Farmers staged a demonstration in front of the press club here against the levy of Reformed General Sales Tax (RGST) on agriculture tools, pesticides and fertilizers. Speaking on this occasion, Kissan Board Gujranwala Divisional President Aman Ullah Chattha said Urea fertilizer was being sold at the rate of Rs 1,650 per bag. He further said GST was a burden on farmers, which would break their backbone. He contended the prices of agriculture production had been decreasing for the last three years despite increase in per acre expenditures for growing different crops. He proposed the prices of agriculture production should be increased according to the ratio of expenditures of the crops. He warned farmers would come on the roads against the levy of GST on agriculture tools and other needs. He said that with the levy of RGST, per acre expenditures would increase at the rate of Rs 4,000 per acre.
PROACTIVE GOVERNANCE PROJECT STARTS DELIVERING: Proactive Governance Project is proving helpful in eradicating corruption form different departments and improving the standard of the services of government employees.
This was stated by DCO Muhammad Asif while talking to newsmen here the other day. He said 400 cases of property registration, 24 medico-legal cases, 152 cases of provision of healthcare at rural health centres and 14 others were reported during two weeks. He added only one woman complained of the unavailability of medicines at the district headquarters hospital. He expressed satisfaction over the services of the department and said it would improve further.
132 KILLED IN ACCIDENTS LAST MONTH: At least 132 people were killed in different accidents in the district last month. This was disclosed by community officer, Punjab Emergency Rescue 1122, Hafizabad, Shoukat Ali, talking to journalists in his office. He said Rescue 1122 Hafizabad received 2,489 emergency calls helped 6,270 people. He told first aid was given to 6270 people and 2398 people were shifted to hospitals. He said that Rescue 1122 received 1,228 calls of accidents, 19 of buildings’ collapse, 1,005 of medical emergencies, 91 of fire eruption and 115 of firing. He claimed all the people were rescued promptly.