Amraiz Khan
Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar has said that member political parties of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) are not on same page and now hopeless anti-government alliance is unaware about its future. Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar was talking to Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) Nadeem Afzal Chan who called on him on Thursday. They discussed political situation of the country and other matters of mutual interest.
During the meeting, Chaudhry Sarwar said that the government will complete its constitutional term and all plans of opposition have failed and now their rallies are only spreading coronavirus in the country. He further said that Senate elections will be held and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will get clear majority in the upper house. He also reiterated that government will not back down from its principled position. On the occasion, Nadeem Afzal Chan said that political opponents’ agenda of spreading unrest in country will always fail.
Meanwhile, Punjab Minister for Population Welfare Col (r) Hashim Dogar has congratulated Christian community on Christmas. In a special message, issued from Lahore on Thursday, he uttered that birthday of Hazrat Essa (AS) is a sacred occasion for Christian community. Hashim Dogar has said that tolerance, love, affection and brotherhood are the spirit of teachings of Hazrat Essa (AS). He further said that all minorities including, Christians have full rights to observe their religious beliefs. Protection of the rights of minorities is one of the top priorities of incumbent government, the provincial minister added.
NEW TAX ON CARS TO BURDEN CONSUMERS
Pakistan Industrial and Traders Association Front (PIAF) has expressed its serious concern over the imposition of new tax on the sale of new cars to control ‘On Money’ practice, saying the move will further enhance the prices of already world most expansive Pakistani four wheelers.
Chairman PIAF Mian Nauman Kabir said on Thursday that the government has decided to impose up to Rs200,000 additional withholding tax on the purchase of new cars on the plea of discouraging ‘On Money’ but actually the move has been aimed at achieving FBR’s target of tax collection. He said that the locally-assembled cars are very expansive mainly due to exorbitant government taxes and high profit margins of the assemblers despite the fact that their quality is very low. The additional withholding tax of up to Rs200,000 will put more burden on the consumers, who are already buying the very costly vehicles as compared to rest of world.
Mian Nauman Kabir said that the consumers were upset due to unnecessarily long delivery time for vehicles by the manufacturers. In order to discourage the practice of “on money” the government, instead of taking some solid measures, has imposed additional Withholding Income Tax, which does not seem to be logical.
