Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has contacted Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and conveyed the reservations of traders regarding the tax imposed on banking transactions.
The chief minister informed Dar about the reservations and apprehensions of traders over the 0.6 percent tax imposed on every banking transaction and its adverse affects on business community.
On the behest of the Punjab chief minister, a delegation of traders will meet the federal finance minister in Islamabad later in the week. The reservations and problems of traders will be discussed during the meeting. Senior officials of FBR will also attend the meeting.
CM HOLDS VIDEO CONFERENCE WITH HAUNENG SHANDONG’S PRESIDENT:
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif held a video conference on Monday from Lahore with the president of Hauneng Shandong Power Generation Group in China to discuss the Sahiwal Coal Power Project (SCPP). Besides the Hauneng Shandong president, other senior officers of the group also participated in the conference and assured completion of 1,320 megawatt coal power project in Sahiwal within stipulated period.
Speaking during the video conference, the chief minister said that two power plants of 660 megawatt electricity based on coal are being set up in Sahiwal with the cooperation of China and work is being carried out speedily on this project. He said that the SCPP is of vital importance for overcoming energy shortage and instructions have been issued to federal and provincial institutions concerned to dispose of all matters relating to the implementation of the project speedily.
THANK YOU CHINA FOR CPEC:
The chief minister said that Pakistan and China are bound together in strong ties of friendship which are unprecedented.
“The friendship between the two countries is strengthening with the passage of time,” he said, adding that the visit of Chinese President XI Jinping to Pakistan has promoted historic economic cooperation between the two countries and economic package of China is a big gift for Pakistan.
“The government is undertaking sincere efforts to remove darkness from the country which are being furthered speedily with the cooperation of China,” he added.
He said that energy projects play an important role in the strengthening of industrial sector of the country as well as national economy.
COAL PROJECTS ARE OF VITAL IMPORTANCE:
He said that all out efforts are being made for completion of energy projects speedily and SCPP is of vital importance in this regard.
He said that he is personally monitoring the pace of progress on these projects regularly. He said that 1,320 megawatt coal power project will start producing electricity from 2017.
The chief minister expressed satisfaction over the progress made on the project so far and thanked Hauneng Shandong and Ryui group for their invaluable cooperation. He also invited the Hauneng Shandong group president to visit the site of the SCPP.
The president of Hauneng Shandong power group said that work on the SCPP will continue in accordance with the expectations of the chief minister and it will be completed within timeline.
He said that orders have been given for the purchase of turbines, generators and boilers and all necessary machinery will reach the site of the project before schedule.