Opposition parties in National Assembly on Monday observed a token walk out and said the government had announced enhancements in the General Sales Tax (GST) applied to petrol without taking parliament into confidence.
Opposition Leader Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah on a point of order said that he has been raising this issue in the parliament for several days to no avail. He added that the government was not giving any importance to his demands to bring the matter of the 10 per cent increase in GST on petrol in the House.
He said that it was a blessing for the country that petroleum prices were witnessing a deceasing trend in the international market, but on the other side it was astonishing that the government had announced an increase in taxes twice, five per cent each time bringing the total to 10 per cent.
He said it was not fair and against Article 77 of the constitution, and added that if the authorities want to increase the GST, it should bring the issue in the Parliament and get its approval, as it is the right and democratic way.
Khursheed Shah said that the government was not paying heed to the demands of the opposition and by imposing the GST increase; it is unnecessarily burdening the masses.
The opposition leader also pointed out that the increase in taxes on mobile phone cards had been increased to 25 per cent from 17 per cent.
MQM’s Rasheed Godail said that he agreed with the point raised by the opposition leader and said that the increase in GST would further burden the common man. He said that instead of increasing the GST on petrol the government should find other means to generate revenue. He said the MQM would also join the opposition to observe token walkout.
