Govt to provide subsidy at Utility Stores during Ramazan: Senate told

ISLAMABAD: State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan on Thursday informed the Senate that the government will provide subsidy on various edible items at Utility Stores during the holy month of Ramazan.

Responding to a calling attention notice moved by Senator Sassui Palijo to draw the attention of the minister for Industries and Production towards closure of 175 outlets of the Utility Stores Corporation across the country, he said, that the stores mentioned by the Senator had been closed due to financial crunch.

He said that Ramazan package was aimed at providing relief and facility to the middle income and lower income groups by making available essential items at the stores at a lower price.

Responding to another calling attention notice, State Minister for Revenue Hammad Azar said that annual revenue targets during the last 10 years could not be met because these were unrealistic. He said that all past governments had to revise their revenue targets at different stages of a financial year.

He also informed the House about the reasons for shortfall of revenue in last fiscal year. The reasons were change in income tax slabs, order of Supreme Court to stop collection of tax on mobile phone cards and decrease in tax on petroleum products, he added.

He informed the House that the PTI government would set realistic revenue target for next year by using scientific and data driven methods.

Earlier, Chairmen of different standing committees laid before the house 13 reports finalised by their respective committees on matters referred to them.