ISLAMABAD – The National Assembly on Thursday passed “the Finance (Supplementary) Bill 2021 to amend the certain laws relating to taxes and duties.
The bill moved by Minister for Economic Affairs Omar Ayub is aimed on achieving efficiency, equity in the tax system, broadening of tax base as well as documentation of the economy.
The House rejected all the amendments moved by the Opposition members with a majority vote.
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement withdrew their amendments on the assurance of Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin.
The National Assembly also passed the “The State Bank of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill, 2022.
The bill is aimed at facilitating domestic economic stability, support sustainable growth and avoid repeated booms and busts that have characterized Pakistan’s past and led to painful consequences in terms of higher inflation, higher poverty and lower growth. It also balances the provision of necessary operational and financial autonomy to the State Bank with new mechanism for enhancing transparency and strengthening accountability.
Responding to points raised by the Opposition regarding the Finance (Supplementary) Bill 2021, Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin said the government is trying to correct structural problems relating to the tax to ensure inclusive and sustainable growth in the country.
He said no additional tax has been imposed on items of common man’s usage including laptops, baby-food, roti, pesticides, bakery items and digital payments.
He said taxes of just seventy billion rupees have been proposed on luxury items in this bill which will have no affect on common people. He said a refund of 280 billion rupees will be given under this bill, He also assured the House that prices of medicines will also not increase.
The Finance Minister said escape from the IMF was not possible in view of prevailing circumstances. He said we have to take our products to the value-added tax mode to achieve an inclusive and sustainable growth in the country.
He expressed the belief that economic growth will likely to reach around five percent this year due to prudent policies of the government.
He said revenue is growing by 35 percent while remittances and exports are also on the upward trajectory.
Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin said the economy is growing and it is expected to touch five percent during the current fiscal year.
He pointed out that there is unprecedented growth of thirty five percent in revenue collection. He said the remittances and the exports are also witnessing growth. There has been bumper production of five crops because of our investment in the agriculture sector.
Shaukat Tarin said the government is focussing on inclusive and sustainable growth. He said we are providing health cards to the households under which each family is entitled to medical treatment worth one million rupees annually.
He said we have launched Kamyab Pakistan Program under which interest free loans are being given for the agriculture and businesses besides construction of houses.
Earlier, National Assembly resumed its session at the parliament house in Islamabad on Thursday afternoon with Speaker Asad Qaisar in the chair.
The newly elected Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Shaista Pervaiz took oath of her membership as member of the Lower House.
Speaker Asad Qaisar administered the oath.
