Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Pervez Khattak has directed against the imposition of new taxes or increase in the existing taxation system. He stressed a realistic approach through strict financial discipline, cutting down the non-developmental expenditure and proper exploitation of the natural resources of the province that would enhance the resource base of the province.
He was against any tax that would affect the public well being, bring a price hike or over burden the poor. He directed against double taxation. He said that people could not be taxed by the federal and provincial government on a single item at the same time. Pervez Khattak wished that the single tax system should be implemented in any given field so that the social sector could focus on raising the living standards of the people.
He was presiding over a high level meeting at Chief Minister House, Peshawar that focused on resource generation, enhancing budgetary provision and creation of additional resources for the new fiscal year. The meeting was attended by senior member board of revenue, administrative secretaries of finance, excise and taxation, mines and minerals and transport.
The Chief Minister called upon the concerning officials to take up with the federal government the dues and royalties on hydel power, oil, gas and tobacco. Khattak said that the relevant forum including NEPRA, Council of Common Interest (CCI) and Supreme Court should be used if the federal government delayed the process of resource transferring to the province on any of the issues including the net hydel power, oil, gas and tobacco.
Pervez Khattak directed to properly publicise the existing vacant posts in the media in order to recruit eligible and deserving candidates in all the productive sectors and public sector institutions. He regretted that despite vacant posts, the government officers did not advertise them on flimsy excuses and unwarranted reasons.
Pervez Khattak disagreed with the proposal to tax vehicles in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa which were registered in Islamabad or other provinces, adding that taxing those vehicles would be injustice. On the question of using infrastructure of this province by these vehicles, the Chief Minister tasked the relevant quarters to contact with other provinces and even try to find a reasonable solution on scientific basis. The Chief Minister said that efforts should be made for enhancing the tax base of the province and exploring avenues that could contribute to the provincial resources. He was of the view to enhance productivity and development of social sector that would create better and breathing space for development. He directed for achieving hundred per cent tax targets in the new fiscal year.
