ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue, Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh has assured Farmers Association of Pakistan (FAP) that agriculture package of Rs50 billion would be targeted after the association sought reduction in duty on import of fertiliser import, waiver of agri-loans and reduction in power tariff for tube wells in the budget for next fiscal year.
The government has approved this package with a view to extending relief to the farmers' community and its direct disbursement to the farmers and crop growers remains a key objective of the government, he said, while chairing a meeting with the FAP delegation.
The delegation on Monday met the adviser as well as members of the government's economic team, and submitted budget proposals seeking possible reduction of electricity tariff for tube-wells, reduction of import duty on fertilizers, reduction of mark-up and waiver of agricultural loans, deregulation of the import and export of agriculture products, and livestock.
The adviser said that every attempt would be made to ensure that Rs50 billion relief package beneficiaries were the farmers and crop growers, for whom it was.
He further stated that the government was open to considering any suggestion to further improve the disbursement criterion of the agriculture package of Rs50 billion in view of the input and consultation of the stakeholders.
Similarly, the government was also willing to extend further relief to the farmers as and when required, and proposed by the Ministry of National Food Security and Research for the growth of agriculture and betterment of farmers.
The adviser conceded that the agriculture sector had the potential in a post-Covid-19 scenario to generate employment, boost growth, alleviate poverty, and enhance food security.
Shaikh asked the FAP and the ministries concerned to sit together in the coming days to further fine-tune and improve the disbursement mechanism of the agriculture package, and bring up any other suggestions or recommendations to further support the farming community and boost the agriculture sector.
The meeting was attended by Adviser to the Prime Minister on Commerce and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood, Minister for Industries and Production Muhammad Hammad Azhar, Chairman FAP and Foreign Minister of Pakistan Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Vice Chairman FAP and Punjab Minister for Management and Professional Development Makhdoom Hussain Jahania Gardezi, Managing Director FAP Malik Afaq Tiwana and Director FAP Afzaal Haider Rizvi were also present along with Secretary Finance Division Naveed Kamran Baloch, and Chairperson Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Nausheen Javaid Amjad.
Later on, the adviser also chaired a meeting with Siraj Kassaim Teli, Chairman business community and representatives of Karachi Chambers of Commerce and Industry to discuss budget proposals from business community of Karachi.
The group requested the adviser to look into the possibility of reducing the taxes and speeding up of income tax refunds for the businessmen.
They asked the adviser to take concrete measures to facilitate the business community for facilitating their business activities. The adviser assured the representatives that the government is giving proper consideration to their proposals in the upcoming budget, and will continue to cooperate with the business community to boost the businesses and generate employment and economic development in the country.
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