Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that affluent classes would have to be brought into the tax net for strengthening national economy and progress of the country.
While addressing a function regarding second balloting for Amanat Scheme under the restaurant invoice monitoring system of Punjab Revenue Authority at Model Town here the other day, he said that it is time to promote tax culture and Punjab government has introduced a unique Amanat Scheme in the province for this purpose. “Provincial government has introduced restaurant invoice monitoring system for tax collection and under this system, taxpayers are being given prizes of billions of rupees through transparent balloting. Big decisions have to be taken for achieving self-sufficiency, as nations are not built on mere slogans. Disparities will have to be removed in the society and time has come for strict and indiscriminate accountability of corrupt elements,” he added.
He said that those who had got their loans waived off on political basis, indulged in loot of national resources, misappropriated funds through kickbacks or been involved in corruption would have to face ruthless accountability, adding that the country cannot make progress without indiscriminate accountability of corrupt elements. The chief minister said that it is a historic opportunity to rid the country of poverty, ignorance, unemployment and problems and there is a need to benefit from it in the interest of the country.
He said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had written a letter for setting up judicial commission and its reply has been received in the light of which the federal government would take further measures. “Point scoring or playing of games will be lamentable on this, while every member of the society will have to play his role for national progress and prosperity as well as regaining the lost status of the country in the comity of nations,” he added.
The chief minister highlighted that the Punjab government has taken a commendable step for the promotion of tax culture, adding that setting up of splendid traditions for promotion of tax culture and motivating people to play their role in the process of national development and prosperity is need of the hour. He said that Punjab government has launched the glorious project of restaurant invoice monitoring system and there should not be any doubt about the success of this project.
Shahbaz said that work is being carried out round the clock on the glorious project of Orange Line Metro Train, adding that it is the biggest project in the history of the province on which Rs 150 billion would be spent. The chief minister said that high standard of work is being maintained on the project, which is funded by Exim Bank of China on easy installments.
