Maximum relief to common man demanded in budget

People belonging to various walks of life here have urged the government to announce maximum incentives and concessions for common man in the forthcoming federal budget for ensuring their survival.
In a survey conducted by Business Recorder in different localities of Sialkot people said that under the prevailing circumstances the common man, particularly salaried class, is suffering badly due to the high prices of daily use articles and utility bills.
They called upon the government that efforts should be made for bringing down the prices of daily use items.
They suggested that local telephone calls should be declared free and international and domestic calls rates should be further reduced.
The facility of telephone should be made affordable to enable the common man to avail the facility without any economic burden.
Women suggested that mobile phone charges should be further brought down.
They said that domestic consumers of electricity and gas should be given maximum concessions for mitigating their economic burdens. They said that it was too difficult for the salaried class and common man to run their homes conveniently.
Some residents of cantonment area said that government should exempt from property tax owner of a house who possesses only one house.
The cantonment board, they alleged, is charging high property tax as a result of which people were facing serious hardships. Keeping in view the problems the government should take appropriate measures for minimising the problems and announce concessions for the residents of cantonment areas, they added.
Meanwhile, some exporters called upon the government to reduce tax rates in general.
They said that protection of economic reforms act 1992 should be restored to encourage massive inflow of forex, instead of adopting such policies that force the capital to stay in overseas banks.
The policy of fixation of petroleum for fortnightly basis must be done away with. Instead, petrol price be determined on bi-annual basis or on quarterly basis.
This factor alone is responsible for volatile fluctuation in prices of raw materials. Prices of stainless steel is an example of this variation, which resulted in decrease of export of surgical instruments in the past few months, they suggested.
They said that the government should initiate investment-friendly policies in the forthcoming budget restoring the confidence of local investors who are shy to invest locally.
Foreign investment cannot be attracted without restoring the confidence of local investors.
They said such policies would go a long way in bringing back the capital, which has already flown out of Pakistan.