PESHAWAR: KP Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has said that federal government has exempted the erstwhile provincially administered tribal area (Pata) of all kinds of taxes till 2023.
He was talking to a delegation of the Swat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) that called on him here in Chief Minister's Housing on Thursday. The delegation discussed problems of the industrialists and traders of Swat with the CM and matters relating to promotion of trading and industrial sector and problems faced by the business community of the district.
Besides, Secretary Industries, Hamayun Khan, Special Secretary to Chief Minister Mohammad Khaliq and other concerned authorities were also present on the occasion. The chief minister said that due to that decision of the federal government no agency could collect tax from former Pata including Malakand division.
He said if any agency opened its office with the aim of collecting tax before 2023, they were creating uncertainty in the people without any reason that would not be allowed in any circumstances. The delegation told the chief minister said that for collection of taxes a federal agency was opening offices in Malakand division and had also issued message for payment of taxes to some people that was creating uncertainty among the people of the region.
The chief minister made it clear that till 2023, federal government had exempted erstwhile Pata of taxes and till the expiry of that deadline no agency could collect tax in Malakand division. He said that any such attempt of any agency would be a violation of the government's decision. He said he would take up the matter of the opening of offices by the tax collecting agency with the federal government.
He said the provincial government was making all out efforts to give further extension in taxes exemption while keeping in view the backwardness of the area. The matter, he reiterated would be taken up with the federal government.
To a demand of the establishment of industrial estate in Swat, the chief minister said the provincial government was already working on it and PC-1 of the scheme had been prepared.
The chief minister said that for mitigating environmental pollution, the provincial government was shifting marble factories from residential areas to other suitable locations.
In provincial capital Peshawar, he said marble factories established on Warsak Road were being shifted to Mohmand Marble City. Similarly, he said that marble factories in Swat were also being relocated outside the city.
He urged on business community to extend full support to government in the abolition of pollution as the protection of environment was the responsibility of all, saying in this regard the incumbent government was making sincere efforts.
The chief minister said that the promotion of trade and industry was the priority of the provincial government to create maximum employment opportunities for youth. He said that for the promotion of industries, an industrial policy had also been prepared under which besides the establishment of economic zones and revival of closed units, others steps would also be taken.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2021
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