Restriction on non filers’ purchase of property, vehicles to continue: Asad Umer

ISLAMABAD, Oct 03 (APP):Minister for Finance Asad Umar Wednesday said that restriction imposed in the Federal Budget on
non filers for purchasing property and vehicles would continue in the Supplementary Budget
also with three exemptions.
Winding-up debate on supplementary budget, the minister said recommendations forwarded by
Senate of Pakistan to National Assembly to restrict non-filers to purchase
assets had been incorporated in the Finance Supplementary (Amendment) Bill,
2018 with three amendments.
“I am thankful to the Member of Parliament for making recommendations, I accept the
recommendations on the restriction on non-filer to purchase assets with some
amendments.”
As per the amendments, he said, the overseas Pakistani sending their remittances through legal means would be allowed to acquire property and vehicles in Pakistan would
be exempted.
He said those purchasing vehicles of capacity less than 200-CC would also be exempted from this
restriction. Fine would be imposed if someone acquires property or vehicle
despite being non-filer.
The minister said that General Sales Tax (GST) and regulatory duty had been decreased from 30 percent to 10 percent to facilitate the poor segment of society.
“The poor people are using wood, LNG and we have decided to slash the duty and regulatory duty on the import of LNG from 30 percent to 10 percent,” he added.
Asad Umar clarified that the supplementary budgetary proposals would be effective
from first of July this year.
He said that the government had launched campaign against non-filer and about 169 non-filers had
been issued notices.
“The number will be increased to thousand in the coming days,” he added.
He asked the non-filer to file their tax returns; otherwise the government would take strict
action.
“ I assured the nation that their money will not go abroad, lets join hands for the development, progress and prosperity of the country,” he added.
“Such 169 people have been issued notices,” he said, adding “No one should think that they
will escape unscathed. This state is not as weak that it cannot catch you.”
Those who have massive funds in banks, their details will be obtained, he added.
The minister said that modern techniques would be utilized and information would be gathered from the bank accounts of the non-filers.
He said that discussion had also been held with the State Bank in this regard.
The finance minister recalled PML-N’s promise to end load-shedding in the buildup to the 2013
elections.
“You had vowed to end load-shedding, what happened of it,” Umar said.
“If Charsadda, Bannu, Swabi, Lyari, Noshki and Khuzdar are not
a part of Pakistan, then your claim to having put an end to load-shedding is
true.”
He said that the farmers were very near to heart of the government, and
subsidy of Rs 6 to 7 billion had been announced to facilitate them.
He said the fertilizers factories using LNG had also be given subsidy.
About the Public Sector Development Funds (PSD), he said that no cut had been imposed on PSD. He said during the last year, out of total allocated funds Rs 621 billion had been
spent.
“I assured the House, the government will make more spending then the
last year” he added.
He claimed that the previous government had allocated funds for Balochistan in the papers, but the present government would focus on the development, progress and prosperity of
the province.
He criticized the PML-N government for not improving electricity distribution system in
Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwan provinces.
He recalled that when the PML-N government took charge of the government in 2013, PTI supported the then government to approach the International Monitory Funds (IMF).
He also said that condition of the country’s economy was much
better in PPP regime as compared to PML-N government.
He said that the PPP government had left Rs 486 billion circular debt, but circular debt had reached
to height of Rs 1200 billion in PML-N tenure.
Asad Omar said that at the time of PPP government, the gas companies had endured no loses, but during the PML-N government, the companies had Rs 154 billion losses.
He said Independent Power Producer (IPP) had stopped generating electricity due to
non payment and whooping circular debts.
Pakistan State Oil is not able to open letter of credit (LC) due to non payment of many
departments including Pakistan International Airline.
He said that previous government had destroyed state institutions.
The minister claimed the PML-N government had looted Worker Welfare Board.
He said that due to closer of Pakistan Steel Mills during the last three years, many workers had
committed suicides.
Asad Omer urged the opposition, especially the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz to tell the
nation true about the economic condition of the country adding “We are ready to face
any criticism but the opposition should tell true position about the present
economic position.”
The minister said leader of the opposition Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif had made tall claims of eliminating load shedding within a period of six months from Punjab only ignoring small provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan as loadshedding is still continued.
He pointed out Shehbaz Sharif blamed Pakistan Peoples Party government for whooping circular debts but the same circular debt could not be eliminated during their five years tenure.
Brushing aside opposition leaders’ tall claims of providing cheap electricity to people,
he said National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) chairman and
members, appointed by Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) to increase power
tariff by Rs 3.89 per unit due to increase in cost. NEPRA warned increasing
circular debt to Rs 550 billion per annum from current Rs 450 billion per annum if prices are not increased.
Earlier, former minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal asked the government to accept the recommendations made by the Senate for supplementary budget, and to take back proposal to allow
non-filer to purchase assets.
Participating in the budget debate, he said, “The Senate of Pakistan is the symbol of federation, and
recommendations made by the House should be accepted.”
He said that PNL-N government had restricted the non-filer to buy property, vehicles and other
assets adding, the government in the supplementary budget proposed
to allow non-filer to purchase assets.
He disagreed with objective to facilitate overseas Pakistani behind allowing non-filer.
It was the objective of the PML-N government not to burden people who had already paying the tax but, the government announced otherwise, he observed.
Ahsan Iqbal said that government had slashed development funds in the supplementary
budget.
He said asked the government to take national projects
seriously. He expressed the hope that government would not take loan.
Shahida Akhtar Ali said that after the announcement of the supplementary budget, prices of
construction material had increased.
She was of the view that nothing had been announced in the budget for agricultural sector.
She also asked the government to include, Senate recommendations in the budget.
Member of National Assembly from Pakistan Peoples Party, Naveed Qamar endorsed the
recommendations of the Senate for allocation of funds for the development of
Gwadar.
He said that the recommendations to run the tubwell on solar should
also be adopted.