Imposition of GST on agriculture sector: FAP asks government to reconsider decision

Farmers Associa-tion Pakistan (FAP) on behalf of the farmers and agricultural implements manufacturing industry has appealed to the government to reconsider the decision of imposition of the General Sales Tax (GST) on agricultural sector as it would not only hurt the farmers but also adversely affect revenue generation.
This demand was raised at a special meeting of the FAP directors held here on Tuesday with its President Dr Tariq Bucha in the chair. The meeting said that since the present government came into power despite tall claims it had not been able to devise or implement any policy, which could revive the fragile economy. All organisations like PIA, Pakistan Railways, Pakistan Steel Mills, electricity and the gas industries were in shambles with no chance or visible effort for revival or improvement.
The farmers as well as the government knew very well that agriculture is the only sector, which could revive the country's economy. On the contrary the farmers have been issued a death warrant as they could not afford to buy tractors which have become expensive by (Rs 100,000 to 200,000).
The government should realise that mechanisation was the most essential component for enhancing productivity in modern agriculture. Increased prices of tractor and agriculture implements would force them to revert to age-old methods of ploughing by bullocks because of unaffordable prices of tractors, high price of diesel and lubricants will leave them with no other option.
FAP demanded of the government to withdraw GST from all agriculture inputs including tractors and agriculture implements to help the sector revive and contribute positively to the economy of the country. It should also call an immediate meeting of the farmers' bodies to discuss various anomalies and the problems faced by the farmers.