PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif’s residence in Raiwind is not a farmhouse therefore it will not be taxed, Senior Adviser to Punjab Chief Minister Zulfiqar Khosa said on Saturday.
Addressing a post-budget press conference, with Punjab Finance Minister Kamran Michael at the Punjab Civil Secretariat, Khosa said tax on farmhouses was proposed by Nawaz but his home in Raiwind did not fall in the category.
He said Nawaz played an important role in preparing the budget for Punjab. “Nawaz Sharif has vast experience, as he governed the province in 1985 and knows a lot about it,” Khosa said adding that Punjab had focused on taxing the influential class for the first time.
“We have imposed taxes on elite clubs, swimming pools and increased token tax, which indicates that we have targeted the influential class,” Khosa said.
He said the federal government had failed to control load shedding “therefore we have decided to generate electricity on our own”.
He said Punjab would invest Rs 9 billion for the projection of 500MW in the coming fiscal year, adding that Iran, China and Turkey would help Punjab in this regard.
Khosa said the Yellow Cab Scheme was for the youth of the province and anyone less than 35 years of age and having a bachelors degree could get a yellow cab.
Eight Daanish schools and four women universities would be set up. Khosa said a lot funds had been allocated for the development of South Punjab.
To a question, Khosa said Punjab would not take any loan or grant with a condition attached. Micheal said no tax had been imposed on the poor, adding that Rs 13 billion was being spent on the welfare of women.
He said the government would establish 50 mobile hospitals.
Punjab government’s spokesman Pervaiz Rasheed said all types of farmhouses would be taxed and the relatives of the Punjab CM would also have to pay it.
