Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed the government’s spokespersons and ministers to counter the “fake narrative” of opposition parties targeting the recently-tabled finance bill, which seeks to impose taxes to the tune of Rs375 billion.
Imran Khan on Monday presided over a meeting of the spokespersons, which was attended by the PTI leaders and cabinet members. Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin briefed the participants on the Finance (Supplementary) Bill 2021 or the “mini-budget,” which was introduced in the National Assembly last week.
Amid strong protest by the opposition parties, Tarin proposed amendments in income tax, sales tax and federal excise laws to impose Rs375 billion taxation measures to meet the demands of International Monetary Fund.
While instructing the government’s spokespersons to remove the public’s confusion over the mini-budget, the premier expressed displeasure that the details of the finance bill could not be communicated to the public effectively.
Imran was quoted as saying in the meeting that opposition was exaggerating figures in the mini-budget, which according to him, will only burden the common man by Rs2 billion. The premier said the confusion surrounding the rebates and refund of taxes must be removed. Imran Khan said the public should be made aware of documented economy which he said is in country’s interest.
