chief Minister said Balochistan is endowed with rich mineral resources that are largely untapped and investors can take advantage of these assets.

    Chinese ambassador Yao Jing, Federal Ministers and other senior officials were also present on the occasion.

  • Prime minister welcomes $240 million investment by Hutchison Port Holdings

    Prime minister welcomes $240 million investment by Hutchison Port Holdings

    ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has welcomed fresh investment of $240 million by Hutchison Port Holdings and commitment of the company to the Pakistan’s economic prosperity.

    The prime minister praised the company at a meeting with a delegation of Hutchison Port Holdings led by their Group Managing Director Mr. Eric Ip called on Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday.

    The Prime Minister reiterated the commitment and focus of the Government to facilitate investment and ease-of-doing-business that would ultimately result in economic growth and employment generation.

    Minister for Maritime Affairs Syed Ali Haider Zaidi, Advisor to PM on Commerce Abdul Razzaq Dawood, Special Assistant to PM Syed Zulfiqar Abbas Bukhari, Ambassador at Large for Foreign Investment Ali Jehangir Siddiqui, Chairman Board of Investment Zubair Haider Gilani and senior officials were present during the meeting.

    The delegation from Hutchison Ports also included Mr. Andy Tsoi, Managing Director Middle East & Africa, Mr. Eric Ng, Business Director Middle East & Africa and the leadership of their Pakistan management team.

    Group Managing Director Mr. Eric Ip apprised the Prime Minister of Hutchison Port Holdings’ fresh investment into Pakistan approximating $240 million that will make available a significant amount of new container terminal capacity at the Karachi Port, and increase Hutchison Ports’ total investment in Pakistan to $1 billion.

    The Prime Minister was informed that this investment will also grow Hutchison employees to 3,000 people. The Prime Minister was also briefed about the development of Hutchison Port Holdings, its parent company CK Hutchison Holdings, and the group’s commitment to play a pivotal role in facilitating the economic growth of Pakistan, as well as supporting the development of Karachi Port into a major hub for trade in Asia.

    Hutchison Port Holdings is one of the world’s largest port companies, with over 30,000 employees, operating 52 ports and terminals in 27 countries spanning Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, the Americas and Australia. The company is headquartered in Hong Kong.
    Ambassador Ali Jehangir Siddiqui stated that as a result of a fairly priced currency, unit volumes of exports were increasing and there was a great need for additional container terminal capacity. As a result, this investment would support our export competitiveness and also result in greater revenue for both the federal exchequer and the Karachi Port Trust

  • Prime Minister inaugurates 24X7 Torkham Terminal to boost Pak-Afghan trade

    Prime Minister inaugurates 24X7 Torkham Terminal to boost Pak-Afghan trade

    PESHAWAR: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday inaugurated 24X7 crossing terminal at historic Torkham border which will help bolster bilateral trade Pakistan and Afghanistan.

    The prime minister cut the ribbon to formally inaugurate the Integrated Transit Trade Management System at Torkham border, completed at a cost costing Rs16 billion that would ease immigration facilities besides bolstering trade activities.

    The prime minister came all the way from Islamabad to Torkham border, located in Khyber Tribal district, reflecting his deep commitment to further improve trade ties and strength bilateral relations with brotherly country of Afghanistan.

    The prime minister was received by Governor Khyber Patkhunkhwa Shah Farman, Chief Minister Mahmooad Khan and other senior officials of the KP Government at the helipad.

    Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mehmood Qureshi, PM adviser on Establishment Arbab Shahzad also accompanied the Prime Minister.

    The opening of crossing terminal for provision of 24-hour service is a landmark decision of PTI-led Government that would immensely help accelerate pace of economic, industrial and agriculture development besides taking bilateral trade between the two countries to a new height.

    It would create enormous employment opportunities for hundreds of thousands of people, skilled labour and bring boom in transport sector, especially in Khyber Pakthunkhwa and erstwhile FATA.

    The landmark decision would make positive impact on industries, small and medium entrepreneurship (SMEs), investment and enhance imports and exports between the two countries for their mutual benefits.

  • Prime minister directs FBR to monitor officials during market visits

    Prime minister directs FBR to monitor officials during market visits

    ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday directed Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to monitor its officials during their visit to different markets.

    Chairing a briefing on the performance and reforms in the FBR, the prime minister directed the revenue body to ensure the on-spot-recording of all of their officials interactions during visits to different markets.

    The prime minister said the elimination of corruption from the FBR and its reformation was the government’s priority.

    The revival of public trust in the FBR would also help broaden the tax net, he believed, said a PM Office statement.

