According to them, the committees listened to them patiently and assured them that their budget proposals would be entertained in letter and spirit because ginning was very important sector which cannot be neglected.
A meeting of the committee was held Thursday under the chairmanship of Senator Saleem Mandviwala to listen to the grievances of chambers and trade associations regarding discretionary powers of the Inland Revenue offices under sections 83A, 38B, 40A, 40B, 176 and 177. The committee was informed that RTOs were misusing the powers of above-stated sections. He said that the powers of these sections are being abused because these articles are not clearly specified and RTOs' powers are being misused by inspectors and even Naib Qasids.
These committees have asked the Chairman Federal Board of Revenue to entertain their suggestions, proposals and demands in the forthcoming National budget to be declared on May 26.The committee praised the efforts of PCGA for growing more cotton for achieving the target of 20 million bales. PCGA Delegation said that Permanent and constant National Cotton Policy (NCP) be announced immediately to safeguard the interests of farmers/growers, ginners and APTMA and a bailout package be announced for ginning sector separately for its survival besides providing electricity on Rs.5 per unit and declaring this sector tax-free for the period of at least three years.
Chairman Dr Jesso Mal and Senior Vice Chairman Suhail Mehmood Haral said that government should not allow sugar mills in cotton core areas of Punjab and support price for Phutti must be announced to attract the farmers.
Chairman Dr Jesso Mal stressed the need for announcement of a comprehensive and long-standing cotton policy which could protect the interest of all stake holders including grower, input supplier, ginner, spinner, weaver, power loom owner. They demanded for waiving the withholding tax on banking transactions as recommended by SBP in its budget proposals or it should not be more than 0.1 % for ginning industry as admissible for Rice and flour industry. They expressed concern on the issuance of notices to ginners for spreading panic and said that FBR should continue implementation on 1994 agreement signed between PCGA and Federal Board of Revenue. They have asked the standing committee to curtail the discretionary powers of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), as it is creating hurdles for taxpayers by harassing them while the tax evaders remain at large. It said instead of creating problems for loyal & honest taxpayers, the FBR officers should act against tax evaders.