ISLAMABAD: The federal government has conveyed a tacit message to its allies and opposition parties that it will accommodate their recommendations in exchange for their support to the reformed general sales tax (GST) Bill.
A source told Pakistan Today that the federal government was in contact with its coalition partners and opposition parties to chalk out differences over the GST. “It has been decided to show some flexibility in order to appease the concerns of political parties by accommodating some of their proposals and recommendations,” said a government official, wishing not to be named.
Member of Senate’s Standing Committee on Finance Haroon Akhtar Khan said the government had shown flexibility during the committee’s meetings. He said the government representatives hinted at incorporating some proposals of the opposition parties in the GST bill.
Haroon said the committee had adopted a bipartisan approach on a give and take basis. “If the government had not been flexible, the bill’s passage would have become difficult,” he said.
The senator said Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, under pressure from the opposition, agreed to move forward on the agriculture tax and capital gains tax, but the political will and commitment was absent.
“This was an ideal opportunity for the government to take opposition parties on board to devise a strategy to impose tax on agriculture that could help generate Rs 100 billion to Rs 200 billion,” Haroon added.
