Finance Bill: Senate proposes 128 recommendations to NA

The Senate has proposed 128 recommendations to the National Assembly on the Finance Bill 2024-25, including reduction of tax on essential goods and food items. Senator Saleem Mandviwalla laid the recommendations before the House. It also recommended that direct taxes must be increased through broadening the tax net and inclusion of big industries like sugar, cement tobacco, fertilizers, power sector entities, and big business chains. The House recommended that the minimum wage that has been raised to 37,000 rupees must be brought to 45,000 rupees to provide relief to the labourers and poor workers. The House also rejected tax on low cadre government employees, baby milk, books and pencils of school kids, pharmaceuticals, medical supplies, newspapers and agricultural produce. The House proposed a special allowance for disabled people. The House recommended that no additional taxes should be imposed on the mobile phones and sales tax on poultry feed should be withdrawn. A system to give relief to the motor bike users through fuel price mitigation was also proposed. It was recommended that a uniform sales tax should be imposed on parts related to the solar industry whether imported or locally produced. The Senate called for measures for ease of doing business, one window operation and other perks to encourage overseas Pakistan to invest in Pakistan. The House recommended reduced tax rate of 16 percent instead of standard rate of 18 percent on local suppliers to erstwhile tribal areas. It also proposed new development programs and schemes as well as youth development programs and scholarships for Balochistan. The Upper House emphasized that measures should be taken to broaden the tax base and reduce the tax load on the salaried class. The Senate today passed a resolution, condemning incidents of mob-lynching in Swat and Sargodha. The resolution, moved by Sherry Rehman, said the right to life is the most fundamental right as guaranteed by the Constitution of Pakistan and must remain inviolable. It urged the f ederal and provincial governments to ensure the safety and security of all persons living in Pakistan including religious minorities and vulnerable communities. The House also demanded the provincial governments of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab to take all measures to ensure that persons involved in these heinous crimes are identified investigated and prosecuted without loss of any times. The House will now meet at three pm tomorrow. Source: Radio Pakistan