    Briefing the prime minister about the performance of the FBR during the previous fiscal year, Chairman FBR Shabbar Zaidi said the board had collected Rs 579 billion revenue till August of the current fiscal, witnessing an increase by 14.65 percent.

    It was informed that this year, the number of filers had also increased by more than 783,000 taking the total number of the filers from 1,514,817 in 2017 to 2,561,099 this year.

  • PM’s economic team to hold dialogues with business community for growth

    PM’s economic team to hold dialogues with business community for growth

    ISLAMABAD: The economic team of the Prime Minister will hold dialogues with business community to take input for economic stability and growth.

    A meeting decided this on Friday to promote dialogue with the business community to seek their views on increasing the pace of growth and achieving economic stability.

    Prime Minister Imran Khan chaired the meeting of the economic team at PM’s Office.

    The meeting was attended by Muhammad Hammad Azhar Minister for Economic affairs, Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiyar Minister for Planning & Development, Omar Ayub Khan Minister for Power, Muhammad Mian Somro Minister for Privatization, Advisor on Finance Dr. Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Advisor on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood, Adviser on Institutional Reforms Dr. Ishrat Hussain, SAPM Dr. Sania Nishtar, SAPM Nadeem Babar, SAPM Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan, Chairman Board of Investment Syed Zubair Gilani, Chairman FBR Syed Shabbar Zaidi, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Jehanzeb Khan and senior officials of the government.

    The prime minister directed that promotion of SMEs must be focused to enable such enterprises to flourish in the country.

    The meeting reviewed the current economic situation and initiatives of the government to improve the business climate, increase exports, reduce current account deficit and stabilizing the economy.

    It was noted that current financial year since July 2019 has commenced on a positive note. Exports have registered an increase and the Current Account Deficit has been reduced by 31 percent.

    It is expected that the fuel prices will also decrease on 1st September, 2019.

    The international financial institutions such as the World Bank and Asian Development Bank have restored budgetary support.

    The meeting was informed that ECNEC also approved Rs. 579 billion of projects in agriculture, water and infrastructure sectors including mass-transit projects for Karachi.

  • Imran Khan discusses economic reforms with IMF chief

    Imran Khan discusses economic reforms with IMF chief

    WASHINGTON: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday met David Lipton, Acting Managing Director of International Monetary Fund to discuss economic reform program.

    David Lipton, Acting Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), issued the following statement today, following his meeting with the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan:

    “I was pleased to meet Prime Minister Khan of Pakistan today in Washington, DC. We discussed recent economic developments and the implementation of the authority’s economic reform program supported by the IMF.

    “Their program aims to stabilize the economy, strengthen institutions, and thereby put Pakistan on a path of sustainable and balanced growth.

    “I highlighted the need to mobilize domestic tax revenue now and on into the future to provide reliably for needed social and development spending, while placing debt on a firm downward trend.

    “The IMF, together with other international partners, is working closely with the government of Pakistan to support the implementation of the authorities’ economic reform program.”

  • Imran Khan invites investors to benefit from Pakistan’s business opportunities

    Imran Khan invites investors to benefit from Pakistan’s business opportunities

    KARACHI: Prime Minister Imran Khan has invited overseas businessmen and investors to benefit from the economic and business opportunities afforded by Pakistan’s strategic location and the connectivity to the broader region.

    He was talking to a group of prospective investors that led by Javaid Anwar, a leading Pakistani-American businessman, called on the prime minister at the Embassy of Pakistan in Washington DC, reported by Radio Pakistan on Sunday.

    The investors appreciated improved security environment in Pakistan and identified areas of interest with regard to investment in key sectors including energy and tourism

    Javed Anwar is an effective member of Democratic party and also played a leading role in formation of Pakistan Congress Foundation caucus.

    Former Pakistan Ambassador to the UN Munir Akram and renowned businessman Shahal Khan also called on Prime Minister Imran Khan in Washington on Sunday.

    They discussed issues relating to trade and investment in Pakistan.

    The meeting was also attended by federal ministers Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Syed Ali Haider Zaidi. Advisor on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood and Advisor on Finance Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh were also present, along with Sayed Zulfiqar Abbas Bukhari.

    Meanwhile, Texas based leading Pakistani businessman and high ranking influential member of the democratic party Tahir Javed also called on Prime Minister Imran Khan at Embassy of Pakistan in Washington.

    Prime Minister Imran Khan is on three-day (July 21-23) visit to the United State. He will hold dialogues with US President Donald Trump on July 22, 2019.

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