'Government should declare South Punjab as tax-free zone'

Former Punjab Minister for Industries and ex-President of Multan and D G Khan Chambers Khawaja Jalaluddin Roomi has said that the government should have to declare South Punjab as tax-free zone to attract the foreign and local investors and to end joblessness in the area.
Talking to newsmen here on Sunday, he said that since south Punjab was a part of special economic zones, the government should announce incentives and exemptions for labour-oriented and export-oriented industry. Jalaluddin Roomi appreciated the government for declaring the textile sector as zero-rated and to end the system of refunds. Jalaluddin Roomi said that the government had assured to clear all the refund claims of Rs 300 billion till August 31st, 2016 and urged upon the Finance Minister to fulfil his commitment and not to repeat the past mistakes. He said that there was a dire need of cotton in textile industry. The government should allow the import of cotton from India to run the textile mills and to meet the demands of foreign buyers. Roomi said the government should announce the support prices of cotton, sugarcane and rice immediately otherwise there would be less area under cotton crop this year and cotton production would further decline. He said the government should advance interest free loans and supply of farm implements and inputs on subsidised rates for the survival of farmers.