Farmers Associates Pakistan (FAP) has rejected the imposition of General Sales Tax (GST) on pesticides, tractors, fertilisers and other agricultural inputs. FAP expressed its views through a unanimously adopted resolution at the 118th extraordinary general body meeting of FAP held on Tuesday. Chairman, Shah Mahmood Qureshi chaired the meeting.
Punjab Minister for Agriculture, Malik Ahmad Ali Aulakh also addressed the participants of the meeting and briefed them about the steps being taken by the provincial government for promotion of agriculture and livestock sectors. He threw light on distribution of subsidized tractors and other agricultural inputs to the farmers and steps for introduction of new seeds to boost the production of different crops including cotton.
Summing up various points raised during the session and observations made by the members of the organisation, Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that the House through another resolution also decided that the FAP in collaboration with other growers' organisations would compile a case study of hardships and issues being faced by the farmers and submit it to the members of the provincial and national assemblies for raising them on appropriate time.
He said that the FAP would approach all the parliamentarians irrespective of their political affiliations. Qureshi said that the meeting of the FAP general body also resolved to hold a seminar in Lahore during the forthcoming national budget session. Experts and representatives of political parties would be invited in the seminar to listen to their views on agricultural income tax and other issues faced by the farming community. Later, FAP's point of view would be presented on these issues to get future direction, he added.