20000325

Agri tax system to be made more transparent

RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: The Punjab Minister for Law and Human Rights and Agriculture Income Tax Reforms Committee Chairman Dr. Khalid Ranjha has said that the government is trying to make the 'agriculture income tax' system more transparent so as by giving incentives to the growers, the agriculture production could be increased.

While addressing the meeting of Agriculture Reforms Committee here on Friday, he said that the present government, in collaboration with the grower's community is adopting measures for the improvement of the present system of recovery of the agri income tax.

Board of Revenue, Punjab Senior Member Imtiaz Masroor informed at the meeting that the annual recovery of agriculture income tax in Punjab is around 850 to 900 million rupees, which is considered insufficient by the responsible circles.

He said that positive changes in the present system of recovery of agriculture income tax would be made with the consultation of growers and farmers.

Representatives of 'Anjuman Kashtkaran Punjab' including Mohammad Nawaz, Brig Yasoob Ali Dogar (Retd) and Salman Ali at the meeting demanded reduction in the rate of agriculture income tax so as agri tax recovery could be improved.

Chamber of Agriculture Gujranwala President Mohammad Azam Cheema stated that agriculture income tax is not acceptable to the growers. He was of the view that the growers must be provided maximum incentives so as to increase the agriculture production.

A number of agriculturists from Chakwal, Attock, Jhelum and Bhakkar districts stated at the meeting that agriculture income tax be levied on the agri production and added that Barani areas be exempted from this tax as these areas are not able to pay this tax.

A number of growers from various parts of the province, who also attended the meeting proposed that government should increase rate of land revenue instead of increasing the ratio of agri income tax. They asserted that procedure of recovery of agriculture income tax must be simplified keeping in view the suggestions of growers.