Publicity board tax issue: PHA will take decision in consultation with FCCI: DG PHA

FAISALABAD: PHA will decide the issue of publicity board tax in consultation with the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI), said Zameer Hussain Director General Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA).

Addressing the business representative from 8 bazaars and other important commercial centres of the city in FCCI, he said that the government intends to make PHA, FWMC and other utilities self-reliant. He said that the government has trimmed the grant for PHA from Rs400 million to Rs250 million.

He said that PHA also earn Rs240 million from outdoor publicity while on the other hand PHA has a workforce of 1200 individuals and it has to look after 354 parks in addition to green belts, Millat road, Sheikhupura road, Canal Road, Bilal Road, Jail Road, Kacheri Road and Daewoo Road. He said that PHA has also developed 19 Miyawaki forests to control urban pollution.

He further said that Dr Khurram Tariq President FCCI has also promised to develop a Miyawaki forest. About the publicity board, he said that earlier 50sqft boards were exempted from tax but now their size has been reduced to 30sqft. “PHA has also organized independence and winter festivals while immediately after Ramazan spring festival would also be celebrated in a most befitting manner,” he said and added that all these activities need funds and the Punjab government decided to generate these funds from publicity boards.

He identified shop specific and publicity boards and said that the apprehensions and reservations of small shopkeepers would be discussed in the next BOD meeting of PHA regarding publicity board tax. He said that PHA has already submitted the business plan proposing austerity measures to cut down expenditures and enhancing income to undertake new projects.

Earlier Acting President FCCI Dr Sajjad Arshad said that he had represented these small shopkeeper’s issues in a most effective manner. “However, there was a difference between the approach of government departments and the business community,” he said and added that government departments and the business community both are equally facing financial crunch.

He said that the government should add burden on the small shopkeepers according to their bearing capacity so that the system could run smoothly. He said that the membership of Dubai chamber has increased 71% only due to the shifting of Pakistani businessmen to that country. He said that major businessmen could easily absorb the major shops but it is difficult for the small shopkeepers who have limited financial resources.

Vice President Haji Muhammad Aslam Bhalli explained that he participated in the PHA meeting to present the case of small shopkeepers without any invitation. He thanked the Director General for visiting FCCI to resolve the issue of publicity board tax.

He was optimistic that we must sit together and resolve issues amicably. Shafique Hussain Shah, Aftab Ahmad Butt, Haji Muhammad Naeem, Rana Sikandar Azam, Mian Tanvir Ahmad, Haji Muhammad Abid, Muhammad Younis and Muhammad Fazil participated in the question answer sessiona.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024